BOARD MEETING DATE: July 7, 2006
AGENDA NO. 15

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the May 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 May 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 May. 

On May 31, AQMD staff held a community meeting in Wilmington to inform and update the public about AQMD’s Rule 1118 flare event public notification system.   The meeting was attended by over 60 people, including representatives from community groups, schools, local refineries and city governments.   The meeting attendees were asked to provide input on draft flaring notification procedures that have been developed by members of the AQMD’s Flaring Working Group.

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 May:

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 May:

• May 10 and May 24 – Hosted 30 students from Park View Charter School who received an air quality overview and tour of the alternative energy center.
• May 19  –  Presentation on air quality to members of the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center “Inspirations Club.”

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 May:

*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 May:

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.

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.

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

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

Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Arcadia, Azusa, Banning, Baldwin Park, Beaumont, Bell Gardens, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Buena Park, Burbank, Calabasas, Calimesa, Canyon Lake, Chino, Chino Hills, Claremont, Colton, Commerce, Corona, Covina, Culver City, Desert Hot Springs, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, El Monte, Fontana, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Glendale, Glendora, Grand Terrace, Hemet, Hidden Hills, Highland, Huntington Beach, Huntington Park, Indian Wells, Indio, Industry, Irvine, Irwindale, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods. La Habra Heights, Lake Elsinore, Lakewood, La Palma, La Puente, La Quinta, La Verne, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Angeles, Malibu, Maywood, Mission Viejo, Monrovia, Montclair, Montebello, Monterey Park, Murrieta, Newport Beach, Norco, Norwalk, Ontario, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Pasadena, Perris, Placentia, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Mirage, Rancho Santa Margarita, Rialto, Riverside, Rosemead, San Jacinto, San Juan Capistrano, San Bernardino, San Dimas, San Gabriel, San Jacinto, San Marino, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Seal Beach, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Temecula, Temple City, Tustin, Upland, Walnut, West Covina, West Hollywood, Westlake Village and Yucaipa.

Chamber of Commerce and Councils of Governments contacts:

Arcadia Chamber of Commerce
Anaheim Chamber of Commerce
Arroyo Verdugo Council of Governments
Banning Chamber of Commerce
Beaumont Chamber of Commerce
Burbank Chamber of Commerce
CLOUT
Coachella Valley Association of Governments
Commerce Industrial Council
Corona Chamber of Commerce
Covina Chamber of Commerce
El Monte/South El Monte Chamber of Commerce
Gateway Cities Council of Governments
Glendora Chamber of Commerce
Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce
Harbor City/Harbor Gateway Chamber of Commerce
Hemet/San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce
Industry Manufacturers Council
Irvine Chamber of Commerce
Lake Elsinore Chamber of Commerce
Las Virgenes Malibu Council of Governments
Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce
Norco Legislative Action Committee
Orange County Business Council
Orange County Council of Governments
Orange County League of Cities
Rosemead Chamber of Commerce
San Bernardino Associated Governments
San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
Santa Fe Springs Chamber of Commerce
South Bay Cities Council of Governments
South Orange County Chamber of Commerce
South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
Southern California Association of Governments
Southwest Riverside County Legislative Council
Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce
Upland Chamber of Commerce
Valley Economic Development Corporation-Hemet
Western Riverside Council of Governments
Westminster Chamber of Commerce
Westside Cities 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
Asian Youth Center, San Gabriel
California Contract Cities Associations
Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice
Economic Council of Pass Area Communities
Industrial Environmental Coalition of Orange County
League of California Cities
Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma
Los Angeles County Asthma Coalition
Orange County League of Cities
Riverside County Asthma Coalition
Riverside County Asthma Coalition of the Desert
Southern California Association of Governments
Westside Residents for Clean Air
Willie C. Velasquez Institute