BOARD MEETING DATE: May 5, 2006
AGENDA NO. 16

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the March 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 March 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 March:

Staff has been assisting the Hearing Board in coordinating a meeting in El Monte where an order for abatement will be discussed. This action would require a local facility to cease operation until procedures are in place to control odors or potentially to operate under specified conditions to reduce or control the odors so that the facility can fully comply with District Rules and Regulations. There has been a lot of interest from the local community on this issue so the Hearing Board is holding its meeting offsite, in the evening, so that the public can attend and provide oral or written testimony.

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 March:

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 March:

• March 8 – Hosted a delegation from Denmark, which included nine members of Parliament, who received an overview on air quality programs and compliance.
• March 14 – Hosted 25-member UCLA Hubert Humphrey Fellows whose members represented 20 countries. Provided an air quality overview and facility tour.
• March 15 – Air Quality presentation to members of the Parent Advocacy Committee of the Koreatown Youth and Community Center
• March 16 –Air Quality presentation to members of the Bellflower Rotary
• March 22 – Presentation on boiler rules and compliance at Gas Company Energy Resource Center
• March 29 – Presentation on air quality and AQMD staff responsibilities to  members of the Banning High School Science Academy

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 March:

*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 March:

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. 

ü  Conducted 19 free on-site consultations

ü   Provided permit application assistance to 140 companies

ü   Issued 23 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. 

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

• Congresswoman Grace Napolitano
• Senator Jim Batton
• Senator Gil Cedillo
• Senator Bob Dutton
• Senator George Runner
• 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 Carol Liu
• Assembly Member Gloria Negrete-McLeod
• Assembly Member Keith Richman
• Assembly Member Mark 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, Big Bear Lake, Bradbury, Buena Park, Burbank, Calabasas, Calimesa, Canyon Lake, Chino Hills, Claremont, Colton, Commerce, Corona, Covina, Cypress, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, El Monte,  Fontana, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Glendale, Glendora, Hemet, Highland, Huntington Beach, Indian Wells, Indio, Industry, Irvine, Irwindale, La Cañada/Flintridge, 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, Pico Rivera, 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, Stanton, 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
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
Japanese Chamber of Commerce
Lake Elsinore Chamber of Commerce
Las Virgenes Malibu Council of Governments
Latin Business Association
Lomita chamber of Commerce
Long Beach 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 Gabriel Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
San Pedro Chamber of Commerce
Santa Clarita Chamber of Commerce
South Bay Cities Council of Government
South Bay Quad Chamber of Commerce
South Orange County Chamber of Commerce
South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
Southwest Riverside County Legislative Council
Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce
Westminster 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 Los Angeles and Orange Counties
Asthma & Allergy Foundation
Breathe California
California Public Interest Research Group
Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice
Center for Law in Public Interest
East Valley Community Health Center
East Yard Community
ECOPAC 
Fontana Unified School District
Hacienda Heights unified School District
Industrial Environmental Coalition of Orange County
Interfaith Community Organization
Koreatown Youth and Community Center
Labor/Community Strategy Center
Labor/Community Watch Dog
Hacienda-La Puente Unified School District
League of California Cities
Los Angeles Alliance for Childhood
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition
Los Angeles Environmental Educational Fair
Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative
Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma
Mexican American Legal Defense Education Fund
Montebello Unified School District
Orange County League of Cities
Residents of Pico Rivera for Environmental Justice
Riverside County Transportation Commission
Romoland Unified School District
Rowland Unified School District
San Gabriel Valley Children’s Center
Sierra Club
University of California at Los Angeles
Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District
Westside Residents for Clean Air