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 March, 1997. 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

WATER-BASED SOLVENT RULE (1171) OUTREACH

In response to letters the AQMD staff sent to the 13 local chapters of the Automotive Service Councils of California, 10 have called to request a speaker on the new Rule 1171 requirements. Four of those speaking engagements occurred during March. They were to groups of auto repair shop owners from the Inland Empire, North Orange County, South Los Angeles, and the San Fernando Valley chapters. The goal of these meetings is to obtain input from automotive repair shop owners on the best way to inform this area’s more than 10,000 auto repair shops of the revision to Rule 1171 that requires the switch from petroleum solvents to water-based solvents for automotive parts washing tanks.

Public Advisor also staffed an information booth at the March 19-20 California Vehicle Fleet Operators Conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center, attended by an estimated 700 fleet operators. Public Advisor staff made a presentation at one of the workshops on the Rule 1171 requirement to switch to water-based cleaners for automotive parts washing. The workshop was done in cooperation with the Institute for Research and Technology Assistance.

CAPCOA PUBLIC OUTREACH COMMITTEE

Public Advisor staff participated in a quarterly meeting of public information officers from air pollution control districts throughout the state (the California Air Pollution Control Officer’s Association). The participants exchanged information about ways to improve their agencies’ public outreach programs, and were provided with updates on the new EPA standards for ozone and PM2.5, the Smog Check II program, and the statewide smoking vehicle toll-free number for cellular phone users.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

LITERACY PROGRAM

AQMD staff has provided copies of Smogbusters coloring books to the Salvation Army to use in its new Literacy Program for homeless children in San Bernardino. Boxes containing 260 English-language books and 125 Spanish-language books were provided to the group. The children will use the coloring books as reading work books. The Salvation Army indicates training is scheduled for 18 program instructors and that some classes have already started. This is one of our most unique uses of the Smogbuster materials.

ECO EXPO AND GREEN BUSINESS CONFERENCE

AQMD staff provided a workshop for fleet operators and an information booth at the seventh annual Eco Expo and Green Business Conference, held the weekend of March 21-23 at the L.A. Convention Center. The event was attended by more than 30,000 and featured environmentally friendly household products, apparel, and business applications. Staff answered questions from the general public, exhibited a Honda electric vehicle and provided literature and promotional material.

ANNUAL SMOGBUSTER CLUB EVENT

Public Advisor staff has organized the second annual Smogbusters Club event, scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 1997 at Wal-Mart’s City of Industry Environmental "Green" Store, 17150 Gale Avenue. The event is open to the public and provides an opportunity for children to join the Smogbusters, a free club for kids ages 9-12 sponsored by AQMD. Smogbusters has 3,000 members and promotes the voluntary reduction of air pollution through education and information. This year’s event has the theme "Under the Big Blue Sky" and will feature inter-active games, music, food and information from environmental, educational, health and safety organizations. Approximately 5,000 fliers will distributed to current Smogbuster Club Members and others throughout the basin to promote the event.

VISITING DIGNITARIES

AQMD staff arranged for the visits of four delegations representing seven countries during the month of March. A sister-city delegation from the City of Irvine, consisting of representatives from Hermosillo, Mexico and Tsukuba, Japan, met March 6 with Planning and Applied Science & Technology staffs on source testing and ambient air monitoring. The same afternoon, a 20-member eastern European delegation (Czech Republic, Poland, Slovak Republic and Hungary) met with Stationary Source Compliance staff on RECLAIM. On Tuesday, March 18, two members of the Swedish EPA Office of Public Affairs met with Public Advisor staff on outreach programs. That afternoon, four members of the Swedish utility Uppsala Energi met with Stationary Source Compliance and Technology Advancement staffs on RECLAIM, utility rules and power plant technologies.

PUBLIC ADVISOR’S MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT 1997
OUTREACH	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC	TOTAL
Speakers Bureau
Presentations (PADV staff)	4	18	11
Presentations coordinated	7	12	10
Delegations Hosted	2	2	4
District Tours	2	2	2
Events\Conferences
Sponsored\Hosted	1	1	2
Participated\Attended	10	2	5
Meetings
Chamber\Business Meetings	8	11	9
Community Meetings	5	4	1
Interagency Meetings	5	4	5
Public Notification
Public Workshops	0	4	9
Public Notices	4	3	9
Customer Service
Fee Review Requests	0	8	5
Customer Surveys	23	36	22
Public Info. Center
Material Requests Filled	976	322	440
Total Calls Received *	19596	13245	8815
Avg. Calls Per Day	632	473	284

* 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). The system is operational 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week.

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:

• U.S. Congressman Sonny Bono (Ellie Legarda) - 3/7
• U.S. Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (Tim Charters) - 3/19
• State Senator Jim Brulte (Mark Shepard) - 3/7
• Assembly Member Scott Baugh (Jeffrey Nielson) - 3/18
• Assembly Member Brett Granlund (Jason Spielfogle) - 3/7

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

• None reported for this period.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY - EASTERN REGION

• Huntington Park City Council

ORANGE COUNTY

• La Palma City Council
• Orange County Board of Supervisors
• Orange County Council of Governments & Technical Advisory Committee
• San Clemente City Council
• Santa Ana City Council

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

• Moreno Valley City Council
• Moreno Valley Legislative Affairs Committee
• Riverside County Board of Supervisors

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

• League of California Cities, Inland Empire Division

OTHER

• Independent Cities Association
• Inland Empire City Managers Group
• Los Angeles Division, League of California Cities
• San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
• SCAG General Assembly
• Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Policy, Standing Committees, & Regional Council

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

• Hal Bernson, Council Member, City of Los Angeles
• Kim Fuentes, Consultant to City of Torrance
• Garland Hardeman, Council Member, City of Inglewood
• Woody Hastings, City of Los Angeles
• George Nakomo, City of Torrance

LOS ANGELES COUNTY - EASTERN REGION

• Eileen Ansari, Council Member, City of Diamond Bar
• Bob Bartlett, Mayor, City of Monrovia
• Arnold Beltone, City of Bell Gardens
• Dan Chadwick, City of Claremont
• Ina Cotton, City Manager’s Office, City of Alhambra
• Eileen Givens, Council Member, City of Glendale
• Rosario Marin, Council Member, City of Huntington Park
• Bill Martinez, Mayor, City of South Gate

ORANGE COUNTY

• Pat Ahle, Mayor, City of San Clemente
• Steve Apodaca, Council Member, City of San Clemente
• Rich Barnard, Assistant City Manager, City of Huntington Beach
• Ron Bates, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Los Alamitos
• Ken Blake, Mayor, City of La Palma
• Art Brown, Mayor, City of Buena Park
• Gary Burton, Chief Financial Officer, County of Orange
• Richard Dixon, Mayor, City of Lake Forest
• Dave Elbaum, Director of Planning, Orange County Transportation Authority
• Jan Guy, City Clerk, City of Santa Ana
• Charlene Hatakeyama, Council Member, City of La Palma
• Joan Hoestery, City Planner, City of La Palma
• Melanie McCann, AB 2766 Program, City of Santa Ana
• Pat McGuigan, Council Member, City of Santa Ana
• Laura Ortega, Board Assistant to Norma Glover, Council Member, City of Newport Beach & AQMD Governing Board Member
• Bev Perry, Council Member, City of Brea
• Miguel Pulido, Mayor, City of Santa Ana
• Chuck Smith, Supervisor, County of Orange
• Gonzalo Vasquez, AB 2766 Program, City of Cypress
• Mike Ward, Council Member, City of Irvine

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

• Tony Carstens, Special Projects Manager, County of Riverside
• Bonnie Flickinger, Council Member, City of Moreno Valley
• George Kaenel, Finance Director, City of Moreno Valley
• Dick Kelly, Mayor, City of Palm Desert
• Denise Lanning, Field Representative for Tom Mullen, Supervisor, Riverside County
• Ron Parks, City Engineer, City of Temecula
• Ron Roberts, Council Member, City of Temecula

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

• Deirdra Bennett, Council Member, City of Colton
• Paul Biane, Council Member, City of Rancho Cucamonga
• David Eshelman, Mayor, City of Fontana
• Jim Frost, City Treasurer, City of Rancho Cucamonga
• Rex Gutierrez, Council Member, City of Rancho Cucamonga
• Brett Hulstrom AB 2766 Coordinator, City of Chino
• Jack Lam, City Manager, City of Rancho Cucamonga
• Swen Larson, Mayor, City of Redlands
• John Longville, Mayor, City of Rialto
• Mike Milhiser, City Manager, City of Upland
• Mark Nuaimi, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Fontana
• Sam Racadio, City Manager, City of Highland
• John Roberts, Council Member, City of Fontana
• Sue Sundell, Council Member, City of Upland
• John Tooker, City Manager, City of Yucaipa
• Diane Williams, Council Member, City of Rancho Cucamonga

OTHER

Joe Relanmpagos, Los Angeles County Tax Assessor’s Office

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
• Mary Drury, Region Manager, Edison Company
• Anne Geherty, ARB
• Michael Gibbs, Consultant, Hamilton, Rabinovitz & Alschuler, Inc.
• Kathleen Gildred, SCCED
• Eric Haley, Director of Government & Legislative Affairs, SANBAG
• Kay Hazen, Government Relations Representative, Mine Reclamation Corporation
• Peter Hidalgo, Director of ,Public Relations, Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink)
• Roberta Hughan, CARB
• Morgan Keith, Vice President, Andrews Development Company
• Norm King, Executive Director, SANBAG
• Brian McCullough, Government Relations Representative, Hughes Corporation
• Walter McGuire, President, Environmental Policy Center
• Lou Moret, Chief Financial Officer, SCAG
• Charles O’Malley, Consulting Engineer,
• Phyllis Papen, Special Consultant, Boyle Engineering
• Mark Pisano, Executive Director, SCAG
• Greg Ramirez, League of California Cities
• Dolores Sanchez, Executive Director, Southeast Communities Development Corporation
• Sharon Sarris, Director of Corporate Communications, General Motors Corporation
• Arnie Sherwood, Director of Forecasting, Analysis & Monitoring, SCAG
• Jim Sims, Director of Rideshare Programs, SCAG

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:

• Air District Corridor Group Technical Evaluation Sub-Group Meeting - California Air Resources Board
• AQMD Administrative Committee
• AQMD Governing Board Meeting
• AQMD Legislative Committee
• AQMD Mobile Source Committee
• AQMD Technology Committee
• Local Government Commission Livable Communities Summit
• Presentation at Eco Expo Advance Transportation Technology Conference
• San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments Touch Screen Kiosk Demonstration (AB 2766 Discretionary Fund project)
• Southeast Communities Development Corporation’s "Train ‘N Wheels" project Grand Opening (AB 2766 Discretionary Fund project)

SECTION III - SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES

A report on the status of the Clean Technology Center is presented below. The statistical report of all staff activities for March is attached.

Contact Lee Lockie, Director, 909.396.2390

The Public Advisor’s Office has completed the initial design for the start-up and first year of operation of the AQMD’s Clean Technology Center. The project will be presented at the May 16, 1997 meeting of the Technology Committee and the May 23, 1997 meeting of the Stationary Source Committee. The center has three goals: a) to showcase clean technologies; b) to serve as an educational resource for business and the public; and c) to promote pollution prevention.

The Center will be housed at the District’s Diamond Bar headquarters. Information on the Center is available through the AQMD’s Internet home page. Go to Clean Air Technologies, Clean Technology Center.

SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE OFFICE ACTIVITY

The numbers above each bar depict the total number of service requests and not the total number of businesses assisted in each service category.

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

During this reporting period, 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 4 public outreach meetings by making a presentation and providing information to interested parties. The total number of participants reached through these meetings exceeded 600 people.

Open Items (business development and retention efforts in process) 29

Completed Items (decision to stay, expand, etc.) 2

(This represents 75 jobs/jobs retained in California)

Outreach and meetings with companies 4

FURNITURE INDUSTRY UPDATE

In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, the furniture industry witnessed a decline in the number of manufacturers and jobs. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in retail sales of furniture and an increase in the volume of furniture manufacturer expansions. Manufacturers that survived the economic downturn have found the need to increase production, requiring an increased number of workers and manufacturing space in order to capture as much market share as possible in the near term. EDBR will continue to monitor this trend and provide assistance as required.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

One of the many services provided by EDBR staff includes advising companies how to seek capital in a wide range of types and sizes of transactions. Some of the companies that seek EDBR assistance are completely unfamiliar with asset-based financing, technology licensing, venture capital financing etc. We provide assistance and referrals in this area. as part of the normal service that we provide clients. Staff works with the Venture Forum, a large consortium of investors based in southern California totaling over $230 million in investment capital. Forums where businesses may present their growth or business plans to the investment community are conducted throughout the year in various locations including Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.