PROPOSAL:
Public Affairs Report
SYNPOSIS:
This report highlights the November 2005 outreach activities of Public
Affairs, which include: Environmental Justice Update, Community
Events/Public Meetings, Business Assistance, and Local Governmental
Activity.
COMMITTEE:
Not applicable.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
Receive and file.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
This report summarizes the activities of Public Affairs for November
2005. 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 Local Governmental Activity.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE UPDATE
Below is a summary of the Environmental Justice-related
activities which occurred in November:
On November 10, AQMD held a Town Hall meeting in the City of
Claremont. The meeting was attended by over 50 people, including AQMD
Governing Board members Bea LaPisto-Kirtley and Dennis Yates. Claremont City
Council members Jackie McHenry and Ellen Taylor were also present. AQMD
staff presented an overview on local air quality. Many in the audience
focused their comments on dust and air quality concerns from local mining
operations and the need for dissemination of information to area residents
on AQMD’s dust control rules and compliance requirements.
COMMUNITY EVENTS/PUBLIC MEETINGS
Each year, thousands of AQMD residents engage in valuable
information exchanges through events and meetings that AQMD sponsors, alone
and 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 November include:
|
Date |
Event |
|
November 2 |
BP Settlement Funding Community Meeting, Rialto |
|
November 5 |
Air Power Games hosted by Asthma & Allergy Foundation, Long Beach |
|
November 6 |
American Lung Association of Orange County Walk-a-thon |
|
November 28 |
BP Settlement Funding Community Meeting, Banning |
|
November 30 |
BP Settlement Funding Community Meeting, Carson |
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 describes the types of activities that were coordinated by
this office in November:
| Ö |
November 1 - Hosted 30 students from Cal Poly Pomona’s
School of Engineering who toured the laboratory and alternative energy
center. |
| Ö |
November 9 - Hosted a five-member delegation from the
Israel Ministry of the Environment who received an overview of detection
of fugitive emissions from refinery operations. |
| Ö |
November 15 - General air quality overview to
Environmental Studies class at Cal State University, Fullerton |
| Ö |
November 17 - Alternative fuels presentation to science
class at Fullerton Community College. |
| Ö |
November 30 - Presentation on RECLAIM program to
Environmental Studies Class at California Institute of the Arts. |
Communication Center Statistics
The Communication Center handles the AQMD main line,
1-800-CUT-SMOG® line and Spanish line calls. Below is a summary of calls
received in November:
| Ö |
Main Line Calls |
4404 |
| Ö |
1-800-CUT-SMOG® Line |
4074 |
| Ö |
After Hours Calls* |
2,683 |
| Ö |
Spanish Line Calls |
55 |
| Ö |
Total Phone Calls |
11,216 |
*Saturday, Sunday, holidays and after 9:00 p.m., Tuesday
through Friday.
Public Information Center Statistics
The Public Information Center handles phone calls and
walk-in requests for general information. Below is a summary for November:
Requests for Information
| Ö |
Visitor Transactions |
314 |
| Ö |
Information Packages Mailed |
28 |
Calls
| Ö |
Calls Received by PIC Staff |
70 |
| Ö |
Calls to Automated System |
3374 |
| Ö |
Total Phone Calls |
3444 |
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.
Ö Conducted 14 free on-site
consultations
Ö Provided assistance in filing two requests for
variance
Ö Provided permit application assistance to 144
companies
Ö Issued 17 clearance letters
Types of business assisted:
| Ö Drycleaning |
Ö Photo finishing |
| Ö Construction |
Ö Metal products coating |
| Ö Auto body shops |
Ö Schools |
| Ö Wood products
manufacturing/coating |
Ö Gas Stations |
| Ö Restaurants |
Ö Printing presses |
LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITY (Four-County Area)
Staff provides outreach at Board of Supervisors and City
Council meetings. Staff also works with local government, state and federal
officials to respond to their air quality concerns and issues.
Field visits and/or communications were conducted with
elected officials, or staff from the following offices:
Ö Congressman Ken Calvert
Ö Congresswoman Grace Napolitano
Ö Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez
Ö State Senator Jim Battin
Ö State Senator Denise DuChaeny
Ö State Senator Joe Dunn
Ö State Senator Alan Lowenthal
Ö Assembly Member John Benoit
Ö Assembly Member Russ Bogh
Ö Assembly Member Chuck Devore
Ö Assembly Member Lloyd Levine
Ö Assembly Member Cindy Montañez
Ö Assembly Member Gloria Negrete McLeod
Ö Assembly Member Todd Spitzer
Ö Assembly Member Van Tran
Field visits and/or communications were conducted with staff
from the following cities:
Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Azusa, Baldwin Park,
Banning, Beaumont, Bell, Bellflower, Burbank, Buena Park, Carson, Cerritos,
Colton, Commerce, Corona, Covina, Cudahy, Culver City, Cypress, Diamond Bar,
Duarte, El Monte, El Segundo, Fullerton, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hemet,
Highland, Huntington Beach, Huntington Park, Indio, Irvine, Lake Elsinore,
Lakewood, La Palma, La Puente, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Lynwood, Moreno
Valley, Montebello, Monterey Park, Newport Beach, Norco, Norwalk, Palm
Desert, Paramount, Pasadena, Rancho Santa Margarita, Riverside, Rosemead,
San Bernardino, San Clemente, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San
Jacinto, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Seal
Beach, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, South
Pasadena, Temecula, Temple City, Torrance, Tustin, West Hollywood, Westlake
Village, and Whittier.
Chamber of Commerce and Council of Government contacts:
Banning Chamber of Commerce
Beaumont Chamber of Commerce
Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County
Carson Chamber of Commerce
Coachella Valley Association of Governments
Corona Chamber Legislative Committee
Diamond Bar Chamber of Commerce
Economic Council of Pass Area Communities (ECOPAC)
Gateway Cities Council of Governments
Irvine Chamber of Commerce
League of Cities-Inland Empire
Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce
Long Beach Chamber of Commerce
Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce
Norco Chamber of Commerce
Orange County Business Council
Orange County Council of Governments
Orange County League of Cities
Riverside County Legislative Summit
Rosemead Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
South Bay Cities Council of Governments
Southwest California Legislative Council
Upland Chamber of Commerce
Westminster Chamber of Commerce
Western Riverside Council of Governments
Staff represented AQMD and/or provided a presentation to the
following groups:
American Lung Association of Inland Counties
American Lung Association of Orange County
Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, South California Chapter
Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma
South Bay CAER
South Gate Rotary Club
/ / /
|
