BOARD MEETING DATE: June 4, 2010
AGENDA NO. 15
PROPOSAL:
Legislative and Public Affairs Report
SYNOPSIS:
This report highlights April 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 April 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 April 2010. These events involved communities which suffer disproportionately from adverse air quality impacts.
On April 15, staff met with a representative of East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice (EYCEJ) to discuss federal transportation policy issues. Representatives of EYCEJ were planning to meet with policy makers in Washington, DC.
On April 20, staff met with representatives of the Los Angeles Urban League regarding African-American Outreach Campaign with a focus on health impacts of air pollution in low income communities. Discussion also focused on developing a potential partnership to co-sponsor health events and/or Air Quality Briefings.
On April 21, staff attended the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Graduate Chapter meeting in Inglewood to provide a brief presentation on outreach to the African-American community with a focus on health impacts of air pollution in low income communities.
On April 21, staff spoke with representatives from the following organizations to discuss outreach to the African-American community with a focus on health impacts of air pollution in low income communities.
National Medical Association
OC Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Grad Chapter
On April 21, staff met with representatives of the Martin Luther King Outpatient Clinic and the Watts Free Clinic to inform them about services AQMD could provide such as Air Quality Briefings and discuss ways to better outreach to the African American community regarding air quality issues.
On April 22, staff attended “Earth Day at The Park,” at Carson’s Dolphin Park for an annual celebration of Earth Day from the Environmental Justice Network of Southern California (EJNSC) and People’s CORE. A variety of environmental justice and community groups were represented at the event, which featured hundreds of participants. AQMD provided information on services and programs to the attendees including information on the high school conference.
On April 22, staff met with the President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Riverside Branch, to discuss outreach to the African-American community in Riverside. During the meeting there was discussion on non-traditional outreach efforts and a focus on what messages best resonate within the African-American community to best disseminate information regarding air quality. Discussions also focused on how AQMD can better engage stakeholders to develop solutions to address air quality and environmental justice issues.
On April 27, staff met with the President of the Orange County Black Chamber of Commerce to discuss potential partnerships with the chamber to better assist their membership with air quality related issues. Additionally, staff discussed how to best contact traditional African-American organizations within Orange County regarding potential co-sponsorship of health events, Air Quality Briefings and general dissemination of air quality information to the community.
Staff met with various organizations to provide them with information regarding the Draft Clean Communities Plan. These organizations include:
Resurrection Church, Boyle Heights
Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ)
Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC)
On April 30, staff attended and participated on an environmental panel at the California Black Women’s Health Project 2010 Policy Summit. The group focuses on issues that affect the environment and health of African-American women. Discussions were focused on how to better educate the community on the health effects of air quality, how to make the process more available for the community to participate in the regulatory process, and how to better alert the community on high ozone days to protect the health of children and sensitive receptors.
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:
April 7 |
Orange Coast College Green Coast Day, Costa Mesa |
California Environmental Health Association Conference, Riverside
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April 13 |
Arleta High School Earth Day, Arleta |
April 14 |
Air Quality Briefing, Watts Health Care, Los Angeles |
April 16 |
Chino Basin Water District Earth Day, Chino |
Newman Elementary Earth Day, Chino |
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April 17 |
Claremont Earth Day Celebration, Claremont |
South Bay Earth Day, Manhattan Beach |
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April 20 |
Glendale Plaza Earth Day, Glendale |
April 21 |
Boeing Earth Day, Seal Beach |
Fox Plaza Earth Day, Glendale |
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Raytheon Earth Day, El Segundo |
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April 22 |
Century Park Earth Day, Los Angeles |
City of Palm Springs Earth Day |
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Earth Day at the Park, Carson |
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Earth Night in the Garden, Riverside |
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San Juan Capistrano Earth Day |
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3rd Annual Sustainability Awareness Fair, Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach
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April 22 |
Urban League Earth Day, Crenshaw High School, Los Angeles |
April 24 |
Earth Day Festival 2010, Riverside |
40th Anniversary Earth Day, Highland Hall Waldorf School, Northridge
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Earth Day on the Mountain, Lake Arrowhead |
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Whole Children, Whole Planet Expo 2010, Northridge |
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Western Riverside Council of Governments’ Advancing the Choice Expo, Corona
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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 April 8, staff provided a presentation on green technologies and air quality to approximately 60 attendees at a California Environmental Health Association conference in Riverside.
On April 29, staff provided a presentation on air quality in Calabasas and neighboring communities to 13 students from Viewpoint School in Calabasas.
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 April 2010 are summarized below:
Main Line Calls |
4,269 |
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1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line |
2,197 |
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After Hours Calls* |
413 |
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Spanish Line Calls |
52 |
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Total Phone Calls |
6,931 |
*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 April 2010 is summarized below:
Visitor Transactions |
244 |
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Packages Mailed Out |
4
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Calls Received by PIC Staff |
48 |
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Calls to Automated System |
1,519 |
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Total Phone Calls |
1,567 |
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E-mail Advisories Sent |
16,726 |
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 6 free on-site consultations
Provided permit application assistance to 158 companies
Issued 23 clearance letters
Types of business assisted:
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OUTREACH TO BUSINESS AND FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Field visits and communications were conducted with staff from the following cities:
Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bell, Bellflower, Bell Gardens, Big Bear Lake, Brea, Buena Park, Carson, Cerritos, Chino, Claremont, Commerce, Compton, Corona, Costa Mesa, Covina, Cudahy, Cypress, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, El Monte, El Segundo, Fontana, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Glendora, Hawaiian Gardens, Huntington Park, Industry, Inglewood, Irvine, Irwindale, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Lakewood, La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, La Palma, La Puente, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Maywood, Mission Viejo, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Norwalk, Orange, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Paramount, Pasadena, Placentia, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rancho Santa Margarita, Redlands, Riverside, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Dimas, San Juan Capistrano, San Marino, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South Gate, South El Monte, South Pasadena, Stanton, Temple City, Tustin, Villa Park, Walnut, Whittier and Yorba Linda.
Visits and/or communications were conducted with elected officials or staff from the following offices:
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Staff represented AQMD and/or provided a presentation to the following groups:
AltaMed Medical Group, Los Angeles
Archdiocese of Los Angeles Creation Sustainability Committee
Arleta High School
Beach Cities Health District
Black Business Association
Bravo High School
Burbank Unified School District
California Contract Cities Association
California Women’s Leadership Association
Carson Chamber of Commerce
Chatsworth High School
Citrus College
Claremont Chamber Government Affairs Committee
Claremont High School
Community Health Councils, Los Angeles
Discovery Science Center
Eagle Rock High School
El Segundo Chamber of Commerce
Franklin High School
Gateway Cities Council of Governments
Glendale Unified School District
Granada Hills High School
Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce
Huntington Park High School
Indio Chamber of Commerce
International Right of Way Association
Irvine Ranch Water District
Irwindale Chamber Environmental Committee
Kennedy High School
La Verne High School
Lawndale Chamber of Commerce
League of California Cities, Inland Empire Division
Legislative Alliance of Southern Orange County
Lomita Chamber of Commerce
Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation
Los Angeles Police Department Clergy Council
Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Unified School District
Manual Arts High School
Martin Luther King Medical Clinic
Milliken High School
Municipal Water District of Orange County
Orange/Tustin Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs
Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce
Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
PAS Now Transportation Committee
Redlands Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs Committee
Riverside Transportation Authority
Sacred Heart of Jesus High School, Los Angeles
Salesian High School, Los Angeles
San Bernardino Associated Governments
San Fernando High School
San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
San Gabriel Valley Regional Chambers of Commerce Government Affairs Committee
Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce
Service Employees International Union - SEIU Local 99
South Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
South Bay Cities Council of Governments
South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce Legislation Affairs Committee
South Pasadena Chamber Legislative Committee
Torrance Chamber of Commerce
Torrance High School
Watts Healthcare
West Covina High School
West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
Western Riverside Council of Governments