BOARD MEETING DATE: October 6, 2006
AGENDA NO. 18

 Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

 This report highlights the August 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 August 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 August:

On August 31, AQMD staff attended two meetings held in Carson to address air quality and environmental concerns relative to industrial facilities near an elementary school. The first meeting was held to brief school staff on the latest environmental findings and next steps and was coordinated by Los Angeles Unified School District’s Office of Environmental Health & Safety. There were briefings provided by representatives from local and state environmental agencies, City of Carson staff and Gas Company representatives. AQMD staff provided an update on recent air sampling and also provided information on the Pilot Study of Air Purifier Systems in Classrooms, of which this school is one of three local elementary schools participating in the study. The second meeting was hosted by the City of Carson and served to brief area residents on the current actions being taken at the school to address and resolve environmental concerns. Over 200 area residents attended the evening meeting.

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 August:

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 August:

• August 3 - Hosted a Chinese Delegation and provided a presentation on air quality and a tour of the AQMD facility.
• August 9 - Air quality presentation to attendees of Orange County Lung Association Walkathon Kick-Off Meeting.
• August 11 - Hosted an Indian Delegation and provided an overview on air quality, electrical generation and a tour of the AQMD facility.
• August 15 - Air Quality presentation to attendees of Golden State Environmental Consortium at Marymount College.
• August 18 - Air Quality presentation to members of the Happy Puffers group at VA Hospital in Sepulveda.
• August 22 - Hosted a Korean Delegation and provided an overview on air quality and coatings.
• August 31 - Hosted a group of Mexican Journalists who received an overview on air quality forecasting, planning and compliance.
• August 31 - Hosted the Deputy Mayor of Tirana, Albania who received an overview on air quality and planning.

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 August

*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 August:

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 August 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 August activities.

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

• Congress Member Mary Bono
• Congress Member David Drier
• Congress Member Jane Harmon
• Congress Member Jerry Lewis
• Congress Member Gary Miller
• Congress Member Grace Napolitano
• Congress Member Hilda Solis
• Senator Martha Escutia
• Senator Sheila Kuehl
• Senator Alan Lowenthal
• Assembly Member Judy Chu
• Assembly Member Carol Liu

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

Azusa, Banning, Beaumont, Buena Park, Burbank, Calabasas, Calimesa, Chino, Chino Hills, Claremont, Colton, Commerce, Compton, Corona, Costa Mesa, Culver City, Desert Hot Springs, Diamond Bar, Duarte, El Monte, Fullerton, Glendale, Glendora, Hawthorne, Hemet, Highland, Industry, Irvine, Irwindale, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Elsinore, La Mirada, La Puente, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Maywood, Mission Viejo, Montclair, Monterey Park, Murrieta, Newport Beach, Norco, Norwalk, Ontario, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Paramount, Pasadena, Perris,  Rancho Cucamonga,  Riverside, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Dimas, San Gabriel, San Jacinto,  Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Seal Beach, Sierra Madre,  South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Temecula, Temple City, Tustin, Upland, Walnut, West Covina, West Hollywood, and Yucaipa.

Chamber of Commerce and Councils of Governments contacts:

Burbank Chamber of Commerce

Coachella Valley Association of Governments

Commerce Industrial Council

Commerce/Montebello Chambers of Commerce

Covina Chamber of Commerce

Gateway Cities Council of Governments

Glendora Chamber of Commerce

Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce

Industry Manufacturers Council

Irvine Chamber of Commerce

Las Virgenes Malibu Council of Governments

Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce

Norco Chamber Legislative Action Committee

Orange County Business Council

Orange County Council of Governments

Orange County League of Cities

Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce

San Bernardino Association of Government

San Gabriel Valley Chamber of Commerce

San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments

San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership

South Bay Cities Council of Governments

South Orange County Regional Chambers 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

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

California Contract Cities Associations

Citizens for the American Dream

Citizens United to Save South Pasadena

Commerce Community Awareness & Emergency Response (CCAER)

Industrial Environmental Coalition of Orange County

League of California Cities (Los Angeles)

Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma

Orange County League of Cities

Orange County Public Affairs Association

Riverside County Asthma Coalition

South Gate Rotary

Southwest California Legislative Council