Regional Council Activity Report
December 16, 1999
Executive Director’s Report
As a year, a century and a millennium speed to a close, we find ourselves also racing to beat the clock as we work to stave off threatened sanctions by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the region’s ongoing effort to eliminate unhealthy dust.
In November, the EPA notified the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) by telephone and Governor Jane Hull by letter about a problem it has with the 1999 MAG Serious Area Particulate Plan for PM-10. The EPA believes that the MAG Plan relies too heavily on Maricopa County’s fugitive dust control rules known as Rule 310. The Plan assumes a 90-percent compliance for Rule 310 to help achieve a reduction in emissions for attainment in 2006. After reviewing Maricopa County’s enforcement efforts, the EPA said it believes the compliance rate is unrealistic, and it also wants the plan to address dust on paved public roads and on unpaved private roads.
The EPA indicated that if the Plan is not approved by March 2, 2000, the first sanction — two to one offsets for major industrial sources — would be imposed. If the Plan is not approved by September 2, 2000, the next sanction — loss of federal highway funds resulting in a conformity lapse — would occur. Such a lapse would mean that ALL new projects of regional significance, even those funded by cities through local funds, would be halted. The EPA suggested that federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds be used to provide needed control measures.
MAG staff immediately began reviewing the plan and potential options for addressing EPA concerns. We determined that using CMAQ funds for region-wide paving projects, purchasing PM-10 certified street sweepers and reducing the assumed compliance rate for Rule 310 to 80 percent, should be sufficient remedies to reach attainment by 2006 and satisfy the EPA. Thanks to the swift work of MAG staff and the support of the Executive, Management and Transportation Review Committees, the recommendations were brought to the Regional Council at its December 8 meeting — less than one month after the problem was brought to our attention. The Regional Council approved the staff recommendations (see below). The recommended expenditures will be included in the revised plan to be sent to the EPA.
MAG continues to stress its position that Maricopa County must do what it can to enforce Rule 310, and that contractors and other violators must recognize the severity of this problem and comply with this rule. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is expected to consider Rule 310 enhancements this week.
Ironically, the EPA has informed MAG that it will take a MINIMUM of four months to review the revised Plan. This means that to avoid the March 2 sanctions, MAG would have had to submit its revised plan to the EPA November 2, 1999 — seven days BEFORE MAG was even notified of the approvability problem. MAG is working with the Governor’s Office and the EPA to see what can be done to speed up the review process and avoid any sanctions.
Obviously there is much work to be done now and in the new millennium — on this issue and many others of regional importance. However, as we stop to consider the significance of the century change and our unique place in history, let us also remember that the work we do today will become a legacy of regional progress for those who will call the Valley home over the next hundred — and perhaps even thousand — years.
Council Approves Additional Measures for Battling Dust
On November 9, 1999, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
notified MAG that it has a problem with the 1999 Serious Area
Particulate Plan. The EPA believes that the MAG Plan relies too
heavily on Maricopa County’s fugitive dust control rules
(Rule 310) and does not adequately address paving issues (See
above). In an effort to alleviate the EPA concerns, the MAG Regional
Council unanimously approved the use of $7.85 million in CMAQ
funds for paving dirt roads in the County and the expenditure
of $3.8 million over four years for the purchase of PM-10 certified
street sweepers. In addition, the Regional Council approved a
motion to have MAG staff draft a model ordinance to allow member
agencies to enforce local dust control ordinances and cite violators
within their local jurisdictions.
For more information, contact Lindy
Bauer, MAG Environmental Manager (602) 254-6300.
Brown Cloud Project Gets Green Light
The MAG Regional Council voted to approve the 1999 Brown Cloud
Project for the MAG Area. The Brown Cloud Project examined the
brown cloud in Maricopa County and other western urban areas,
including emission sources contributing to the brown cloud. The
report recommends six potential control measures to be evaluated
for feasibility by implementing entities. The recommended measures
include: mandating the use of clean burning diesel fuel; encouraging
retrofits and replacements of nonroad diesel engines and equipment;
strengthening the voluntary onroad diesel vehicle retirement program;
electrifying truck stops (giving truck drivers with refrigerated
rigs a place to plug in and not keep engines idling); implementing
a toll-free number for smoking vehicle complaints; and implementing
a smoking vehicle identification and citation program.
For more information, contact Lindy
Bauer, MAG Environmental Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Council Adopts Policies on Smart Growth
The MAG Policies on Smart Growth were developed as a general policy
position on growth-related legislation. The decision to create
a MAG policy position comes in the wake of two highly publicized
growth management efforts taking place in the Valley: the Growing
Smarter Commission Report and the Citizens Growth Management Initiative.
Because MAG did not feel comfortable supporting either of these
two efforts in their current form, staff recommended that the
Council instead support elements of legislation that would improve
the abilities of local governments to plan for growth. The recommended
policies contain eight principles of good planning to ensure that
future generations enjoy an improved quality of life. The Regional
Council unanimously approved the MAG Policies on Smart Growth.
TIP Nearing Completion
MAG is currently in the process of soliciting updates and new
projects to be included in the FY 2001-2005 Transportation Improvement
Program (TIP) for locally or privately funded projects. The deadline
for submitting updates and new project requests is January 21,
2000.
TIP projects requested to receive federal funds have already
been recommended by the Transportation Review Committee and will
be considered by the Management Committee and Regional Council
in January. The full TIP, which will include both the local and
federal recommendations, is expected to go to the Regional Council
in March for approval for a conformity analysis, with a target
date of June or July for final approval.
For more information, contact Paul
Ward, Transportation Programming Manager, (602) 254-6300.
State to Consider Replacement of Social Services Funds
As a result of a congressional funding reduction in the TEA-21
legislation, which reduces the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG)
from $1.9 billion to $1.7 billion, the amount of social services
funding available for distribution through MAG has been reduced
by more than $638,000. The MAG Human Services Technical Committee
has recommended cuts to existing programs to absorb these reductions.
In an effort to preclude these cuts, MAG is looking for help from
the State. In the past, MAG has successfully worked with the Arizona
State Legislature to transfer funds from the federal cash assistance
program, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). During
its December 8th meeting, The Regional Council voted to recommend
that the State of Arizona consider replacing the cuts in the Social
Services Block Grant with unobligated TANF funds; or if TANF funds
are not available, that these funds be replaced by general fund
dollars. MAG has forwarded the Council’s recommendations
to the Joint Welfare Reform Task Force, which is considering draft
legislation to incorporate the recommendations.
For more information, contact Carol
Kratz, MAG Human Services Manager, (602) 254-6300.
MAG Forums Summarized in Y2K Report
In 1999, the Maricopa Association of Governments hosted a series
of seven forums focusing on the Year 2000 (Y2K) computer problem.
The forums were the result of recommendations by city managers
of several of our member agencies, and were designed to bring
cities together to share best practices for preparing for the
Year 2000 rollover. At each forum, presenters were brought in
to discuss major Y2K issues. Speakers included representatives
from all major utilities; city and state disaster services; public
information officers; the petroleum industry; computer technicians;
9-1-1 operations; liability experts; the banking industry; law
enforcement/safety agencies; the retail grocery industry; health
care; aviation and the American Red Cross. Each forum included
roundtable discussions for cities to share information and address
challenges in dealing with Y2K. Summaries of the information gleaned
through each forum were compiled into the MAG Y2K Forums Summary
and Review. The report finds that the most likely potential Y2K
problems are expected to occur on New Year’s Eve, and are
more likely to be the result of celebration activities or shortages
caused by hoarding than technological problems.
For more information or to request
a copy of the report, contact Kelly Taft, MAG Public Communications
Program Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Maricopa County Nears 3,000,000 Mark
MAG has released its population estimates for July 1, 1999. Maricopa
County saw a significant increase in population the past year,
swelling by more than 107,000 people to 2,913,475. If growth continues
at its current pace, Maricopa County will exceed 3,000,000 people
sometime in the next six months. MAG develops the population projections
each year based on the number of new housing units constructed.
The estimates are used to distribute $23 million in state lottery
funds. The new population figures were formally adopted by the
MAG Regional Council during its December 8 meeting.
For the second year in a row, the City of Surprise is tops
among cities and towns in Maricopa County when it comes to percentage
of growth. Surprise has grown by 39percent during the past year,
from 18,830 to 26,145 residents. Surprise’s annual average
growth rate since the 1995 Special Census was 27.5 percent. Goodyear
is second in average annual growth rate, with an 18.2 percent
increase since 1995. The Town of Gilbert surpassed 100,000 residents,
a significant increase from its 29,000 residents in 1990 and 59,000
residents in 1995. Gilbert’s average annual growth rate since
1995 is 15.6 percent, the third highest among local governments
in the County. Although Phoenix’s population has only increased
by an average annual rate of 2.1 percent, it has added more than
91,000 residents since 1995, nearly triple Chandler’s increase
of more than 36,000 people during the same time period. Two cities
in the region, Glendale and Scottsdale, surpassed the 200,000
population threshold with 208,095 and 204,660 residents respectively,
as of July 1, 1999.
For more information, contact Harry
Wolfe, MAG Socioeconomic Program Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Internet Taxation Focus of MAG Forum
The future of taxation on the Internet and its effects on local
services will be the focus of an Internet Taxation Forum sponsored
by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG). The forum will
be held on Thursday, December 16 from 2:00-4:30 p.m. at the MAG
offices, 302 North 1st Avenue in Phoenix. The forum will take
place on the 2nd floor in the Saguaro Room. Panelists will include
Rep. Jeff Hatch-Miller (District 26), Mesa Councilman Dennis Kavanaugh,
Arizona Department of Revenue Assistant Director Terry Trost,
and Westcor President and CEO Rob Ward.
For more information, contact Rita
Walton, MAG Information Services Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Next Regional Council Meeting
The next Regional Council Meeting will be January 19, 2000. Agenda
items are expected to include approval of the Grand Avenue Major
Investment Study for inclusion in the Long Range Transportation
Plan for conformity analysis, and recommended approval for public
comment of the MAG Tentative 2001-2005 Federal Funded Program,
the Tentative Freeway Life Cycle Program, the ADOT Tentative 2001-2005
Highway Construction Program, and the RPTA Tentative 2001-2005
Regional Transit Program. The meeting will be held at the MAG
office, 302 N. 1st Avenue, Phoenix, in Suite 200 (Saguaro Room).
For more information, contact Dennis
Smith, MAG Assistant Director, (602) 254-6300.