HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8349 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8349
August 21, 2001
4*prap�a To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
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SUBJECT: Mid-Season Air Pollution Report &
Employee Ozone Incentive Program Drawings
PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF OZONE SEASON 2001
The city hosted its third annual Care for Cowtown Air "Clean Air Fair" in April 2001 . In a 3-1/2 hour
period, an estimated 6,000 citizens experienced 60 educational/environmental booths spread out
over two blocks in downtown Fort Worth. Two of the most popular exhibits this year were the
alternative-fueled vehicles and "Ask the Mechanic." Media stats indicate one million residents in the
North Texas area received notification of the Clean Air Fair via print and news media. Due to high
attendance and visibility, the event has become an annual tradition to kick off Ozone Season and
bring awareness to the public.
Below is data for the first half of the Ozone Season as compared to last year.
May - July 2001, the Fort Worth/Dallas area experienced:
• 36 Air Pollution Watch Days (air predicted to be unhealthy)
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. 17 Air Pollution Warnings Days (air actually became unhealthy)
• No Exceedance Day (pollution levels that exceed EPA's standard)
May - July 2000, last year the Fort Worth/Dallas area experienced:
• 22 Air Pollution Watch Days
9 Air Pollution Warning Days
. 1 Exceedance Day
EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE PROGRAM
Another successful air quality program is the one created for city employees. Six years ago,
Environmental Management began encouraging employees to take actions to reduce vehicle
emissions on high pollution days. Incentives were offered to keep the interest on-going season after
season. In 2000, 35 percent of city employees participated in the program compared to 24 percent
the previous year, This successful program has been accomplished with the help of a 27-member
Ozone Committee, comprised of representatives from each city department.
Employees are continually urged to take actions on Air Pollution Watch/Warning Days to reduce
vehicle emissions (carpool, walk to lunch, bring a sack lunch, ride the bus, etc.). Employees
interested in riding the bus are offered discounted bus passes. Notification of Watch/Warning Days
is passed on to employees via email, door decals and through the departmental ozone
representatives, An employee who completes any action on a Watch/Warning Day fills out a ballot.
This enters the employee in a drawing held in August and another in November during a City Council
,neeting. At each drawing, 1st prize is a $1 ,000 travel gift certificate, 2"d prize is a $500 department
�' store gift certificate, and the 3rd prize is a rechargeable electric lawn mower valued at $375.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8349
40" August 21, 2001
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 2 of 2
SUBJECT: Mid-Season Air Pollution Report &
Employee Ozone Incentive Program Drawings
An added feature this year, Environmental Management and the city's Public Health Department
have partnered to encourage employees to walk to lunch. Ballots marked "Walk to Lunch" are given
to the Health Department and entered in two separate drawings as part of the "Walk for the Health of
It" campaign. Employees who walk to lunch during the six-month ozone season have two chances
to win a $50 gift certificate to a sports store. Prizes are funded by grants from the Texas Natural
Resource Conservation Commission and Texas Department of Health.
The employee program also offers these work perks to employees during ozone season, with
approval from the department's director.-
0 4-day work week, 10 hours per day
• one hour of comp time earned for every five days of carpooling
one hour of vacation time earned for first-time enrollment in direct
deposit payroll
If you would like additional information about this report, please don't hesitate to contact Brian
Boerner, Director of Environmental Management.
W.Ja son
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ity Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS