BOARD MEETING DATE: January 7, 2005
AGENDA NO. 11

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the November 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 November 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 November:

Community Meetings

1. On November 6, the AQMD held a public hearing for Proposed Title V Permit for Falcon Foam in South Los Angeles. Approximately 55 people attended the meeting, including representatives from the Los Angeles Unified School District.
    
2. On November 30, the AQMD’s Hearing Board held a Public Hearing in Wilmington on an appeal for the approval of a permit to construct for the ConocoPhillips facility 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. 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 November include:
 

Date	Event
November 4	White Memorial Medical Center Community Health Fair
November 13	Radio Disney KDIS AM 1110 Jingle Jam in Westminster
November 13	Panorama City Community Health Fair
November 14	American Lung Association, Orange County Asthma Walk
November 20	Sun Valley Watershed Festival

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 November:
 

	November 8, provided a presentation on air quality to Rowland Heights Coordinating Council.
	November 17, hosted two officials from Ukraine who were briefed on AQMD’s RECLAIM program.
	November 30, provided a presentation on air quality and children’s health to a group of Head Start parents in Duarte.

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 November:
 

	Main Line Calls	5,492
	1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line	3,764
	After Hours Calls*	2,733
	Spanish Line Calls	48
	Total Phone Calls	12,037
	*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 November:

Requests for Information

Calls

	Calls Received by PIC Staff	114
	Calls to Automated System	3,499
	Total Phone Calls	3,613

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 November included:
 

	Conducted 53 free on-site consultations
	Provided guidance in filing one request for variance
	Provided permit application assistance to 199 companies
	Issued 38 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. Specific presentations on activities are listed below:

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

Senator Diane Feinstein
Assembly Member John Benoit, 64^th District
Assembly Member Bonnie Garcia, 80^th District
Supervisor Gloria Molina
Councilmember Janice Hahn

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

Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Arcadia, Artesia, Avalon, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Banning, Beaumont, Bell, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Big Bear Lake, Bradbury, Brea, Buena Park, Burbank, Calabasas, Calimesa, Canyon Lake, Carson, Cathedral City, Cerritos, Chino, Chino Hills, Claremont, Coachella, Colton, Commerce, Compton, Corona, Costa Mesa, Covina, Cudahy, Culver City, Cypress, Dana Point, Desert Hot Springs, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, El Monte, El Segundo, Fontana, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Gardena, Glendale, Glendora, Grand Terrace, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hemet, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, Highland, Huntington Beach, Huntington Park, Indian Wells, Indio, Industry, Inglewood, Irving, Irwindale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, La Palma, La Puente, La Quinta, La Verne, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Elsinore, Lake Forest, Lakewood, Lawndale, Loma Linda, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Maywood, Mission Viejo, Monrovia, Montclair, Montebello, Monterey Park, Moreno Valley, Murietta, Newport Beach, Norco, Norwalk, Ontario, Orange, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Palos Verdes Estates, Paramount, Pasadena, Perris, Pico Rivera, Placentia, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Mirage, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rancho Santa Margarita, Redlands, Redondo Beach, Rialto, Riverside, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Clemente, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Jacinto, San Juan Capistrano, San Marino, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Seal Beach, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Stanton, Temecula, Temple City, Torrance, Tustin, Upland, Vernon, Villa Park, Walnut, West Covina, West Hollywood, Westlake Village, Westminster, Whittier, Yorba Linda, and Yucaipa

Chamber of Commerce and Council of Government contacts:

Corona Chamber of Commerce
    Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
    Irvine Chamber of Commerce
    Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce
    Las Virgens-Malibu Council of Governments
    Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce
    San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments

School District contacts:
    Montebello Unified School District

Staff represented AQMD and/or provided a presentation at the following meetings:
    Airports Air Quality Study Advisory Committee
    American Lung Association Walkathon
    CLOUT and League of Cities General Dinner meeting
    Gardena City Council
    Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber’s Legislative Conference
    Orange County Business Council Regulatory/Legislative Committee
    Orange County League of Cities City Selection
    San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
    South Bay Council of Governments Board of Directors
    South Bay Council of Governments Legislative Committee
    The Group (community-based group)
    Western Riverside Clean Cities Steering Committee

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