BOARD MEETING DATE: July 8, 2005
AGENDA NO. 13

PROPOSAL:

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the May 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 May 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 May:

On May 27, District staff participated in a community meeting hosted by Senator Joe Dunn at Kennedy Elementary School in Santa Ana. Close to 100 people attended the meeting which addressed community concerns relative to a chrome plating facility near the school. Representatives from the facility, as well as staff from AQMD, Santa Ana USD, Orange County Water District and Orange County Sanitation Districts were on hand to respond to community questions. Discussion points included a history of the company and its operation; permitting and use of new technologies, environmental compliance and health concerns. Sen. Dunn asked to convene a follow-up meeting with staff from the City of Santa Ana and County Health Care Agency to provide additional information to address health concerns with the school community.

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 May include:
 

Date	Event
May 1-4	Clean Cities Conference & Expo, Palm Springs
May 7	Earth Day Celebration, Pacoima
May 14	Children’s Safety Awareness Day, Hawthorne
May 14	World Asthma Day Event, Los Angeles
May 14	Environmental Educational Workshop, Van Nuys
May 15	Clean Air Car Showcase, Santa Monica
May 15	Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, Los Angeles
May 21-22	Orange Blossom Festival, Riverside

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 May:
 

	May 4 - Hosted a delegation from South Korea who received an overview on air quality and a tour of the laboratory.
	May 17 - Hosted a delegation from China who heard a general air quality presentation and a tour of an air monitoring station.
	May 24 - Staff gave a presentation to the Orange County Chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

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 May:
 

	Main Line Calls	5,689
	1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line	4,035
	After Hours Calls*	2,404
	Spanish Line Calls	53
	Total Phone Calls	12,181
	*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 May:

Requests for Information

Calls
 

	Calls Received by PIC Staff	187
	Calls to Automated System	5,145
	Total Phone Calls	5,332

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 57 free on-site consultations
	Provided assistance in filing 11 requests for variance
	Provided permit application assistance to 258 companies
	Issued 28 clearance letters

Types of business assisted:
 

Drycleaning	Gas stations
Chemical blending	Metal finishing
Auto body repair	Food products manufacturing
Wood products manufacturing/coating	Restaurant
Building management	Consumer products manufacturing

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:

	State Senator Joe Dunn State Senator Sheila Kuehl State Senator Gloria Romero Assembly Member Karen Bass Assembly Member Ronald Calderon Assembly Member Ed Chavez Assembly Member Jackie Goldberg Assembly Member Bob Huff Assembly Member Betty Karnette Assembly Member Mark Leno Assembly Member Cindy Montanez Assembly Member Gloria Negrete-McLeod Assembly Member Jenny Oropeza Assembly Member Fran Pavley Assembly Member Tom Umberg

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

Aliso Viejo, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Buena Park, Carson, Coachella, Duarte, Gardena, Hemet, Highland, Huntington Beach, Inglewood, Irvine, La Canada-Flintridge, Laguna Niguel, La Habra Heights, Long Beach, Malibu, Montebello, Norco, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, Redondo Beach, Rialto, Rosemead, San Bernardino, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Temecula, Temple City, Vernon, Westlake Village, Westminster and Whittier.

Chamber of Commerce and Council of Government contacts:

Burbank Chamber of Commerce
CLOUT
Gateway Cities Council of Governments
Glendale Chamber of Commerce
Industrial Environmental Coalition of Orange County
Irvine Chamber of Commerce
Lake Elsinore Chamber of Commerce
Las Virgenes/Malibu Council of Governments
Long Beach Chamber of Commerce
Orange County Council of Governments
Rosemead Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce
South Bay Council of Governments
Tustin Chamber of Commerce
Upland Chamber of Commerce
Western Riverside Council of Governments
Westside Cities 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
League of California Cities, Action Day in Sacramento
League of California Cities, Riverside County Division
South Gate Rotary Club
West Covina Rotary Club

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