BOARD MEETING DATE: March 2, 2007
AGENDA NO. 14

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the January 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 January 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 January.

On January 17, staff provided a briefing on the how AQMD monitors air quality to school staff at Ralph Bunche Middle School in Los Angeles. Staff provided a detailed presentation on air monitoring, including specifics on monitoring in the area around the school.  The permitting and compliance process at AQMD was also explained, including how to report odors.  AQMD staff also arranged for portable canisters to be placed at the school, in addition to training of school staff on how to report odors to AQMD.

Also on January 17, staff presented a review of the Draft 2007 Air Quality Management Plan to members of the Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma’s Policy and Environmental Committee. Over 30 people representing a variety of community, health and educational organizations attended the meeting. Since many of the members of this committee are Spanish speaking, AQMD staff presented the information in Spanish. There were many questions from the audience regarding goods movement and health effects. The attendees commented that they appreciated receiving this technical overview in a simplified format, and were especially appreciative of the effort to provide the information in Spanish.

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 January 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 January.

·              January 10 - Air Quality and Goods Movement presentation to members of the Peninsula Seniors, Palos Verdes Peninsula

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 January.

*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 January:

Requests for Information

•	Visitor Transactions	363
•	Information Packages Mailed	4

Calls

•	Calls Received by PIC Staff	87
•	Calls to Automated System	2,429
•	Total Phone Calls	2,516

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 37 free on-site consultations
• Provided permit application assistance to 118 companies
• Issued 26 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 January activities.

2007 Air Quality Management Plan presentations to local city councils, chambers of commerce and community organizations:

• January 4 – League of California Cities (L.A. Division)
• January 4 – Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee
• January 5 – Calimesa City Council
• January 9 – Beaumont City Council
• January 9 – Gardena City Council
• January 11 – Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) Energy & 
                     Environment Committee
• January 11 – Upland Chamber Government Relations Committee
• January 11 – South El Monte Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee
• January 12 – Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma
• January 12 – ECOPAC (Calimesa, Banning, Beaumont)
• January 15 – Lion’s Club, Yucaipa
• January 15 – Lomita City Council
• January 16 – Huntington Beach City Council
• January 16 – Murrieta City Council
• January 16 – Diamond Bar City Council
• January 16 – Carson City Council
• January 16 – Las Virgenes/Malibu Council of Governments
• January 17 – Vernon City Council
• January 18 – City of Stanton Chamber of Commerce
• January 18 – Clean Cities Coalition
• January 19 – Hemet City Council
• January 19 – Moreno Valley City Council
• January 19 – South Bay Council of Governments, Redondo Beach
• January 22 – Southwest California Legislative Committee (Temecula, Murrieta, Lake
                     Elsinore)
• January 22 – Bell Gardens City Council
• January 22 – Malibu City Council
• January 23 – Torrance City Council
• January 24 – Norco City Council
• January 24 – San Jacinto City Council
• January 24 – Hemet/San Jacinto Legislative Committee
• January 24 – San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership-- Legislative Committee,
                     Irwindale
• January 25 – Lake Elsinore City Council
• January 25 – South Bay Council of Governments, Manhattan Beach
• January 25 – Temecula Chamber of Commerce
• January 26 – Temecula City Council
• January 29 – CVAG Executive Committee, Desert Cities
• January 29 – Pasadena City Council
• January 31 – Riverside County Board of Supervisors
• January 31 – Corona City Council

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

• Senator Lou Correa
• Senator Bob Dutton
• Senator Tom Harman
• Assembly Member Mike Duvall
• Assembly Member Ed Hernandez
• Assembly Member Kevin Jeffries
• Assembly Member Lloyd Levine
• Assembly Member Tony Mendoza
• Assembly Member Jim Silva
• Assembly Member Todd Spitzer
• Assembly Member Van Tran

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

Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Arcadia, Banning, Beaumont, Bell Gardens, Buena Park, Cathedral City, Chino, Colton, Commerce, Corona, Dana Point, Desert Hot Springs,  Duarte, El Monte, El Segundo, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Glendale, Grand Terrace, Hemet, Highland, Huntington Park, Industry, Irvine, La Habra, Lake Elsinore, Lake Forest, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Newport Beach, Norco, Ontario, Orange, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Pasadena, Perris, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Santa Margarita, Rialto, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Juan Capistrano, San Marino, Santa Ana, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Signal Hill, South Gate, South Pasadena, Temecula, West Covina and Yucaipa

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

American Lung Association of Inland Counties, Air Quality Task Force

American Lung Association of Orange County

Asthma Coalition of Los Angeles County

Buena Park Rotary

Irvine Valley College

Montebello Unified School District

Orange County Public Affairs Network

Riverside County Asthma Coalition

San Gabriel Valley City Manager’s Association