BOARD MEETING DATE: June 1, 2007
AGENDA NO. 19

PROPOSAL:

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the April 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 April 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 April:

On April 17, the AQMD held a Town Hall meeting in the community of Los Nietos in unincorporated Los Angeles County. In attendance were residents of Los Nietos and the neighboring communities of Whittier, Pico Rivera and Norwalk, including a field representative for Assembly Member Tony Mendoza. The attendees received an air quality overview and had many questions for District staff related to compliance, monitoring and public participation. Members from North Whittier Neighborhood Watch were also able to discuss their concerns relative to a proposed waste-to-rail project in their community.

On April 19, the AQMD launched a pilot Air Quality Flag Program for area schools.  The two-year pilot program includes a series of brightly colored flags; each representing a different air quality level, which will be raised at selected schools throughout the Southland to help increase awareness of air quality conditions in their area. The event was held at Providencia Elementary School in Burbank and was attended by Los Angeles County Supervisor and AQMD Board Member Michael Antonovich and health educators from the American Lung Association of California who will train designated staff at each school on air quality issues and representatives from Burbank Unified School District. Schools participating in the program are located in areas throughout the four-county region where levels of pollution can reach unhealthy levels. 

On April 21 and April 28, the District served as co-sponsor of two “Great Clean Air Tree Plantings,” which were held in Anaheim and Fontana. The events drew hundreds of volunteers who planted trees in their communities. The events were coordinated by a coalition of urban forestry organizations that are promoting these events as “Kick-Offs” for the Great Clean Air Tree Planting Project that will be held on October 27, which is being called “Make a Difference Day.”

On April 23, the District held a Public Information meeting in Santa Ana to update the community on proposed permits for a local manufacturing company. In attendance were 40 community members, including teachers and staff from Kennedy and Franklin Schools in Santa Ana. Also in attendance were Council Members from the City of Santa Ana and representatives for the local State Senator, Assembly Member and County Supervisor. District staff presented information on the preliminary findings from special air monitoring that was done near Kennedy and Franklin Schools, as well as specific information on the air quality permit for the manufacturing company. In order to ensure multi-agency coordination, staff was directed to notify the other permitting agencies, e.g., DTSC, Water and Sanitation Districts, as well as the meeting attendees, when the air permit is ready to be issued to the business.

On April 26-27, the District hosted an International Conference on Asthma Impacts of Air Pollution. Over 600 people attended the two-day conference which included regional, state, national and international asthma and air quality experts. Keynote speakers included California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who spoke about the “Future of Health Care in California,” and Olympic gold medalist and asthma sufferer, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who addressed “Achieving Success with Asthma.”

Public Affairs staff also addressed the following community organizations:

• Breathe California –Los Angeles County Chapter
• Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice
• Chinatown Service Center
• Green Ambassadors, Lawndale
• Orange Coast League of Women Voters
• San Gabriel Children’s Center

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 April 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 April:

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 March.

	Main Line Calls	4,987
	1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line	3,408
	After Hours Calls*	1,138
	Spanish Line Calls	52
	Total Phone Calls	9,585

*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 March:

Requests for Information

Visitor Transactions	371
Information Packages Mailed	10

Calls

Calls Received by PIC Staff	130
Calls to Automated System	2,951
Total Phone Calls	3,081

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 55 free on-site consultations
• Provided permit application assistance to 122 companies
• Issued 21 clearance letters

Types of business assisted:

Drycleaning	Metal plating
Furniture manufacturing	Printing press
Auto body shops	Coffee roasting
Food processing	Wood products coating
Restaurants	Metal parts coating/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 April activities.

Draft 2007 Air Quality Management Plan presentations to local city councils:

• April 3 Commerce City Council
• April 3 Orange County Council of Governments-Technical Advisory Committee
• April 4 Gateway Cities Council of Governments
• April 10 La Puente City Council
• April 24 Santa Clarita City Council

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

Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Arcadia, Buena Park, Burbank, Cathedral City, Chino, Colton, Commerce, Corona, Dana Point, Desert Hot Springs, Duarte, El Monte, El Segundo, Fontana, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Glendale, Grand Terrace, Hemet, Highland, Huntington Park, Industry, Irvine, Irwindale, La Canada Flintridge, La Habra, Lake Elsinore, Lawndale, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Monterey Park, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Newport Beach, Norco, Ontario, Orange, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Pasadena, Perris, Rancho Cucamonga, Redondo Beach, Riverside, Rosemead, San Bernardino, 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, Westminster and Yucaipa.

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

• Congress Member Grace Napolitano
• Senator Lou Correa
• Senator Bob Margett
• Senator Gloria Romero
• Assembly Member Anthony Adams
• Assembly Member Mike Eng
• Assembly Member Ed Hernandez
• Assembly Member Anthony Portantino

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

American Lung Association-Inland Counties Air Quality Task Force
Arcadia First
Buena Park Chamber of Commerce
Corona Legislative Action Committee
Glendale Parks Department
Irvine Chamber of Commerce
Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce
Los Angeles League of Cities
Monterey Park Environmental Commission
Orange County Business Council
Pasadena Neighborhood Connections
Regional Chamber Alliance
San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce
West Covina Chamber of Commerce
Westminster Chamber of Commerce
Women’s Environmental Council