BOARD MEETING DATE: October 1, 2004
AGENDA NO. 12

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the August 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 August 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 August:

Community Meetings
 

On August 25 (Garden Grove) and August 26, 2004 (Riverside), AQMD hosted Environmental Justice Workshops, which included an air quality overview, update on air pollution and its health effects and a presentation on the Proposed EJ Work Plan for 2004-05. The workshops drew over 50 attendees each and were the third and fourth in a series of meetings held in each of the four counties in our region to solicit input on the AQMD’s Environmental Justice work plan.

On August 31, the AQMD hosted a Public Consultation Meeting in Hacienda Heights to discuss the AQMD’s evaluation of Mercury Plastics’ requested Permits to Operate and associated Title V permit. The meeting was attended by 25 members of the public and staff heard the concerns of the public over the possible expansion plans of this company.

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 August include:
 

Date	Event	Location
August 1	Central Avenue Jazz Festival & Community Fair	Central Los Angeles
August 9	Town Hall Breakfast Meeting	El Segundo
August 10	Town Hall Breakfast Meeting	Rolling Hills Estates
August 15	Cedars-Sinai Hospital Kids Health & Safety Fair	Beverly Hills
August 15-17	AQMD Hydrogen Conference	Palm Desert
August 26	American Lung Association Walkathon Kickoff Breakfast	San Bernardino
August 27-29	Fabricare Convention 2004	Long Beach

Staff has also prepared a newsletter "Clean Air Congress Voice" that is mailed or e-mailed to all Clean Air Congress members.

Speakers Bureau/Visitor Services

AQMD receives requests for staff to speak on a variety of air quality-related issues. The requests come from 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 August:
 

	On August 11, staff made a presentation on air quality engineering before the Society of Women Engineers, Orange County Chapter.
	On August 19, staff hosted a professor from the University of Seoul, who received a briefing on emission control policies as related to Best Available Control Technology and Hazardous Air Pollutants.

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 August:
 

	Main Line Calls	6,202
	1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line	4,734
	After Hours Calls*	1,775
	Spanish Line Calls	49
	Total Phone Calls	12,760
	*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 August:

Requests for Information

	Visitor Transactions	325
	Information Packages Mailed	25

Calls

	Calls Received by PIC Staff	142
	Calls to Automated System	5,426
	Total Phone Calls	5,568

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, ensuring businesses the opportunity to participate in the rulemaking 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 August included:

Conducted 58 free on-site consultations
Provided guidance in filing 4 requests for variance
Provided permit application assistance to 268 companies
Issued 37 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 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.

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

	Congressman Ken Calvert
	Senator Martha Escutia
	Senator Nell Soto
	Assembly Member John Benoit
	Assembly Member George Nakano
	Assembly Member Gloria Negrete-Mcleod

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

Alhambra, Banning, Carson, Indio, Inglewood, Redondo Beach, Rialto, Riverside, Santa Ana, and South Pasadena.

Staff provided presentations at the following meetings:

	Black Future Leaders @UC Riverside - A summer leadership program for high school students with a focus on math and sciences.
	Nuevo Community Council
	Senator Gloria Negrete-McLeod's Select Committee on Alameda Corridor East

Chamber of Commerce and Council of Government contacts:

Greater Riverside

Indio

Corona

Moreno Valley

Norco

South Bay Cities Council of Governments

Western Riverside Council of Governments

Staff represented AQMD at the following meetings:

African-American Networking Society

American Lung Association – Inland County "Blow the Whistle on Asthma"     Kickoff

Asthma Coalition

California Performance Review Hearing at University of Riverside

Corona Chamber of Commerce’s Government and Transportation Committee

Indio Chamber of Commerce’s Governmental Affairs and Public Policy

Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Committee

Norco Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Affairs Committee

Orange County Business Council Regulatory Committee

Orange County Grand Jury (Board Member Craycraft provided a     presentation)

Orange County League of Cities

Rialto City Council Meeting

SANBAG Board of Directors Meeting

Senator Nell Soto’s Select Committee on Urban Economic Development

South Bay Cities Council of Governments’ Board of Directors

South Bay Cities Council of Governments’ Legislative Committee

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