BOARD MEETING DATE: November 3, 2006
AGENDA NO. 13

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the September 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 September 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 September.

On September 27, AQMD held a Town Hall meeting in the City of Buena Park. Over 30 people attended the meeting, including AQMD Governing Board Member Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta and Buena Park Mayor Art Brown. AQMD staff presented an overview on local air quality including an update on the upcoming 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 September 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 September.

• September 6 – Provided Opening Remarks for American Lung Association Walkathon Kick-off breakfast.
• September 7 – Air Quality compliance overview to field staff of San Bernardino County Storm Water Program.
• September 12 – Hosted visitors from China who went on a tour of the District, including viewing of clean fueled vehicles.
• September 21 – Presentation on Air Quality and Goods Movement to members of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce.
• September 21 – Hosted a 25-member delegation from China who received an air quality overview and tour of the District’s alternative energy center.
• September 22 – Air Quality presentation to AP Environmental Science students at Diamond Bar High School.
• September 27 – Hosted members of Save Our Southwest Hills who received an overview of air quality and health effects and a tour of the laboratory.

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 September.

*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. Information for September is summarized below. 

• Conducted 52 free on-site consultations
• Provided assistance in filing 3 requests for variance
• Provided permit application assistance to 166 companies
• Issued 20 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 September activities.

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

• Congress Member Howard Berman
• Congress Member John Campbell
• Congress Member Jane Harman
• Congress Member Jerry Lewis
• Congress Member Juanita Millender-McDonald
• Congress Member Grace Napolitano
• Congress Member Ed Royce
• Congress Member Brad Sherman
• Congress Member Henry Waxman
• Senator Martha Escutia
• Senator Tom Harman
• Senator Sheila Kuehl
• Senator Alan Lowenthal
• Assembly Member Judy Chu
• Assembly Member Chuck Devore
• Assembly Member Carol Liu

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

Alhambra, Anaheim, 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, Fountain Valley, Glendale, Glendora, Grand Terrace, Hawthorne, Hemet, Highland, Huntington Beach, Industry, Irvine, Irwindale, Laguna Woods, 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, Newport Beach, Norco, Norwalk, Ontario, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Paramount, Pasadena, Perris,  Rancho Cucamonga,  Riverside, Rosemead, San Bernardino,  San Clemente, San Gabriel, San Jacinto,  Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Sierra Madre, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Temecula, Temple City, Tustin, Upland, West Covina, West Hollywood, and Yucaipa.

Chamber of Commerce and Councils of Governments contacts:

Buena Park Chamber of Commerce

Coachella Valley Association of Governments

Commerce Industrial Council

Corona Chamber of Commerce

Covina Chamber of Commerce

Gateway Cities Council of Governments

Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce

Hemet/San Jacinto Chamber Legislative Committee

Industry Manufacturers Council Chamber of Commerce

Irvine Chamber of Commerce

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

Santa Fe Springs Chamber of Commerce

South Bay Cities Council of Governments

South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce

Southwest Riverside County Legislative Council

Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce

Western Riverside Council of Governments TAC

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

All Valley Legislative Coalition

American Lung Association of Inland Counties

American Lung Association of Los Angeles County

American Lung Association of Orange County

Commerce Community Awareness & Emergency Response (CCAER)

Community Awareness Emergency Response (CAER)—City of Carson

Foothill Family Service

Latino Heritage Event hosted by Assembly Member Judy Chu 

League of California Cities (Los Angeles)

Maritime Air Quality Technical Working Group

Port of Long Beach

Riverside County Asthma Coalition

Save Our Southwest Hills, Temecula/Romoland

Town Hall of Los Angeles

Westside Residents for Clean Air Community Forum

Women’s Environmental Council