BOARD MEETING DATE: October 2, 2009
AGENDA NO. 23

PROPOSAL:

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights August 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 August 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 August 2009:

• On August 15, staff participated in a “Healthy Air, Healthy Communities” family event held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in San Bernardino. The event was sponsored by Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC).  Over 400 community members attended the event and received free health screenings and learned about air quality.  An electric lawn mower was raffled at the event.   
   
• Staff held several meetings with organizers and the church youth group of Sts. Peter and Paul School for an upcoming “Healthy Air, Healthy Communities” family fair in Wilmington. The event is co-sponsored by Southern California Edison, The Gas Company, the Department of Water and Power, YMCA Wilmington, Home Depot and others. 
   
• On August 8, staff attended and disseminated air quality information at the Del Amo Action Committee Health and Safety Fair in Torrance. The street fair took place next to a vacant field where community members have complained that children have become ill because of the refineries in the area. As a result, residents have been looking for funding to clean-up the site and convert it into a park.
   
• On August 18, a town hall meeting was held in Cerritos.  Approximately 300 residents participated in a discussion related to the recent U.S. EPA report on air toxics risk in Cerritos. Residents expressed concern that the bigger issue for residents of Cerritos is the diesel pollution from the 5 and the 605 Freeways.
   
• On August 27, AQMD staff along with other state and federal officials toured Inland Empire neighborhoods that are adversely affected by local pollution sources. The tour was part of the state’s “environmental justice” initiative. The tour included visits to the Robertson Ready Mix plant, a Mira Loma neighborhood beset by diesel truck traffic, a new car distribution yard next to Jurupa Valley High School, the sprawling Union Pacific rail yard, an automobile shredding plant in Colton and the BNSF Railway yard in San Bernardino. Officials met face-to-face with Inland Empire residents who say their neighborhoods suffer the brunt of industrial pollution.
   

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 August 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 activities were coordinated by this office in August 2009:

August 11  Assembly Member Norma Torres and her staff were given a presentation on the air quality issues affecting the basin, as well as a tour of AQMD’s lab and alternative fuel vehicles.

August 19 Provided a presentation on air quality issues affecting the region to 26 members of the Youth Science Center. Visitors were given a tour of AQMD’s lab and an introduction to alternative fuel technology.

August 26 Hosted International Sustainable Systems Research Center (ISSRC) members from Brazil, China, and Mexico. Visitors were given a tour of the lab, an overview of the AQMD, and an alternative fuel vehicle demonstration.
 

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 August 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 August 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.

• Provided assistance in filing 1 request for variance
• Provided permit application assistance to 180 companies
• Issued 20 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 communities:

Alhambra, Arcadia, Artesia, Azusa, Bellflower, Bell Gardens, Brea, Buena Park, Burbank, Calabasas, Cerritos, Chino, Chino Hills, Claremont, Commerce, Compton, Canyon Lake, Costa Mesa, Cudahy, Cypress, Diamond Bar, Duarte, Fontana, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Gardena, Glendale, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hemet, Hermosa Beach, Huntington Beach, Huntington Park, Indio, Industry, Inglewood, Irvine, Irwindale, La Cañada Flintridge, Lake Forest, La Puente, Lawndale, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Maywood, Monrovia, Montebello, Moreno Valley, Norco, Ontario, Orange, Palm Desert, Paramount, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Placentia, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Santa Margarita, Redlands, Redondo Beach, Riverside, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, San Bernardino, San Dimas, San Juan Capistrano, San Marino, Santa Ana, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Temple City, Torrance, Tustin, Walnut, Westminster, Whittier, and Yorba Linda.

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:

• Archdioceses of Los Angeles
• Azusa Unified School District
• Bellflower Unified School District
• Burbank Unified School District
• Burbank Water and Power
• California Contract Cities Association
• California School Nurses Organization
• California Women’s Leadership Association
• Coachella Valley Association of Governments
• Coachella Valley Economic Partnership
• Coachella Valley Water District
• Cucamonga Valley Water District
• Culver City Chamber of Commerce
• Del Amo Action Committee
• El Rancho Unified School District
• El Toro Water District
• Gardena Chamber of Commerce
• Gateway Cities Council of Governments
• Hacienda La Puente Unified School District
• Hawthorne Chamber of Commerce
• Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce
• Indio Chamber of Commerce, Legislative and Government Affairs Committee
• Inglewood Chamber of Commerce
• Inland Congregations United for Change
• Lake Arrowhead Communities Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee
• Lawndale Chamber of Commerce
• League of California Cities, Inland Empire Division
• League of California Cities, Los Angeles County Division
• League of California Cities, Orange County Division
• League of California Cities, Riverside Division
• Long Beach Department of Health
• Los Angeles Community College District
• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
• Los Angeles Unified School District
• Los Nietos Unified School District
• Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
• Montebello Unified School District
• Moulton Niguel Water District
• Municipal Water District of Orange County
• Orange County Council of Governments
• Orange County Transportation Authority
• Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
• Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce
• Redlands Chamber of Commerce, Government Relations Committee
• Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce
• St. Anastasia Church
• San Bernardino Associated Governments
• San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
• San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, Legislative Action Committee
• Santa Margarita Water District
• Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce
• South Orange County Wastewater Authority
• Southern California Association of Governments
• Trabuco Canyon Water District
• Transportation for America
• Valley Industry and Commerce Association
• Walnut Valley Unified School District
• Western Riverside Council of Governments
• Western Municipal Water District
• Yorba Linda Water District