Proposal:
Public Advisor’s Report
Synopsis:
This report highlights the Public Advisor, Local Government, Small Business Assistance and Economic Development activities for the month of October, 1996. Comprehensive reports on these efforts are set forth below in Sections I, II, III and IV, respectively.
Committee:
Not applicable.
Recommended Action:
Receive and file this report.
James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer
SECTION I - PUBLIC ADVISOR ACTIVITIES
Staff participated in the activities, programs and events listed below. A statistical report of these activities also is included.
Contact: La Ronda V. Bowen, Public Advisor, 909.396.3235
BUSINESS OUTREACH
OUTREACH FOR NEWLY-ADOPTED RULE 1171 - SOLVENT CLEANING OPERATIONS - AQMD staff, in conjunction with Stationary Source Compliance staff, met with representatives of various wastewater treatment facilities and regional water quality agencies to begin development of a unified outreach program to notify auto repair facilities of the requirement to switch to water-based solvent for their parts-cleaning operations. AQMD committed to spearhead this joint outreach program when the rule was adopted in order to alleviate concerns by water agencies that this air-pollution reduction measure might contribute to water quality problems if the dirty solvent is poured down the sewer rather than properly disposed of as hazardous waste.
AQMP PUBLIC CONSULTATION MEETING - At the request of Assemblywoman Grace Napolitano, AQMD conducted a public consultation meeting in Norwalk to discuss the Air Quality Management Plan with local businesses and residents. AQMD staff conducted an extensive outreach campaign including advertisements in the newspapers, public service announcements sent to radio and TV stations, and direct mail notification of nearly 2,500 businesses and interested parties within the cities of the 58th Assembly District.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION - AQMD is increasing the scope of its notification to businesses on new and amended rules. The District will procure mailing lists of all potentially interested businesses. Historically, such notification has been done for the initial rule workshop and subsequent mailings have gone only to those who expressed interest. It is hoped that this increased outreach will result in greater participation in rule development activities.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
VISITING DIGNITARIES - AQMD staff coordinated the visits of four foreign delegations during the month of October. They were as follows:
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1996 (Thailand) - A 12-member delegation of researchers and policy makers from Bangkok, hosted by the World Environment Center, visited with Stationary Source Compliance staff for an overview of RECLAIM and Applied Science and Technology staff for a tour of the chemistry lab.
MONDAY; OCTOBER 7, 1996 (France); A 75-member delegation of Transcet, the Paris transportation planning agency, met with Transportation Programs Director Catherine Wasikowski on alternatives to work trip reduction plans;
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1996 (Brazil) - Francesco Palombo of Petrobras, the state-run Brazilian oil company, met with Stationary Source Compliance staff on refinery and energy issues and;
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1996 (Canada) - Twelve members of Parliament’s Senate Committee on Energy, The Environment and Natural Resources met with Executive Officer James Lents and members of Technology Advancement, Planning and Stationary Source Compliance staffs for overviews of reformulated fuel policies, the 1997 AQMP and RECLAIM;
SPEAKERS BUREAU - AQMD’s Speakers Bureau staff coordinated five presentations by AQMD staff to outside organizations. Presentations were made by staff during the month of October to the following organizations: ATUA of Los Angeles (Oct. 1); Leadership Manhattan Beach (Oct. 14); Sta-Lube, Inc., of Montebello (Oct. 15);Aire Rite of Huntington Beach (Oct. 17); and Benjamin Franklin Elementary School in Riverside (Oct. 24).
REGULATION VII OUTREACH - On Saturday, October 19, AQMD staff gave a presentation on the changes to Regulation VII - Emergencies - at a regional conference on school-age child care, hosted by the Child Development Department at Long Beach City College. Over 300 school-age child care providers from throughout Southern California attended a dozen breakout sessions. Staff made two presentations at the morning conference.
RIDESHARE FAIRS - Rideshare Month was the month of October. AQMD staff coordinated AQMD’s participation in 16 rideshare fairs throughout the month of October. AQMD brochures and materials promoting ridesharing, how to reduce air pollution and information on smog and health were provided to employees of companies throughout the basin. Staff was also available to answer questions and provide additional information at nearly ever site. Sites included: Fountain Care Center, Orange; The Walt Disney Company, Anaheim; GTE Services, El Segundo; DWP, Los Angeles; Transamerica Life Companies, Los Angeles; MTI, Anaheim; Maguire Thomas Partners, Los Angeles; Santa Monica Transportation Management Association; Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena; League of California Cities, Anaheim; City of Orange; and ETC Network, Los Angeles.
OTHER ISSUES
The entire Public Advisor staff has relocated to make way for the new Clean Technology Center which will showcase products that exceed current air quality requirements and reduce air pollution. PADV staff are still on the ground floor south building, but just a bit further east from where they were originally.
|
PUBLIC ADVISOR’S MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT 1996 |
|
Business Outreach |
JAN |
FEB |
MAR |
APR |
MAY |
JUN |
JUL |
AUG |
SEP |
OCT |
NOV |
DEC |
TOTAL |
|
Business Meetings |
8 |
7 |
3 |
16 |
9 |
7 |
12 |
16 |
6 |
13 | |||
|
Speakers Bureau |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
2 | |||
|
Events/Conferences |
1 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
1 | |||
|
Chamber Meetings |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 | |||
|
Fee Review Requests |
15 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
5 | |||
|
Customer Surveys |
28 |
26 |
40 |
86 |
28 |
88 |
87 |
16 |
31 |
34 | |||
|
Public Workshops |
2 |
5 |
10 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
10 |
13 | |||
|
Public Notices |
4 |
8 |
8 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
8 | |||
|
Public Education | |||||||||||||
|
Community Meetings |
5 |
7 |
7 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
3 |
2 | |||
|
Speakers Bureau |
2 |
10 |
1 |
18 |
8 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
6 | |||
|
Events/Conferences |
4 |
2 |
4 |
35 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
33 |
6 |
2 | |||
|
Reg. VII Presentations |
4 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 | |||
|
Dignitaries Hosted |
3 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 | |||
|
District Tours |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 | |||
|
Public Info. Center: | |||||||||||||
|
Materials Requested |
640 |
589 |
532 |
395 |
344 |
315 |
399 |
569 |
465 |
460 | |||
|
Total Calls* |
33806 |
28972 |
28627 |
34114 |
40628 |
30922** |
53280 |
55607 |
24705 |
35431 | |||
|
Avg. Calls Per Day |
1090 |
999 |
923 |
1137 |
1310 |
1719 |
1794 |
823 |
1143 |
*The District uses an automated phone system that provides callers with self-service access to information on meetings, workshops, air quality readings and forecasts by simply entering their zip codes. Callers can also request rules or publications, obtain updates on District programs or speak to a public information representative (during regular business hours) for answers to detailed questions. The system is operational 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week.
**Data for total calls during the month of June is incomplete because of a computer malfunction June 6-24.
SECTION II - LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES
Highlights of the activities of this reporting period are listed below.
Contact: Larry Rhinehart, Intergovernmental Affairs Director, 909.396.2898
or Oscar Abarca, Intergovernmental Affairs Director, 909.396.3242.
LEGISLATIVE OUTREACH
Intergovernmental Affairs Directors met or had contact with the following legislators and/or their staffs regarding air quality related issues:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT OUTREACH
Intergovernmental Affairs Directors made presentations on AQMD programs to the following city councils, and attended/participated in meetings with the following governmental organizations:
LOS ANGELES COUNTY - WESTERN REGION
LOS ANGELES COUNTY - EASTERN REGION
ORANGE COUNTY
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
OTHER
As a result of their interaction with the organizations listed above, the Intergovernmental Affairs Directors communicated with the following officials by phone or in person:
LOS ANGELES COUNTY - WESTERN REGION
LOS ANGELES COUNTY - EASTERN REGION
ORANGE COUNTY
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
OTHER
Intergovernmental Affairs Directors also met or had contact with the following local and state agency, business and community representatives regarding air quality related issues:
The Intergovernmental Affairs Directors continued to provide administrative oversight for the AB 2766 Discretionary Fund and Subvention Fund programs. The IGA Directors also attended/ participated in the following activities:
SECTION III - SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES
Highlights of the activities for October, specifically related to the Permit Assistance Centers and the loan guaranty program, are described below. The statistical report of all staff activities is also included. Please note that the format for the statistical report has been changed to make it clearer and more reflective of all office activities.
Contact Lee Lockie, Director, 909.396.2390
PERMIT ASSISTANCE CENTER HIGHLIGHTS FOR OCTOBER
The Small Business Assistance Office (SBAO) staff met with Stationary Source Compliance (SSC) staff to discuss some of their new procedures for expediting permit processing. SSC has developed a six-month pilot project which should ease the filing of permits by applicants. As part of that project, simplified forms are now available to the public through the Internet and are available to internal staff on the q:/drive. Over-the-counter permit service is also available to the public in the lobby of the headquarters building. This service allows routine permits to construct to be issued to the applicant within approximately 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the completeness of the application. If the six-month pilot program is successful, SSC plans to convert this counter into a permitting center. This will allow SBAO representatives, who had previously been assisting customers with permit applications at headquarters, to redirect their efforts to Permit Assistance Centers more convenient to certain businesses.
Gas Company-Energy Resource Center - Downey
Staff is continuing to implement the marketing plan for this center. The initial phase of the plan includes contacting and advising neighboring cities of the assistance available at the center.
Gas Company account executives have been monitoring responses to the Air Quality Assistance Fund brochure that is currently being provided to Gas Company industrial customers.
Staff is working on revising and updating the Memorandum of Understanding between the Gas Company and AQMD to reflect the current operating schedule.
SBAO staff was part of a panel discussion at the Hazardous Waste Expo which was held at the center. Issues relating to Rule 1166 were discussed.
SBAO staff is working with the City of Santa Fe Springs by providing permitting assistance to a chemical company that is planning to relocate from Los Angeles to Santa Fe Springs.
Orange County Permit Assistance Centers - Santa Ana and Lake Forest
SBAO staff arranged for a tour of the headquarters building and a briefing on the permit system program for Danian Hopp, Director of the Orange County Permit Assistance Centers. Staff is developing a similar orientation meeting for the directors of the other permit assistance centers who have requested to learn more about the AQMD’s permitting process and rules and regulations.
Cal-EPA has opened a new one-stop permit assistance center in Lake Forest. A telephone will be located at the center to provide a toll-free direct-dial line to the Small Business Assistance Office in Diamond Bar. This phone is for business customers to use when they need assistance with air quality permits.
A display area will also be set up where customers can help themselves to permit applications and other Small Business Assistance outreach material.
Business Revitalization Center (BRC) - Baldwin Hills
Staff will be increasing their time at this center to one full day per week instead of a half day. The BRC has been assigned by the state to oversee all the environmental and permitting work with McDonnell Douglas on the Torrance Redevelopment Project. The BRC has asked SBAO staff for assistance because of the complex permitting issues involving Rule 1166 (soil decontamination) and toxic hot spots.
Los Angeles City Hall
SBAO is considering staffing this center on Mondays, which is the busiest day of the week at L.A. City Hall.
Staff completed technical audits of 41 gasoline stations for the Charles Company. This company is in the process of buying and redeveloping all Cal Target Enterprise facilities and needs to determine which equipment requires permits from the AQMD.
Inland Empire Permit Assistance Center - Ontario
The new director, Shereef Aref, comes to this center from his position in management with the Department of Corrections. Small Business Assistance Office Staff Specialist Sherri Fairbanks is assigned to this office one day per week. Sherri is working with him to increase community awareness of the center.
In October a roundtable discussion was held at Chino City Hall to evaluate requirements for expansion of a printing facility.
Sherri is also conducting cross-training for other center personnel on general air quality permitting issues.
Coachella Valley Permit Assistance Center - Palm Desert
Inquiries are continuing to average approximately two per day at this center. New small business activities remain relatively low. Three clearance letters were authorized at this center during this reporting period. The Stationary Source Compliance staff person, assigned to assist SBAO at this office, performed three technical consultations for facilities in the Palm Desert area this month. This center received one request for a burn permit during this reporting period.
AIR QUALITY ASSISTANCE FUND
During the month of October, the consultant for the Air Quality Assistance Fund (AQAF) Program, Bartik, Cordeiro, and Associates (BCA) completed preliminary screening for funding for six businesses subject to AQMD rules. These companies represent a wide variety of small and medium-sized businesses including printing, dry-cleaning, autobody, glass manufacturing, and plating. SBAO staff believes that this recent increased interest in the AQAF results from our newly implemented marketing strategy. Although not all of these companies may ultimately draw from our guaranty fund, we are in the process of assisting all of them in obtaining alternate financial funding for all of their projects.
SBAO staff, with the assistance of the consultant, have also attempted to vary the scope of financial institutions participating in the program. Recently they met with loan representatives from Transworld Bank in Woodland Hills, Metro Bank, Southern California Business Development which is an association of local banks, and the California Association of Local Economic Development. Some of these lenders agreed to finance without the loan guaranty; and, as such, we were able to provide alternate financing sources for customers who did not meet our initial eligibility qualification screening for the program.
To further diversify our marketing strategies for the program, staff has developed AQAF informational materials packages for inclusion in the curriculum of the existing Certified Permitting Professionals (CPP) college training program. We expect these outreach efforts to generate increased awareness of the program and new loan guaranty applications. We hope that this privatization effort will be successful in identifying more businesses in need of financial assistance.
OTHER ISSUES
Staff participated in the Association of Woodworking and Furnishing Suppliers (AWFS) Home and Commercial Fair in Pasadena. AWFS is the largest furniture and woodworking trade association in the United States. Approximately 3,000 people attended this event. The majority of requests that staff received were from businesses that were interested in the District’s position on methylene chloride.
A list of the permit assistance centers, their addresses and phone numbers was printed on page six of the November 1996 edition of the AQMD Advisor. Approximately 16,046 people are mailed this publication every month.
SBAO will continue to supply Stationary Source Compliance staff with brochures describing our loan guaranty program. These brochures will be accompanied by a "buckslip" advertising bilingual assistance to applicants. This assistance will be available in the SBAO office.
The Small Business Assistance Office has been relocated to make room for the Clean Technology Center. The office is now located directly behind the Clean Technology Center with reception access from the lobby.
Staff is continuing to work with the Cities of Torrance and Compton on developing a program to support both cities with "one-stop" permit assistance for local businesses in their jurisdictions.
SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE OFFICE ACTIVITY
These totals are not cumulative. This graph is designed to show the general types of assistance provided.
Definitions
Rule Interpretations - assistance in interpreting whether permits are necessary and/or whether a business is operating in compliance with AQMD rules.
Permit Applications - assistance in completing permit applications and calculating fees.
Clearance Letters - state law prohibits Building Departments from issuing a final certificate of occupancy unless all requirements of the local air quality agency are met.
On-site Consultations - technical consultation provided at one’s place of business.
Financial Assistance - screening businesses planning to purchase air pollution control equipment to determine eligibility for loan guaranties.
New Business Roundtables - attending multi-agency meetings with new or expanding businesses.
Outreach activities - participating in meetings/conferences on small business concerns (includes Chambers of Commerce, local governments, technical seminars). This includes assisting businesses to become involved in rule development.
Bilingual Assistance - providing all or part of our services in languages other than English.
SECTION IV -
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & BUSINESS RETENTION (EDBR) ACTIVITIES
Highlights of the activities conducted during this reporting period are described below.
Contact: La Ronda Bowen, Public Advisor, 909.396.3235
Larry Watkins, EDBR, 909.396.3246
Roberta Rigg, EDBR, 909.396.2659.
ACTIVITIES
Activities during this reporting period included participation in 2 Red Team meetings and 5 community outreach projects. Assistance was provided to various facilities wanting to expand or consolidate their operations. Companies were informed of emerging new pollution reduction technologies as well as technology transfer opportunities. EDBR staff also participated in 5 different public outreach meetings by making presentations and providing information to interested parties. The total number of participants reached through these 5 meetings exceeds 606 people.
Open Items (business development and retention efforts in process) 49
Completed Items (decision to stay, expand, permit assistance, etc.) 6
Outreach and meetings with companies 11
AMERICAN RACING WHEELS
This company is a manufacturer of aluminum wheels for automotive applications. They are currently in an expansion mode. Their concerns centered around the common misconception that being environmentally conscientious would preclude them from a high productivity, high quality manufacturing line. Staff explained about new, low NOx and high performance combustion equipment that would allow for increased production and high quality parts. In addition, staff experts discussed production methods that would also increase energy efficiency and decrease material losses known as dross.
POMONA ECONOMIC SUMMIT
The second annual Pomona Economic Summit was held in October 24, and was an overwhelming success. Approximately 200 people participated, including city officials, local business persons, community representatives and educators, in what is destined to be an annual collaborative community development planning process. Staff participated on a what turned out to be the best attended panel explaining regulatory issues and answering questions from the public. Questions ranged from permitting, to financing, to the AQMP. A number of follow-up materials have been requested by the business community
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