R-09-02-12-10F5 - 2/12/2009RESOLUTION NO. R -09-02-12-10F5
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS TO
IMPLEMENT EMISSION REDUCTION ACTIONS TO ASSIST IN CLEAN
AIR EFFORTS AND TO MAINTAIN WILLIAMSON COUNTY'S
DESIGNATION AS "IN ATTAINMENT" WITH REGARD TO GROUND
LEVEL OZONE STANDARDS
WHEREAS, the citizens of the City of Round Rock and of
Williamson County recognize the value of and are conscious of the
need for clean air; and
WHEREAS, new ozone standards as promulgated by the US
Environmental Protection Agency expose Williamson County and its
citizens to possible designation as a non -attainment area under the
new standards; and
WHEREAS, current and ongoing efforts of Williamson County, its
communities, and other communities to use approved emission
reduction measures, including enhanced vehicle inspection and
maintenance programs, provided support to the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality to omit Williamson County from a proposed list
of non -attainment counties; and
WHEREAS, concerted efforts to reduce ozone -forming emissions by
the citizens, communities, schools and industry in Williamson County
during the April through October ozone season will help preclude
Williamson County being listed as non -attainment for 2009 and future
years; and
WHEREAS, a designation of non -attainment will inhibit local
flexibility in planning and development and will create negative
economic impacts to the citizens of the City of Round Rock and of
Williamson County for up to twenty years; Now Therefore
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK,
TEXAS,
That the City of Round Rock affirms its commitment to helping
reduce ozone -forming emissions by implementing actions that are
accepted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in line
with existing reduction measures to help voluntarily secure an
ongoing designation of "in attainment" under the National Ambient
Air Quality Standards for Ground Level Ozone.
That the City Council hereby finds and declares that written
notice of the date, hour, place and subject of the meeting at which
this Resolution was adopted was posted and that such meeting was
open to the public as required by law at all times during which this
Resolution and the subject matter hereof were discussed, considered
and formally acted upon, all in accordance with and as required by
the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, as
amended.
RESOLVED on this the 12th day of the month of February, 2009.
ATTEST:
SwviitA, liti2Axte
SARA L. WHITE, City Secretary
2
Ce -)evi ✓li
ALAN MCGRAW, Mayor
City of Round Rock, Texas
DATE: February 4, 2009
SUBJECT: City Council Meeting— February 12, 2009
ITEM: 10F5. Consider a resolution affirming the City of Round Rock's commitment to
assist in emission reduction actions toward securing a voluntary ongoing
"in attainment" designation for Williamson County.
Department: Transportation Services
Staff Person: Tom Martin, Director of Transportation Services
John Dean
Justification:
This resolution will indicate the City of Round Rock's commitment to work with Williamson
County and other area entities to take all reasonable steps to increase public awareness and to
limit the production of ozone precursor emissions with a goal of obtaining an "attainment"
designation from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Funding:
Cost: N/A
Source of funds: N/A
Outside Resources: N/A
Background Information:
Ozone is a ground level pollutant which adversely affects the health of many individuals,
including young children and the elderly, as well as those with breathing ailments such as
asthma and emphysema. To protect the health of these individuals, the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has set the threshold limit for ozone at 75 parts per billion (measured
over a three year running average); areas which exceed this measurement may be designated
as "non -attainment".
The EPA is set to designate the attainment status of the Austin -Round Rock Metropolitan
Statistical Area in March of 2010. The upcoming ozone season (April through October) will play
a crucial role in this designation; a non -attainment designation will have numerous undesirable
consequences (including federal approval of roadway projects, mandatory emission reduction
measures, and emission offsets for new industries) which are likely to have a direct economic
impact on those entities within the non -attainment area.
Public Comment: None