HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8239 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. R7ica
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council March 28, 2000
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In March 1998, the Environmental Protection Agency reclassified the Dallas/Fort Worth area from a
moderate to a serious non-attainment area with regards to ozone. In order to assist the Fort Worth area in
the mitigation of ozone, the Department of Environmental Management has, for the past several years,
been heavily involved in raising City employee awareness and comprehension of this problem during the
ozone season, May 1 through October 31. To address the ozone problem, a committee of departmental
representatives has developed several incentive programs for all city employees who participate on Ozone
Action Days.
"Care For Cowtown Air" Program
The "Care for Cowtown Air' Program is designed to expand the City's air quality educational and awareness
campaign to include downtown businesses and the hospital district, thereby increasing the awareness
within the City of Fort Worth. in Fort Worth/ Dallas, vehicle emissions cause approximately 60% of the
ozone forming pollution. The focus of this program will be on the reduction of vehicle emissions through
proper vehicle maintenance and the use of low emission vehicles (LEVs). We will also encourage
businesses to start internal ozone incentive programs with their employees..
,.Cash sponsorships have been obtained from Tandy Corporation $2,500, Bell Helicopter Textron, inc,
$1,000, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway $1,000, DFW International Airport $1,000, Texas Industries
(TXI) $1,000, Lockheed Martin Corporation $1,000, and Fifth Avenue Foundation $1,000.
The Business Press has agreed to provide the City of Fort Worth free ad spaces valued at $5,000. Radio
Station KSCS 96.3 will do a "live" broadcast at the kick-off event and will air promotional spots for the
event valued at $7,000.
The kick-off event for the 2000 Ozone Season will be held Friday, April 28 from 11:00 a.m. — 1:30 p.m. on
Main Street between Third and Fourth streets. The event is designed to attract citizens during their lunch
breaks to increase their awareness of ozone issues and the ways they can — "Care for Cowtown Air." The
focus of the event will be on how individuals can help significantly reduce ozone-forming pollution by
properly maintaining their vehicles and/or using LEVs,
Planned kick-off activities include several interactive displays such as a technician giving vehicle
maintenance tips, environmental educational activities, 45 display booths, food booths and alternatively
fueled vehicles on display, and a "live" radio station broadcast.
The proposed program budget for the kick off event and promotional and educational materials is $21,000.
Funding for the program will be a combination of donated funds, complimentary services, and the State air
contract in the Grants Fund.
City of Fort Worth Employee Program
The internal City of Fort Worth Employee Education/Incentive program encourages City employee
participation in ozone reducing strategies. As a means of reducing emissions, each employee is
encouraged to use mass transit, bring sack lunches or walk to lunch, car or van pool, telecommute, utilize
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. _qq-Aq
March 28, 2000
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 2 of 2
Subject: 2000 Ozone Program
flex time work options/4-day work week options, or initiate Direct Deposit during ozone season. Directors
must pre-approve employee ozone actions and incentives for their individual departments.
The incentives offered by the City to employees include a seven-dollar ($7.00) per month subsidy for the
purchase of bus passes. Employees who car/van pool can receive preferred parking or one hour of leave
time for each five days that they car/van pool. Participating employee names are entered into prize
drawings. This year there will be two citywide drawings. One will be held in August and the other at the end
of the ozone season in November. At each drawing first prize will be a travel gift certificate and second
prize will be a department store gift certificate.
During the 1999 Ozone Season, 1,680 (28%) percent of City employees participated in the program with an
average of thirty (30) employees purchasing bus passes each month. This year it is hoped that the City will
achieve equal or greater participation.
Funding for the estimated $6,700 in expenditures for the City's internal incentives program will be from the
State air contract in the Grants Fund.
Bob Terrell
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS