BOARD MEETING DATE: January 6, 2006
AGENDA NO. 12
Public Affairs Report
SYNPOSIS:
This report highlights the November 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 November 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 November:
On November 10, AQMD held a Town Hall meeting in the City of Claremont. The meeting was attended by over 50 people, including AQMD Governing Board members Bea LaPisto-Kirtley and Dennis Yates. Claremont City Council members Jackie McHenry and Ellen Taylor were also present. AQMD staff presented an overview on local air quality. Many in the audience focused their comments on dust and air quality concerns from local mining operations and the need for dissemination of information to area residents on AQMD’s dust control rules and compliance requirements.
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 November include:
|
Date |
Event |
|
November 2 |
BP Settlement Funding Community Meeting, Rialto |
|
November 5 |
Air Power Games hosted by Asthma & Allergy Foundation, Long Beach |
|
November 6 |
American Lung Association of Orange County Walk-a-thon |
|
November 28 |
BP Settlement Funding Community Meeting, Banning |
|
November 30 |
BP Settlement Funding Community Meeting, Carson |
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 November:
| Ö |
November 1 - Hosted 30 students from Cal Poly Pomona’s School of Engineering who toured the laboratory and alternative energy center. |
| Ö |
November 9 - Hosted a five-member delegation from the Israel Ministry of the Environment who received an overview of detection of fugitive emissions from refinery operations. |
| Ö |
November 15 - General air quality overview to Environmental Studies class at Cal State University, Fullerton |
| Ö |
November 17 - Alternative fuels presentation to science class at Fullerton Community College. |
| Ö |
November 30 - Presentation on RECLAIM program to Environmental Studies Class at California Institute of the Arts. |
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 November:
Ö Main Line Calls 4404 Ö 1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line 4074 Ö After Hours Calls* 2,683 Ö Spanish Line Calls 55 Ö Total Phone Calls 11,216 *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 November:
Requests for Information
Ö Visitor Transactions 314 Ö Information Packages Mailed 28
Calls
Ö Calls Received by PIC Staff 70 Ö Calls to Automated System 3374 Ö Total Phone Calls 3444
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 14 free on-site
consultations
Ö Provided assistance in filing two requests for
variance
Ö Provided permit application assistance to 144
companies
Ö Issued 17 clearance letters
Types of business assisted:
Ö Drycleaning Ö Photo finishing Ö Construction Ö Metal products coating Ö Auto body shops Ö Schools Ö Wood products manufacturing/coating Ö Gas Stations Ö Restaurants Ö Printing presses
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:
Ö Congressman Ken Calvert
Ö Congresswoman Grace Napolitano
Ö Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez
Ö State Senator Jim Battin
Ö State Senator Denise DuChaeny
Ö State Senator Joe Dunn
Ö State Senator Alan Lowenthal
Ö Assembly Member John Benoit
Ö Assembly Member Russ Bogh
Ö Assembly Member Chuck Devore
Ö Assembly Member Lloyd Levine
Ö Assembly Member Cindy Montañez
Ö Assembly Member Gloria Negrete McLeod
Ö Assembly Member Todd Spitzer
Ö Assembly Member Van Tran
Field visits and/or communications were conducted with staff from the following cities:
Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Banning, Beaumont, Bell, Bellflower, Burbank, Buena Park, Carson, Cerritos, Colton, Commerce, Corona, Covina, Cudahy, Culver City, Cypress, Diamond Bar, Duarte, El Monte, El Segundo, Fullerton, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hemet, Highland, Huntington Beach, Huntington Park, Indio, Irvine, Lake Elsinore, Lakewood, La Palma, La Puente, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Lynwood, Moreno Valley, Montebello, Monterey Park, Newport Beach, Norco, Norwalk, Palm Desert, Paramount, Pasadena, Rancho Santa Margarita, Riverside, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Clemente, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Jacinto, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Seal Beach, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Temecula, Temple City, Torrance, Tustin, West Hollywood, Westlake Village, and Whittier.
Chamber of Commerce and Council of Government contacts:
Banning Chamber of Commerce
Beaumont Chamber of Commerce
Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County
Carson Chamber of Commerce
Coachella Valley Association of Governments
Corona Chamber Legislative Committee
Diamond Bar Chamber of Commerce
Economic Council of Pass Area Communities (ECOPAC)
Gateway Cities Council of Governments
Irvine Chamber of Commerce
League of Cities-Inland Empire
Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce
Long Beach Chamber of Commerce
Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce
Norco Chamber of Commerce
Orange County Business Council
Orange County Council of Governments
Orange County League of Cities
Riverside County Legislative Summit
Rosemead Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
South Bay Cities Council of Governments
Southwest California Legislative Council
Upland Chamber of Commerce
Westminster 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
American Lung Association of Orange County
Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, South California Chapter
Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma
South Bay CAER
South Gate Rotary Club
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