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88-33 WH17E - CITV CLERK PINK - FINANCE G.ITY OF SAINT PAUL Council �j. CANARV - DEPARTMENT ` �5 . BI.UE -MAVOR . Flle NO• �� � CQunci �solution ; - ; �-��� Presented By Referred Committee: Date Out of Committee By Date J,� Whereas, the City of Saint Paul has a strong interest in preserving its air quality; and Whereas, areas throughout the metropolitan area either are or are suspected to be in violation of Clean Air Act standards; and Whereas, potential sanctions for violation of the Clean Air Act standards include withholding of highway funds and wastewater treatment grants; and Whereas, a metrowide vehicle inspection and maintennace program is currently the most effective known strategy to reduce carbon monoxide problems. Now Therefore Be It Resolved, that the City Council of the City of Saint Paul supports legislation developing a metropolitan vehicle inspection and maintenance program. COUNCILMEN Requested by Department of: Yeas DlrilOrid Nays Goswitz � In Favor Long d Rettman _ Against BY Scheibel Sonnen VJ].1SOn JAN - 7 1988 Form Approved by City Attorney Adopted by Council: Date ,,' Q ✓�-�- �- I�!!�!�C/��-- �z"3�'8� Certified Yass d y '1 Secr y By By A►pproved b Mavor: �s — �ov d y Mayoc for Su s ion to C�uncil By PlIBUSHED J A�� j s� 19�� Ma�nr� g nfflre DEPARTM�NT � �'���-3� N� _ ��41 Steve Proeschel CONTACT �� 298-4323 PHONE 12/31/87 DATE �Qi� �e � ASSIGN NUMBER FOR ROUTING ORDER (Clip Al1 Lacations for Siqnature): Department Director � Director of Management/Mayor Finance and Management Services Director� � � City Clerk Budget Director � City Attorney _ � WHAT WILL BE ACMIEVED BY TAKING ACTION ON THE ATTACHED MATEitIALS? (Purpose/ Rationale) : City lobbyists will be directed. to sugport legislation for metropolitan vehicle inspection and main�enance program. � COST/BENEFIT, BUDGETARY AND PERSONNEL IMPAf�TS ANTICIPATEDc A metropolitan vehicle inspection and maintenance program will reduce carbon monoxide emissions and reduce the 1ikelihood of federal sanctions on Saint Faul and the metropolitan area. FINANCING SOURCE AND BUDGET ACTIVITY NU{��R CHARGED OR CREDITED: (Mayor's signa- ture not re- Total Amount of "Transaction: quired if under � $10,000) Fundang Source• � Activity Number: . ATTACHMENTS (List and Number All Attachments) : DEPARTMENT REVIEW CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW Yes No Cnuncil Resolution Required? ' Resolution Required? Yes No Yes No Insurance Required? Insurance Sufficient? Yes No Yes No Insurance Attached: (SEE •REVERSE SIDE FOR INSTRUCTIONS) Revised 12/84 ��--��" 3� Briefing Paper: Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Background Under the Federal Clean Air Act, states and localities are required to meet ambient air quality standards for ozone and carbon monoxide. According to the Clean Air Act, governmental units which did not meet these standards by the December 31, 1987, deadline, may be penalized by sanctions including cutoff of highway funds, EPA air program grants and wastewater treatment construction grants, as well as a ban on any federal involvement in new projects (UDAG grants, etc. ) which could contribute to violations of the standard. In 1980, one intersection (Snelling and University Avenue) was found to be in violation of the Clean Air Act carbon monoxide standard. Several intersections in the vicinity have also been found to be in violation of the carbon monoxide standard. Sanctions upon Saint Paul or the Metropolitan Area were avoided when Congress recently extended the Clean Air Act deadlines to August, 1988. The City of Saint Paul has made a good faith effort to meet Clean Air Act standards. The City has worked closely with the Metropolitan Council and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in the development and subsequent revisions of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) to improve air quality in the area. The City of Saint Paul is also installing traffic signal progression systems to reduce traffic congestion and air quality violations. While the Snelling-University intersection is most commonly cited as violating Clean Air Act carbon monoxide standards, there is substantial evidence that this standard is being violated throughout the Metropolitan Area. In fact, at least 16 intersections throughout the region currently handle traffic levels equal to or greater than those intersections known to be in violation. A recent MnDOT modelling study of these intersections projected violations at each intersection. There is a growing consensus amongst the Metropolitan Council, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and local units of government that air quality problems are metropolitan in nature and that remedies to relieve these problems must be metrowide. The Environmental Protection Agency has urged the MPCA and Metropolitan Council to take an areawide approach to this problem. Almost every metropolitan region equal in size to the Twin Cities Area currently has a vehicle inspection and maintenance program to reduce auto emissions. Vehicle inspection and maintenance programs are thought to be the most effective way to reduce carbon monoxide. A typical program �; j ,�:��"-3 requires car owners to have their cars inspected annually to see if they are exceeding emissions limits. Cars failing such an inspection could be required to get a tune up or needed repairs. Status The Metropolitan Council and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will be introducing a metropolitan vehicle inspection and maintenance bill during the 1988 session. The Saint Paul Position The City of Saint Paul supports legislation to develop a metropolitan vehicle inspection and maintenance program to improve air quality.