BOARD MEETING DATE: June 2, 2006
AGENDA NO. 10

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the April 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 April 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 April:

On April 25, 2006, AQMD staff provided an update on quarterly particulate matter (PM) PM₁₀ sampling that is being conducted in the City of Duarte. The presentation was made before the Duarte City Council and served to update the city on PM₁₀ monitoring, crystalline silica update and information on fallout sampling requested by residents.

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 April:

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 April:

• April 3 – Hosted a delegation from Sweden representing Ports and Shipping. Provided an overview on air quality, goods movement and new technologies.
• April 4 – Hosted a delegation from China who received an overview on air quality monitoring.
• April 8 – Presentation on air quality to staff at Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
• April 20 – Presentation on Internal Combustion Engines to members of BOMA/Los Angeles.
• April 26 – Hosted 30 students from View Park Charter School who received an air quality overview and tour of AQMD facility.

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 April:

*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 April:

Requests for Information

•	Visitor Transactions	464
•	Information Packages Mailed	36

Calls

•	Calls Received by PIC Staff	97
•	Calls to Automated System	4,841
•	Total Phone Calls	4,938

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. 

ü  Conducted 12 free on-site consultations

ü  Provided permit application assistance to 121 companies

ü  Issued 21 clearance letters

Types of business assisted:

ü  Drycleaning	ü  Fiberglass products manufacturing
ü  Textile Dyeing	ü  Crematory
ü  Auto body shops	ü  Building management
ü  Wood products      manufacturing/coating	ü  Pet food manufacturing
ü  Restaurants	ü  Electronics assembly

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:

• Assembly Member Karen Bass
• Assembly Member Ron Calderon
• Assembly Member Judy Chu
• Assembly Member Bill Emerson
• Assembly Member Tom Harman
• Assembly Member Bob Huff
• Assembly Member Betty Karnette
• Assembly Member Gloria Negrete-McLeod
• Assembly Member Keith Richman
• Assembly Member Todd Spitzer
• Assembly Member Van Tran
• Assembly Member Mimi Walters

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

Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Arcadia, Azusa, Banning, Baldwin Park, Beaumont, Beverly Hills, Buena Park, Burbank, Calabasas, Calimesa, Canyon Lake, Chino Hills, Claremont, Colton, Commerce, Corona, Covina, Desert Hot Springs, Downey, Duarte, El Monte, Fontana, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Glendale, Glendora, Hemet, Highland, Huntington Beach, Indian Wells, Indio, Industry, Irvine, Irwindale,  Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, La Habra Heights, Lake Elsinore, 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,  Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Mirage, Rancho Santa Margarita, Rialto, Riverside, Rosemead, San Clemente, 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

Asian Business Association

Banning Chamber of Commerce

Baldwin Park Chamber of Commerce

Beaumont Chamber of Commerce

Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County

Burbank Chamber of Commerce

Calimesa Chamber of Commerce

Carson Chamber of Commerce

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

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Orange County

Industry Manufacturers Council

Irvine Chamber of Commerce

Lake Elsinore Chamber of Commerce

Las Virgenes Malibu Council of Governments

Long Beach Chamber of Commerce

Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce

Murietta Valley Chamber of Commerce

Orange County Business Council

Orange County Council of Governments

Orange County League of Cities

Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Rosemead Chamber of Commerce

San Bernardino Association of Government

San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce

San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce

San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments

San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership

South Bay Cities Council of Governments

South Orange County Chamber of Commerce

South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce

Southwest Riverside County Legislative Council

Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce

Upland Chamber of Commerce

Western Riverside Council of Governments

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

Asthma & Allergy Foundation

Breathe California

Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice

Economic Council of Pass Area Communities

Industrial Environmental Coalition of Orange County

League of California Cities

Los Angeles County Asthma Coalition

Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative

Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma

Orange County League of Cities

Riverside County Transportation Commission

Southern California Association of Governments

Westside Residents for Clean Air