HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8001 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. pool
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To the Mayor and Members of the City Council. May 14, 1996
X Subject:
18n INFORMAL REPORT ON OZONE INCENTIVES PROGRAM
As the City of Fort Worth enters into another ozone season, it is challenged with an
extremely critical season because one (1) exceedence could move the entire DFW area
from a "moderate" rating to a "serious" rating. Such a reclassification could bring,
from the Environmental Protection Agency, sanctions on existing and new industry,
federal highway funding, and impositions on transit mechanisms. Any or all of these
could have consequential impacts on economic development and jobs. Therefore, the
more we do between now and November 15, 1996 (the compliance deadline date),
the better off we will be after November 15.
The City of Fort Worth has over the past years had an extensive air pollution program.
A brief history of our program includes:
1 . On July 8, 1968, Fort Worth City Council adopted Ordinance 5965 known as
the "Ambient Air and Emission Standards" to protect health, safety, and
general welfare of the citizens from uncontrolled emissions of smoke,
suspended particulate matter, and gaseous air contaminants.
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2. On May 17, 1977 Ordinance 7547 was adopted. This ordinance was cited as
the "Fort Worth Air Pollution Ordinance" and raised the penalty for non-
compliance from $ 200 to $ 1000.
3. On November 28, 1995 "Fort Worth Environmental Code" was adopted as
Ordinance 12274. This code officially compiled all the existing environmentally
related ordinances into one document.
Shortly after the 1977 adoption, the City entered into a grants agreement with the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the provisions of Section 105 of the
Clean Air Act. The City has been receiving this grant since 1977.
Since 1991 the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) has
supplemented the 105 grants through a grant of their own. In addition, since 1991 ,
the City has contracted with Tarrant County, through an Inter Local Agreement, to
provide Tarrant County with air pollution services.
In general, our air pollution responsibilities include: responding to citizen complaints
as it relates to air quality, compliance inspection, permit investigations, enforcement
actions, air monitoring, providing the Daily Air Quality Index, field surveys, and
inspection and surveillance of unincorporated areas of the county. RECORD
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OFFICIAL
My SECRETARY
FT. WITH
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS
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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.
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of R To the Mayor and Members of the City Council. May 14, 1996
Page 2 of 3
LIX Subject:
Ian INFORMAL REPORT ON OZONE INCENTIVES PROGRAM
OZONE PROGRAM
In response to the ozone situation last year, the City Manager's Office offered City
departments incentives to assist in reducing the amount of ozone generated by City
government operations. Those departments that participated in the program and their
specific actions were:
Parks and Community Services: postponed all mowing until 10:00 a.m.,
converted vehicles to run on propane, required contractors to follow City ozone
policy, posted "ozone friendly" sign on equipment using alternate fuel, and
purchased electric mowers.
Library : reduced mail runs to City Hall by 50% and when possible delivered on
foot, meetings involving the use of vehicles were rescheduled, site visits
postponed until 10:00 a.m., vehicles were not allowed to idle during loading and
unloading, and all delivery personnel were notified of impending "ozone alert"
to allow for rearranging work schedule.
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Risk Management: offered flex-time.
Environmental Management: converted all vehicles to run on propane, whenever
practical and justifiable, inspectors worked in pairs, enforcement conferences
were conducted over the phone, construction contractors were required to treat
ozone alert days as inclement weather days and work accordingly, and
purchasing requests were consolidated for once a week delivery.
This year, through the Department of Environmental Management, the City has
expanded on the previous Ozone Incentives Program. The following ideas were
reviewed by a number of departments and chosen to be the most effective.
FLEX-TIME: this option allows employees to start work at any time between 7
and 9 a.m. and end accordingly. The option will be at the department head's
discretion and must allow for 8-5 coverage.
SPLIT SQUAD: this incentive involves starting one shift early at 6:30 or 7:00
and the late shift after 10:00 a.m.. This option is similar to FLEX-TIME and will
be at the discretion of the department head.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS
,
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.
FOR- To the Mayor and Members of the City Council May 14, 1996
Page 3 of 3
X Subject:
1873 INFORMAL REPORT ON OZONE INCENTIVES PROGRAM
CONDENSED WORK WEEKS (4 1 0-hour days): again, it will be at the discretion
of the department head.
DIRECT DEPOSIT: reduces the need for bi-weekly trips to the bank and
eliminates motorists idling in teller lines at drive through windows. As an
incentive for employees to join in DIRECT DEPOSIT, one (1 ) additional hour of
vacation time (one time only) will be given.
OZONE ACTION DAY SUBSIDY: The "T" is offering an Ozone Season Bus Pass
for $5.00. This pass can be used on officially designated Ozone Alert Days
between May 1 and October 31 . This incentive will be paid for by departments
(Library had the most interested - 1 00employees).
PREFERRED PARKING FOR CAR/VAN POOLERS: this option is offered at
locations other than City Hall.
In addition, the Department of Environmental Management will offer a "drawing
Program. Prizes, provided by the Environmental Management Department, will be
given to the selected winners. The anticipated total cost to the department is
approximately $1 ,000, payable from the air pollution grant fund. Also, American
Airlines is being contacted for donation of two round-trip airline tickets as a grand prize
and tree saplings will be purchased from Tarrant Re-Leaf and given to each participant.
We feel these incentives will provide a positive action toward ozone reduction. These
efforts, along with those stipulated in the Ozone Guidance Manual, will be an example
of the leadership Fort Worth has assumed as a regional '"spokesgroup" and of its
commitment to the preservation of the environment. These ideas will be pursued
without impacting the efficiency or sacrificing the level of service provided to our
Bob Terrell 01"FICIAL RECON
City Manager
cila SELRUARY
FT. WORTH, TEL
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS
giveaway" at the end of ozone season for all participants in the Ozone Incentive