44.
Commissioners Court - Regular Session
- Meeting Date:
- 08/01/2017
- Title:
- actions on LIRAP program - AirCheckTexas - contract, exit and other
- Submitted For:
- Gary Boyd
- Submitted By:
- Gary Boyd, Parks
- Department:
- Parks
- Agenda Category:
- Regular Agenda Items
Information
Agenda Item
Discuss, consider and take appropriate action(s) regarding the Low Income Vehicle Repair Assistance, Retrofit, and Accelerated Vehicle Retirement Program (LIRAP) and related programs, to include, but not be limited to, withdrawal from such program(s).
Background
Williamson County voluntarily entered an emission testing program several years ago to assist the region in maintaining compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) as promolgated under the Clean Air Act of 1970, as amended, and administered by the Environmental Protection Agency. By voluntarily entering an emission testing program the County was authorized under the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to participate in the LIRAP program (and by extension to participate in Local Initiative Program grants or LIP).
Recent legislate developments have diminished the utility of the program, primarily by not upgrading program guidelines and statutory requirements. Current program requirements do not provide for efficient nor orderly use of funds collected for LIRAP . Under the LIRAP statutes an exit process must begin with the County Commissioners Court formally requesting discontinuance of fee collection. The ending of fee collection for LIRAP does not end the emission testing program which is a function of the annual vehicle inspection process as a part of annual vehicle registration. Upon notice to TCEQ the administrative lead time, per TCEQ, for discontinuance of the fee collection is a minimum of 120 days.
Timing of the exit such that the effective end date for fee collection falls into the 2018-2019 legislative biennium will provide Williamson County until August 31, 2019 to expend presently allocated funds. To facilitate this action the County will need to approve a contract amendment (Amendment Number 3) to Contract 582-12-20269.
Staff recommends the following actions: 1) Approve Amendment Number 3 to Contract 582-12-20269; 2) Authorize a notice of LIRAP exit effective immediately with fee collection to be discontinued at the earliest possible date.
Recent legislate developments have diminished the utility of the program, primarily by not upgrading program guidelines and statutory requirements. Current program requirements do not provide for efficient nor orderly use of funds collected for LIRAP . Under the LIRAP statutes an exit process must begin with the County Commissioners Court formally requesting discontinuance of fee collection. The ending of fee collection for LIRAP does not end the emission testing program which is a function of the annual vehicle inspection process as a part of annual vehicle registration. Upon notice to TCEQ the administrative lead time, per TCEQ, for discontinuance of the fee collection is a minimum of 120 days.
Timing of the exit such that the effective end date for fee collection falls into the 2018-2019 legislative biennium will provide Williamson County until August 31, 2019 to expend presently allocated funds. To facilitate this action the County will need to approve a contract amendment (Amendment Number 3) to Contract 582-12-20269.
Staff recommends the following actions: 1) Approve Amendment Number 3 to Contract 582-12-20269; 2) Authorize a notice of LIRAP exit effective immediately with fee collection to be discontinued at the earliest possible date.
Fiscal Impact
| From/To | Acct No. | Description | Amount |
|---|
Attachments
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| County Judge Exec Asst. | Wendy Coco | 07/26/2017 09:54 AM |
- Form Started By:
- gboyd
- Started On:
- 07/24/2017 01:11 PM
- Final Approval Date:
- 07/26/2017