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

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the August 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 August 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 August:

On August 18, District staff participated in a second community meeting, hosted by State Senator Joe Dunn, in Santa Ana. The meeting was held at Franklin Elementary School and attended by approximately 90 parents. Other attendees included staff representatives from the office of Assembly Member Tom Umberg, Orange County Supervisor Lou Correa, County Health Care Agency, City of Santa Ana, Santa Ana Unified School District, Leukemia Society and other groups. AQMD’s Executive Officer provided an update on air monitoring being conducted at both Franklin and Kennedy Elementary Schools. Speakers from Santa Ana USD and Orange County Health Care Agency reported on other testing and health studies underway in those same communities.

On August 30, the District hosted a Town Hall meeting with the City of Santa Clarita. Over 200 people were in attendance, including representatives from the Southland Association of Realtors, the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, Valley Industrial Association and environmental groups. AQMD staff presented an overview of the Santa Clarita Sub-Regional Plan and also addressed the area’s mining operations. Many in attendance focused on concerns regarding odors from landfills, emissions from mobile sources and growth, as well as mining operations. Community members also requested that an additional air monitoring station be located in Santa Clarita.

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 August 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 August:
 

	August 2-Hosted 40 students from Castle Rock Elementary School in Diamond Bar, who received a general air quality overview followed by a tour.
	August 11-Gave an air quality and ridesharing presentation to employees of the State Fund Insurance Company.
	August 16-Hosted a 3-member delegation of college professors from South Korea, who received a presentation on Best Available Control Strategies.

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 August:
 

	Main Line Calls	5,780
	1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line	4,284
	After Hours Calls*	1,993
	Spanish Line Calls	59
	Total Phone Calls	12,116
	*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 August:

Requests for Information

Calls
 

	Calls Received by PIC Staff	101
	Calls to Automated System	4,292
	Total Phone Calls	4,393

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 22 free on-site consultations
Provided assistance in filing 4 requests for variance
Provided permit application assistance to 153 companies
Issued 25 clearance letters

Types of business assisted:
 

Drycleaning	Gas stations
Medical center	Metal finishing
Auto body repair	Crematory
Wood products manufacturing/coating	Textile
Construction	Food 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:

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 Vincent Edward
State Senator Martha Escutia
State Senator Sheila Kuehl
State Senator Alan Lowenthal
State Senator Gloria Romero
State Senator George Runner
State Senator Jack Scott
State Senator Nell Soto
Assembly Member Joe Baca
Assembly Member John Benoit
Assembly Member Ron Calderon
Assembly Member Ed Chavez
Assembly Member Judy Chu
Assembly Member Hector De La Torre
Assembly Member Dario Frommer
Assembly Member Betty Karnette
Assembly Member Paul Koretz
Assembly Member Carol Liu
Assembly Member Cindy Montanez
Assembly Member Gloria Negrete McLeod
Assembly Member Jenny Oropeza
Assembly Member Fran Pavley
Assembly Member Keith Richman
Assembly Member Tom Umberg

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

Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Arcadia, Artesia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Banning, Bell, Bellflower, Bell Gardens, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Burbank, Buena Park, Carson, Cathedral City, Cerritos, Coachella, Commerce, 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, Pomona, Rancho Mirage, Rancho Santa Margarita, Redlands, Riverside, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Clemente, 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, Villa Park, West Hollywood, Westlake Village, and Whittier.

Chamber of Commerce and Council of Government contacts:

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
Economic Council of [Banning] 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
Rosemead Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
South Bay Council of Governments
South El Monte Industrial Council
South Orange County Chambers
Southwest California Legislative Council
Tustin 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
COEJLSC (Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life of Southern California)
Commerce CAER (Community Awareness Emergency Response)
Latino Issues Forum
South Bay CAER
South Gate Rotary Club

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