BOARD MEETING DATE: April 1, 2005
AGENDA NO. 10

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the February 2005 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 February 2005. 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 February:

On February 24, the District held a Town Hall meeting in the City of Rosemead, which was co-hosted by Senator Gloria Romero and Assemblymember Judy Chu. The meeting was attended by more than 150 area residents, including Rosemead Mayor Margaret Clark and John Tran, Garvey School Board Member. Key issues addressed included community concerns relative to the siting of a large commercial complex in Rosemead and possible air quality impacts from construction and increased traffic.

On February 25-26, the District served as a Community Sponsor of "Growing Pains: Health and Community Impacts of Goods Movement and the Ports" a Town Meeting held in Long Beach, which drew over 500 attendees. The meeting was coordinated by the Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and its focus was to consider the impacts of international trade on the Southern California region, focusing on protecting the health of community members and workers and on improving the quality of life in affected communities.

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 information, which 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 February include:
 

Date	Event
February 11-13	Tet Festival celebrating the Lunar New Year, Garden Grove
February 12	Lunar New Year Celebration, Diamond Bar Chinese American Association
February 22-24	Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle Conference, La Quinta

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 February:
 

	February 8-Hosted a delegation of 12 visitors from China
	February 10-Hosted 100 students from La Mirada High School
	February 16-Provided tour of laboratory for students from Pomona College
	February 17-Hosted a three-member delegation from Brazil
	February 23-Hosted 35 students from Santiago High School (Corona)
	February 23-Hosted visitor from Hong Kong EPD
	February 23-Provided a speaker for Glendale Lions Club

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	5,007
	1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line	3,399
	After Hours Calls*	2,181
	Spanish Line Calls	41
	Total Phone Calls	10,628
	*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

Calls
 

	Calls Received by PIC Staff	167
	Calls to Automated System	3,094
	Total Phone Calls	3,261

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 is summarized below.
 

	Conducted 74 free on-site consultations
	Provided assistance in filing 2 requests for variance
	Provided permit application assistance to 321 companies
	Issued 22 clearance letters

Types of business assisted:

Drycleaners	Gas stations
Furniture refinishers	Building management companies
Auto body repair shops	Plastic products manufacturers
Cabinet makers	Metal platers
Restaurants	Recycled paper products manufacturers

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 elected officials, or staff from the following offices:
 

	Congressman Joe Baca
	Congresswoman Grace Napolitano
	State Senator Joe Dunn
	State Senator Gloria Romero
	State Senator Jack Scott
	State Senator Tom McClintock
	Assembly Member Ronald Calderon
	Assembly Member Judy Chu
	Assembly Member Hector de la Torre
	Assembly Member Dario Frommer
	Assembly Member Betty Karnette
	Assembly Member Gloria Negrete McLeod
	Assembly Member Fran Pavley
	Assembly Member Keith Richman
	Assembly Member Van Tan
	Assembly Member Tom Umberg
	Assembly Member Mimi Walters

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

Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bell Gardens, Burbank, Carson, Claremont, Covina, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Glendale, Industry, Irwindale, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, La Palma, Long Beach, Maywood, Mission Viejo, Monterey Park, Newport Beach, Norwalk, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Rosemead, San Clemente, San Dimas, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Fe Springs, South Gate, South Pasadera, Temple City, Torrance and Tustin.

Chamber of Commerce and Council of Government contacts:

Alhambra Chamber of Commerce
Arcadia Rotary & Chamber of Commerce
Azusa Chamber of Commerce
Burbank Chamber of Commerce
Commerce Industrial Council
Gateway Cities Council of Governments
Hawthorne Chamber of Commerce
Hispanic Chamber of Orange County
Industry Chamber of Commerce
Lake Elsinore Chamber of Commerce
Montebello Chamber of Commerce
Monrovia Chamber of Commerce
Murrieta Chamber of Commerce
Norwalk Chamber of Commerce
Orange County Business Council
Orange County Council of Governments
San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce
San Dimas Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce
South Bay Council of Governments
South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce
Temple City Chamber of Commerce
Torrance Chamber of Commerce
Upland Chamber of Commerce
Western Riverside Council of Governments
Westminster Chamber of Commerce
Westside Cities Council of Governments

Staff represented AQMD and/or provided a presentation to the following groups:

American Lung Association of Inland Counties
CLOUT civic group in San Bernardino
The Group, Riverside
Las Virgenes Municipal Water District
Los Angeles County Division, League of California Cities
National Hispanic Business Women’s Conference
Orange County Division, League of California Cities
South Gate Rotary Club
Upper San Gabriel Valley Water District

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