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Air quality, Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), Meeting reflections

Meeting Notes – April 9, 2024

MEETING NOTES
APRIL 9, 2024

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Our April general membership meeting was held on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 7pm, via Zoom.

AIR DISTRICT PANEL

Our panel included BAAQMD‘s Executive Officer/Air Pollution Control Officer, Dr. Philip Fine, formerly a presidential appointment to the EPA and the South Coast Air Management Quality District; BAAQMD Board of Directors member and Benicia Mayor Steve Young; and BAAQMD’s Community Advisory Council Co-Chair Ken Szutu, who also founded the  Citizen Air Monitoring Network in Vallejo before serving as its director.  Other staff members of the Air District joined us as well.

Mayor and Board Member Steve Young described the role of the  BAAQMD Board and its membership; he also gave examples of some of the broader policy issues the Board is involved with.

Executive Director Dr. Fine described his role as director and explained what the Air District does and how it is structured.

Ken Szuto described the role and activities of the Community Advisory Council.

All panel members answered questions from the Steering Committee and from the audience.

Meeting Recording Link

Here is a link to the video recording of the panel discussion from this important meeting.

 

Air monitoring, Air quality, Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), Meeting notices

Our Next Meeting – Tuesday, April 9

MEMBER MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2024, 7:00 PM

ZOOM MEETING

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Dear members and supporters—

Our April 9th meeting at 7pm will focus on the quality of our air.  As the weather warms up and we start spending more time outdoors there is no better time of year to have this program, especially in light of a recent Level-3 Incident at our local refinery.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), which many refer to as simply “the Air District,” is our local regulatory agency when it comes to air pollution.  It’s been around for decades, but its mission and activities are still a mystery to many.  Luckily, we have secured an amazing panel of Air District representatives to guide us through what it does, how it does it, and what it’s working on to keep Bay Area residents healthy and safe.

Air District Panel

We are pleased to have as our panel BAAQMD’s Executive Officer/Air Pollution Control Officer, Dr. Philip Fine, formerly a presidential appointment to the EPA and the South Coast Air Management Quality District; Deputy Executive Officer of Public Affairs Viet Tran, Board of Directors member and Benicia Mayor Steve Young; and BAAQMD’s Community Advisory Council Co-Chair Ken Szutu, who also founded the Citizen Air Monitoring Network in Vallejo before serving as its director.  We also expect that other staff members of the Air District will join us.

Terry Mollica will also provide a brief update about the status of the Benicia Industrial Safety Ordinance.

Renew Your Membership, Vote in Upcoming Endorsements

I want to remind everyone that it is not too late to renew your membership.  This is an election year and we hope to have a robust program around the election.  Only people who have been members for 60 days prior to the endorsement in question are allowed to vote.  We could do our first endorsements in August.  The mayor, city council and school board will all have open seats so it is important you join up in time to vote for your preferred candidates.  Visit our membership page on our website for more information.

Zoom Details

The link and sign-in information for most PDB membership meetings in 2024 is below. For the most part you can use this link, meeting ID, and passcode through 2024.  

Topic: PDB General Meeting
Time: April 9, 2024 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86273821941?pwd=WktDazJLaTJHVTBPNWd3dzlXaGd2Zz09

Meeting ID: 862 7382 1941
Passcode: 528756

One tap mobile
+16699006833,,86273821941#,,,,*528756# US (San Jose)
+16694449171,,86273821941#,,,,*528756# US

We look forward to seeing you Tuesday, April 9 at 7:00 pm via Zoom!

Uncategorized

California Forever – Solano Together Zoom Forum Recording

Meeting Recording

Below is a link to the video recording of the Progressive Democrats of Benicia’s meeting last Tuesday with California Forever and Solano Together.  The meeting was great with an interchange of ideas between both sides.

Our speakers were Gabriel Metcalf, Head of Planning for California Forever, Chris Rico, Solano County Economic Development President/CEO, Sadie Wilson, Solano Together/Director of Planning and Research for Greenbelt Alliance, and Bob Berman, Solano Together/Chair of Solano County Orderly Growth Committee.

The participants presented the problems that California Together may address and may create.  Christopher Cabaldon, who is running for State Senate in this district and was an audience member that night, also provided information about the problems of having an initiative also be a development agreement and how in his opinion that is not possible.

This is a timely topic since there was a signature gatherer yesterday at Safeway to get signatures for California Forever to change our current law prohibiting growth out of city boundaries, and that outlines their proposals to move forward. Please feel free to share this link widely.

Click the image to be redirected to the Zoom recording. You may have to enter the passcode, which is MR5b^@eF

Here is the link to the video recording of this important meeting! If asked, enter the passcode: MR5b^@eF

Next Meeting: Tuesday, April 9, 7:00 pm on Zoom

Don’t miss this important meeting!