BOARD MEETING DATE: March 4, 2005
AGENDA NO. 11

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the January 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 January 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 January:

On January 25, the District held a "smoke school" for local community leaders, residents and business representatives to learn techniques used to evaluate visible emissions. Course participants took part in the full-day class which was conducted by CARB staff and included classroom instruction followed by a field training exercise using a smoke generator. The meeting was attended by media representatives from the Daily News, Orange County Register, Chinese Daily News and Phoenix Chinese television. This course was offered as part of the District’s Environmental Justice Initiatives for FY 2004-05 aimed at enhancing community involvement in promoting healthful air quality.

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 January include:
 

Date	Event
January 15	Mission Hospital Asthma & Allergy Fair in Mission Viejo
January 28-30	Asian American Business Expo at the Pomona Fairplex
January 29	Future Cities Competition, Exposition Park in Los Angeles

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 January:

	January 6, 13 Public Administration students from California State University, Fullerton
	January 11, Presentation before the City of Commerce Industrial Council’s Community Awareness Emergency Response Group
	January 13, Presentation before the Pomona Lions Club
	January 14, Presentation and tour for the 12 winners of the AQMD’s Calendar Contest. Guests included the children’s parents and teachers.
	January 17, Presentation and tour for the Canadian Minister of Transport, the Minister of Environment and a delegation of 25 guests.
	January 26, Presentation and tour given to a class of 16 students and two faculty from Azusa Pacific University
	January 27, presentation and tour to visitors from South Korea

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	5,253
	1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line	3,161
	After Hours Calls*	2,523
	Spanish Line Calls	48
	Total Phone Calls	10,985
	*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	207
	Calls to Automated System	3,217
	Total Phone Calls	3,424

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 63 free on-site consultations
	Provided assistance in filing 6 requests for variance
	Provided permit application assistance to 226 companies
	Issued 31 clearance letters

Types of business 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 elected officials, or staff from the following offices:
 

	Congressman Adam Schiff
	Congresswoman Jane Harman
	State Senator Debra Bowen
	State Senator John Campbell
	State Senator Jim Battin
	State Senator Martha Escutia
	State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth
	State Senator Bill Morrow
	Assembly Member Rudy Bermudez
	Assembly Member Judy Chu
	Assembly Member William Emmerson
	Assembly Member Bonnie Garcia
	Assembly Member Jerome Horton
	Assembly Member Ray Haynes
	Assembly Member Gloria Negrete McLeod
	Assembly Member Tom Harman
	Assembly Member Todd Spitzer
	Assembly Member Thomas Umberg

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

Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Burbank, Calabasas, Carson, Claremont, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Fullerton, Gardena, Garden Grove, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Irvine, Loma Linda, Lomita, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Pomona, Riverside, Rosemead, Santa Monica, Sierra Madre, Torrance, Walnut and West Hollywood.

Chamber of Commerce and Council of Government contacts:

Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce
Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County
Commerce Industrial Council
Coachella Valley Association of Governments Energy & Environmental
       Resources Committee
Gateway Cities Council of Governments
Hispanic Chamber of Orange County
Indio Chamber of Commerce
Irvine Chamber of Commerce
La Mirada Chamber of Commerce
Las Virgenes-Malibu Council of Governments
Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce
Norco Chamber of Commerce
Orange County Council of Governments
San Bernardino Area Governments
San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce
South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce
Upland Chamber of Commerce
Western Riverside Council of Governments

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

American Lung Association of Inland Counties
AQMD Airports Air Quality Study Advisory Committe
CLOUT civic group in San Bernardino
The Group, Riverside
Montebello USD Student Support Advisory Committee
Orange County Division, League of California Cities
Riverside County Division, League of California Cities
Riverside Transit Authority
South Gate Rotary Club
Western Riverside County Clean Cities Coalition

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