BOARD MEETING DATE: July 13, 2007
AGENDA NO. x

PROPOSAL:

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the May 2007 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 May 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 Local Governmental Activity.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE UPDATE
Below is a summary of the Environmental Justice-related activities which occurred in May.

AQMD held community meetings in Wilmington to seek input from local residents on two air quality issues. On May 9, AQMD held a Community Meeting to seek input from the public on proposed amendments to a rule which will control leaks and releases from components at petroleum facilities and chemical plants. On May 16, AQMD held a Title V Permit public consultation meeting for the Valero Asphalt Plant. Both meetings were attended by AQMD staff and local residents, city staff, and facility representatives.

On May 14, the AQMD provided comments before the City Council of Commerce relative to a recommendation before the Council to disband Commerce’s Environmental Justice (EJ) Advisory Task Force. AQMD staff commented that the City of Commerce had played a key role in the area of public participation and advocating issues of Environmental Justice through its specialized Commissions and Advisory Committees. The EJ Advisory Task Force had served to advocate for public participation, access and review of issues that are important to impacted parties and AQMD urged the council to continue on this important path. Four other people also commented on the need for the EJ Advisory Task Force and the City Council voted not to disband the EJ Advisory Task Force.

On May 23, 24 and 25, staff attended public meetings held by CARB to present its draft railyard health risk assessments (HRA) for seven railyards located in Southern California. AQMD provided preliminary comments on the Draft HRA’s, which were attended by many community members.

Public Affairs staff also addressed the following community organizations:

• Asian Youth Center
• Breathe California – Los Angeles County Chapter
• Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice
• North Orange Coast League of Women Voters
• North Whittier Neighborhood Watch
• Orange County Congregation Community Organization
• PTA Council of Long Beach
• San Pedro Homeowner’s Association
• Tzu Chi Foundation

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 May 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 May:

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 May.

*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 May:

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.

Types of business assisted:

Events:

• Southern California Edison Customer Technology Application Center (CTAC) Professional Wet Cleaning Demonstration and Workshop, Irwindale

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 May activities.

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

Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Arcadia, Artesia, Buena Park, Burbank, Calabasas, Cerritos, Chino, Claremont, Colton, Commerce, Corona, Culver City, Dana Point, Desert Hot Springs, Duarte, El Monte, El Segundo, Fontana, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Glendale, Hemet, Huntington Park, Industry, Irvine, Irwindale, La Habra, Lake Elsinore, Lawndale, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Newport Beach, Norco, Ontario, Orange, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Pasadena, Perris, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Redondo Beach, Riverside, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Juan Capistrano, San Marino, Santa Ana, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Temecula, West Covina, Westlake Village, Westminster and Yucaipa.

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

• Congress Member Grace Napolitano
• Congress Member Lucille Roybal-Allard
• Congress Member Adam Schiff
• Congress Member Hilda Solis
• Senator Alan Lowenthal
• Assembly Member Hector de la Torre
• Assembly Member Mike Eng
• Assembly Member Ed Hernandez
• Assembly Member Betty Karnette
• Assembly Member Tony Mendoza
• Assembly Member Gloria Negrete McLeod
• Assembly Member Laura Richardson
• Assembly Member Jim Silva

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

American Lung Association-Inland Counties Air Quality Task Force
Buena Park Chamber of Commerce
Cerritos Chamber of Commerce
City of Hope
Chino Basin Chamber Alliance
Coachella Valley Council of Governments
Elsinore Chamber of Commerce
Indio Chamber of Commerce
Irvine Chamber of Commerce
Las Virgenes-Malibu Council of Governments
Los Angeles League of Cities
Orange County Business Council
Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce
San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce
Santa Clarita Chamber of Commerce
Santa Fe Springs Chamber of Commerce
South Bay Cities Council of Governments
Transportation Now, Moreno Valley
Upland Chamber of Commerce
West Covina Chamber of Commerce
Western Justice Foundation
Westminster Chamber of Commerce