Welcome to this issue of Janet’s Journal, a First District Report designed to keep you updated on issues and events concerning our communities in Orange County especially in the First District.

I am proud and honored to represent over 600,000 people within the First District covering the cities of Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Westminster and the unincorporated community of Midway City.

I hope you will find this journal informative. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully,
Supervisor Janet Nguyen

Janet.Nguyen@ocgov.com

IN THIS ISSUE...

1. Board of Supervisors

2. Agenda Items

3. OCTA

4. OCSD

5. Youth Connection

6. Janet Around the First District

7. Local Issues

8. Requests for Proposals

9. Community Events

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At the January 25, 2011, I was appointed to several boards and commissions by my colleagues. These appointments will allow me to continue my commitment to making government more accessible to the residents and community.

In December of last year, I completed my term as Chair of the Board of Supervisors. I was reappointed to the Orange County Children's Partnership, the Orange County Fire Authority, the Orange County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, the Orange County Sanitation District, the National Association of Counties and the Santa Ana River Flood Protection Agency. I was also appointed to serve on the Orange County Council of Governments.

I will also continue to serve on the Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors. In 2011, I will serve as Chair of the Legislative Committee and Vice Chair of the Transit Committee.

I look forward to working on each of these boards and committees so we can continue to have a positive impact in the County of Orange, especially in the First District.

Board Appointments

The County has many opportunities to serve on various committees and commissions. If you are interested in what is available, visit www.ocgov.com and click on "Departments and Agencies." The Boards Committees and Commissions information can be found under the Clerk of the Board link.

If you are interested in applying for an open position, send and email with your resume to first.district@ocgov.com.

John Wayne Airport Concessions

The Board of Supervisors recently awarded the fast food concession contracts in John Wayne Airport to both McDonald's and Carl's Jr. McDonald's will remain in Terminals A and B and Carl's Jr. will set up shop in Terminal C. Both will offer breakfast and lunch menus which will include a variety of healthy options.

HCA Appointments

I would like to congratulate the new First District appointees to the Orange County HIV Planning Council: John Larson from Westminster, Leslie Lindgren from Santa Ana and Alexander Trac from Garden Grove. Thank you so much for your service to the community.

Auditor-Controller Computer Systems Update

Auditor-Controller David Sundstrom made a presentation outlining the Countywide Accounting and Personnel System (CAPS+) and the Property Tax Management System (PTMS). Both of these systems are extremely complex and involve other departments such as the Assessor, Treasurer-Tax Collector and Clerk of the Board. The budgets and design schedules have come under Board scrutiny recently, so Chairman Bill Campbell and Vice Chairman John Moorlach will form an ad hoc committee to work with the Auditor-Controller and the relevant parties involved to establish a framework from which to move these two systems forward to completion.

Armory Shelter Program

The Board of Supervisors approved $350,000 to serve as gap funding to continue operations for the 2010-2011 Armory Emergency Shelter Program. The Emergency Shelter Program serves as a safety net for those who lack proper shelter at night during the cold weather months. Each year this program provides up to 400 beds per night for homeless families and individuals. In addition to safe shelter, families and individuals are provided a nutritious meal, warm shower, warm clothes and a wide variety of supportive services.

The $350,000 will also help fund the additional costs accrued when the County declared a local emergency related to the significant storms that began on December 18, 2010. During the storms the two emergency shelter locations were opened on 24 hours a day.

While the program is operated by a nonprofit organization (Mercy House), volunteer opportunities are available for County employees. Last year over 32,000 bed nights were provided to over 1,500 homeless individuals at the National Guard Armories. The success of the Armory Program is largely due to the collaborative efforts of County agencies, churches, nonprofit agencies and dedicated individuals who generously volunteer their time. Volunteer opportunities include: helping the homeless to sign-in, distributing blankets and clothing, serving food, setting up and cleaning up.

If you are interested in volunteering for this worthy cause, or you know someone who is or would be interested in volunteering, please contact Ashleigh Anderson Camba of Mercy House via email at ashleigha@mercyhouse.net. For any other questions about homeless issues, you may contact Kelly Lupro of the OC Community Services, Homeless Prevention Division at (714) 480-2744 or Kelly.Lupro@occr.ocgov.com.

Consolidating Contracts

Over the past several years, I have called on Orange County staff to look for ways to consolidate contracts in a way that would improve efficiency and strengthen the County's negotiating position. On February 8, the Board of Supervisors approved a janitorial contract in response to an invitation for bid that was issued in September 2010. The contract now combines the services for several Orange County properties, including several in Santa Ana and the City of Orange. Annual savings due to this new contract are approximately $53,450.

Lobbying Ordinance

On February 8, 2011 after months of discussion, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance which will require lobbyists to register with the county and file annual reports.

The ordinance states that a lobbyist is defined as anyone who receives compensation of over $500 or more in any calendar month for engaging in lobbying activities. Lobbying activities include any oral, written or electronic communication to a County Supervisor, made directly or indirectly, for the purpose of persuading or influencing official actions or decisions of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. The ordinance will go into effect July 1, 2011 and a copy can be found online at that time at http://egov.ocgov.com/ocgov/Info%20OC/
Departments%20&%20Agencies/Clerk%20of%20the%20Board.

It is my hope that this ordinance will contribute to my ongoing goal of maintaining a high level of transparency at the Board level.

Budget Update

On the Tuesday, February 8th meeting of the Board of Supervisors, I heard the Second Quarter Budget Report.

Much of the report was related to the Governor's proposal, as funding levels from the State of California will have significant impact on programs implemented by the County of Orange. Among the significant portions of the Governor's proposal is a plan to realign some services from the State to counties. This could lead to a potential $61 million revenue loss that would mean CalWORKS benefit reductions, realignment of Medi-Cal programs, reduction of hours and services from IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services), reduction in funding for juvenile justice programs, a shift of State prisoners and juvenile wards to counties and an elimination of redevelopment agencies.

Orange County will respond to budget changes from the State of California. However, at this time, revenues and expenses for the County of Orange are expected to be within approved budget limits and the County will continue to manage its budget to live within our means.

Information Technology Quarterly Report

Four IT projects were recently completed including the District Attorney's Receipt of Case Filings from Police Departments Electronically; the Health Care Agency's Cerner Millennium Upgrade which ensures compliance with all State and Federal Medicare and Medi-Cal billing mandates; the Social Service Agency's Santa Ana Regional Call Center which enables case workers to pool resources to gain efficiencies; and the Public Defender's Case Management System which improves staff capabilities to manage case activity.

West County Connectors Project

The West County Connectors Project was initiated by the OCTA and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to link carpool lanes on the I-405 with those on the SR 22 and the I-605. The goal is to create a seamless high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) connection between the three freeways. The project traverses through several cities, including Garden Grove and Westminster.

As a result, construction often causes various lane restrictions or road closures. One of the most significant closures will occur in the first quarter of calendar year 2011. The northbound 405/westbound 22/7th Street connector will be fully closed for up to one year. In order to mitigate the inconveniences associated with this closure as well as others, OCTA continues to pursue an extensive outreach effort to the community. I encourage you to visit www.octa.net/westcounty to learn more about the project, provide feedback and sign up for email updates.

For the latest information on road closures, you can also call the construction helpline at (800) 724-0353. For additional information, contact Christina Byrne at 714.560.5717 or cbyrne@octa.net.

Procurement of Independent Financial Statement Auditor

The Orange County Transportation Authority invites proposals from qualified firms of Certified Public Accountants to assist with auditing financial statements, performance of agreed upon procedures, and Transportation Development Act (TDA) fiscal and compliance audits for fiscal years ending June 30, 2011, 2012, and 2013. For more information, please contact Leticia Vaccaro at lvaccaro@octa.net or (714) 560-5609.

State Budget Update

The Governor released his FY 2011-2012 budget proposal which attempts to resolve an estimated $26.4 billion General Fund deficit over the next 18 months. Specifically, the proposed budget includes $12.5 billion in expenditure cuts, $12 billion in tax revenue extensions, and $1.9 billion in other solutions in order to balance the budget. A brief summary of the transportation component of the Governor's budget is as follows:

• Assumes the gas tax swap would need to be reenacted by the Legislature with a 2/3rds vote.
• Proposes a total of $192 million in funding for high-speed rail (including both state and federal).
• Specifies that Prop 1A does not allow bond funds to be used for construction until a plan for completion of a segment is approved by the Department of Finance.
• Allocates $27.9 million of Prop 1A funding reserved for interconnectivity projects, $20.8 million of which is to be used for capital purposes.
• Appropriates $2.3 billion in Prop 1B funds for various projects.
• Proposes to cancel the spring bond sale and does not propose to sell General Obligation bonds until November or December of 2011.
• Includes an increase in $2.4 million and 18 positions to complete the Project-Initiation Document (PID) in the state highway system. Proposes an increase of $7.2 million in local reimbursements for locally funded projects and decreases $4.9 million from State Highway Account.

Santa Ana River Interceptor Line Emergency Repairs

Due to heavy rainfall during the last part of December 2010, the Santa Ana River Interceptor (SARI) Line has sustained damage and erosion issues. Together, the Orange County Sanitation District, US Army Corps of Engineers, Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA), Orange County Water District and Orange County Flood Control District all coordinated their efforts to monitor the heavy flow of water from the Prado Dam, minimize erosion damage and stabilize the SARI Line. After two days of non-stop construction, the emergency work on the SARI Line was completed on December 29, 2010.

Larry Crandall Elected Chair of GWRS Steering Committee

For the first time ever, an Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) Board Member has been selected to serve as chair of the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS). The GWRS is a partnership between the OCSD and Orange County Water District aimed at recollecting and purifying water that has already proceeded through our water consumption systems. Congratulations to Larry Crandall for serving in this capacity.

Biosolids Audit/Continued Accreditation Award

An independent audit assessed the effectiveness of OCSD's Biosolids Management System and ensured that it was conforming to requirements set by the National Biosolids Partnership Environmental Management System. The audit ensured that all legal requirements and industry standards were being adhered to. The audit supports OCSD's continued certification by the National Biosolids Partnership. In addition to this, OCSD received the American Water Works Association's 2009 Safety Achievement Award for their impressive adherence to federal and state standards of workplace safety.

Youth in Government Day

If you've ever been curious how government works, then this event is for you. The City of Westminster is accepting applications for the 2011 Youth in Government Day. The event will be held on Wednesday, February 23rd from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Westminster Civic Center.

To participate, you must be a junior or senior at Westminster or La Quinta High School. Applications can be obtained on the City of Westminster's website at www.westminster-ca.gov and can be submitted at your school's ASB Office or at the Westminster Community Services and Recreation Department, 8200 Westminster Blvd, Westminster.

For more information, please call (714) 548-3671.

Volunteer in Orange County

Many high school students have a community service requirement to fulfill in order to graduate. OneOC (formerly known as Volunteer Center Orange County) is the perfect place to learn about volunteer opportunities in Orange County. Visit www.oneoc.org and navigate to the Youth & Family Volunteering link. Here you'll find links to the Project Calendar, Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities and ways to plan your own service project.

One such opportunity is the Childhood Enrichment Program (CEP). CEP is a program administered by Illumination Foundation targeting children in two age groups; 0-5 and 6-10. Volunteers will interact with these children with the goal of enhancing their learning potential in reading, coloring and other activities. A minimum four week commitment is requested to encourage stability in the lives of these children. For more information, please contact Linda Serio at lserio@ifhomeless.org.

For additional questions contact OneOC staff at info@oneoc.org or call (714) 953-5757. OneOC is located at 1901 E. 4th Street, suite 100, Santa Ana, CA 92705. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

HEEF Scholarship Applications Now Available

The Orange County Hispanic Educational Endowment Fund (HEEF) provides a limited number of competitive academic scholarships for Orange County high school and community college transfers who enroll at a four year college or university. HEEF also awards scholarships and tuition grants for Orange County high school graduates to attend community college.

The Orange County Bar Association awards several scholarships for Orange County students to attend law school. See the HBA tab under "Scholarships Available" at www.heef.org.

Visit www.heef.org and proceed to "Scholarship Information" and to the tab "Requirements" in order to access the link to the online scholarship application. Applications will be accepted through Friday, March 4, 2011.

Supervisor Janet Nguyen joins her colleagues as District Attorney Tony Rackauckas is sworn in for another term on Monday, January 31, 2011.


Supervisor Janet Nguyen and Westminster Mayor Margie Rice enjoy the Opening Ceremony for the Tet Festival at Garden Grove Park on February 5, 2011.


Supervisor Janet Nguyen is joined by several elected officials including Congressman Ed Royce, Assemblyman Alan Mansoor, State Senator Lou Correa, Westminster Mayor Margie Rice, Huntington Beach City Councilman Matthew Harper, Frank Cobo of the Midway City Sanitary District and members of the Westminster City Council at the Opening Ceremony for the Tet Festival at Garden Grove Park.


Supervisor Janet Nguyen enjoys the Tet Parade with her husband, Garden Grove Planning Commissioner Tom Bonikowski. Her son, Tommy, is exhausted by all the activity at his first Tet Parade.


Supervisor Janet Nguyen and her Deputy Chief of Staff Nick Lecong shake hands and greet the crowd at the Tet Parade in Westminster.

* The following articles are for informational purposes only and are not necessarily intended to imply endorsement or support.

County of Orange
There are currently many new bids to contract with the County of Orange. For more information, please click here.

To contact Supervisor Janet Nguyen, please call 714-834-3110 or email Janet.Nguyen@ocgov.com.