BOARD MEETING DATE: November 7, 2003
AGENDA NO. 11

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the September 2003 outreach activities of Public Affairs which include: Environmental Justice Update, Community Events/Public Meetings, Business Assistance, and Local Governmental Activity.

COMMITTEE:

Not Applicable

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

This report summarizes the activities of Public Affairs for September 2003. The report includes four major areas: Environmental Justice Update; Community Events/Public Meetings (including the Speaker's Bureau; Visitor Services; Communications Center; and Public Information Center); Business Assistance; and Local Governmental Activity.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE UPDATE

Below is a summary of the Environmental Justice related activities which occurred in September 2003:

Town Hall Meeting

On September 10th the AQMD hosted a Town Hall Meeting in the Sun City/Palm Desert area. The meeting dealt with air quality issues relative to the sand migration from a neighboring Federal Preserve. More than 700 people attended the meeting to learn what is being done to reduce sand migration and PM10 emissions. The District agreed to establish a PM10 monitoring station near the preserve and the County of Riverside committed to install sand fencing to control the blow migration. The residents will also be notified of other preventive and long term measures to mitigate the dust problems. The meeting was attended by Board Member Dr. Roy Wilson and AQMD executive staff.

Special Projects/Meetings

The AQMD held the sixth and final Environmental Justice Training Workshop on September 3rd at the Media Center in Burbank. Over 70 people attended the workshop which provided an overview on Environmental Justice, health effects of air pollution and ways the public can assist the agency in preparing for future air quality related actions. The series of workshops held throughout our four-county region was very well received and well attended by a diverse audience representing business, local government, community and environmental organizations.

CEQA Commenting

	Documents received during September 2003:	46
	Requests to AQMD for document review:	0
	Documents to receive AQMD comments:	38
	Comment letters sent out this reporting period:	12

COMMUNITY EVENTS/PUBLIC MEETINGS

Each year, thousands of residents of the South Coast District engage in valuable information exchange through events and meetings which AQMD sponsors, alone and in partnership with others. The information attendees receive includes tips on reducing their exposure to smog and its health effects, ways to participate in AQMD rule and policy development and assistance in resolving air quality-related problems. Highlights of events/activities undertaken during the month of September include:

Public Affairs staff participated on a panel discussion on "Public Process and Public Outreach" as part of an Environmental Justice Symposium held on September 22-23 in Emeryville and cosponsored by the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA).

Speakers Bureau/Visitor Services

AQMD receives requests for staff to speak on a variety of air quality-related issues. The requests come from a variety of organizations such as trade associations, chambers of commerce, community-based groups, schools, hospitals, and health-based organizations. The AQMD also hosts visitors from around the world who meet with staff on a wide range of air quality issues. The following describes the types of activities that were coordinated by this office in September.

	AQMD hosted an Environmental Justice scholar from Japan who received an overview on AQMD's emissions trading program.
	A visiting group of local government representatives from Taiwan received an overview of AQMD's emissions trading program and RECLAIM.
	A delegation of local elected officials and environmental protection representatives from Milan, Italy received a briefing on RECLAIM. The visitors expressed interest in establishing a cooperative agreement between AQMD and the Lombardia Region to help further develop air pollution programs, especially in the area of emissions credits.

Communication Center Statistics

The Communication Center handles all AQMD main line, 1-800-CUT-SMOG® line and Spanish line calls. Below is a summary of calls received in September:

	Main Line Calls	5,364
	1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line	4,378
	After Hours Calls*	2,296
	Spanish Line Calls	69
	Total Phone Calls	12,107

*Saturday, Sunday, holidays and after  9:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Public Information Center Statistics

The Public Information Center handles phone calls and walk-in requests for general information. Below is a summary for September:

Requests for Information
	Visitor Transactions	477
	Information Packages Mailed	50

Calls
	Calls Received by PIC Staff	154
	Calls to Automated System	6,290
	Total Phone Calls	6,444

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

AQMD assists businesses by notifying them of proposed regulations so they can participate in their development. AQMD also works with other agencies and states to identify efficient, cost-effective ways to reduce air pollution and shares that information broadly. Additionally, staff provides personalized assistance to small businesses both over the telephone and by on-site consultation. The information for the month of September is summarized below.

	Conducted 82 free on-site consultations
	Provided assistance in filing 6 requests for variance
	Provided permit application assistance to 307 companies
	Issued 38 clearance letters

Types of business assisted:

	Drycleaners		Construction management companies
	Furniture refinishers		Building management companies
	Auto body repair shops		Screen printers
	Cabinet makers		Water treatment plants
	Restaurants

LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITY (Four-County Area)

AQMD staff provides outreach at monthly Board of Supervisors and City Council meetings. Staff also works with local government, state and federal officials to respond to their air quality concerns and issues. Specific presentations were provided to some of the identified groups on the staff proposals to address cumulative impacts and CEQA localized significance thresholds. Presentations were also provided regarding the highlights of the 2003 AQMP revision. The following is a sample of the activity conducted during the month of September.

Field Contacts:

	Field representative to Senator James Brulte
	Field representative to Senator Dennis Hollingswroth
	Field representative Assembly Member Ray Haynes
	Field representative to Assembly Member Lou Correa
	Field representative to Assembly Member George Nakano
	Field representative to Assembly Member Jerome Horton
	Field representative to Assembly Member Robert Dutton
	Field representative to Congressman David Dreier
	Field representative to Supervisor Paul Biane
	American Lung Association – Inland
	American Lung Association – Orange
	Asthma and Allergy Foundation
	Big Bear Lake Fire Protection Agency
	Building and Safety Director, Hidden Hills
	City Planner, City of Loma Linda
	Councilmember for City of Duarte
	General Manager for Riverside/San Bernardino County Waste Management
	Staff to Children's Hospitals of Orange County (CHOC)
	Staff to City of Beaumont
	Staff to City of Cypress
	Staff to City of Garden Grove
	Staff to City of La Habra
	Staff to City of La Mirada
	Staff to City of La Palma
	Staff to City of Lakewood
	Staff to City of Los Alamitos
	Staff to City of Malibu
	Staff to City of Norwalk
	Staff to City of San Fernando
	Staff to City of Santa Clarita
	Staff to City of Seal Beach
	Staff to City of Westminster
	Staff to City Rolling Hills
	Staff to Los Angeles City Councilmember Jan Perry
	Staff to the Economic Development Department, San Bernardino County
	Staff to City of West Hollywood

Staff provided presentations at the following meetings:

	Artesia City staff
	Azusa City staff
	Baldwin Park City staff
	Banning City staff
	Big Bear City Council
	Calimesa City Council
	Calimesa City staff
	Chino City staff
	Costa Mesa City Council and Planning Commission Study Session
	Cypress City staff
	El Monte City Council
	Fontana City Council
	Garden City Council
	Garden Grove City Council
	Grand Terrace City Council
	Huntington Beach City staff
	Irvine City Council
	Irwindale City staff
	La Habra Heights City Council
	La Verne City Council
	Los Alamitos City staff
	Norco City Council
	Ontario City Council
	Rancho Cucamonga City Council
	Rancho Mirage City staff
	South Bay Council of Governments
	Temecula City Council
	Temple City Council
	West Covina City staff
	Westminster City staff

Chamber of Commerce contacts:

	Alhambra
	Arcadia
	Artesia
	Baldwin Park
	Bell Gardens
	Burbank
	Cerritos
	Corona
	Duarte
	El Monte
	Garden Grove
	Gardena
	Glendale
	Indio
	La Mirada
	Lakewood
	La Quinta
	Long Beach
	Los Alamitos
	Malibu
	Monrovia
	Moreno Valley
	Norco
	Orange County Hispanic
	Pasadena
	Pico Rivera
	Rancho Cucamonga
	Riverside
	Rolling Hills
	San Bernardino
	San Fernando
	San Gabriel
	San Marino
	Santa Clarita
	Santa Fe Springs
	Seal Beach
	Sierra Madre
	Stanton
	Temple City
	Upland
	West Covina
	Westlake Village-Thousand Oaks

School contacts:

	El Monte Elementary School District
	El Monte Union High District
	Etiwanda School District
	Garden Grove Unified School District
	Long Beach Unified School District
	Mountain View Elementary School District
	Ocean View School District
	Orange Unified School District
	Paramount Unified School District
	Santa Ana School District
	Walnut Valley Unified School District

Staff represented AQMD at the following meetings:

	African American Health Initiative Advisory Council Meeting
	All Chamber Annual Legislative Forum (Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs,     Indio, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, and Palm Springs)
	Board of Supervisors of San Bernardino
	CLOUT
	CVAG's Energy and Environmental Resources Committee
	La Canada Flintridge Rotary Club
	Los Alamitos, Cypress & La Palma Chambers of Commerce combined     Government Affairs meeting
	Los Angeles Environmental Quality and Waste Management Committee
	Omnitrans Meeting
	San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments general membership
	SANBAG Board of Directors
	Economic Council of Pass Area Communities (ECOPAC)
	Upland Chamber of Commerce, Governmental Relations Committee
	WRCOG Technical Advisory Committee

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