BOARD MEETING DATE: September 8, 2006
AGENDA NO. 19

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the June and July 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 June and July 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 June and July:

In June, AQMD staff attended two meetings held in Carson to address air quality and environmental concerns relative to industrial facilities near an elementary school. The meeting was coordinated by Los Angeles Unified School District’s Office of Environmental Health & Safety and attended by representatives from other local and state environmental agencies, school personnel and City of Carson staff. AQMD staff provided an overview of local permitting and compliance activities. Staff also committed to set-up equipment at the school to take air samples. There was also an update 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 study will involve design and installation of air purifier systems and ambient air testing before and after the installation to determine the efficacy of the filtration systems. 

On July 27, AQMD held a Town Hall meeting in the City of Beaumont. The meeting was attended by over 40 people, including AQMD Governing Board members Roy Wilson and Jane Carney, and Beaumont Mayor Jeff Fox. AQMD staff presented an overview on local air quality and City of Beaumont staff also provided a summary of key local issues. Many attendees focused their comments on dust and air quality concerns from local growth and congestion, and the need for dissemination of information to area residents on AQMD’s dust control rules and compliance requirements, especially as they relate to odors from waste treatment and sewer lines.

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 June and July:

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 June and July:

• June 15 - Presentation on air quality and health effects of smog before members of the Bellflower Rotary Club.
• June 20 - General air quality overview to members of the South Pasadena Kiwanis.
• June 22 - Hosted a delegation from China who received an air quality overview and tour of the AQMD facility.
• July 7 - Air Quality Overview to the Women’s Council of Realtors, Altadena
• July 19 - Air Quality overview to students at Westwood College, Torrance
• July 27 - Air Quality overview to members of Los Nietos community group.

CommunicationCenter 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 June:

Main Line Calls	5,965
1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line	4,305
After Hours Calls*	2,165
Spanish Line Calls	46
Total Phone Calls	12,481

*Saturday, Sunday, holidays and after 9:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

.  Below is a summary of calls received in July:

Main Line Calls	4,293
1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line	3,221
After Hours Calls*	2,507
Spanish Line Calls	36
Total Phone Calls	10,057

Public Information Center Statistics

The Public Information Center handles phone calls and walk-in requests for general information.  Below is a summary for June:

Requests for Information

	Visitor Transactions	399
	Information Packages Mailed	12

Calls

	Calls Received by PIC Staff	117
	Calls to Automated System	4,595
	Total Phone Calls	4,712

Below is a summary for July:

Requests for Information

	Visitor Transactions	347
	Information Packages Mailed	15

Calls

	Calls Received by PIC Staff	74
	Calls to Automated System	4,976
	Total Phone Calls	5,050

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 June is summarized below. 

• Conducted 10 free on-site consultations
• Provided assistance in filing 5 requests for variance
• Provided permit application assistance to 149 companies
• Issued 22 clearance letters

Types of business assisted:

Drycleaning	Metal parts coating
Chemical products manufacturing	Food products manufacturing/preparation
Auto body shops	Construction
Wood products manufacturing/coating	Retail stores
Restaurants	Gas stations

Information for July is summarized below. 

• Conducted 27 free on-site consultations
• Provided permit application assistance to 128 companies
• Issued 24 clearance letters

Types of business assisted:

Drycleaning	Metal parts coating
Fiberglass products manufacturing	Equipment rental
Auto body shops	Building management
Wood products manufacturing/coating	Printing
Restaurants	Semiconductor manufacturing

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 June and July activities.

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

• Congresswoman Mary Bono
• Congresswoman Jane Harmon
• Senator Martha Escutia
• Senator Sheila Kuehl
• Senator Alan Lowenthal
• Senator Bob Margett
• Assembly Member Judy Chu
• Assembly Member Bill Emmerson
• Assembly Member Carol Liu
• Assembly Member Fran Pavley
• Assembly Member Todd Spitzer

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

Agoura Hills,  Azusa, Baldwin Park, Banning,  Beaumont, Bradbury, Buena Park, Burbank, Calabasas, Calimesa, Chino, Chino Hills, Claremont, Colton, Commerce, Compton, Corona, Costa Mesa, Culver City, Desert Hot Springs, Downey, Duarte, El Monte, Fullerton, Glendale, Hemet, Highland, Industry, Irvine, Irwindale,  Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Elsinore, La Puente, La Quinta, 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, Placentia, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Santa Margarita, Riverside, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Dimas, San Gabriel, San Jacinto, San Juan Capistrano, San Marino, 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, Whittier and Yucaipa.

Chamber of Commerce and Councils of Governments contacts:

Burbank Chamber of Commerce
Coachella Valley Association of Governments
Commerce Industrial Council
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
Rosemead Chamber of Commerce
San Bernardino Association of Government
San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
San Juan Capistrano Chamber
Santa Clarita Valley Chamber
Santa Fe Springs Chamber
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
Western Riverside Council of Governments

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

All Valley Legislative Meeting, Palm Springs
American Lung Association of Inland Counties
American Lung Association of Orange County
Bellflower Rotary Club
California Contract Cities Associations
California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC)
Commerce Community Awareness & Emergency Response (CCAER)
Industrial Environmental Coalition of Orange County
Inland Empire Public Affairs Network
League of California Cities (Los Angeles)
League of Women Voters (Burbank/Glendale Chapter)
Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma
Orange County League of Cities
Pasadena Neighborhood Connections
Riverside County Asthma Coalition
South Gate Rotary
Southern California Association of Governments