BOARD MEETING DATE: November 6, 2009
AGENDA NO. 15

PROPOSAL:

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights September 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 September 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

The following are key environmental justice-related activities in which staff participated during September 2009. These events involved communities which suffer disproportionately from adverse air quality impacts. 

  • On September 12, staff participated in the Healthy Air, Healthy Communities Family Event with Saints Peter and Paul School in Wilmington. Staff displayed three alternative fuel vehicles, educational material, and distributed air quality related information.

  • On September 13, staff participated in an East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice event at Bristol Park in the City of Commerce and distributed air quality and diesel emissions related information to participants.

  • On September 19, staff participated in Assembly Member Felipe Fuentes’ Health Fair in Arleta, distributed health and air quality related information, and displayed an alternative fuel vehicle.

  • On September 26, staff attended Assembly Member John Perez’s Community Family Health Fair in Boyle Heights, distributed air quality related information, and showcased an alternative fuel vehicle.

  • On September 26, staff participated in Assembly Member Kevin De Leon’s Health Fair in Los Angeles at the Rio de Los Angeles State Park and interacted with many community members interested in health and the environment.

  • Staff conducted outreach to environmental justice, faith, community and labor groups that service low-income areas to identify partners for the Pathways Out of Poverty Program, a U.S. Department of Labor grant. The goal of the project is to provide training and placement services to prepare individuals for careers in green industries.  

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 September 2009 include the following:

September 8
Los Angeles Unified School District School Nurses Annual Meeting and Educational Symposium – San Fernando 
September 12
2009 Environmental Expo and River Clean Up – Santa Clarita 
September 17
September 18
City of Orange Rideshare/Health Fair – Orange
Air Quality Institute with Senator Carol Liu – Burbank
Route 66 Car Show – San Bernardino
September 19
September 20
39th Assembly District Health, Safety and Environmental Awareness Fair – San Fernando
Saint Anastasia Church Ministry Fair – Los Angeles
September 23
2009 Anaheim Transportation Faire – Anaheim
Air Quality Briefing, Loma Linda University – Loma Linda
Asthma and Allergy Association, UCLA Breathmobile Dedication – Los Angeles
September 24
County of Orange Pollution Prevention Event – Santa Ana
September 25
Southern California Legislative Roundtable – Diamond Bar
September 26
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center Community Health and Safety Fair - Colton
Assemblymember John Perez’s Health and Safety Fair – Los Angeles
Los Angeles Society of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology Fall 2009 Symposium – Los Angeles
Greater Riverside Conference of Seniors Giving the Gift of Green to Their Grandchildren – Riverside

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 activities were coordinated by this office in September 2009:

September 24 Members of the Rose Foundation were given a presentation on air quality issues affecting the region and a tour of AQMD’s lab and an alternative fuel cell demonstration.

September 25 Provided a presentation on air quality issues affecting the region to 40 members of the City of Hope Medical Center, California Society of Healthcare Engineers (CSHE). Visitors were given an alternative fuel cell demonstration and a tour of AQMD’s lab.  

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 September 2009 are summarized below:

September
Main Line Calls
4,754
1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line
2,514
After Hours Calls*
1,254
Spanish Line Calls
34
Total Phone Calls
8,556

(*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 September 2009 is summarized below:

September
Visitor Transactions
198
Information Packages Mailed
5
Calls Received by PIC Staff
150
Calls to Automated System
7,373
Total Phone Calls
7,523
E-mail Smoke Advisories Sent
51,616

 

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 4 free on-site consultations

  • Provided assistance in filing 2 requests for variance

  • Provided permit application assistance to 260 companies

  • Issued 21 clearance letters

Types of business assisted:

  • Hotels
  • Gasoline stations
  • Pasta manufacturer
  • Industrial services
  • Auto body shops
  • Restaurants
  • Metal parts coating
  • Dry cleaners
  • Printing press
  • Building management


OUTREACH TO BUSINESS AND FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

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

Alhambra, Anaheim, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bellflower, Bradbury, Buena Park, Burbank, Calimesa, Carson, Cerritos, Claremont, Commerce, Compton, Coachella, Covina, Culver City, Diamond Bar, Duarte, El Monte, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Huntington Park, Indio, Irwindale, La Cañada Flintridge, Laguna Woods, La Puente, Loma Linda, Lomita, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Maywood, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, Orange, Paramount, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Palos Verdes Estates, Pomona, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rancho Santa Margarita, Redondo Beach, Riverside, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Dimas, San Gabriel, San Marino, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Sierra Madre, South Gate, South Pasadena, Vernon, Walnut, Westminster, Whittier, and Yucaipa.

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

  • Congressman Adam Schiff
  • Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard
  • Senator Ron Calderon
  • Senator Gilbert Cedillo
  • Senator Carol Liu
  • Senator Fran Pavley
  • Senator Gloria Romero
  • Assembly Member Charles Calderon
  • Assembly Member Mike Eng
  • Assembly Member Curt Hagman
  • Assembly Member Ed Hernandez
  • Assembly Member Hector De La Torre
  • Assembly Member John A. Pèrez
  • Assembly Member Anthony Portantino

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

  • American Jewish Committee
  • Amer-I-Can Program
  • Archdiocese of Los Angeles
  • Arizona Transit Association
  • Beach Cities Health District
  • Buena Park Chamber of Commerce, Government Affairs Committee
  • Brotherhood Crusade
  • California Hospital Association
  • Carson Chamber of Commerce
  • Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council
  • Coachella Chamber of Commerce
  • Coachella Valley Rotary Club
  • Compton Chamber of Commerce
  • Duarte Chamber of Commerce
  • El Centro Chamber of Commerce
  • El Monte/South El Monte Chamber of Commerce
  • El Segundo Chamber of Commerce
  • Five Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee
  • Gateway Cities Council of Governments
  • Good Samaritan Hospital, Los Angeles
  • Hacienda Heights Youth Science Center
  • Hospital Association of Southern California
  • Imperial Irrigation District
  • Independent Cities Association
  • Indio Chamber of Commerce, Legislative and Government Affairs Committee
  • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
  • Irvine Chamber of Commerce
  • Irwindale Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Committee
  • Kaiser Permanente, Riverside
  • Las Virgenes Malibu Council of Governments
  • League of California Cities, Los Angeles County Division
  • League of California Cities, Orange County Division
  • Loma Linda University
  • Lomita Chamber of Commerce
  • Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma
  • Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
  • Los Angeles Area County Business Federation
  • Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
  • Los Angeles Society of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology
  • Los Angeles Unified School District
  • Los Angeles Urban League
  • Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce
  • Monrovia Chamber of Commerce
  • Municipal Water District of Orange County
  • Occidental College
  • Orange Chamber of Commerce
  • Orange County Council of Governments
  • Orange County Fire Authority
  • Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • Orange County Sanitation District
  • Orange County Sheriff’s Department
  • Orange County Transportation Authority
  • Orange County Water District
  • Palos Verdes Estates Chamber of Commerce
  • Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
  • Redlands Chamber of Commerce, Government Relations Committee
  • Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce
  • Rio Hondo College
  • Saints Peter and Paul Church
  • San Bernardino Associated Governments
  • San Bernardino Association of Chambers of Commerce
  • San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee
  • San Bernardino County Asthma Coalition
  • San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, Legislative Action Committee
  • San Gabriel Valley Mountains Regional Conservancy
  • San Pedro Neighborhood Council
  • Service Employees International Union Local 721
  • South Bay Cities Council of Governments
  • South Bay Environmental Service Center
  • South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce, Government Affairs
  • Southern California Association of Governments
  • Southern California Edison
  • Torrance Chamber of Commerce
  • United Food and Commercial Workers
  • United Hotels and Restaurant Employees Union Local 11
  • Upland Chamber of Commerce
  • Valley Industry and Commerce Association
  • Western Riverside Council of Governments
  • Westside Cities Council of Governments
  • Whole Children, Whole Planet
  • Wilmington Chamber of Commerce


This page updated: June 25, 2015
URL: ftp://lb1/hb/2009/November/091115a.htm