BOARD MEETING DATE: April 3, 2009
AGENDA NO. 13
PROPOSAL:
Public Affairs Report
SYNOPSIS:
This report highlights February 2009 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 February 2009. 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 February 2009.
The AQMD provided an Air Quality briefing on February 10, 2009 to the Interreligious Council of Southern California. The briefing, held at the Board of Rabbis of Southern California in Beverly Hills, was attended by 20 representatives from various faiths throughout Los Angeles. Attendees received an in-depth briefing on air quality in the region and its health impacts, particularly in environmental justice areas. The AQMD hosts air quality briefings to inform and educate the public and key stakeholders about relevant air quality issues.
AQMD staff participated in a Colton High School District Board meeting. The group was provided with an update on AQMD’s hexavalent chromium findings.
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 February 2009 include the following:
| February 4 | Partnership for Healthy Air and Cleaner Transportation National Coalition, Washington, D.C., Sacramento, Los Angeles |
| February 5 | Transportation and Innovation Symposium, Los Angeles |
| February 5 | Valley Business Expo ’09, Burbank |
| February 6 | Connecting the Evolution of Electricity to Black History, Irwindale |
| February 21 | Opportunity Festival, Wilmington |
| February 25 | Inland Empire Utilities Agency – “Day in the Park”, Chino |
| February 26 | 10th Annual Advancing the Choice Expo, Temecula |
| February 27 | South Bay Cities Council of Governments 10th Annual General Assembly, Carson |
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 February 2009:
February 12 Hosted 21 visitors from the Pasadena Art Center facilities who received a general overview, laboratory tour and alternative energy facilities tour.
February 18 Provided an air quality presentation to three classrooms at Corona High School and displayed a Fuel Cell Toyota Highlander and other clean air tools.
February 19 Provided an air quality presentation to 12 members of the Canoga Park Rotary Club.
February 24 Hosted a seven member environmental/legal delegation from Beijing, China. The group received a laboratory tour, a general air quality overview, as well as an engineering and compliance and legal overview.
February 24 Provided an air quality presentation to health and science students from La Sierra College in Riverside.
Communication Center Statistics
The Communication Center handles the AQMD main line, 1-800-CUT-SMOG® line and Spanish line calls. Calls received in the month of February 2009 are summarized below:
| Main Line Calls | 4,480 | |
| 1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line | 1,913 | |
| After Hours Calls* | 1,251 | |
| Spanish Line Calls | 24 | |
| Total Phone Calls | 7,668 |
*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. Information for the month of February 2009 is summarized below:
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340 |
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3 |
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89 |
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1,387 |
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1,476 |
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 seven free on-site consultations
- Provided assistance in filing one request for variance
- Provided permit application assistance to 152 companies
- Issued 30 clearance letters
Types of business assisted:
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OUTREACH TO BUSINESS AND FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Field visits and communications were conducted with staff from the following cities:
Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Burbank, Carson, Chino, City of Industry, Claremont, Colton, Corona, Covina, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, El Monte, Fontana, Indio, Irwindale, La Canada Flintridge, La Quinta, Lakewood, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Manhattan Beach, Monrovia, Norwalk, Ontario, Palm Desert, Paramount, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Redlands, Rialto, Riverside, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Dimas, Santa Clarita, Sierra Madre, South El Monte, South Pasadena, South Gate, Temecula, Upland, Walnut, West Covina, and Whittier.
Visits and/or communications were conducted with elected officials or staff from the following offices:
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Staff represented AQMD and/or provided a presentation to the following groups:
- American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees
- Bloomington Municipal Advisory Council
- California Center for Public Health Advocacy
- California Contracts Cities Association
- Carson Environmental Commission
- Coachella Valley Council of Governments Energy & Environmental Committee
- Corona High School
- Five Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce
- Gateway Cities Council of Governments
- House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
- House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Hazardous Materials Independent Cities Association
- Indio Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee
- Inland Action
- Inland Empire League of Cities Legislative Committee
- Inland Empire Resource Conservation District
- League of California Cities
- Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs
- Los Angeles Archdiocese
- Los Angeles County Federation of Labor
- Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
- Redlands Chamber of Commerce Government Relations Committee
- Rosemead Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee
- San Bernardino Associated Governments
- San Bernardino Associated Governments Administrative Committee
- San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee
- San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
- San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments Energy, Environment & Natural Resources
- San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership Legislative Committee
- San Gabriel Valley Public Affairs Network
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Labor Research Center
- Upland Chamber of Commerce Government and Legislative Affairs
- U.S. Department of Energy
- U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Transit Administration
- U.S. EPA – Office of Transportation and Air Quality
- Valley Economic Development Center’s Green Team