BOARD MEETING DATE: December 2, 2005
AGENDA NO. 11

Public Affairs Report

SYNPOSIS:

This report highlights the October 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 ACTIONS:

Receive and file.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

This report summarizes the activities of Public Affairs for October 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 October:

On October 19, AQMD held a Town Hall meeting in the City of Long Beach. The meeting was attended by over 200 people and was co-hosted by Long Beach City Councilmember Tonia Reyes-Uranga and the Long Beach Interfaith Community Organization. AQMD staff presented an overview on local air quality and also focused on programs that have been instituted to address emissions from port operations. Many in the audience focused their comments on refinery issues and the need for improved emergency notification near refineries and their opposition to a planned BNSF terminal in Wilmington.

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. Attendees typically receive the following information: 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 October include:

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 October:

• October 6—Hosted students from Cal State University, Los Angeles Environmental Health program who received an air quality overview and a tour of AQMD’s facility.
• October 19—Hosted a 20-member delegation from Japan who received an overview on natural gas clean air technologies from Technology Advancement staff.
• October 28—Hosted a class from Cal Poly Pomona’s Center for Regenerative Studies who received a presentation on renewable technologies.

Communication Center Statistics

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

Ö	Main Line Calls	5,096
Ö	1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line	4,152
Ö	After Hours Calls*	2,151
Ö	Spanish Line Calls	32
Ö	Total Phone Calls	11,431

*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 October:

Requests for Information

Ö	Visitor Transactions	370
Ö	Information Packages Mailed	22

Calls

Ö	Calls Received by PIC Staff	85
Ö	Calls to Automated System	4,701
Ö	Total Phone Calls	4,786

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.

Ö Conducted 16 free on-site consultations
Ö Provided assistance in filing 2 requests for variance
Ö Provided permit application assistance to 97 companies
Ö Issued 21 clearance letters

Types of business assisted:

Ö      Drycleaning	Ö      Food products manufacturing
Ö      Coffee roasting	Ö      Metal products coating
Ö      Auto body shop	Ö      Construction
Ö      Wood products manufacturing/coating	Ö      Roofing
Ö      Restaurant	Ö      Printing press

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:

Ö Congresswoman Grace Napolitano
Ö Congresswoman Linda Sanchez
Ö Congresswoman Hilda Solis
Ö State Senator Joe Dunn
Ö State Senator Martha Escutia
Ö State Senator Sheila Kuehl
Ö State Senator Alan Lowenthal
Ö State Senator Gloria Romero
Ö State Senator Nell Soto
Ö Assembly Member Joe Baca
Ö Assembly Member Judy Chu
Ö Assembly Member Hector De La Torre
Ö Assembly Member Cindy Montanez
Ö Assembly Member Gloria Negrete McLeod
Ö Assembly Member Jenny Oropeza
Ö Assembly Member Fran Pavley

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

Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Arcadia, Artesia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Banning, Beaumont, Bell, Bellflower, Burbank, Buena Park, Carson, Cerritos, Colton, Commerce, Corona, Covina, Cudahy, Culver City, Cypress, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, El Monte, El Segundo, Fullerton, Gardena, Hawaiian Gardens, Hemet, Hidden Hills, Highland, Huntington Beach, Huntington Park, Indian Wells, Indio, Irvine, La Canada Flintridge, Laguna Beach, Lake Elsinore, Lakewood, Lake Forest, La Palma, La Puente, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Lynwood, Maywood, Monrovia, Moreno Valley, Montebello, Monterey Park, Norco, Norwalk, Palm Desert, Paramount, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Rancho Mirage, Rancho Santa Margarita, Redlands, Riverside, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Clemente, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Gabriel, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Temple City, Torrance, Tustin, West Hollywood, Westlake Village, and Whittier.

Chamber of Commerce and Council of Government contacts:

Anaheim Chamber Legislative Committee
Arroyo Verdugo Council of Governments
Buena Park Chamber of Commerce
Burbank Chamber of Commerce
Carson Chamber of Commerce
City of Industry Manufacturers Council
Coachella Valley Association of Governments
Commerce Industrial Council
Economic Council of Pass Area Communities (ECOPAC)
Gateway Cities Council of Governments
Irvine Chamber of Commerce
Las Virgenes/Malibu Council of Governments
Long Beach Chamber of Commerce
Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce
Norco Chamber of Commerce
Orange County Council of Governments
Orange County League of Cities
Riverside County Legislative Summit
Rosemead Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
South Bay Council of Governments
South Orange County Chambers
Torrance Chamber of Commerce
Upland Chamber of Commerce
Westside Cities Council of Governments
Western Riverside Council of Governments

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

American Lung Association of Inland Counties
American Lung Association of Orange County
ARB Goods Movement Meeting
Commerce CAER (Community Awareness Emergency Response)
Lewis Seminar Series on Goods Movement
Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma
South Bay CAER
South Gate Rotary Club

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