BOARD MEETING DATE: March 5, 2004
AGENDA NO. 15

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the January 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 January 2004. 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 January:

Community Meeting

AQMD staff participated in a Community Forum on Health and Environment hosted by the Long Beach City Council I-710 Freeway Oversight Committee. The forum was the first of four workshops being held in Long Beach to provide residents with an opportunity to address leading experts on key issues relative to the proposed expansion of the I-710 Freeway.

COMMUNITY EVENTS/PUBLIC MEETINGS

Each year, thousands of residents of the South Coast District engage in valuable information exchanged 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 January include:

AQMD presented an award to First Lutheran School of Los Angeles for the Best Air Quality Element as part of National Engineers Week Future City Competition. The event, held at the California Science Center, drew entries from middle schools throughout Southern California. The students designed futuristic model cities using comprehensive planning elements for transportation, safety, energy, environment and housing.

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 January:

	Staff hosted a delegation from Ekokem Business Group from Finland who received an overview of waste management and cogeneration issues.
	Staff hosted the Consul and Advisor for Economic Affairs from the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles who received a briefing on clean fuel technologies and related infrastructure.
	Students enrolled in Cal Poly Pomona’s Pollution Abatement and Hazardous Materials course received a presentation on the handling and processing of air samples including chain of custody and legal matters. They also received a lab tour and briefing by air quality chemists.

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 January:

	Main Line Calls	5,030
	1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line	3,382
	After Hours Calls*	2,577
	Spanish Line Calls	42
	Total Phone Calls	11,031

*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 January:

Requests for Information
	Visitor Transactions	347
	Information Packages Mailed	46

Calls
	Calls Received by PIC Staff	150
	Calls to Automated System	3,616
	Total Phone Calls	3,766

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 January included:

	Conducted 76 free on-site consultations
	Provided guidance in filing 5 requests for variance
	Provided permit application assistance to 233 companies
	Issued 46 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)

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 during the month of January, field visits were conducted with staff from the following offices:

	Senator Debra Bowen
	Senator Edward Vincent
	Assembly Member Jerome Horton
	Assembly Member John Benoit
	Staff to Congresswoman Juanita McDonald

Field visits were also conducted with staff from the following cities:

Artesia, Baldwin Park, Beaumont, Bellflower, Big Bear Lake, Burbank, Calabasas, Carson, Downey , Fontana, Colton, Commerce, Desert Hot Springs, Grand Terrace, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, Indian Wells, Inglewood, La Cañada Flintridge, La Mirada, Lakewood, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Montclair, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Norwalk, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, Santa Fe Springs, Signal Hill, South Gate, Upland, Vernon, Westlake Village, Whittier, and Yucaipa.

Staff provided presentations at the following meetings:

	Montebello City Council
	Monrovia City Council
	Upland Governmental Relations Committee
	Lake Elsinore City Council

Chamber of Commerce contacts:
 

	Glendale
	Indio
	La Cañada Flintridge
	Loma Linda
	Moreno Valley
	Norco
	Norwalk
	Riverside

School contacts:
 

Corona-Norco Unified School District

Staff represented AQMD at the following meetings:
 

	African-American Health Initiatives (AAHI)
	Assembly Select Committee on Ports
	California League of Cities/Riverside Division
	Coachella Valley Association of Governments
	Economic Council of Pass Area Communities (ECOPAC)
	Huntington Beach City Council
	Placentia City Council
	South Bay Cities Council of Governments
	State of the City Address - City of Riverside
	Westlake City Council

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