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Benicia ordinance would add citizen oversight commission and city-run air monitoring
Summary
The proposed ordinance establishes a citizen Industrial Safety Oversight Commission, directs development of a community-based air quality monitoring program with near-real-time public data, and authorizes a fee schedule to fund implementation; council asked staff for fee analysis before final adoption.
Chief Josh Chadwick told the council the ordinance creates a seven-member citizen oversight commission to "assist in the development, oversight, and management of a new air quality monitoring program" and to conduct open meetings to review incidents and annual reports. The draft assigns the commission duties to improve public notification and to provide recommendations for future ordinance edits.
The ordinance also directs deployment of additional air-quality monitors at strategic locations across the city with data publicly available in near-real time. Chadwick said the city would not include the monitoring program in the initial fee schedule and staff hopes to identify other funding sources (settlement funds were mentioned as a potential source but are not guaranteed). Council instructed staff to complete a fee study and return recommended fees with the second draft so council and affected businesses know anticipated costs before final adoption.
