BOARD MEETING DATE: March 5, 2010
AGENDA NO. 19

PROPOSAL:

Legislative and Public Affairs Report

SYNOPSIS:

This report highlights January 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 January 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 the Federal, State, and Local Governments. 

Environmental Justice Update

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

  • On January 29, the Environmental Justice Advisory Group (EJAG) met to discuss EJAG’s 2010 goals and objectives and received information on AQMD’s authority in land use issues, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and the new national ambient air quality standards.

  • During the week of January 25-29, staff conducted in-person and phone meetings with representatives of several health care providers serving the African-American community, including the following:

  • Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science

  • California Black Women's Health Project

  • 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.

These health care providers are concentrated mainly in the Watts - South Los Angeles areas of Los Angeles which are made up of mostly low-income minorities. The purpose of the outreach is to raise awareness about the services AQMD can provide these organizations, including air quality information and partnerships on health events.  

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.

On January 8, the Energy Efficient Car Fair was held at the Milken Community High School, Los Angeles. 

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 January 15, 24 visitors from Henan Province, China Environmental Protection Department were given a tour of AQMD’s lab and an overview of our air quality monitoring process.

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 January 2010 are summarized below:

Main Line Calls
3,466
1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line
1,650
After Hours Calls*
1,538
Spanish Line Calls
36
Total Phone Calls
6,690

*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 January 2010 is summarized below:

Visitor Transactions
180
Packages Mailed Out
2
Calls Received by PIC Staff
61
Calls to Automated System
1,357
Total Phone Calls
1,418
E-mail Advisories Sent
22

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 8 free on-site consultations

  • Provided assistance in filing one request for variance

  • Provided permit application assistance to 160 companies

  • Issued 15 clearance letters

Types of business assisted:

  • Printing press
  • Gasoline stations
  • Cabinet manufacturing
  • Concrete pumping
  • Auto body shops
  • Restaurants
  • Landscape services/tree trimming
  • Dry cleaners
  • Powder coating
  • Construction

OUTREACH TO BUSINESS AND FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Field visits and communications were conducted with staff from the following cities: 

Azusa, Baldwin Park, Banning, Beaumont, Bradbury, Buena Park, Burbank, Calimesa, Carson, Cathedral City, Chino, Claremont, Colton, Commerce, Compton, Covina, Culver City, Desert Hot Springs, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, El Monte, El Segundo, Fontana, Gardena, Glendale, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Huntington Beach, Huntington Park, Indio, Industry, Irwindale, La Canada Flintridge, Laguna Woods, Lakewood, La Puente, Loma Linda, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Manhattan Beach, Maywood, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Ontario, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Palos Verdes Estates, Paramount, Pasadena, Perris, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Santa Margarita, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redlands, Redondo Beach, Rialto, Riverside, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, San Bernardino, San Fernando, San Juan Capistrano, San Marino, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Sierra Madre, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Torrance, Upland, Walnut, and West Covina.  

Visits and/or communications were conducted with elected officials or staff from the following offices:

  • U.S. Representative Mary Bono Mack
  • U.S. Representative Grace Napolitano
  • U.S. Representative Adam Schiff
  • Senator Ron Calderon
  • Senator Gilbert Cedillo
  • Senator Robert Dutton
  • Senator Bob Huff
  • Senator Carol Liu
  • Assembly Member Anthony Adams
  • Assembly Member Charles Calderon
  • Assembly Member Mike Eng
  • Assembly Member Curt Hagman
  • Assembly Member Ed Hernandez
  • Assembly Member Anthony Portantino
  • Assembly Member Norma Torres

Staff represented AQMD and/or provided a presentation to the following groups:

  • American Jewish Committee
  • Archdiocese of Los Angeles
  • Asthma Coalition of Los Angeles County
  • Beach Cities Health District
  • Buena Park Chamber of Commerce
  • California Hospital Association
  • California School Nurses Organization
  • Cal-OSHA, Los Angeles and Monrovia Offices
  • Carson Chamber of Commerce
  • Cathedral City Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee
  • Children’s Hospital of Orange County
  • Citrus College, Green Team
  • Claremont Chamber of Commerce
  • Clean Air Carolina
  • Coachella Valley Association of Governments
  • Coachella Valley Economic Partnership
  • Corona Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee
  • Desert Contractors Association
  • Edison International
  • El Monte/South El Monte Chamber of Commerce
  • El Segundo Chamber of Commerce
  • Gardena Chamber of Commerce
  • Hawthorne Chamber of Commerce
  • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Orange County
  • Hospital Association of Southern California
  • Indio Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee
  • Industrial Environmental Coalition of Orange County
  • Inland Empire League of Cities
  • Irvine Ranch Water District
  • Irwindale Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Committee
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • Lake Arrowhead Chamber of Commerce
  • Lawndale Chamber of Commerce
  • League of California Cities, Los Angeles County Division
  • League of California Cities, Orange County Division
  • League of California Cities, Riverside County Division
  • Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Los Angeles Business Federation
  • Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
  • Los Angeles County Medical Association
  • Los Angeles Unified School District
  • Madrona Marsh Preserve, Torrance
  • Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce
  • Omnitrans
  • Orange Chamber of Commerce
  • Orange County Business Council
  • Orange County Asthma Coalition
  • Orange County Health Care Agency
  • Orange County Sherriff’s Department
  • Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce
  • PennFuture
  • Regional Chamber of Commerce San Gabriel Valley
  • Redlands Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee
  • Rio Hondo Community College
  • Riverside County Asthma Coalition
  • Riverside County Department of Public Health
  • Riverside County Medical Association
  • Riverside County Transportation Commission
  • Saint John’s Health Center
  • San Bernardino Associated Governments
  • San Bernardino Asthma Coalition
  • San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce
  • San Bernardino City Unified School District
  • San Bernardino County Department of Public Health
  • San Bernardino County Medical Society
  • San Gabriel Valley Chamber Legislative Coalition
  • San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
  • San Gabriel Valley City Managers’ Association
  • San Juan Capistrano Water District
  • Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce
  • South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce
  • South Bay Cities Council of Governments
  • Southern California Association of Governments
  • Southern California Edison
  • South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce
  • South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
  • Steven S. Wise Temple
  • Transportation NOW, Pass Area
  • Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce
  • University of California, Los Angeles
  • Upland Chamber of Commerce, Government and Legislative Affairs Committee
  • Valley Industry Commerce Association
  • Western Riverside Council of Governments
  • Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
  • Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources


This page updated: June 26, 2015
URL: ftp://lb1/hb/2010/March/100319a.htm