BOARD MEETING DATE: June 4, 2004
AGENDA NO. 19

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the April 2004 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 April 2004. The report includes four major areas: Environmental Justice Update; Community Events/Public Meetings (including the Speakers 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 April:

Community Meeting
 

On April 28, AQMD hosted a Town Hall Meeting in the City of Pasadena. More than 25 people, including Pasadena’s Vice-Mayor, attended the meeting which addressed local air quality issues and what is being done to improve the air quality and protect public health. The meeting also included representatives from AQMD’s executive staff.

COMMUNITY EVENTS/PUBLIC MEETINGS

Each year, thousands of AQMD residents engage in valuable information exchanges through events and meetings that AQMD sponsors, alone and in partnership with others. 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 April include:
 

Date	Event	Location
April 15	Chino Hills High School Tree Huggers Club	Chino Hills
April 17	West Covina Earth Day Celebration	West Covina
April 17	Earth Day at the Promenade	Santa Monica
April 17	Environmental Expo	San Bernardino
April 17-18	Orange Blossom Festival	Riverside
April 22	University of La Verne Earth Day	La Verne
April 22	City of San Juan Capistrano Earth Day	San Juan Capistrano
April 22	Boeing Satellite Systems Earth Day	Los Angeles
April 23	Chino Basin Water District	Chino
April 23	Cal State Northridge Earth Day	Northridge
April 24	Mission Viejo Earth Day	Mission Viejo
April 24	Cabrillo Marine Aquarium	San Pedro
April 24	City of Placentia Earth Day	Placentia
April 28	93rd Street Elementary Career Day	Los Angeles

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. 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 April:
 

	On April 19, AQMD staff provided an Environmental Justice overview to students from UCLA’s Environmental Studies program.
	On April 23, staff provided to over 40 parents from Andres Duarte School in Duarte a bilingual presentation on air quality and the AQMD's compliance program.
	On April 28, staff attended a meeting of the Jefferson Park Neighborhood Association in Los Angeles and provided attendees with an overview on air quality issues and the agency’s clean fuels program.

No international visitors were hosted in April.

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 April:
 

	Main Line Calls	6,247
	1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line	4,907
	After Hours Calls*	2,421
	Spanish Line Calls	41
	Total Phone Calls	13,616
	*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 April:

Requests for Information

	Visitor Transactions	398
	Information Packages Mailed	31

Calls

	Calls Received by PIC Staff	215
	Calls to Automated System	5,629
	Total Phone Calls	5,844

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

AQMD provides assistance to businesses to achieve and maintain compliance with applicable air pollution rules and regulations. Key components of this program include providing notification of upcoming rule development, allowing businesses the opportunity to participate in the process; conducting "no-fault" inspections; determining potential permitting requirements; assisting with the completion of permit applications and variance request forms; explaining rule and recordkeeping requirements; offering financial assistance through the California Capital Access Program and the Non-Perc Dry Cleaner Grant Program; and working with other agencies to identify efficient, cost-effective methods for reducing air pollution. Business assistance activities for the month of April included:

Conducted 73 free on-site consultations
Provided guidance in filing 3 requests for variance
Provided permit application assistance to 268 companies
Issued 25 clearance letters

Types of businesses assisted:

Drycleaners	Construction management companies
Furniture refinishers	Building management companies
Autobody repair shops	Screen printers
Cabinetmakers	Water treatment plants
Restaurants

LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITY (Four-County Area)

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 staff proposals during the month of April:
 

On April 13, 15, and 28, AQMD hosted meetings to discuss a draft Model Air Quality Element for local jurisdictions to consider when adopting or amending their general plans. The draft Model Air Quality Element contains a wide range of options for local governments to meet their particular needs and is entirely voluntary.

Field visits and/or communications were conducted with staff from the following cities:

Anaheim , Beaumont, Bell, Bellflower, Carson, Cerritos, Chino, Compton, Corona, Cudahy, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, El Segundo, Garden, Hawaiian Garden, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Irwindale, Lakewood, Lawndale, Loma Linda, Manhattan Beach, Maywood, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Norco, Paramount, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Redondo Beach, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Fe Springs, South Gate, Temecula, Torrance, and Vernon

Staff provided presentations at meetings with the following:

City of Carson staff City of Hawthorne City Council City of Pomona I 710 Tier 2 Community Advisory Committee I 710 Corridor Technical Advisory Committee Metrolink Governing Board Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Gateway Cities Council of Governments Planning Directors meeting Gateway Cities Council of Governments Transportation Committee Gateway Cities Council of Governments Latino Network (community-based organization) San Bernardino Chamber Governmental Affairs Committee South Bay Cities Council of Governments Legislative Committee South Bay Cities Council of Governments Board of Directors

Chamber of Commerce contacts:

Corona

Hidden Hills

Indio

Inland Empire African-American

Moreno Valley

Murrieta

Norco

Riverside

San Bernardino

Hispanic Chamber of Orange County

Temecula

Westlake

School contacts:

Chaffey Joint Unified School District

Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District Whittier City School District Long Beach Unified School District Bellflower Unified School District Paramount Unified School District Montebello Unified School District

Upland Unified School District

Staff represented AQMD at the following meetings:

Alameda Corridor East Construction Authority Governing Board

Baldy View Public & Private Coalition (CLOUT)

Loma Linda City Council Meeting

Orange County Council of Governments Board

Orange County League of Cities

Rancho Cucamonga Government Relations Chamber

San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments Board

San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments Transportation Committee

The Group (City of Riverside community-based organization) bi-weekly     meeting.

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