BOARD MEETING DATE: September 11, 2009
AGENDA NO. 10

PROPOSAL:

Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights June and July 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 June and July 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 June and July 2009:

June:

• On June 26^th, staff held a meeting with community members at the AQMD, to answer questions regarding a letter sent to them explaining the findings from the investigations of air quality complaints alleging idling trucks, cars, and train activities at the AAA Speedway in Fontana.

July:

• On July 12^th, in partnership with the Valley Interfaith Council, staff hosted a “Healthy Air - Healthy Communities” Family Fair at the LA Valley College in the San Fernando Valley. Over 500 members of the community attended the free, eco-friendly, clean air community event. Attendees learned about clean technology, alternative fuel vehicles, health impacts of air pollution and tips on how to live a “greener” life. The event was part of Clean Air Congress outreach.
• On July 26^th over 200 community members attended the New Perspectives on Community Health and Air Quality Conference in Los Angeles. The conference provided information on public health impacts caused by air pollution and solutions for the future. At this event, staff also showcased the “Making Air Quality Complaints” video, which provides information on air quality complaints, how to report an air quality complaint, and describes the process of handling the complaint once it has been received.
• The Environmental Justice Advisory Group met on July 31. They received an overview of the AQMD and a presentation on the health effects of air pollution.

During the months of June and July, Public Affairs staff also addressed the following organizations:

• Center for Neighborhood Empowerment
• Harbor Gateway Neighborhood Council
• Latino Health Access
• Pacoima Beautiful
• Religious Action Center
• Valley Interfaith Council

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 June and July 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 activity was coordinated by this office in June and July 2009:

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 June and July 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 June and July 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.

June Activities:

• Conducted five free on-site consultations
• Provided assistance in filing three requests for variance
• Provided permit application assistance to 174 companies
• Issued 31 clearance letters
   

Types of businesses assisted:

July Activities:

• Conducted five free on-site consultations
• Provided permit application assistance to 177 companies
• Issued 20 clearance letters

Types of businesses 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, Anaheim, Arcadia, Artesia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bell, Bellflower, Bell Gardens, Calabasas, Carson, Cerritos, Chino, Claremont, Coachella, Commerce, Compton, Corona, Covina, Cudahy, Culver City, Desert Hot Springs, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, El Monte, Fontana, Fountain Valley, Gardena, Garden Grove, Glendale, Granada Hills, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, Huntington Beach, Huntington Park, Indio, Industry, Inglewood, Irvine, Irwindale, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Lake Elsinore, La Quinta, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Maywood, Monrovia, Montebello, Norco, Norwalk, Ontario, Orange, Palm Desert, Palos Verdes Estates, Paramount, Pico Rivera, Placentia, Pomona, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redlands, Redondo Beach, Riverside, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Dimas, San Gabriel, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Temple City, Torrance, Tustin, Vernon, Walnut, West Covina, 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:

• ABC Unified School District
• Archdiocese of Los Angeles
• American Jewish Committee, Chicago
• American Jewish Committee, Los Angeles
• American Jewish Committee, Washington DC
• American Jewish University
• American Lung Association, Inland Empire
• American Lung Association, Orange County
• Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
• Association of California Water Agencies
• Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County
• Board of Rabbis of Southern California
• Burbank Unified School District
• Burbank Water and Power
• California Hospital Association
• California Municipal Utilities Association
• California Regional Environmental Education Community, Los Angeles
• California State University, Northridge
• Carson Chamber of Commerce
• Center for Neighborhood Empowerment
• Center Middle School, Azusa
• Children’s Hospital of Orange County
• Coachella Valley Association of Governments
• Coachella Valley Economic Partnership
• Coachella Valley Water District
• CT Reality Corporation
• Culver City Chamber of Commerce
• Delhi Center
• Desert Contractor’s Association, Government and Legislative Issues Committee
• Downey Unified School District
• East Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
• El Monte/South El Monte Chamber of Commerce
• El Rancho Unified School District
• Elsinore Valley Water District
• Environment Illinois
• Fontana Water Company
• Friends of the Earth
• Gateway Cities Council of Governments
• Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce
• Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Harbor Gateway Neighborhood Council
• Independent Cities Association
• Indio Chamber of Commerce, Legislative and Government Affairs Committee
• Inland Action
• Inland Empire Green Building Council
• Inland Empire Resource Conservation District
• Inland Valley Chambers Legislative Alliance
• Irvine Ranch Water District
• Jewish Labor Committee
• Kaiser Permanente, Fontana
• Kaiser Permanente, Orange County
• Laborers Local 300
• Lakewood Medical Center
• Lakewood Memorial Hospital
• Las Virgenes-Malibu Council of Governments
• Latino Health Access
• Lee Lake Water District
• League of California Cities, Inland Empire Division
• League of California Cities, Orange County Division
• League of California Cities, Riverside Division
• Little Company of Mary Hospital
• Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce, Government Affairs Committee
• Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma
• Long Beach Memorial Hospital
• Long Beach Unified School District
• Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
• Los Angeles Community College District
• Los Angeles County Business Federation
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
• Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
• Los Angeles Society of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
• Los Angeles Unified School District School Nurses
• Los Angeles Valley College
• Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
• Mission College
• Mobility 21
• Montebello Unified School District
• Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Action Committee
• Moreno Valley Rotary Club
• National Council on Jewish Women
• Nature Conservancy
• Northeast Valley Health Corporation
• Occidental College
• Orange County Asthma Coalition
• Orange County Fire Authority
• Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Orange County Transportation Authority
• Orange County Rideshare Program
• Orange County Water District
• Pacoima Beautiful
• Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce, Legislative and Government Affairs Committee
• Paramount Unified School District
• Pasadena Art Center
• Pasadena City College
• Pasadena Water and Power
• Pass Area Legislative Council
• Rancho Santiago Community College District
• Redlands Chamber of Commerce, Government Relations Committee
• Religious Action Center
• Rio Hondo Community College
• Riverside County Asthma Coalition
• Saint Anastasia Church
• Saint Francis Medical Center
• Saint Joseph Medical Center
• Saint Peter and Paul School
• San Bernardino Associated Governments
• San Bernardino Unified School District
• San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
• San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, Legislative Action Committee
• Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce
• Service Employee International Union (SEIU) Local 121RN
• Sierra Club
• Small Business Development Center, Orange County
• Small Business Development Center, Inland Empire
• South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce
• South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee
• Southwest California Legislative Council
• Transportation for America
• Torrance Memorial Medical Center
• Transportation NOW, Corona/Norco
• United States Small Business Administration, Orange County
• University of California, Riverside
• University of Southern California
• Upland Chamber of Commerce
• Valley Industry and Commerce Association
• Valley Interfaith Council
• West End School District
• West Riverside Council of Governments
• Westside Cities Council of Governments
• West Valley Occupational Center
• White Memorial Hospital
• Whittier Chamber of Commerce
• Whittier Presbyterian Hospital
• Whittier Union High School District
• Wilmington Chamber of Commerce