88-33 WH17E - CITV CLERK
PINK - FINANCE G.ITY OF SAINT PAUL Council �j.
CANARV - DEPARTMENT ` �5 .
BI.UE -MAVOR . Flle NO• ��
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CQunci �solution ; -
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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
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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
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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
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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.