BOARD MEETING DATE: November 4, 2005
AGENDA NO. 18

Public Affairs Report

SYNPOSIS:

This report highlights the September 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 September 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 September:

On September 21, the District hosted a Town Hall meeting in the City of Duarte. The meeting was attended by over 130 people, including representatives from the cities of Duarte, Azusa and Claremont and the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles. AQMD staff presented an overview on local air quality and also focused on programs that have been instituted to address emissions from local mining operations, following a report on “Environmental Effects of Gravel Mining in Irwindale”, prepared by Congresswoman Hilda Solis and Congressman Henry Waxman, and published in December, 2002. Many in attendance focused on monitoring of particulate matter, in and around the mining facilities, and also asked for clarification on the permitting process and how notices of violation are issued.

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 received 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 September 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 September:

	September 16-Hosted Vice-Chair of Shanghai’s Environmental Protection Bureau who received an overview of the Continuous Emissions Monitoring System.
	September 20- Hosted a class of 20 students from Mt. San Antonio College who took a tour of the District.
	September 21- Hosted an Environmental Studies class from Azusa Pacific University who received an air quality overview followed by a tour.

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 September:

Public Information Center Statistics

The Public Information Center handles phone calls and walk-in requests for general information. Below is a summary for September:

Requests for Information

Calls

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 25 free on-site consultations
Provided assistance in filing 2 requests for variance
Provided permit application assistance to 112 companies
Issued 25 clearance letters

Types of business assisted:

 Drycleaning  Gas stations  Coffee roasting  Metal products manufacturing  Auto body shop  Aggregate handling  Wood products manufacturing/coating  Textile  Restaurant  Building management

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:

Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Congresswoman Mary Bono
Congressman David Dreier
Congresswoman Grace Napolitano
Congresswoman Linda Sanchez
Congresswoman Hilda Solis
State Senator Joe Dunn
State Senator Martha Escutia
State Senator Sheila Kuehl
State Senator Alan Lowenthal
State Senator Gloria Romero
State Senator Nell Soto
Assembly Member Joe Baca
Assembly Member Judy Chu
Assembly Member Hector De La Torre
Assembly Member Dario Frommer
Assembly Member Betty Karnette
Assembly Member Paul Koretz
Assembly Member Cindy Montanez
Assembly Member Gloria Negrete McLeod
Assembly Member Jenny Oropeza
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, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Burbank, Buena Park, Carson, Cerritos, Coachella, Colton, Commerce, Corona, Covina, Cudahy, Culver City, Cypress, 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, La Quinta, La Verne, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Lynwood, Malibu, Maywood, Monrovia, Moreno Valley, Montebello, Monterey Park, 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
Corona Legislative Committee
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
Rosemead Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
South Bay Council of Governments
South Orange County Chambers
Torrance Chamber
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
Commerce CAER (Community Awareness Emergency Response)
Community Meeting hosted by. Sen. Lowenthal
Latino Issues Forum
Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma
South Bay CAER
South Gate Rotary Club
Southwest Legislative Summit

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