BOARD MEETING DATE: June 5, 2009
AGENDA NO. 20

PROPOSAL:

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights April 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 April 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 in April 2009.

Staff met with members of Pacoima Beautiful in the San Fernando Valley to solicit their partnership for an upcoming Clean Air Congress event in July. The event will take place at Valley College and is open to the public. It will highlight air quality/environmental booths and workshops, including an environmental justice workshop.

Staff met with the Chairman of the San Gorgonio Chapter of the Sierra Club, along with Planning, Rule Development and Area Source staff to address community concerns regarding possible adverse land use proposals in the Inland Empire.

Public Affairs staff collaborated with the Science & Technology Advancement Office and the Engineering & Compliance office staff to follow-up on air quality complaints alleging idling trucks, idling trains and other activities at the California Speedway in Fontana. Staff activities were in response to public comments received at the mobile Board Meeting in Riverside.
 

COMMUNITY EVENTS/PUBLIC MEETINGS

Each year, thousands of residents engage in valuable information exchanges through events and meetings that AQMD sponsors alone, or 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 2009 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 2009:

April 9 Provided a presentation on air quality issues in Los Angeles to a group of 30 business and community representatives invited by PhRMA in Huntington Park.

April 13 Hosted a 15-member government/business delegation from China. The group received a laboratory tour, a general air quality overview, and a short presentation about alternative fuel vehicles and alternative fueling stations.

April 16 An air quality presentation was given to members of the Los Angeles Section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

April 17 Provided an overview of rules and compliance issues related to compost facilities to 100 industry representatives invited by San Bernardino County Solid Waste Management in Rancho Cucamonga.
 

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 April 2009 are summarized below:

*Saturday, Sunday, holidays and after 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Public Information Center Statistics

The Public Information Center (PIC) handles phone calls and walk-in requests for general information. Information for the month of April 2009 is summarized below:

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 permit application assistance to 155 companies
• Issued 23 clearance letters

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:

Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Beaumont, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Calabasas, Chino, City of Industry, Claremont, Corona, Costa Mesa, Covina, Culver City, Diamond Bar, Duarte, El Monte, El Segundo, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Huntington Beach, Inglewood, Irvine, Irwindale, La Canada Flintridge, La Puente, La Verne, Laguna Woods, Lake Arrowhead, Lawndale, Lomita, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Malibu, Monterey Park, Monrovia, Ontario, Palm Springs, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Rancho Cucamonga, Redondo Beach, Riverside, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Dimas, San Gabriel, San Juan Capistrano, San Marino, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Seal Beach, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Pasadena, Temple City, Torrance, Walnut, West Covina, West Hollywood, Westminster, and Whittier.

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

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

• American Lung Association
• Asthma Coalition of Los Angeles County
• Board of Rabbis of Southern California
• California Contract Cities Association
• California State University Northridge, Institute for Sustainability
• Department of Public Health
• Eco Family News
• El Monte/South El Monte Chamber of Commerce
• Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church
• Environmental Priorities Network
• Hope Gardens
• Independent Cities Association, Legislative Committee
• Irwindale Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Committee
• League of California Cities
• Los Angeles Archdiocese, Creation Sustainability Committee
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
• Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
• Los Angeles Pierce College
• Los Angeles Unified School District
• Los Angeles Valley College
• Monrovia Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee
• Orange County Business Council
• Pacoima Beautiful
• Partnership for Healthy Air and Cleaner Transportation
• Progressive Christians Uniting
• Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee
• Riverside Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee
• San Bernardino Associated Governments
• San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee
• San Gabriel Valley Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Coalition
• San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
• San Gabriel Valley Council of Government, Energy, Environment & Nat. Res. Comm.
• San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, Legislative Committee
• San Gabriel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, Government Affairs Committee
• Sisters of Service Catholic Church
• South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce
• South Bay Unified School District
• South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee
• Southern California Association of Governments
• St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church
• Temple Beth Hillel of San Fernando Valley
• Transportation NOW
• Valley Green Team
• Valley Industry and Commerce Association, Government Affairs Committee
• Valley Interfaith Council
• West Coast Environmental and Engineering
• West Valley Occupational Center