Clean-Air Proposal Results in Show of Discontent, Anger

San Diego area businesses expressed concern and anger Wednesday over a controversial plan to clean the county’s air, a proposal they charged would make their employees foot the bill for the county’s air pollution problem.

“It’s ridiculous,” said Maura Kearin, employee transportation coordinator with First Capital Life, an insurance company in Sorrento Mesa. She estimated the program would cost her company more than $12,000 to start. “We are in an area with no public transportation. . . . this is just not feasible, not workable.”

Said Mary McCarthy, community relations director at Seaport Village: “We’re being held responsible for smog we didn’t create and have no control over.”

Kearin and McCarthy were among hundreds who attended the San Diego Air Pollution Control District’s first public hearing on a proposal that seeks to meet state clean-air standards by decreasing locally produced smog.

At the three-hour hearing at the Towne & Country Convention Center, some people called the proposal, which would eliminate free parking for many workers, a “parking tax.” Others simply called it “ludicrous.”

“I just don’t trust it,” said Edwin Pacheo, assistant vice president for administration at SAIC, a research company with hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracts.

Bob Goggin, an air pollution district spokesman, acknowledged that the proposal would likely chafe many--and that is why officials are seeking input. But, he said, local pollution statistics indicate something must be done.

California’s Clean Air Act mandates that San Diego County reduce key air pollutants-- hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides--by 65% by the year 2000.

“We are looking for comments and solutions,” he said. “Like it or not, we are required by the state to develop a plan. . . . Roughly, more than 80% of commute trips are people driving to and from work. This is not set in concrete, that’s why we’re asking for comment.”

The proposal, which will go to the County Board of Supervisors July 9, would affect employers of 11 or more.

Judging by public comment Wednesday, the most controversial element of the plan is one that would eliminate free parking and cost employees no less than $50 a month if they drive to work alone. Two years into program, the parking fee would jump to $100 a month if employers failed to encourage a fraction if their employees to car-pool and ride public transportation.

But, Goggin said, employees would not be charged for parking if companies met specified targets. He said companies already complying with air pollution standards would be exempt from the proposal.

The plan would also require employers to provide a monthly public transit subsidy equal to 50% of the transit fare. The subsidy could increase from $40 to $60 in 1991-92 and to $100 in the year 2000, according to the district.

In an effort to encourage employees to walk or ride bikes to work, employers would be asked to install bike lockers or racks.

The employer’s administrative costs of such measures would range anywhere from $50 to $800 a year, the district contends. Furthermore, as the proposal stands, an additional charge of $40 a year per employee would be required to raise $100 million by the year 2000, for mass transit costs.

“All we’re asking people to change is how they drive to and from work,” Goggin said. “Cars are 90% less polluting than 30 years ago. The problem in San Diego is that there are a million more new people driving, making more trips and driving further than ever in the past. There will be another million people here by 2005. We’re just trying to catch up and get a handle on what’s coming up.”

Three more public hearings will be held in the next week: 9 a.m. today at El Cajon City Council chambers; 10 a.m. Friday at Joslan Center in San Marcos; 10 a.m. Monday at Chula Vista City Council chambers.

More public hearings will be held the first week of June.