APCD board signs CARB at-berth MOU for Port Hueneme; approves contracts, grants and 2025 rule calendar

The Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board on Dec. 1 received an update from the Air Pollution Control Officer, approved an agreement with the California Air Resources Board to enforce at‑berth vessel opacity limits at Port Hueneme, authorized a $95,000 increase to a software services contract, changed the funding source for one Carl Moyer grant, approved the district's 2025 rule development calendar and took several routine administrative actions.

The board voted to approve a memorandum of understanding with the California Air Resources Board that will allow the district to inspect and enforce at‑berth vessel opacity requirements at ports within its jurisdiction, including Port Hueneme. Keith Macias, compliance division manager, told the board the CARB at‑berth regulation affects container, passenger and refrigerated cargo ships now and will add tanker vessels in 2027, and that the regulation implements opacity standards referenced in the Health and Safety Code (transcript reference). The board moved and seconded the item and voted in favor.

The agreement responds to long‑standing state rules intended to reduce ship emissions in California ports; Macias said enforcement under the MOU will be focused on vessels at berth or at anchor in California's regulated waters. Supervisor Giro asked whether the Port of Hueneme had commented; Macias said staff had not seen direct comments and noted the port has been focused on shore power repairs after storm damage and is undertaking a multi‑year, multi‑million dollar shore‑power restoration effort.

In his executive officer comments, Ali Ghasemi provided a summary of personnel, permitting, enforcement and incentives. Ghasemi said APCD was completing interviews to fill vacancies in monitoring and planning divisions and expected to fill positions by early next year. He reported the district was awarded $275,000 in Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) funds from a California Air Resources Board settlement with HDK Plastic Factory Ltd. USA; those funds will be used for the district's "Blue Whale Blue Sky" program, he said. Ghasemi also reported year‑to‑date fiscal comparisons through Nov. 30 showing expenditures lower relative to budget (31% lower) and revenues lower (28% lower), and he summarized permitting and enforcement trends, monitoring station audit results and new incentive programs including electric vehicle charging incentives along State Route 126 and a cleaner shelter in South Oxnard.

During public comment, Ventura County resident Taylor Black urged the board not to award a raise to Ali Ghasemi while citing county affordability and internal staffing concerns. Black said a manager in the district had performed poorly and that Ghasemi had hired a retired annuitant, paid with public funds, to provide part‑time training and suggested co‑management rather than replacing that manager. Black said those personnel issues had lowered morale and led to staff departures; the speaker requested the board consider those concerns before acting on any raise. Several of Black's remarks and Ghasemi's operational updates were submitted during the public comment and officer comment portions of the agenda.

The board approved amendment number five to a professional services contract with CIM Welles Enterprises for software development and support services. Staff said the amendment increases the not‑to‑exceed amount by $95,000 to a total not to exceed $375,000, extends the contract term to Dec. 31, 2025, and raises the contractor hourly rate to $154.50. The presenter said the original contract (July 1, 2021–June 30, 2022) was for $54,000 and that prior amendments brought the current total to $280,000; the board approved the amendment after discussion and a motion to approve.

On grants and program administration, the board approved adding Holly Galbraith, Air Quality Specialist II, as a primary advisor for the Air Quality Improvement Fund (also referred to in board materials as the Clean Air Fund), which is held in trust by the Ventura County Community Foundation and managed by the district to award grants that reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases. The board also approved a correction to funding for an Aurora Berry Farms tractor replacement project: staff concluded one of three tractors was ineligible for Carl Moyer funds because its rated horsepower was below the 25‑horsepower minimum; the board approved moving $9,249 of that tractor's funding to Reliant Energy Mitigation funds, per prior board authorization to use those mitigation funds when Carl Moyer guidelines are not met.

The board received and filed a status report on the district's application for state subvention funds submitted to CARB on Sept. 17; staff estimated the district's subvention at about $189,500 and reminded the board of prior authorization policies (board actions from Dec. 13, 1994 and Jan. 11, 2000 were referenced in staff remarks). The board also approved the Ventura County APCD 2025 rule development calendar, a statutory requirement under Health and Safety Code provisions discussed in the staff report.

The board received a presentation on the district's new logo and design variants from Karen Greening, public information officer; the presentation included rationale for the shield shape and layered elements representing county geography and atmospheric circulation. The item was receive‑and‑file; board members provided design feedback regarding color contrast on dark backgrounds.

The board approved a motion to cancel the Jan. 14, 2025 meeting and concluded with customary holiday remarks. The board then moved into closed session on the published closed‑session item; staff said no reportable action was anticipated.

Ending: The board conducted routine oversight and administrivia alongside one substantive new enforcement agreement with CARB and several finance and program management votes. Staff indicated ongoing work on vacancy hiring, rule development, incentive programs and monitoring; several items will return to the board for further tracking in 2025.