1992-038City of Southlake, Texas
RESOLUTION NO. 92-38
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CIT
OF SOUTHLARE, TEXAS, APPROVING A POLICY
POSITION ON VEHICLE INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM; ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Dallas -Fort Worth ozone non -attainment area
consists of Collin, Denton, Dallas and Tarrant Counties; and
WHEREAS, Collin and Denton Counties must implement at least a
basic" auto inspection and maintenance program by 1994 to meet
Clean Air Act requirements; and
WHEREAS, the existing "basic" inspection and maintenance
program in Dallas and Tarrant Counties has a high rate of non -
participation from car owners and needs better enforcement to be
effective; and
WHEREAS, the North Central Texas Council of Governments
supports cooperative, cost-effective approaches to air quality
programs and has adopted a resolution approving a policy position
on vehicle inspection and maintenance program; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Southlake supports
the position taken by the North Central Texas Council of
Governments; and,
WHEREAS, other options proposed by the Texas Air Control Board
have merit but do not include a commitment to enhance the current
program for greater effectiveness; and,
WHEREAS, the Dallas -Fort Worth ozone non -attainment area is
not required at this time to implement the other more stringent
options recommended by the Texas Air Control Board.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF SOUTHLARE, THAT:
Section 1. The City of Southlake adopts the Consensus
Position (see attachment 1) developed by the Air Quality Advisory
Committee of the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
Section 2. This resolution shall be in effect immediately
upon its adoption.
Passed and approved this 1st day of September, 1992.
ATTEST:
City Secretary
92-38.RES/0RD&RES/B
Mayor
Attachment 1
North Central Texas Council of Governments
Air Quality Advisory Committee
CONSENSUS POSITION
AUTO INSPECTION & MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
DALLAS/FORT WORTH METROPLEX
June 10, 1992
o This region supports a cooperative, cost-effective approach to reach air quality goals.
o The selection of an I/M program should be undertaken in conjunction with other control strategies, as
part of a comprehensive State Implementaion Plan development process. Cost effectiveness of VM
program should be developed.
o Under the Clean Air Act, moderate non -attainment areas, such as the 4 -county Dallas -Fort Worth area,
are not required to implement centralized "high-tech" programs at this time.
o Test operators now using the 2 -speed test "Bar 90" technology in Dallas and Tarrant Counties need an
opportunity to recoup their investment over the next 3-4 years.
o Decentralized programs can significantly improve emissions reductions if enforcement compliance
reaches 90 percent.
o Current timetable is proposed by TACE, based upon TACB & Department of Public Safety preference
for centralized system in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
o TACB should consider funding and developing a more effective enforcement program to support the
current decentralized network, instead of switching now in favor of new technology. Nearly $20 million
a year is returned to the general fund from test fees in our area, only a small portion of which is now
allocated in return to enforcement of the test program.
o TACB should await published guidance from EPA and evaluate the effectiveness of other centralized
high-tech" systems before recommending such programs in Dallas/Fort Worth. In addition, MOBILE 5.0
software is forthcoming, with effectiveness to be quantified with its use.
o Existing options reduce the incentives for a nine -county integrated program.
o The effectiveness of the "high-tech" test has not been demonstrated (i.e. would more vehicles fail this
particular test?)
o Some options would require up to four trips: safety check, initial emissions inspection, repair if needed,
and completed inspection. This would result in great inconvenience to car owners.
o The TACB options propose confusing systems based on model years and various locations. A
confusing system would hurt the credibility of the program.
0 There is no clear guidance from State at this time whether the Dallas -Fort Worth area needs to focus on
NOx testing and control strategy. This issue may be clarified in the next 12-18 months.
o There is no demonstrated effectiveness for the pressure test. If the test is indeed necessary, options
other than testing as part of a centralized emissions test could be considered, for example, by asking
car manufacturers and dealers to conduct the pressure test.
o National data from EPA indicate that 10 percent of vehicles produce nearly 50 percent of mobile source
emissions. A cost effective program should target these gross polluters.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Texas Legislature should provide sufficient resources & powers to the Texas Air Control Board to fund
aggressive enforcement of the decentralized program through the Department of Public Safety and local
air pollution control programs.
2. The Dallas/Fort Worth region should pursue the option of Collin and Denton Counties implementing a
decentralized inspection and maintenance program.
3. The perimeter counties of the Dallas -Forth metropolitan region (i.e., Parker, Rockwall, Johnson, Ellis,
Kaufman) should be asked to consider opting for some form of a basic I/M program.
4. TACB should consider implementation of a decentralized computer system, with real-time enforcement
capability, to reduce/remove the discrepancy with centralized networks. If the TACB needs additional
funding to implement the computer system, then the TACB should seek funding from the Legislature.