BOARD MEETING DATE: January 5, 2007
AGENDA NO. 12

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the November 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 November 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 November.

On November 2, AQMD held a Town Hall meeting in the City of Long Beach. Over 100 people attended the meeting, which was hosted by Board Member and Long Beach City Council Member Tonia Reyes Uranga.  AQMD staff provided an overview on programs to monitor and reduce emissions at the ports.  The public spoke primarily about air pollution concerns generated by mobile sources and goods movement through the ports.  This meeting was followed by a Mobile Board meeting on November 3, also in the City of Long Beach, during which the AQMD staff provided a briefing on the recently released draft Air Quality Management Plan.

On November 16, the AQMD held a Public Meeting in the city of Grand Terrace to seek public input on a proposed power plant in that community.  Close to 50 people were in attendance.

AQMD also held a joint Public Meeting with the California Energy Commission on November 30^th in the City of Maywood to seek input from the public on a proposed new power plant in the City of Vernon. The meeting was attended by close to100 people.

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 November 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 November.

• November 8 – Air Quality Overview, including update on the Clean Port Plan and New Technologies, to members of the Shanghai Environmental and Port Authority.
• November 21 – Presentation on Air Quality to members of the La Puente/Industry Kiwanis Club. 
• November 30 – Air Quality Overview to 60 high school students attending Earthworks Conference in Big Bear Lake.

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 November.

*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 November:

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. 

Ö          Conducted 37 free on-site consultations
Ö          Provided assistance in filing 3 requests for variance
Ö          Provided permit application assistance to 161 companies
Ö          Issued 28 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 November activities.

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

·              Senator Dick Ackerman
·              Senator Joe Dunn
·              Senator Bob Dutton
·              Senator Alan Lowenthal
·              Assembly Member Russ Bogh
·              Assembly Member Gloria Negrete McLeod

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

Alhambra, Anaheim, Arcadia, Banning, Beaumont, Bell, Bell Gardens, 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, Garden Grove, Glendale, Glendora, Grand Terrace, Hawthorne, Hemet, Highland, Huntington Beach, Huntington Park, Industry, Irvine, Irwindale, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, La Habra, Lake Elsinore, La Mirada, La Palma, La Puente, Lake Forest, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Maywood, Montclair, Montebello, Monterey Park, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Newport Beach, Norco, Norwalk, Ontario, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Pasadena, Perris, Pico Rivera, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Santa Margarita, Rialto, Riverside, Romoland, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Dimas, San Gabriel, San Juan Capistrano, San Marino, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Stanton, Temecula, Tustin, Upland, West Covina, Westminster, and Yucaipa.

Chamber of Commerce and Councils of Governments contacts:

Anaheim Chamber of Commerce
Arcadia Chamber of Commerce
Arroyo Verdugo Council of Governments
Buena Park Chamber of Commerce
Burbank Chamber of Commerce
California Contract Cities Association
California Independent Cities Association
Coachella All Valley Chamber of Commerce
Coachella Valley Association of Governments
|Commerce Industrial Council
Covina Chamber of Commerce
Downey Chamber of Commerce
Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce
Gateway Cities Council of Governments
Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce
Hemet/San Jacinto Chamber Legislative Committee
Indio Chamber of Commerce
Industry Manufacturers Council Chamber of Commerce
Irvine Chamber of Commerce
Las Virgenes-Malibu Council of Governments
Long Beach Chamber of Commerce|
Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce
Norco Chamber of Commerce
Orange County Business Council
Orange County Council of Governments
Riverside Chamber of Commerce
Rosemead Chamber of Commerce
San Bernardino Association of Governments
San Gabriel Valley Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce
South Bay Cities Council of Governments
South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
Southwest Riverside County Legislative Council
Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce
Valley Industry and Commerce Association
West Covina Chamber of Commerce
Western Orange County Chambers of Commerce
Western Riverside Council of Governments TAC
Westside Cities Council of Governments
Westminster Chamber of Commerce

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

American Lung Association of Inland Counties
American Lung Association of Orange County & Los Angeles
Arcadia First
California Energy Commission
California Policy Issues Conference
California Regional Blueprint Conference
Clean Cities Coalition-Riverside County
Desert Asthma Coalition
East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice
Inland Empire Public Affairs Network
League of California Cities (Los Angeles County)
League of California Cities (Orange County)
Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma
Naval Surface Weapons Center, Norco
Orange County Public Affairs Network
Orange County Transportation Authority
Port of Long Beach
Port of Los Angeles
Riverside County Asthma Coalition
Riverside County Flood Control District
San Bernardino Unified School District
San Dimas N.E.A.T.
Save our Southwest Hills, Temecula