BOARD MEETING DATE: April 2, 2010
AGENDA NO. 11

PROPOSAL:

Legislative and Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights February 2010 outreach activities of Legislative and 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 Legislative and Public Affairs for February 2010. 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 Governments. 

Environmental Justice Update

The following are key environmental justice-related activities in which staff participated during February 2010. These events involved communities which suffer disproportionately from adverse air quality impacts.

• On February 5, staff hosted a booth at the Southern California Edison’s “Connecting Evolution of Electricity to Black History” event, in the City of Irwindale. Approximately 600 people attended the event. Staff shared information about major AQMD programs such as the Lawn Mower Exchange, Clean Air Congress, Healthy Hearths Initiative, Alternative Fuel Programs, the ‘Handling Air Quality Complaints’ video, and Small Business Assistance.

• On February 10, staff handled an inquiry from the Inland Empire Conservation District regarding soil clean-up remediation at the former Norton Air Force Base and subsequent toxics clean-up. The former Air Force Base is located in San Bernardino County and directly across the street from community residents in the City of Highland who are highly impacted by air pollution.

• On February 20, staff participated in the Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma’s (LBACA) “Air Quality Community” Forum held at the Cesar Chavez Community Center in Long Beach. Approximately 70 community members, mostly Spanish speaking, attended the forum. Staff presented AQMD’s “Air Quality in Southern California” overview, showcased the “Handling Air Quality Complaints” video, and distributed air quality information.

• As part of AQMD’s specialized outreach to African-American health organizations, staff has met with representatives of the following organizations to distribute air quality-related information and to discuss future partnerships. The organizations are:

• California Black Women's Health Project (CABWHP)

• Crenshaw Community Health Center

• Great Beginnings for Black Babies

• Healthy African-American Families

• Magic Johnson Health Outreach

• The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program

• Watts Health Center

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. The events that AQMD staff attended and provided information and updates include:

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.

On February 18, 15 students from Pasadena Art Center’s Automotive Design Class (CARLAB) were given a tour of AQMD’s laboratory and an alternative fuel-cell vehicle demonstration.

On February 24, 75 staff members from CALTRANS were given an overview of air quality issues affecting the region with a focus on gas station issues.

Communication Center Statistics

The Communication Center handles calls on the AQMD main line, 1-800-CUT-SMOG^® line and Spanish line. Calls received in the month of February 2010 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 February 2010 is summarized below:

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

AQMD assists businesses by notifying them of proposed regulations so they can participate in the development of these rules. 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 7 free on-site consultations

• Provided permit application assistance to 184 companies

• Issued 22 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: 

Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Beaumont, Bell, Bell Gardens, Beverly Hills, Big Bear Lake, Brea, Buena Park, Carson, Cerritos, Chino, Colton, Commerce, Compton, Corona, Costa Mesa, Cudahy, Cypress, Downey, Duarte, El Monte, El Segundo, Fontana, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Gardena, Hacienda Heights, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Huntington Beach, Huntington Park, Indio, Inglewood, Irvine, Irwindale, La Habra Heights, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Lakewood, La Quinta, La Palma, La Puente, Lawndale, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Maywood, Mission Viejo, Montebello, Monterey Park, Moreno Valley, Norwalk, Orange, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Palos Verdes Estates, Pasadena, Paramount, Pico Rivera, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redlands, Redondo Beach, Riverside, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Sierra Madre, South Gate, South Pasadena, Torrance, Tustin, Upland, Villa Park, Walnut, West Covina, Westlake Village, 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:

• 5 Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce
• American Cancer Society
• Baldwin Village Community in Action
• Beach Cities Health District
• Big Bear Chamber of Commerce
• California School Nurses Organization
• California Women’s Leadership Association
• Charles Drew University
• Children’s Hospital of Orange County
• Claremont Chamber of Commerce
• Coachella Valley Association of Governments
• Coachella Valley Economic Partnership
• Coalition of 100 Black Women
• Disneyland Environmental Affairs & Conservation Department
• El Monte/South El Monte Chamber of Commerce
• Fontana Chamber of Commerce
• Friends of Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve, Inc.
• Gateway Cities Council of Governments
• Indio Chamber of Commerce
• Inland Empire Resource Conservation District
• Irwindale Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Committee
• Lake Arrowhead Chamber of Commerce
• La Quinta Chamber of Commerce
• League of California Cities, Los Angeles County Division
• League of California Cities, Riverside County Division
• Loma Linda University
• Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
• Los Angeles Business Federation
• Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
• Los Angeles County Public Health
• Los Angeles Sparks
• Los Angeles Urban League
• Orange County Business Council
• Orange County Council of Governments
• Orange County Health Care Agency
• Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce
• Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
• Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District
• Pass Area Transit Committee
• Regional Chamber of Commerce – San Gabriel Valley
• Riverside County Board of Supervisors
• Saint Bonaventure Church
• San Bernardino Associated Governments
• San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce
• San Bernardino County Department of Public Health
• San Bernardino County Economic Development Agency
• San Bernardino County Medical Society
• San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
• San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
• South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce
• South Orange County Legislative Network
• South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
• South Pasadena Unified School District
• Tustin/Orange Chamber of Commerce Joint Government Affairs Committee
• University of California, Los Angeles
• Upland Chamber of Commerce
• Valley Industry Commerce Association
• Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation