PROPOSAL:

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the August 1997 activities of the Public Affairs & Local Government Assistance Office which includes the Public Advisor (Small Business Assistance, Economic Development/Business Retention, Outreach Activities), Local Government, Public Records and Media Communications.

COMMITTEE:

Not Applicable.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file this report.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Acting Executive Officer

The following report reflects the activities of the Public Affairs and Local Government Assistance Office for the month of August. The report format has changed to include four major areas: Community Events/ Public Meetings, Business Assistance (including Economic Development/Business Retention), Local Government Activity and Communications.

COMMUNITY EVENTS/PUBLIC MEETINGS

The following describes community events and public meetings that provided AQMD customers with air quality information during August.

Date	Location	Description of Activity
8/5	L.A. County	Staff was provided with a free distribution outlet at the L.A. County Fair to provide printed materials about the AQMD.
8/5	Districtwide	Met with Communities for a Better Environment to discuss issues related to health studies. Agreed to do the same for the literature searches we have done.
8/5	Southeast LA County	Expanded outreach for Train ‘n Wheels Program discussed with Program Director.
8/6	State	Staff participated in California Air Pollution Control Officers Association Small Business Committee and discussed future issues relating to Small Business.
8/6	San Bernardino	Handled ARB constituent concern about smoke from a neighbor’s fireplace.
8/6	Districtwide	Distributed outreach materials on upcoming AQMD sponsored Procurement Fairs to ECAG at 8/13 meeting.
8/7	Districtwide	American Lung Association/L.A. Invited ALA to participate with Env. Education Consortium. ALA provided info. on current campaigns focused on same markets as AQMD. Will pursue partnership opportunities.
8/7	Los Angeles	Met with American Lung Association/Los Angeles re: partnering on outreach efforts. AQMD will participate in 11/1 "Breath Games" at California State University Northridge. Staff will work with ALALA to bring together a coalition of health-based and environmental thought leaders to review common goals as related to AQ and health effects.
8/7	Los Angeles	Attended a community meeting to present the results of tests conducted by the District in response to the community's health risk concerns at the newly constructed Jefferson Middle School in Los Angeles. The test indicated no health risks. The school is scheduled to open July 1998.
8/12	Districtwide	Staff assisted with Public Notice for Boiler/Water Heater Rule (1146.2).
8/12	Districtwide	Staff assisted with Water-based Cleaning (Rule 1171) Outreach. Arranged for translation of "Special Notice to Auto Repair Shops" into Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese. Set up four phone lines on which the translated notice will be recorded so people can call and hear the notice in their language.
8/12	City of L.A.	Working cooperatively with the City of LA’s Industrial Waste Management Division to inform basin on the proper disposal of used water-based cleaners.
8/13	Districtwide	Staff met with environmental leaders & CBE regarding their issues related to Title V Hearing process.
8/13	San Bernardino	Staff sent Clean Air Ambassador info to Assembly Leonard’s staff in Sacramento.
8/13	Riverside	Attended the Casa Blanca Community Action Group meeting regarding the community’s concerns about health risk concerns with respect to a foam plastic products manufacturing company with operations in the area.
8/14	Santa Ana	Participated in 16th of September community event in Santa Ana. Created a Spanish language Fact Sheet to highlight AQMD services.
8/15	Costa Mesa	Provided information to auto shop owner in Costa Mesa regarding water-based cleaners.
8/15	Los Angeles	Responded to inquiry from Senator Adam Schiff re: Clean Air Award Winners.
8/19	LA County	Called Southeast Cities Dev. Corp. to follow-up on a list of community events associated with publicizing Train ‘n Wheels Project.
8/20	Districtwide	Staff conducted presentation to Sierra Club. Major concern: toxics data, MTBE, and the contribution of diesel emissions to total particulate emissions. Staff provided them with an ARB contact for mobile source questions.
8/22	LA County	Attended Kids Care Fair (KCF) Kick-Off meeting in Lincoln Heights. Met Field Rep. to Sen. Hilda Solis. Discussed AQMD involvement in upcoming health and safety fair sponsored by Sen. Solis. Met with City of Los Angeles Commission for Children, Youth and Family. They will forward information on youth/neighborhood based projects for possible partnering with AQMD.
8/26	National	Spoke with Small Business Assistance Program-Puerto Rico: (1) identified key issues facing Small Business Assistance Program and (2) provided information on wood furniture regulation.
8/26	LA County	Staff participated in meeting of American Lung Association of LA County Clean Air Committee.
9/4	Seal Beach	Spoke to Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce to confirm placement of 50 Years of Progress display at their offices to promote Community Clean Air Kite Festival (Sept. 27-28).
9/9	Newport Beach	Provided outreach literature to company for their annual open house.
9/11-28	Pomona Fairplex	Provided outreach materials to Los Angeles County Environmental Affairs Council for inclusion in their booth display for the L.A. County Fair.

Events /Conferences Sponsored/Hosted

Kids Care Fairs - Provided materials on air pollution and health to 31 sites throughout our region.

SPEAKERS BUREAU/VISITING DIGNITARIES

AQMD receives dozens of requests each month from trade associations, chambers of commerce and community-based groups, as well as schools, hospitals and health-based organizations, requesting a District staff member to speak on a variety of air quality-related issues. In turn, the District hosts distinguished visitors from around the world, as well as members of the general public, who visit our headquarters to tour the award-winning facility and meet with staff on a wide range of air quality issues. The following describes the major activities handled during August.

Date	Location	Description of Activity
8/20	Downey	Spoke about air pollution episodes to a Senior Puffers club at Talbert Medical Group

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

AQMD assists its regulated customers by notifying them of proposed regulations so they can participate in rule development, by providing one-to-one technical assistance and compliance assistance to businesses, and by actively participating in efforts to attract and retain employers in the basin. Staff works with other agencies and states to identify efficient, cost-effective ways to reduce air pollution and shares that information broadly.

Date	Location	Description of Activity
8/8	Downey	Pollution Prevention 2000 Conference - Guest speaker at conference "Moving Beyond Compliance" held at Downey Energy Resource Center. Focused on regulatory, management and technology dimensions of pollution prevention.
8/12	Los Angeles	Air Quality Assistance Fund contractor met with First Coastal Bank regarding loan status of two companies whose loans have been guaranteed by the AQMD.
8/12	Ontario	Assisted a company with selection of dust mitigation measures.
8/14	Los Angeles	Assisted LA City Hall with process of relocating AQMD’s Permit Assistance Center.
8/18	Fontana	Advising steel company re: negative declaration for expansion.
8/19	Corona	Staff met with Team California Marketing Task Force to discuss plan for marketing the benefits of locating in California to rest of country.
8/20	Van Nuys	Attended workshop and assisted restaurants in applying for permits.
8/20	Lake Arrowhead	Conducted project review on contract let on R1113 requirements at high altitudes.
8/21	Santa Fe Springs	Furniture Manufacturer - Met to discuss expansion and relocation requirements.
8/21	Los Angeles	Attended Latin Business Association's monthly meeting and presented information on District procurement opportunities and promoted the upcoming District Vendor Workshop.
8/22	Riverside	Staff provided support at the public workshop held at the Mission Inn in Riverside on the restaurant rule.
8/26	Irwindale	Glass bottle recycling facility requested assistance in obtaining permits for existing crushing and dust control equipment.
8/26	Wilmington/San Pedro	Staff witnessed excavation of underground tanks at food manufacturer. Interagency cooperation requested by Community Redevelopment Agency. L.A. Fire Dept, Community Redevelopment Agency, Regional Water Quality Control Board, AQMD and consultant on hand.
8/27	Pomona	Interagency meeting to review permit requirements for business that is purchasing an existing paper company and changing the raw materials and the process of producing paper pulp.
8/28	Los Angeles	Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles - Group expressed concerns about a chrome plating operation across from Jefferson Middle School. Meeting was attended by Dept. of Toxic Substances Control, Regional Water Quality, DWP and AQMD.
8/28	Irvine	Discussed permit requirements for portable internal combustion engines for power generation. Provided current information from AQMD and ARB.
8/28	Los Angeles	Meeting with new startup company, tire recycling. Concerned about Title V and New Source Review.
8/28	Anaheim	Printing company needed help calculating VOC’s with regard to applying for a variance.
8/29	Santa Monica	Staff participated in an examination of possibilities for growth and economic development in urban areas across the U.S.
8/30	Huntington Beach	Final selection site for aerospace customer delayed until end of August.
8/30	Los Angeles	Staff is assisting new owner of plastic manufacturing plant.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY

The Intergovernmental Affairs Local Government Directors work interactively with local government, state and federal officials in response to their air quality concerns and local issues. Major activities include understanding local governments’ needs and sensitivities, educating and helping them address various air quality issues that are encountered in their communities. Additionally, staff administers the AB 2766 Subvention and Discretionary Fund Programs, in addition to managing the AQMD Public Records Function.

Date	Location	Description of Activity
8/5	Los Angeles	Met with San Gabriel Valley Council Of Governments to discuss cities’ options for use of AB 2766 Subvention Funds.
8/7	Los Angeles	Provided staff support on Title III at SCAG.
8/7	Los Angeles	Attended steering committee meeting to coordinate upcoming 3rd International Trade Conference in October, 1997.
8/8	Los Angeles	Attended opening of Assemblyman Antonio Villaraigosa's new district office.
8/12	Los Angeles	Met with Administrative Assistant to Assembly-member Tony Cardenas. Discussed the Clean Air Ambassador program and other District services and programs available to the Assemblymember and his constituency.
8/12	Orange	Attended a regular meeting of the Orange County Council of Governments Executive Management Committee. The committee reviewed and discussed the goals, objectives and Fiscal Year 1996-97 accomplishments of the OCCOG-TAC’s Transportation and Air Quality Funding Subcommittee and they discussed the OCCOG-TAC’s recommendation regarding AB 278 (Escutia). As result of their discussion, they approved recommending a "Watch" position to the OCCOG Board.
8/13	San Bernardino	Attended a regular meeting of the San Bernardino Associated Governments Board of Director’s Administrative Committee.
8/13	Riverside	Attended a regular meeting of the Riverside County Transportation Commission Board of Directors.
8/13	Riverside	Met with the Interim Executive Director of the Western Riverside Council of Governments. Discussed recent events which have occurred within the WRCOG organization and discussed the placement of outreach items on the September WRCOG agenda (AQMD’s Air Monitoring Program and the new Federal Ozone and Fine Particulate Standards).
8/14	Orange County	Attended and participated in League of California Cities’ Orange County Division Meeting.
8/15	Vernon	Met with Vernon Chamber of Commerce. Provided information pamphlets for members, discussed current air quality issues and the chamber’s participation in the upcoming International Trade Conference to be held at the Industry Sheraton.
8/19	Los Angeles	Met with Senator Hilda Solis’s field office staff to discuss local government issues related to the 24th District.
8/19	Los Angeles	Met with LA City Dept. of Transportation to discuss AQMD involvement in next year's "Bike to Work" day event.
8/20	Los Angeles	Met with L.A. County to discuss Rule 2202 Outreach.
8/20	Compton	Attended the Compton Chamber of Commerce's monthly meeting. Presented the District's current list of procurement opportunities and encouraged attendance to the upcoming District Vendor Workshop.
8/20	San Bernardino	Attended a regular meeting of the SANBAG Board of Director’s Plans & Programs Committee. Discussed the placement on the SANBAG Board agenda of the new Federal Ozone and Fine Particulate Standards.
8/20	Riverside	At the invitation of Tribal Chairwoman Mary Ann Andreas, attended the swearing in ceremony for the tribal officers of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. In attendance were Assembly Member Brett Granlund, several Riverside mayors and council members, and a field representative from Congressman Sonny Bono’s office.
8/21	Orange	Attended the first annual General Assembly of the Orange County Council of Governments.
8/25	Riverside	Coordinated briefing for Western Riverside Council of Governments regarding new Federal Standards on Ozone and PM2.5. Staff also met with Governing Board Member Loveridge regarding questions about AB 2766 Programs.
8/26	Los Angeles	Staff met with Senator Hilda Solis’s field office staff to discuss communications issues between AQMD and legislators’ District field office staffs.
8/26	Los Angeles	Met with League of Cities to assist in preparation of workplan for Air Quality Task Force.
8/26	San Bernardino	Attended the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Meeting. Discussed the City of Loma Linda’s AB 2766 plans with Mayor Floyd Peterson and Mayor Pro Tem Bob Christman who were in attendance.
8/27	Los Angeles	Presentation to the South Bay City Managers Group on the new Federal EPA Air Quality Standards and the AB 2766 25% match fund program.
8/27/97	Compton	Coordinated with the "Mother Net" Group of Compton and provided informational material for their upcoming community event.
8/28	San Bernardino	Staff attended an event jointly sponsored by the Chamber of the Chino Valley and the Pomona Chamber of Commerce.

PUBLIC RECORDS

A new unit in Public Affairs is the Public Records Unit. Monthly we will report on the requests that are received and those which are completed. There are also requests that are carried over from month to month.

Requests Carried Over	No. of Requests Received	No. of Requests Closed
266	*481	**410

*The number of requests received in the month of August was a record high. Prior to this record, the highest number of requests received was 461 which occurred in April 1996.

**The total number of requests closed (410) for the month of August was the second highest record for completed requests. The highest number closed during a month was 437 which occurred in July 1997.

MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

The Communications Unit is responsible for informing and educating the public through the media and through the District’s Public Information Center

Date	Location	External/Description of Activity
8/1	Los Angeles	LA New Times interview of Barry Wallerstein on CBE lawsuit.
8/1 - 8/7	Exhibit	50th Anniversary Exhibit Venice Abbot Kinney Branch Library Van Nuys Branch Library Glendale Galleria
8/6	Riverside	Press-Enterprise interview of Barry Wallerstein on dust problems at MWD reservoir project published on 8/7.
8/7	Districtwide Press	Information provided on Clean Technologies and TAO to LA Times business page columnist Jim Flanigan.
8/8	Districtwide	Press release issued on TAO project awards.
8/8	Districtwide	Press release issued on AQMD leadership changes.
8/8	Los Angeles	Daily Breeze Torrance interview on Rule 2202.
8/8 - 8/14	Exhibit	50th Anniversary Exhibit Santa Anita Fashion Park Van Nuys Branch Library
8/8	Briefing	Met with LA Times Reporter Frank Clifford, who is filling in for Marla Cone, to provide background on upcoming developments.
8/8	Riverside	Press-Enterprise interview regarding NOV issued for dust at MWD reservoir project near Hemet published 8/9.
8/12	Briefing	50th Anniversary briefing to TMA -TMO/Transportation Consultants Roundtable.
8/14	Districtwide	Daily Bulletin interview on restaurant rule, article published 8/15.
8/14	Los Angeles	LA Weekly interview on CBE lawsuit; reporter plans more research.
8/19	Districtwide	Restaurant rule press release issued to announce public workshops generated numerous reports on KTTV, KFI & daily newspapers.
8/21	Orange County	Advertorial for Orange County Annual Report covering AQMD business assistance programs submitted.
8/15 - 18	Exhibit	50th Anniversary Exhibit at Santa Anita Fashion Park
8/20	Riverside	Press Enterprise interviewed Pat Leyden and Gary Bancroft on audit of vapor recovery systems at gas stations, published on 8/22.
8/28	International Press	Arranged interview for Le Monde reporter of Paris with Barry Wallerstein, Henry Hogo on AQMP and SCOS.
8/26-28	Districtwide Press	Extensive media coverage of California Air Resources Board suspending work on new emission credit rules stemming from the Communities for a Better Environment suit regarding Rule 1610.
8/26-28	Districtwide Press	Media inquiries and coverage of the Restaurant Rule.
8/29	San Gabriel Valley	Full-page ad submitted to San Gabriel Valley Tribune Supplement on Waste & the Environment.
8/29	Exhibit	50th Anniversary Exhibit at the Los Angeles World Airports Administration Building.
8/29	Districtwide	September Advisor distributed.

PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTER STATISTICS

Public Information Center handles the District’s daily visitors and handles general information phone calls. This monthly report will provide a total tally of visitor transactions and phone calls.

Visitor Transactions	Total Phone Calls
654	10,907

Information Packages Mailed	Live Calls by PIC Staff
569	767

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