BOARD MEETING DATE: December 1, 2006
AGENDA NO. 16

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the October 2006 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 October 2006.  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 October.

On October 19, AQMD held a Town Hall meeting in the City of Cerritos.  Over 50 people attended the meeting, including AQMD Governing Board Member Tonia Reyes Uranga and Cerritos Mayor Paul Bowlen.  City staff provided an overview of the city’s Clean Fleet Operations and AQMD staff presented an overview on the release of the Draft 2007 Air Quality Management Plan.

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 typically receive 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 October include the following.

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 October.

• October 5 – Provided AQMD Overview to staff of Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Yvonne Braithwaite Burke.
• October 17 – Overview of Asbestos regulation to members of Los Angeles County Health Services.
• October 19 – AQMD Overview and Tour to staff of San Diego Air Pollution Control District and California Air Resources Board.
• October 26 – AQMD Overview and Tour to graduate students from Loma Linda University.
• October 30 – Presentation on air pollution to students at Van Nuys Medical and Environmental Magnet High School.

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 October.

*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 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. 

Ö      Conducted 47 free on-site consultations
Ö      Provided permit application assistance to 134 companies
Ö      Issued 28 clearance letters

Types of business assisted:

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.  Following is a summary of October activities.

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

• Congress Member John Campbell
• Congress Member Grace Napolitano
• Senator Bob Dutton
• Senator Sheila Kuehl
• Senator Alan Lowenthal
• Assembly Member Lloyd Levine

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

Alhambra, Anaheim, Avalon, Banning, Beaumont, Buena Park, Burbank, Calimesa, Chino, Chino Hills, Claremont, Colton, Commerce, Corona, Culver City, Desert Hot Springs, Diamond Bar, Duarte, El Monte, El Segundo, Garden Grove, Glendale, Glendora, Grand Terrace, Hawthorne, Hemet, Highland, Huntington Beach, Industry, Irvine, Irwindale, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, La Habra, Lake Elsinore, La Mirada, La Palma, La Puente, Lake Forest, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Maywood, Montclair, Montebello, Monterey Park, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Norco, Norwalk, Ontario, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Pasadena, Perris, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, Romoland, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Dimas, San Gabriel, San Juan Capistrano, San Marino, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Seal Beach, Sierra Madre, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Stanton, Temecula, Tustin, Upland, West Covina, Westminster, and Yucaipa.

Chamber of Commerce and Councils of Governments contacts:

Anaheim Chamber of Commerce
Buena Park Chamber of Commerce
Burbank Chamber of Commerce
Coachella Valley Association of Governments
Commerce Industrial Council
Corona Chamber of Commerce
Covina Chamber of Commerce
Downey Chamber of Commerce
Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce
Gateway Cities Council of Governments
Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce
Hemet/San Jacinto Chamber Legislative Committee
Indio Chamber of Commerce
Industry Manufacturers Council Chamber of Commerce
Las Virgenes-Malibu Council of Governments
Long Beach Chamber of Commerce
Los Angeles Chamber Joint Environment and Transportation Committee
Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce
Orange County Business Council
Orange County Council of Governments
Riverside Chamber of Commerce
San Bernardino Associated Governments
San Gabriel Valley Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce, Government Affairs Committee
Santa Fe Springs Chamber of Commerce
South Bay Cities Council of Governments
South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce
South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
Southwest Riverside County Legislative Council
Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce
Western Riverside Council of Governments TAC
Westminster Chamber of Commerce

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

American Lung Association of Inland Counties
American Lung Association of Los Angeles County
American Lung Association of Orange County
California School Nurses Association
Community Awareness Emergency Response (CAER) – City of Carson
Foothill Workforce Investment Board
Inland Empire Public Affairs Network
League of California Cities (Los Angeles County)
League of California Cities (Orange County)
Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma
Montebello Unified School District Community Services
National Association of Hispanic Nurses—Orange County Chapter
Naval Surface Weapons Center, Norco
Orange County Transportation Authority
Port of Long Beach
Riverside County Asthma Coalition
San Gabriel Valley City Managers Association
Save Our Southwest Hills, Temecula
Solid Waste Consortium
Valley Industry and Commerce Association – Business Forecast Conference
Valley Industry and Commerce Association – Land Use Committee

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