BOARD MEETING DATE: December 3, 2010
AGENDA NO. 18
PROPOSAL:
Legislative and Public Affairs Report
SYNOPSIS:
This report highlights October 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 ACTIONS:
Receive and file.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
This report summarizes the activities of Legislative and Public Affairs for October 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 October 2010. These events involved communities which suffer disproportionately from adverse air quality impacts.
Staff hosted educational booths at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ launching of a “Tool Kit” for greening parishes. Staff discussed air quality and sustainability issues, including Environmental Justice issues in both English and Spanish with attendees. The following are the church locations and dates which staff attended:
October 10 Sts. Peter and Paul, Wilmington
October 10 Mary Immaculate Church, Pacoima
October 17 Holy Family, South Pasadena
October 31 St. Jerome, Los Angeles
On October 16, staff hosted an educational booth at the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center’s Health and Safety Fair which took place in Colton. Staff distributed air quality information and showcased the Quantum plug-in hybrid electric version of the Ford Escape. Approximately 1,200 attended the event.
On October 16, staff attended San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane’s Tree Planting Partnership Program at Glen Helen Regional Park in San Bernardino. The Glen Helen Regional Park is located at the junction of Interstates 15 (a large goods movement artery) and 215. Match funding was provided by AQMD’s Tree Planting Partnership program.
On October 19, staff met with a representative of Providence Little Company of Mary Hospital in San Pedro and discussed a partnership incorporating air quality events and Environmental Justice outreach.
-
On October 19, staff hosted an educational booth at the 10th Annual Seniors Celebrating Life Luncheon in South Los Angeles. Staff distributed air quality information. Approximately 1,500 community members attended the event.
On October 21, staff made a presentation to the Crenshaw Chamber of Commerce at Holman’s Methodist Church regarding the AQMD’s African-American newspaper outreach campaign and air quality issues.
On October 30, staff hosted a booth at Saddleback High School for its solar system unveiling event in Santa Ana. Staff discussed air quality issues with students and parents.
On October 30, staff hosted an educational booth at Congressman Joe Baca’s Health and Safety Fair/Nutrition and Diabetes Expo which took place at the Community Hospital of San Bernardino County. Staff distributed air quality information and displayed the Quantum PHEV Ford Escape.
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; invitations or notices of conferences, seminars, workshops and other public events, 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:
October 2 |
Los Angeles Society of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology Fall 2010 Symposium, Los Angeles |
October 2 |
2nd Annual Seniors and Children Go Green Day, Riverside |
October 2 |
San Bernardino Fire Safety & Prevention Fair, San Bernardino |
October 2 |
Green Port Fest, Long Beach |
October 2 |
Environmental Youth & Leadership Conference, Rancho Cucamonga |
October 5 |
Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce 2010 Legislative Summit |
October 5-9 |
Inland Empire Rideshare Week |
October 8 |
Bank of America Health and Wellness Fair, Los Angeles |
October 10 |
2010 Clean-Air Car Show and Green-Living Expo, South Pasadena |
October 15 |
2nd Annual City of Palm Springs & Clean Cities Coachella Valley - Electric & Alternative Fuel Vehicle Fair |
October 16 |
California School Nurses Organization Southern Section Fall Conference, Whittier |
October 16 |
Tree Partnership 2010, San Bernardino |
October 17 |
Archdiocese of Los Angeles Environmental Tool Kit Launch, South Pasadena |
October 20 |
Red Ribbon Week, Arroyo Vista Elementary School, South Pasadena |
October 20 |
Health & Wellness Fair, Century City |
October 22 |
Cucamonga Valley Water District 6th Annual Kids Environmental Festival, Rancho Cucamonga |
October 22-23 |
Moving Forward Together, Carson |
October 23 |
3rd Annual South County Disaster Preparedness Expo, Mission Viejo |
October 27 |
4th Annual Inland Empire’s Largest Mixer, Ontario |
October 29 |
2010 Mobility21 Southern California Transportation Summit, Anaheim |
October 30 |
U.S. Representative Joe Baca Nutrition and Diabetes Expo, San Bernardino |
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 October 14, staff provided a briefing and tour of AQMD’s facility and laboratory for twenty students and staff from the Automotive Design Class of the Arts Center College of Design in Pasadena.
On October 20, staff provided a presentation on Rule 1147 and compliance issues related to auto body repair facilities to approximately 100 representatives of the California Auto Body Association, Orange County Chapter at the Old Ranch Country Club, Seal Beach.
On October 29, staff provided a presentation on AQMD and career opportunities to thirty Los Angeles Valley College students in San Fernando.
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 October 2010 are summarized below:
Main Line Calls |
3,210 |
|
1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line |
1,634 |
|
After Hours Calls* |
380 |
|
Spanish Line Calls |
48 |
|
Clean Air Connections |
25 |
|
Total Phone Calls |
5,297 |
*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 October 2010 is summarized below:
Visitor Transactions |
186 |
|
Packages Mailed Out |
0 |
|
Calls Received by PIC Staff |
51 |
|
Calls to Automated System |
1,525 |
|
Total Phone Calls |
1,576 |
|
E-mail Advisories Sent |
51,141 |
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 four free on-site consultations
- Provided assistance in filing one request for variance
- Provided permit application assistance to 168 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 cities:
Alhambra, Agoura Hills, Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Arcadia, Artesia, Avalon, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Banning, Beaumont, Bell, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Big Bear Lake, Bradbury, Brea, Buena Park, Burbank, Calabasas, Calimesa, Canyon Lake, Carson, Cathedral City, Cerritos, Chino, Chino Hills, Claremont, Coachella, Colton, Commerce, Compton, Corona, Costa Mesa, Covina, Cudahy, Culver City, Cypress, Dana Point, Desert Hot Springs, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, El Monte, El Segundo, Fontana, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Gardena, Glendale, Glendora, Grand Terrace, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hemet, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, Highland, Huntington Beach, Huntington Park, Indian Wells, Indio, Industry, Inglewood, Irvine, Irwindale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, La Palma, La Puente, La Quinta, La Verne, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Elsinore, Lake Forest, Lakewood, Lawndale, Loma Linda, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Lynwood, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Maywood, Menifee, Mission Viejo, Monrovia, Montclair, Montebello, Monterey Park, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Newport Beach, Norco, Norwalk, Ontario, Orange, Palm Desert Palm Springs, Palos Verdes Estates, Paramount, Pasadena, Perris, Pico Rivera, Placentia, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Mirage, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rancho Santa Margarita, Redlands, Redondo Beach, Rialto, Riverside, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Clemente, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Jacinto, San Juan Capistrano, San Marino, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Seal Beach, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Stanton, Temecula, Temple City, Torrance, Tustin, Upland, Vernon, Villa Park, Walnut, West Covina, West Hollywood, Westlake Village, Westminster, Whittier, Wildomar, Yorba Linda, and Yucaipa.
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
Anaheim Chamber of Commerce
Arroyo Vista Elementary School
Asthma Coalition of Los Angeles County
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
Beach Cities Health District
Better World Club
Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce
Breathe LA
Brotherhood Crusade
California Black Women’s Health Project
California Nurses Association
California School Nurses Organization
California State University, Long Beach
California Women’s Leadership Association
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Charles Drew University
Claremont Chamber of Commerce
Clean Agency
CleanTech Los Angeles
Community Hospital of San Bernardino
Compton Chamber of Commerce
Concerned Citizens of Compton
Congregation Ner Tamid, South Bay
Congregation Tikvat Jacob
Cucamonga Valley Water District
Diamond Bar High School
Eastern Municipal Water District
Environmental Charter High School
Greater New Bethel Baptist Church
Health Dimensions
Healthy African American Families
Highways Health Ministries
IKAR
Indio Chamber of Commerce
Inglewood Chamber of Commerce
Kellen Resources
Kiwanis Club of Corona
Lake Arrowhead Communities Chamber of Commerce
League of California Cities, Los Angeles Division
LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce
Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy
Los Angeles County Medical Association
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Metropolitan Churches
Los Angeles Society of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology
Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles World Airports
Magic Johnson Foundation
Manhattan Beach Coordinating Council
Mobility21
Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Omnitrans
Orange County Council of Governments
Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Pico Rivera Chamber of Commerce
Port of Long Beach
Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center
Psomas
Redondo Beach Senior and Family Services
Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
Saint Bernadine Medical Center
San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce
San Bernardino Associated Governments
San Fernando Valley Council of Governments
San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
Santa Fe Springs Chamber of Commerce
SEALab
South Bay Cities Green Task Force
South Bay Family Healthcare Center
South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce
Southern California Association of Governments
Southern California Edison
Southern California Gas Company
The Children’s Clinic
Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce
Temple Menorah
Torrance Memorial Medical Center
United Negro College Fund
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Southern California
Watts Labor Community Action Committee
Western Riverside Council of Governments
Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce