AGENDA #4f
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: The Triangle Clean Cities Coalition
DATE: February 12, 2001
The attached resolution would authorize the Mayor and the Town Manager to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States Department of Energy, the Triangle J Council of Governments and various other agencies participating in the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition.
The United States Department of Energy Clean Cities program is “an umbrella to structure and achieve Energy Policy Act program goals and to coordinate objectives of federal directives, such as the Clean Air Act.” The Clean Cities program deals primarily with ongoing efforts to increase the use of alternatively fueled vehicles in urban areas throughout the United States.
On August 17, 1999, the Clean Cities Project Coordinator for the Triangle J Council of Governments invited the Town Manager to name a Town of Chapel Hill representative to the steering committee for the Clean Cities Project. The Internal Services Superintendent, Public Works Department was nominated to participate in this effort on behalf of the Town and has been working with the Clean Cities Project since that time.
The primary goal of the steering committee was to prepare and submit an application for designation of the Triangle area as a “Clean Cities” region. Preparation of the application was a complex task that required the development of specific plans to increase the use of alternative fuel vehicles in the Triangle area and presentation of evidence that we had reached the required thresholds for alternative fuel vehicles already in use. That goal was accomplished with the submission of our application during the fall of 2000. On about November 8, 2000, the Triangle J Council of Governments was notified by the United State Department of Energy that our application for Clean Cities designation had been approved.
The official Clean Cities designation ceremony will take place on March 19, 2001, at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. At this time, all participating members of the Clean Cities Coalition will be asked to sign a memorandum of understanding committing to continuing their participation in the Clean Cities program and continuing their individual efforts to increase the use of alternative fuel vehicles.
The Town took the first step toward replacing some of our fleet with alternatively fueled vehicles in December 1998 when, at the direction of the Town Council, we applied for a Mobile Sources Emissions Reduction Grant. Our grant application was successful and we began procurement of six vehicles and the associated refueling equipment. We are now operating three compressed natural gas vehicles and we have refueling equipment installed at the Public Works Department and the Parks and Recreation Department. We expect delivery of one more compressed natural gas vehicle and two electric powered pickup trucks in the near future. In addition to acquiring this equipment, we have conducted several hours of formal training for the Town’s automotive maintenance staff.
Other activities that have contributed to the success of the Clean Cities initiative include our continued participation in the Clean Cities Steering Committee and assisting other local governments with advice on the preparation of Mobile Source Emissions Reduction Grant applications. We do not now have specific plans to acquire additional alternative fuels vehicles. If the Town Council would like us to acquire more alternative fuel vehicles, it would not be difficult to include a few such vehicles in the annual vehicle replacement plan. Unless the Council directs otherwise, we intend to continue acquisition of more alternative fuel vehicles, adding a few each year. We recommend this gradual approach to expansion of our alternative fuel vehicle fleet because it will moderate the financial impact of buying these more expensive vehicles and it will enable us to remain flexible as various alternative fuel technologies emerge and mature.
That the Town Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Mayor and the Town Manager to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States Department of Energy, the Triangle J Council of Governments and various other agencies participating in the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition committing the signatories to continuing their participation in the Clean Cities program and to continuing their individual efforts to increase the use of alternative fuel vehicles.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND THE TOWN MANAGER TO SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, THE TRIANGLE J COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS AND VARIOUS OTHER AGENCIES PARTICIPATING IN THE TRIANGLE CLEAN CITIES COALITION (2001-02-12/R-6)
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill has supported the goal of improving regional air quality by increasing the use of alternative fuel vehicles through participating in the Mobile Source Emissions Reduction Grant program and by participating in the Triangle J Council of Governments “Clean Cities” Initiative; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill has acquired three compressed natural gas vehicles and placed orders for one additional compressed natural gas vehicle and two electric vehicles; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill intends to continue our support of the goals and objectives the Clean Cities Coalition;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Town will continue to support and participate in the efforts of the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition to increase the use of alternative fuel vehicles in the region.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor and the Town Manager are authorized to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States Department of Energy, the Triangle J Council of Governments and various other agencies participating in the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition committing the signatories to continuing their participation in the Clean Cities program and to continuing their individual efforts to increase the use of alternative fuel vehicles.
This the 12th day of February, 2001.
TRIANGLE CLEAN CITIES COALITION
Formally Established to Create a More Efficient, Domestically Secure, Environmentally Harmonious, Sustainable and Safe American Energy Transportation Sector
By and Among,
“Signatory Organizations Listed”
and
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is committed to energy use in the American transportation sector that is more efficient, less dependent on foreign sources, less environmentally disruptive, sustainable, and safe.
The Energy Policy Act of 1992, supplemented by the 1993 Executive Order 12344: Federal Use of Alternative Fuel Vehicles, and the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, all establish guidelines for effecting a favorable energy and environmental situation in the transportation sector. The DOE Clean Cities program is an umbrella to structure and achieve Energy Policy Act program goals and to coordinate objectives of governments and other Federal directives, such as the Clean Air Act.
The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to set forth the agreements, respective responsibilities, and procedures necessary to carry out the objectives of the DOE Clean Cities program which accelerates the introduction and expands the use of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles.
This MOU is authorized under the following laws and regulations: Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, which permits DOE to use the facilities of public agencies, requires DOE to consult with the heads of other agencies on the use of their facilities, and allows DOE to enter into cooperative projects with other public and private agencies; the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Section 505, Voluntary Supply Commitments, which requires DOE to obtain voluntary commitments to help achieve replacement fuel goals from fuel suppliers, fleet owners, and vehicle suppliers. Under this MOU, these groups, united wit other local stakeholders, signify their commitment to contribute to the goals of the program.
Signatories under this MOU undertake their best efforts to achieve the specific goals and objectives set forth in Program Plan.
This MOU commits the undersigned to work together toward achievement of Clean Cities goals and the goals and objectives as stated in the Program Plan.
· Coordinate and document coalition activities
· Maintain database of stakeholders, community fleets, AFVs, and infrastructure
· Assist with overall implementation of Program Plan and development of new goals
· Coordinate meetings and reporting activities
· Participate as a member of the Steering Committee
· Delegate and monitor activities/responsibilities to other key stakeholders
· Act as a liaison between the Steering committee, working groups and DOE
· Work directly with DOE regional Support Offices to report Coalition activities, progress, concerns, issues, etc.
· Provide assistance in public education activities
· Maintain and update, in concert with the coalition, the Program Plan
· Monitor and disseminate Federal/State/local legislative and incentive information to the coalition
· Assist with recruitment of stakeholders
· Represent Clean Cities and the coalition at other local functions and DOE events
· Provide a Federal Advisor
· Provide program implementation and MOU drafting guidelines
· Guide placement of Federal AFVs responding to Clean Cities recommendations and resource matching plans
· Direct the award of Federal funds and grants as available
· Provide information, general assistance and material for public relations and promotional activities
· Provide training for coordinators, fleet operators and other participants
· Provide a hotline/clearinghouse for technical and other information
· Conduct information exchange workshops
· Provide assistance in public education activities
Signatories to this document agree to fulfill their voluntary commitments to the clean cities program as delineated in the associated Program Plan
The Clean Cities Program will be administered according to the Program Plan. The signatories herein have agreed that the Program Plan is designed to achieve Clean Cities objectives and follows the guidelines described here:
· Sets forth goals reflecting the planning process and defining what the organization seeks to accomplish and why
· Creates an organizational structure enabling Clean Cities to effectively carry out its mission
· Characterizes the AFV market situation by gathering primary information on fuels, vehicles, and infrastructure from participating Clean Cities stakeholders
· Sets forth intermediate objectives, action steps, or commitments designed to be the “hot to” (objectives) elements of the Program Plan
· Delineates estimated timetables containing discrete action items, milestones and deadlines for achieving objectives and goals
· Establishes a monitoring system for program management, advertisement of program success, and method for conveying program performance to DOE
Because the DOE Clean Cities program supports Congressional and Executive directives and many involve other Federal, State, and local governmental entities, Clean Cities program commitments may be subject to modification upon intervening Congressional or Executive guidance.
Public Information Coordination
Subject to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) decisions on disclosures of information to the public regarding projects and programs reference in this MOU shall be made by the DOE following consultation with the other parties’ representatives.
This MOU may be amended by the mutual written agreement between DOE and signatories. This MOU may be terminated by the mutual written agreement of DOE and signatories. Signatories may terminate individual participation upon a 30-daywritten notice.
Effective Date
This MOU shall become effective upon the latter date of signature of the parties and shall remain in effect for a period of 5 years, upon which the MOU becomes eligible for renewal.
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