January 21, 2014 |
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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, a portion of Fountain Valley 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. FIRST DISTRICT
2. ORANGE COUNTY
3. ORANGE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE
4. ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH CARE AGENCY
5. ORANGE COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY
6. ORANGE COUNTY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COMMISSION
7. ORANGE COUNTY TRANSIT AUTHORITY
8. JANET AROUND THE DISTRICT
9. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
10. CITY OF GARDEN GROVE
11. CITY OF SANTA ANA
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As we return from the Holiday season, I am proud to announce that January marks the one-year anniversary of my second full term. I would like to thank my colleagues and the County family for all of our success this past year. In addition, I would like to especially thank my constituents for their continued support and trust in me to represent them. I look forward to continuing my service for the people of Orange County and especially the First District in 2014.
January 31st marks the first day of Lunar New Year, known in the Vietnamese community as Tet. Please join me at the various Tet Festivals and celebrations that will take place throughout the First District.
- February 1st: Tet Parade, City of Westminster
- January 31st - February 2nd: Tet Festival, Garden Grove Park, City of Garden Grove
- February 8th: Tet Festival Celebration, OC Fairground, City of Costa Mesa
And as always, I am proud to bring you the news from around the First District!
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| ORANGE COUNTY |
Orange County to Celebrate 125th Anniversary
On August 1, 2014, the County of Orange will celebrate its 125th Anniversary. To help commemorate OC 125, the County is asking all Orange County Cities, non-profits, and other organizations to send us all of your key events throughout 2014 so we can include them in our master calendar for OC 125. For more information you can contact Jean Pasco at (714) 834-7218 or Rob Richardson at (714) 834-3481.
Orange County is a special place and we hope you will be able to join us in our celebration of OC 125.
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| ORANGE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE |
Orange County’s Credit Rating Upgraded
A recovering local economy and “very strong” management practices led to a recent upgrade to the County’s creditworthiness by national rating agency Standard & Poor’s.
The County’s issuer credit rating went to ‘AA’ from ‘AA-,’ while its rating on outstanding general obligation debt went to ‘AA-’ from ‘A+’ an action taken late last month. The new ratings are within S&P’s “high quality” range. The positive outlook represents Orange County’s strong and expanding economy, budgetary flexibility, and strong leadership environment.
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| ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH CARE AGENCY |
Request for Proposals: Mental Health Inpatient Services for Adolescents and Children
The Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) Behavioral Health Division is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to provide Mental Health Inpatient Services to youth living in Orange County. The specific focus will be to provide acute inpatient psychiatric treatment to clients in a safe, secured environment in order to stabilize symptoms occurring as a result of their mental disorders.
In order to be considered, organizations must submit their proposals no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 24th. For more information on qualifications and for the location you can submit your bid, please click here.
Request for Proposals: Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Services
The Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to provide Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Services in Orange County. The primary goal of these services is to reduce the prevalence of youth and adult smoking, prevent youth initiation of smoking, prevent addiction to tobacco and risk of developing tobacco-related diseases, and assist youth and adults who want to quit smoking.
In order to be considered, organizations must submit their proposals no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31st. For more information on qualifications and for the location you can submit your bid, please click here.
Request for Qualifications: Consultant Services for Fifteen in Ten Cities Initiative
The Orange County Health Care Agency is conducting a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) from qualified individuals to provide Consultant Services to help improve the health of Orange County residents through the Fifteen in Ten Cities Initiative.
If you are interested and capable of providing these services by contract with the County, please carefully review this solicitation and submit your RFQ as directed in the “Submission Instructions”. In order to be considered, RFQ’s must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28, 2014. Hard copy RFQ’s will not be accepted. For more information please click here.
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| ORANGE COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY |
Request for Proposals: Refugee Social Services
The Orange County Social Services Agency (SSA) is requesting proposals from a collaborative or joint venture between public and private non-profit organizations to provide employment and supportive services to refugees in Orange County. The goal of RSS is to provide services to assist clients in overcoming barriers, and achieving and/or maintaining stable employment and economic self-sufficiency.
In order to be considered, organizations must submit their proposals no later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11th. For more information on qualifications and for the location you can submit your bid, please click here.
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| ORANGE COUNTY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COMMISSION |
Commission Seeks Applicants for Vacant Positions
The Orange County Board of Supervisors is seeking candidates to serve on the Children and Families Commission of Orange County. The recruitment is open to new applicants and current members to fill three Commission member positions for the 2014-2016 terms, including two in the category of Health and one in the category of Education. The Commission members meet the first Wednesday of each month and may also serve on ad-hoc committees to review programs and services, participate in program site visits, or represent the Commission at community events.
Applications for these positions will be accepted by 3:00 p.m. on February 21, 2014. For more information on the vacant positions and the application process, please click here.
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 | ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (OCTA) |
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Countywide Planning Effort Aims to Improve Regional Bikeways
OCTA is working with the Orange County Council of Governments, local jurisdictions and stakeholders to identify potential bikeway improvements as part of a countywide bikeways planning effort.
A series of workshops, meetings, site tours and surveys are being implemented to build a regional consensus on key bikeways corridors. OCTA is coordinating the planning process and strategy development, and local jurisdictions will bring projects from concept to concrete.
Bikeways strategies have been completed for the First, Second and Fourth Supervisorial Districts. Currently, input is being collected for the development of the Fifth Supervisorial District Bikeways Strategy.
On Dec. 11, staff met with city planning and engineering staff to finalize goals, strategies and evaluation criteria for the potential bikeway improvements.
To learn more about Regional Bikeways Planning efforts, visit www.octa.net/bikeways. - (http://blog.octa.net/countywide-planning-effort-aims-to-improve-regional-bikeways#sthash.g3nLbnUi.dpuf)
West County Connectors Makes Progress Toward Completion of Carpool Connector
Construction crews – working around the clock – are making progress on the West County Connectors project as it nears completion, scheduled for late 2014.
One of Orange County’s largest infrastructure projects will link carpool lanes on the Garden Grove Freeway (SR-22), San Diego Freeway (I-405) and San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605). The $277 million project is in its fourth and final year of construction.
Workers are making progress on the new SR-22 / I-405 carpool connector. Pile driving is underway in the center median of the I-405 freeway, just west of Valley View Street in Seal Beach. Pile driving is a common method of constructing bridge foundations. To support a new bridge, a large hammer mounted on a crane drives steel or concrete beams into the ground until they reach a hard layer of earth beneath the foundation.
Crews begin preparing for this work at 6 a.m. and start pile driving at 7 a.m. This major activity on the SR-22 / I-405 carpool connector will be ongoing intermittently for the next few months.
The construction team is advising members of the public that the work may be loud and disruptive due to vibration and pounding. They also say the dates and times are subject to change due to unforeseen operational factors or inclement weather.
For additional information regarding the West County Connectors project, visit www.octa.net/westcounty and follow all closure alerts and detour information at www.octa.net/WCCdetourmap.
Integrated Bus Safety Promotions Engage Orange County Riders
Recognizing the importance of bus safety, OCTA recently launched a series of videos, contests and social media messaging designed to educate both new and experienced riders about this essential topic.
The program encourages riders to “Be A Safety Hero!” by watching four short bus safety videos and taking a quiz. Their responses are entered into a drawing that randomly awards one 30-day bus pass each week through Jan. 31.
The bus safety promotional campaign is integrated across all bus rider contact points through engaging comic-book style graphics and messaging. Distribution includes promotional advertisements on buses, promotional flyers provided to senior centers, city halls, libraries, employers, schools and transit centers, and digital channels such as the OCTA website, Facebook page, YouTube channel and Twitter accounts.
Produced by the OCTA Digital Communications team, the four videos are viewable on the OCTA website, Facebook, YouTube and at the OCTA Store. Topics include bus safety in terms of boarding, riding, riding with special needs, and exiting.
Riders are encouraged to take the quiz after watching each video and can enter the contest four times, once for each video. They can also “like” OCTA on Facebook to get weekly safety tips and access to other exciting content.
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| JANET AROUND THE DISTRICT |
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Supervisor Nguyen presents a Resolution to Dr. Michael Riley, Director of the Social Services Agency, on the occasion of his retirement, thanking him for his many years of service to the people of Orange County.
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| REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS |
County of Orange
There are currently many new bids to contract with the County of Orange.
For more information, please click here.
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| CITY OF GARDEN GROVE |
Local News
Garden Grove Police Department Receives National Recognition
Recently, the Commission on Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) presented Garden Grove Police Chief Kevin Raney and accompanying members of the Garden Grove Police Department, with the Accreditation with Excellence. The presentation took place during CALEA’s Fall Conference in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Considered one of the highest honors in law enforcement standards, the CALEA re-accreditation identifies Garden Grove’s internationally recognized level of professional excellence in law enforcement management and service. The Garden Grove Police Department received its initial CALEA accreditation in 1988, and has received re-accreditation seven times since.
The Accreditation with Excellence award is given only to accredited agencies that serve as a model for the delivery of enhanced public safety services and management professionalism. Garden Grove is the only municipal law enforcement agency in Southern California to earn this honor since its development in 2011.
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| CITY OF SANTA ANA |
Local Events
Santa Ana Zoo – Free Day for Santa Ana Residents
On Resident Free Day, the third Sunday of each month, residents of Santa Ana may visit the Santa Ana Zoo for free. Proof of residency (driver's license, utility bill) will be required upon arrival. Not valid to schools or business addresses.
For more information about the Santa Ana Zoo and their ongoing programs, please visit their website here.
To contact Supervisor Janet Nguyen, please call 714-834-3110 or email Janet.Nguyen@ocgov.com.
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