BOARD MEETING DATE: October 5, 2007
AGENDA NO. 21

PROPOSAL:

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the August 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 August 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 August:

On August 15, AQMD hosted a Town Hall meeting in the City of Compton. This meeting served as a follow-up to a previous meeting held on March 17, where attendees requested updates on local air quality issues. The meeting was attended by AQMD Board Member Jan Perry and City of Compton Council Member Barbara Calhoun. Over 45 people were in attendance, including members of local Block Clubs and churches. There were 14 speakers who addressed AQMD with various comments and questions regarding local air quality concerns, with a focus on dust complaints and nuisance odors from neighboring facilities. AQMD staff agreed to attend a follow-up meeting scheduled by the Centennial Block Club to address a localized air quality problem and discuss operations and compliance with air quality regulations, including monitoring, and potential health impacts.

AQMD staffed an information display at the 22^nd Annual African Marketplace & Cultural Fair.  The event was held over three weekends, starting August 25-26 in Rancho Cienega Park and drew over 50,000 attendees. AQMD staff provided a presentation on the Health Impacts of Air Pollution as part of a Speaker’s Series held in the Health Pavilion. Hundreds of people seeking information on air quality visited AQMD’s booth and also signed up to become members of the Clean Air Congress. Staff made numerous contacts with health professionals, community service and faith-based organizations which will help build stronger partnerships to advance clean air issues in the African-American community.

Public Affairs staff also addressed the following community organizations:

• American Indian Children’s Council
• Asian Youth Center
• First AME Church Health Ministries
• Los Angeles Women’s Environmental Council
• Women’s Federation for World Peace

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 August 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 August:

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 August.

*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 August:

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:

OUTREACH TO BUSINESS AND FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

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

Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Arcadia, Azusa, Banning, Beaumont, Buena Park, Burbank, Calabasas, Carson , Cathedral City, Cerritos, Chino, Chino Hills, Claremont, Commerce, Corona, Desert Hot Springs, Diamond Bar, Duarte, Fontana, Glendale, Glendora, Hacienda Heights, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, Indio, Industry, Inglewood, Irvine, Irwindale, La Puente, La Quinta, La Verne, Lakewood, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Norwalk, Ontario, Orange, Palm Desert, Paramount, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Pomona, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rancho Santa Margarita, Riverside, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Dimas, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Signal Hill, Simi Valley, South Pasadena, Temecula, Torrance, Walnut, West Hollywood, and Whittier.

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

• U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer
• Congress Member David Drier
• Congress Member Grace Napolitano
• Congress Member Loretta Sanchez
• Congress Member Adam Schiff
• Congress Member Hilda Solis
• Congress Member Diane Watson
• Senator Ron Calderon
• Senator Paul Calvert
• Senator Alan Lowenthal
• Senator Bob Margett
• Senator Jack Scott
• Assembly Member Anthony Adams
• Assembly Member Mike Duvall
• Assembly Member Ed Hernandez
• Assembly Member Bob Huff
• Assembly Member Kevin James
• Assembly Member Betty Karnette
• Assembly Member Tony Mendoza
• Assembly Member Anthony Portantino
• Assembly Member Laura Richardson

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

Anaheim Chamber Legislative/Government Affairs
Buena Park Chamber of Commerce
Cerritos Chamber of Commerce
Commerce Industrial Council
Compton Chamber of Commerce
Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce
Gateway Cities Council of Government
Indio Chamber
Industry Manufacturer Council
Irvine Chamber Government Affairs
League of California Cities - L.A. Division
Long Beach Chamber of Commerce
Moreno Valley Chamber
Orange Chamber Government Affairs
Orange County League of Cities
Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce
Rancho Santa Margarita Chamber of Commerce
Regional Chamber Alliance Meeting
Rosemead Chamber Legislative Committee
San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Regional Chamber Government Affairs
Santa Clarita Chamber Government Affairs
South Pasadena Chamber Legislative Committee
Whittier Chamber of Commerce