DEPARTMENT: Office of Sustainability
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Douglas Melnick, Chief Sustainability Officer
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Air Quality - Employee Commuter Benefits Program Update
SUMMARY:
Briefing on a proposed employee commuter benefits ordinance for implementation.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On October 1, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a more stringent "health-based" air pollution standard of 70 parts per billion, impacting San Antonio's air quality attainment status. Air quality is a significant priority for City Council, as it has an impact on our community's public and economic health. Additionally, on October 9, 2013, Councilman Ray Lopez, District 6, issued a Council Consideration Request (CCR) for a comprehensive review of the City's air quality efforts.
ISSUE:
The Office of Sustainability staff has evaluated various opportunities to reduce air pollution by coordinating with multiple City departments, the Alamo Area Council of Governments and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Based on research from consultants (Environ), as well as national best practices, the Office of Sustainability is examining implementation of a suite of pollution reduction measures for City Council consideration.
City staff is proposing to further examine a citywide ordinance requiring private employers with more than one thousand full-time employees locally to offer at least one of three options to their employees. A fourth flex option is available if an employer is not within 1/4 mile of a VIA service route.
The proposed options are:
1) Employee-paid alternative transportation pretax benefit
2) Employer-paid direct transit subsidy benefit
3) Employer-provided vehicle for an employee carpool program
4) Flex option: a) Carpool and Bicycle Subsidies; b) Telework Program; c) Compressed Work Week
The goals of the proposed policy are to improve air quality by incentivizing San Antonio commuters ...
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