BOARD MEETING DATE: December 7, 2007
AGENDA NO. 14

PROPOSAL:

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the October 2007 outreach activities of Public Affairs, which include: Environmental Justice Update, Community Events/Public Meetings, Business Assistance, and Outreach to Business and Federal, State, and Local Government.

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 October 2007. 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 Outreach to Business and Federal, State, and Local Government.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE UPDATE

Below is a summary of the Environmental Justice-related activities which occurred in October.

AQMD participated in an Environmental Issues Workshop hosted by the Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports on October 12 in San Pedro. Over 250 students from San Pedro and Banning High Schools attended the briefing which was held in conjunction with a Port of Los Angeles/Port of Long Beach Special Joint Board Workshop on the proposed Clean Truck Program. The briefing served to provide students and community members with information on air quality and goods movement and the roles and responsibilities of local environmental agencies, including AQMD.

On October 21, the first of many wildfires to impact the region broke out in Malibu. Staff was quickly organized to distribute Fire Safety Alert Fact Sheets to cities and school districts throughout the region to assist them in understanding the unhealthful air quality impacts from the smoke and ash. The public was advised to exercise caution and schools were urged to not allow children to exercise, whether outdoors or inside, during unhealthful air quality conditions. Special fire alert information was highlighted on the web site and subsequent information on AQMD Executive Orders, temporarily suspending requirements and waiving fees to aid in the wildfire recovery process, were distributed at fire evacuation centers and to cities impacted by the wild fires.

During the month of October, Public Affairs staff also addressed the following community organizations:

• Asian Youth Center
• First AME Church
• Community Health Council
• Long Beach Interfaith Council
• Los Angeles County Asthma Coalition
• North Orange County Bicycle Advocacy
• North Whittier Neighborhood Watch
• Pico Rivera Residents for Environmental Justice

COMMUNITY EVENTS/PUBLIC MEETINGS

Each year, thousands of 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 October 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 October:

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 October.

*Saturday, Sunday, holidays and after 9:00 p.m., Monday 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 October:

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.

• Conducted 13 free on-site consultations
• Provided assistance in filing 3 requests for variance
• Provided permit application assistance to 167 companies
• Issued 20 clearance letters

Types of business assisted:

Events:

• Palm Springs Green Expo
• Korean Drycleaners-Laundry Association Membership Meeting, Anaheim
• Institute for Research and Technical Assistance Dry Cleaning Showcase,

Los Angeles

OUTREACH TO BUSINESS AND FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

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

Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Azusa, Banning, Bell, Bell Gardens, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Brea, Buena Park, Burbank, Carson, Cerritos, Chino, Claremont, Coachella, Commerce, Compton, Costa Mesa, Cudahy, Cypress, El Segundo, Fontana, Fullerton, Gardena, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hemet, Hermosa Beach, Huntington Park, Indio, Industry, Inglewood, Irvine, Irwindale, La Habra, La Mirada, La Palma, Lawndale, Loma Linda, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Manhattan Beach, Maywood, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, Moreno Valley, Norwalk, Ontario, Orange, Pacoima, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Palos Verdes, Paramount, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rancho Santa Margarita, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Gabriel, San Marino, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South Pasadena, Temple City, Torrance, Walnut, West Covina, West Hollywood, Westlake Village, Whittier, and Yorba Linda.

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

• U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer
• U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein
• Congress Member John Campbell
• Congress Member David Dreier
• Congress Member Grace Napolitano
• Congress Member Laura Richardson
• Congress Member Ed Royce
• Congress Member Linda Sanchez
• Congress Member Adam Schiff
• Senator Tom Harman
• Senator Alan Lowenthal
• Assembly Member Denise Ducheny
• Assembly Member Ed Hernandez
• Assembly Member Betty Karnette
• Assembly Member Ted Lieu
• Assembly Member Tony Mendoza
• Assembly Member Anthony Portantino

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

All Valley Chamber Legislative Committee (Coachella Valley)
Anaheim Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee
Burbank Chamber of Commerce
Buena Park Chamber Commerce Government Affairs Committee
Cerritos Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee
Commerce Industrial Council Government Affairs Committee
El Monte Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee
Fullerton Chamber of Commerce
Irwindale Chamber of Commerce Environmental Committee
Irvine Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee
Long Beach Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs
Malibu-Las Virgenes Council of Governments
Montebello Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs
Moreno Valley Chamber Legislative Committee
Orange County League of Cities
Orange County Transportation Authority
Regional Chamber Alliance Governmental Affairs Committee
Rosemead Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee
San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments Energy & Environment Committee
South Bay Cities Council of Governments Legislative Committee
South El Monte Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee
South Orange County Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee
South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee
Torrance Chamber of Commerce
West Covina Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee
West Orange County Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee