BOARD MEETING DATE: September 7, 2007
AGENDA NO. 17

PROPOSAL:

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights the June and July 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 June and July 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 June and July:

AQMD held two Environmental Justice Briefings, June 1 in Diamond Bar and June 22 in Los Angeles, to provide the public with updates on key air quality issues. The briefings included information on the AQMD’s Environmental Justice program; recent findings regarding Particulate Matter Pollution and Children’s Health, and an update on the 2007 AQMP. Both sessions were well attended, drawing over 100 people to each venue, which included new technology displays and information exchange.

On June 2, staff provided air quality information at a Community Health Fair for the 46^th Assembly District hosted by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez in the city of Huntington Park. Over 200 people attended the event which included AQMD-hosted bilingual clean air experiments and an Air Spin game for children and adults. On display were clean fuel vehicles and a Breathmobile (a mobile asthma clinic), which the public was able to board and learn about the latest asthma treatment and services available to school children through this program.

On June 22, AQMD hosted a Town Hall meeting in Temecula. The meeting was attended by over 80 people, including Board Member Jane Carney and Temecula Mayor Chuck Washington. There were approximately 12 speakers who addressed AQMD with various comments and questions regarding local air quality concerns. Many of the issues focused on a proposed mining operation, compliance with air quality regulations and monitoring, and potential health impacts. This was the first Town Hall meeting held in the Temecula Valley and the attendees thanked AQMD for providing an air quality update and also agreeing to follow-up on the issues that were presented at the meeting.

On June 26, 27 and 28, staff attended a second round of public meetings held by CARB to present its draft railyard health risk assessments (HRA) for seven railyards located in Southern California.

On July 26, AQMD participated in an all day series of Latino Health Advocacy events organized by the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. AQMD staff provided overviews on air pollution and its impact on the Latino community as a member of four teams that fanned out throughout the Basin and met with 10 legislative offices on various issues of health pertaining to the Latino community.

Public Affairs staff also addressed the following community organizations:

• Central Baptist Church, Los Angeles
• Colton Youth Center
• Community Health Coalition
• Concerned Citizens of Compton
• National Hispanic Environmental Council
• Pasadena Environmental Advisory Commissions
• San Bernardino County Asthma Coalition
• Watts Neighborhood Council
• Women’s Environmental Council

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 June and July 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 June and July:

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 June.

Below is a summary of calls received in July:

*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 June:

Requests for Information

	Visitor Transactions	372
	Information Packages Mailed	4

Calls

	Calls Received by PIC Staff	71
	Calls to Automated System	3,377
	Total Phone Calls	3,448

Below is a summary for July:

Requests for Information

	Visitor Transactions	317
	Information Packages Mailed	2

Calls

	Calls Received by PIC Staff	79
	Calls to Automated System	3,660
	Total Phone Calls	3,739

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.

Information for June:

• Conducted 17 free on-site consultations
• Provided permit application assistance to 113 companies
• Issued 30 clearance letters

Information for July:

• Conducted 15 free on-site consultations
• Provided permit application assistance to 117 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 June and July activities.

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

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

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

• Congress Member Grace Napolitano
• Congress Member Dana Rohrabacher
• Congress Member Adam Schiff
• Congress Member Hilda Solis
• Senator Gil Cedillo
• Senator Lou Correa
• Senator Alan Lowenthal
• Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod
• Assembly Member Karen Bass
• Assembly Member Hector De La Torre
• Assembly Member Betty Karnette
• Assembly Member Kevin de Leon
• Assembly Member Mike Eng
• Assembly Member Felipe Fuentes
• Assembly Member Ed Hernandez
• Assembly Member Kevin Jeffries
• Assembly Member Tony Mendoza
• Assembly Member Anthony Portantino
• Assembly Member Laura Richardson

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

Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce

Cerritos Chamber of Commerce

Coachella Valley Association of Governments

Compton Rotary

Corona Transportation Now

Elsinore Chamber of Commerce

Greater Los Angeles Business Alliance

Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce

Indio Chamber of Commerce

Inland Valley Chamber Legislative Alliance

Irvine Chamber of Commerce

Las Virgenes-Malibu Council of Governments

Lawndale Chamber of Commerce

Los Angeles League of Cities

Monrovia Chamber of Commerce

Orange County Business Council

Orange County Council of Governments

Pomona Chamber Legislative Committee

Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce

San Bernardino Association of Governments

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

West Orange County Chambers

Westminster Chamber of Commerce