Public Advisor's Report

BOARD MEETING DATE: June 14, 1996

AGENDA NO. 11

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 April, 1996. Comprehensive reports on these efforts are set forth below in Sections I, II, III and IV, respectively

Not applicable.

Receive and file this report.

James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer

PUBLIC EDUCATION
EARTH DAY �96 -
The Public Advisor�s Office facilitated AQMD�s participation in 33 Earth Day-related events throughout the basin in April. Fifteen events were staffed by Public Advisor, AQMD employees, and volunteers. Another 18 events were supplied with information to distribute to the public about the impact of air quality on health and the environment. The sites staffed for Earth Day included: Cal State Northridge; Cal State San Bernardino, Cal Poly Pomona; Fullerton College; Chino Basin Water Conservation District in Montclair; Claremont McKenna College; and First Interstate World Center in Los Angeles. Among the sites provided material were: City of Lynwood; City of Anaheim; City of Placentia; City of Orange; Loyola Law School; Rockwell International; Aerojet; Xerox; Oak Park Elementary School; University of La Verne; Allied Signal and Los Angeles Air Force Base. Resources were deployed based on the size of the event and availability of volunteers or staff.

SMOGBUSTERS CLUB EVENT -
AQMD hosted its first annual Smogbusters Club meeting on April 13, 1996 at AQMD headquarters in Diamond Bar. Members of the AQMD�s Smogbuster Club for children, and others from throughout the basin, were in attendance. Smogbusters is a free club for children sponsored by AQMD that promotes the voluntary reduction of air pollution through education and information. Displays and exhibits at the event included natural gas buses, solar powered vehicles, electric cars and information booths. Radio AHHS (AM830), the local children�s station, sponsored the event and provided entertainment and activities. A dozen organizations participated, including Foothill Transit; Los Altos Solar Vehicle Club; John S. Malcom Elementary School (Laguna Niguel); Sunline Transit; Peace Pack; Cal Poly Pomona Center for Regenerative Studies; Metrolink Marketing; Los Angeles County Fire and Sheriff�s departments; Southern California Edison; Radio AHHS and the Miracle Club from Laguna Niguel. Public Advisor staff facilitated the event.

VISITING DIGNITARIES -
Three delegations representing four countries visited AQMD�s headquarters during the month of May: A five-member delegation of Rotary Club members from Mexico City met with Public Advisor and Stationary Source Compliance staffs on Tuesday, April 16; a water quality official from Buenos Aires, and an official of Karachi�s EPA SINDH met with Public Advisor staff on Friday, April 19; and on Wednesday, April 24, Mr. Thomas Waring, Manager of the Minerals and Energy Group of the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Research Economics, met with Stationary Source Compliance staff.

BUSINESS OUTREACH

AMNESTY PROGRAM A SUCCESS
On April 2, 1996, AQMD�s 6-month Amnesty Program ended and was declared a success. As a result of the program, an estimated 1,700 permit applications were submitted by businesses who were operating equipment for which they had never ob-tained the necessary permits. An unprecedented outreach program was responsible for bringing in ten times more applications for existing equipment than had been received during the same period of the previous year. Because of the Amnesty program, which was established as part of the Business Clean Air Partnership, these businesses saved more than $100,000 in late fees, and they were exempted from all other fines, penalties and back fees. The program received a �Gold Medal� as the best amnesty program of the year from the �Los Angeles Daily Journal�. The success of the program was attributed to the simplicity of the rule, an unprecedented outreach program, and the fact that AQMD provided free, on-site consultations to help businesses determine if permits were needed. A similar amnesty program is now being offered at several other air districts, including the Bay Area AQMD.

BUDGET WORKSHOPS
AQMD conducted a round of several workshops for the budget advisory committee which includes representatives from business and the environmental community. The comments received during this process were taken into account in development of the three-year budget forecast as well as the FY 96-97 budget.

PERMIT ASSISTANCE CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
On April 26, 1996, AQMD met with State and local officials who also serve on the Board of Directors for the State Permit Assistance Center located in Orange County. The Governor�s Office representative discussed the possible expansion of the program to include another permit assistance center. AQMD presented the results of its amnesty program, which received praise from several of the other board members representing businesses.

*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.

LEGISLATIVE OUTREACH
Intergovernmental Affairs Directors met or had contact with the following legislators and/or their staffs regarding air quality related issues:

� U.S. Representative Sonny Bono - 4/22
� State Senator Bill Leonard - 4/4
� State Senator Rob Hurtt - 4/17

LOCAL GOVERNMENT OUTREACH
Intergovernmental Affairs Directors made presentations on AQMD programs to the following city councils, and attended/participated in meetings with the following govern-mental organizations:

� Bell Gardens City Council
� Coachella City Council
� Contract Cities Association
� Culver City Council
� Highland City Council
� Independent Cities Association
� Indio City Council
� Lake Forest City Council
� League of California Cities
� Maywood City Council
� Orange City Council
� Orange County RAPC, RAPC-EMC & RAPC-TAC
� Palmdale City Council
� Perris City Council
� Riverside County City Selection Meeting
� SANBAG Board/Committees/Task Force
� SCAG Annual General Assembly
� SCAG Legislative Subcommittee
� SCAG Regional Council and Committee Meetings
� South El Monte City Council
� Stanton City Council
� Yucaipa City Council

Intergovernmental Affairs Directors also met or had contact with the following local government officials and/or their staffs regarding air quality related issues:

� Joe Alderete, Council Member, City of La Puente
� Bill Alexander, Mayor, City of Rancho Cucamonga
� David Barron, City Clerk, City of Monterey Park
� Ron Bates, Council Member, City of Los Alamitos
� Jeff Bloom, Community Development Director, City of Upland
� Diane Boggs, Council Member, City of Downey
� Phil Bostley, Mayor, City of Indian Wells
� Bonnie Brodie, Staff to Los Angeles City Council Member Richard Alatorre
� Art Brown, Council Member, City of Buena Park
� Bob Bruesch, Council Member, City of Rosemead
� Brad Buller, City Planner, City of Rancho Cucamonga
� Bob Buster, Supervisor, County of Riverside
� David Carmany, City Manager, City of Malibu
� George Cole, Mayor, City of Bell
� Laurann Cook, Council Member, City of Fountain Valley
� Cynthia Crothers, Council Member, City of Moreno Valley
� Kathy Davis, Council Member, Town of Apple Valley, & Supervisor Elect, First District, County of San Bernardino
� Juan DeLara, Council Member, City of Coachella
� Richard Dixon, Mayor, City of Lake Forest
� Harry Dotson, Council Member, City of Stanton
� Bob Dunek, City Manager, City of Lake Forest
� Frank Duran, Mayor, City of Coachella
� Dave Eshelman, Mayor, City of Fontana
� William Estrada, Mayor, City of Stanton
� Becky Evans, City of Duarte
� Dani Fernandez, Board Assistant to Supervisor Jon Mikels, AQMD Governing Board Chairman & San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors
� Gerald Forde, Director of Economic Development, City of Vernon
� Larry Galvan, Council Member, City of Cudahy
� Sandra Genis, Council Member, City of Costa Mesa
� Tito Haes, City of Sierra Madre
� Garland Hardeman, Council Member, City of Inglewood
� David Johnson, City of Paramount
� Dennis Johnson, Mayor, City of Highland
� Dick Kelly, Council Member, City of Palm Desert
� Ed Kerins, Planning Commissioner, City of Huntington Beach
� Will Kleindienst, Mayor, City of Palm Springs
� Paul Kruger, City of Burbank
� Algird Leiga, Mayor, City of Claremont
� Jan Leja, Mayor, City of Beaumont & Candidate for Riverside County Board of Supervisors
� Lenwood Long, Mayor, City of Perris
� Marcos Lopez, Mayor, City of Indio
� Ron Loveridge, Mayor, City of Riverside & AQMD Governing Board Member
� Richard Macknicki, Council Member, City of Coachella
� Rosario Marin, Council Member, City of Huntington Park
� Aurora Martinez, City of Cudahy
� Jim Mills, City of Gardena
� Tom Minor, Mayor, City of San Bernardino
� George Mirabal, Council Member, City of Bell
� Bill Molinari, Council Member, City of Montebello
� Sylvia Munoz, Council Member, City of Commerce
� Robert Nolan, Mayor, City of Upland
� Jenny Oropeza, Council Member, City of Long Beach
� Sam Pena, City Clerk, City of Maywood
� Raul Perez, Council Member, City of Huntington Park
� Bev Perry, Council Member, City of Brea
� Jerry Pisha, Mayor, City of Desert Hot Springs
� Bea Proo, Council Member, City of Pico Rivera
� Sam Racadio, City Manager, City of Highland
� Paul Richards, Council Member, City of Lynwood
� Jolynn Russo, City of Pomona
� Jody Scott, Council Member, City of Highland
� Chuck Smith, Mayor, City of Westminster & Candidate for Orange County Board of Supervisors
� Walt Snyder, Mayor, City of Palm Desert
� Sony Southwell, City Planner, City of Lakewood
� Mike Spurgeon, Council Member, City of Orange
� Marge Tandy, Council Member, City of Hemet
� Michelle Tercero, City of Hermosa Beach
� John Tooker, City Manager, City of Yucaipa
� Sam Torres, Mayor Pro-Tem, City of Perris
� Eunice Ulloa, Mayor, City of Chino
� Fidel Vargas, Mayor, City of Baldwin Park
� Bill Vaughn, Mayor, City of Norco
� Holly Veale, Assistant to Supervisor Marian Bergeson, Orange County Board of Supervisors
� Woody Williams, Mayor, City of Yucaipa
� Roy Wilson, AQMD Governing Board Member & Riverside County Board of Supervisors
� Jack Wong, Director of Economic Development, City of Huntington Park
� Virginia Wyatt-Denny, Council Member, City of Perris
� Jack Yoshino, City of Walnut
� William Zylla, City of Temple City

Intergovernmental Affairs Directors also met or had contact with the following local and state agency, business and community representatives regarding air quality related issues:

� Deborah Barmack, SANBAG
� Lodema Bee, League of California Cities
� Stephanie Cohn, The Planning Center
� Julie Froeberg-Puentes, Executive Director, Orange County Private Sector Task Force
� Roman Gwin, Director, South East Economic Development Corporation
� Mark Hoffman, Arroyo Associates
� Roberta Hughan, California Air Resources Board
� Janet Huston, Executive Director, Orange County League of Cities
� Gary Johnson, Vice President, Landfill Development Mine Reclamation Corporation
� Wes McDaniel, Executive Director, SANBAG
� Jim Ortner, Manager of Government Relations & Air Quality Programs, OCTA
� Debbie Robinson, Western Riverside Council of Governments
� Ty Schuiling, Director of Comprehensive Planning, SANBAG
� Frank Williams, Executive Director, BIA - Baldy View
� Nick Zimmerman, KPMG-Peat Marwick

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:

� U.S. Department of Energy "Clean Cities" Designation Ceremony - Coachella Valley Region
� March Air Force Base Joint Powers Authority Technical Advisory Committee Environment Analysis Subcommittee Meeting
� AQMD Legislative Committee
� AQMD Administrative Committee
� AQMD Governing Board Meeting

Highlights of a recent cooperative effort with the Gas Company Energy Resource Center in Downey are listed below. A statistical report of general activities of the Small Business Assistance Office is also included.
Contact: Lee Lockie, Director, 909.396.2390.

ENERGY RESOURCE CENTER
The Gas Company�s Energy Resource Center (ERC), located in Downey, is a one-stop center dedicated to providing the public with information on the latest energy-efficient, cost-effective and environmentally sensitive technologies. Other resources include general technical assistance, computerized energy analysis, a materials and equipment exhibit and a state-of-the-art computer training facility. The ERC is also home to a satellite office of the Air Quality Management District (AQMD). Every Thursday, one AQMD staff member is present on-site to help businesses understand our environmental regulations, initiate and review air quality permit applications and expedite the permitting process. When AQMD staff is not available on-site, a blue telephone, located at the center, can automatically direct dial the Small Business Assistance Office (SBAO) in Diamond Bar. Assistance with any air quality related questions is available through this "Hot Line". The AQMD is working with the ERC to expand awareness of the Air Quality Assistance Fund to customers of the Gas Company.

Marketing - The AQMD is working to increase permitting activities at this field location, with a more focused outreach program to local businesses that may find this center a convenient place to do business. The Gas Company is being very helpful in this effort by providing brochures and surveys to their customers. AQMD Head-quarters engineers are also letting applicants know about the center. Permit inquiries currently being received at the ERC are primarily from businesses with boilers, emergency engines, baghouses and charbroilers.

AQMD is contacting the following departments regularly to assure interagency coordination:

1. City and County Planning and Community Development Departments
   When new companies start up or move into a city or county, planning departments can have them fill out an AQMD permit checklist to determine if air quality permits or clearances are required. Staff is increasing coordination with these departments in areas where permit activity is typically high.

2. City and County Building and Safety Departments
   When businesses come in for building, mechanical and electrical permits, these departments can provide an AQMD permit checklist to determine if air quality permits are required. Staff plans to research the District�s faxback capabilities to improve communication with these departments.

3. International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) Headquarters in Whittier
   Communication with ICBO is an effective vehicle for communicating with building officials. State law prohibits city and county building departments from issuing certificates of occupancy to building permit applicants without obtaining a clearance letter from the AQMD. Staff members have given presentations at ICBO conferences which have been helpful in increasing their awareness of the law and of efficient ways to implement the requirements.

4. City, County, State and U.S. Elected Representatives� Offices
   SBAO staff and Intergovernmental Affairs Officers are working together to alert these representatives of the need for air quality permits for their constituent businesses. Staff is keeping them informed of our permit and compliance assistance efforts and "successes" in the areas they represent through workshops, meetings, and publications.

5. Equipment Manufacturers and Distributors
   Certain manufacturers and distributors of equipment subject to AQMD permits have shown considerable interest in assisting their customers in applying for required air quality permits. Most of the inquiries presently center on spray booths and scrubbers. Staff members are currently working with manufacturers who need information on permits. During the amnesty program, there were many instances where manufacturers made inquiries and submitted applications on behalf of their clients.

ACTIVITIES Activities during this reporting period included participation in 4 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 8 different public outreach meetings by making presentations and providing information to interested parties. The total number of participants reached through these 8 meetings exceeds 2,600 people.

Open Items (business development and retention efforts in process)	31
Completed Items (decision to stay, expand, etc.) (This represents 510 jobs/jobs retained in California)	6
Outreach and meetings with companies	12

FASHION EYEWEAR
In 1994, a Governor�s Red Team was convened to discuss and resolve issues affecting an Orange County high end, fashion eyewear manufacturer. The company had almost re-solved to move out of Orange County to San Diego, Nevada or Arizona where they could produce their product in a more cost-effective manner. The various members of the Red Team worked through the issues and were able to successfully resolve most of the prob-lems encountered by this manufacturer. After resolution of the issues, the company de-cided to remain within the basin and possibly expand at a later date. The air quality is-sues included incorporating modern production techniques for their expansion, possible control technologies and/or low-VOC coating and guidance on permitting. At a 1995 Red Team meeting, it was reported that the owners decided to remain in California but that they were going to do their expansion elsewhere. After further interaction, the company has now decided it will be expand its Southern California operations to include doubling its workforce in the very near future. This will mean creation of approximately 300 more jobs for the southern California area. The company has already resolved and put into action, all of its air quality plans including purchase of emission reduction ce-tificates and installation of Best Available Control Technology (BACT).

PROGRAM NOMINATION
AQMD�s office of Economic Development/Business Retention (EDBR) has been recognized as an organization that made a significant contribution to the advancement of the field of economic development. In April 1996, staff attended the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) conference held in San Diego. Many of the 600 participants in the conference recognized the program for its innovative leadership to implement economic development policy in progressive, timely and cost effective manner. Tangible evidence of this success includes over 25,000 jobs having been created or retained in the South Coast Basin within companies of all sizes and types.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH REPORT
On file in the office of EDBR, is a study prepared by Allan Gordon for the California Senate Office of Research. The report is entitled "Myths of Jobs vs. Resources: Environmental Protections and Economic Growth." It summarizes the issues and answers around the question of, "does the pursuit of environmental quality hinder opportunities for economic growth and development?" It concludes, that government regulations to protect natural resources extract a toll in lost jobs is largely mythical. It further states that numerous studies have failed to find correlation between regional, state and federal environmental protection regulation and overall losses in productivity, in construction jobs; declining gross state products; weak economic performance; US capital investments abroad California�s prolonged recession or the US economy�s shift from manufacturing jobs to jobs in the service sector. Other studies with similar conclusions have been conducted by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, the Southern California Association of Governments, Stanford, UCLA and Cal State University at Fullerton.

ECO EXPO
EDBR staff participated in Eco Expo by explaining the links between clean air, public health and the economy.