Board of Supervisors orange arrow View Online Version
Supervisor Michelle Steel
In This Issue
orange arrow Latest on Coronavirus
orange arrow Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) Provides Recommendations for COVID-19 Community Mitigation Strategies
orange arrow Michelle Steel Prepares County for Coronavirus Prevention and Protection
orange arrow Office of Michelle Steel Provides Coronavirus Flyers in Multiple Languages to Orange County Communities
orange arrow Guest Speaker on Fox Business's Varney to Discuss State of Emergency
orange arrow Chairwoman Michelle Steel Hosts Town Hall With Elected Officials to Discuss COVID-19
orange arrow In The Community
orange arrow John Wayne Airport's AirPAWS Program
orange arrow District 2's Eagle Scouts
orange arrow Cypress College Foundation's 45th Annual Americana Awards
orange arrow Special Board of Supervisors Meeting to Address Global COVID-19 Crisis
orange arrow Los Alamitos State of the City
orange arrow Celebrating 100 Years of Vanguard University
orange arrow Announcements from Our County Agency Partners
orange arrow OC Public Libraries Welcomes Award-Winning and Bestselling Authors, Heather Morris and Jennifer Holm
orange arrow Orange County Clerk Recorder Special Saturday Opening
orange arrow John Wayne Airport Posts January 2020 Statistics
March 13, 2020
Volume 6 Issue 5
Latest on Coronavirus
Michelle Steel Hosts Tele-Townhall on Coronavirus

On Thursday, March 12th from 6-7 pm, I hosted a tele-town hall along with Vice Chairman Andrew Do, Dr. Nicole Quick, the County Health Officer and Richard Sanchez, Director of the Orange County Health Care Agency to address questions and alleviate concerns related to the global coronavirus outbreak and what Orange County is doing to protect its residents.

 

I found it important for the public to have the opportunity to present any questions they may have about coronavirus and what the county is doing to protect our communities. Dr. Quick and Director Sanchez answered questions from the public pertaining testing, community spread, the health referral line, efforts to contain the virus, the virus’s effect on children and schools, hospital preparedness, travel and risk of infection. It was an opportunity to hear from our top county health officials, who were able to clearly convey all the facts pertaining to the virus and clear up any misinformation about it.

 

The townhall was able to accommodate 10,000 unique callers and was both live streamed and archived on the County of Orange, California Facebook and Twitter. Over 4,000 calls were made and great social media interest was taken with numerous questions being submitted.

 

For more information about coronavirus, visit: http://www.ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus. If you have questions or concerns pertaining COVID-19 for our health care professionals, they can be reached at our County Health Care Agency’s Health Referral Line at 1-800-564-8448.

 

Next week, the county will also be hosting tele-town halls in Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese and Spanish to address concerns in minority communities.

 

 
 
Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) Provides Recommendations for COVID-19 Community Mitigation Strategies

Santa Ana, Calif. (March 11, 2020) – Community health mitigation decisions and strategies are crucial to slowing the transmission of COVID-19 (commonly known as novel coronavirus) in Orange County, California. While the County of Orange risk levels are still low, the County wants to be prepared in the event additional guidance and/or guidelines on COVID-19 come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), respectively.


As such, the County of Orange is currently providing the following guidance as it relates to our COVID-19 response:


1.) High-risk populations which include older adults (ages 60 and higher) as well as people who have serious, chronic medical conditions (like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease) are at higher risk for contracting COVID-19. These individuals should avoid crowds as much as possible as well cruise travel and non-essential air travel.


2.) Residents should practice good health hygiene which includes washing your hands, staying home if you are sick, avoiding close contact with people who are sick and covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve (not hands).


3.) Minimizing risk through social distancing whenever possible which includes limiting attendance at large gatherings.


4.) Maintain vigilance and personal readiness which includes being prepared if there is COVID-19 in your household or a disruption of daily activities in your community. For example, maintain a supply of medications, food and other essentials in your house.
These guidelines provide essential protections to individuals at risk of severe illness and to health care and other critical infrastructure workforces. Preventing a sudden, sharp increase in the number of people infected with COVID-19 will help minimize disruptions to daily life and limit the demand on health care providers and facilities.


All Orange County residents and encouraged to continue to monitor the Orange County Health Care Agency’s website at www.ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus and on their social media channels.

 
 
Michelle Steel Prepares County for Coronavirus Prevention and Protection

On Wednesday February 26th, as Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, I signed a state of emergency declaration on behalf of behalf of the Orange County Board of Supervisors over concerns regarding COVID-19, more commonly know as the coronavirus.

The County of Orange and our County Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick have declared a Local Health Emergency. We have issued these declarations in light of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s comments on COVID-19.

My goal is to ensure all residents and visitors to Orange County as well as all of our resources can be prepared in the event of an outbreak.

Regardless of the outcome of ongoing discussions and the upcoming hearing on Monday, the County must be prepared to protect public health. We will do whatever we can to keep Orange County coronavirus free.

 
 
Office of Michelle Steel Provides Coronavirus Flyers in Multiple Languages to Orange County Communities

The office of Chairwoman Michelle Steel, with the help of the Orange County Health Care Agency has been handing out and providing information flyers with facts about coronavirus, how to detect symptoms and measures to prevent exposure. For more information, please visit:  http://www.ochealthinfo.com/phs/about/epidasmt/epi/dip/prevention/novel_coronavirus 

 

 
 
Guest Speaker on Fox Business's Varney to Discuss State of Emergency

I had the opportunity to speak with Stuart Varney on his Fox Business show Varney and Co. to discuss my move to declare a state of emergency in Orange County. You can watch the segment at the below link:

https://video.foxbusiness.com/v/6136512454001/#sp=show-clips

 

 

 
 
Chairwoman Michelle Steel Hosts Town Hall With Elected Officials to Discuss COVID-19

On Thursday, March 5th and Friday, March 6th I hosted a town hall with local, state and federal representatives, law enforcement, fire departments and representatives from the Orange County Health Care Agency to discuss actions to take on preventing the spread of COVID-19. The County Health Officer, Dr. Nicole Quick was present to answer questions from representatives on coordination to prevent the spread of the virus.

I found it necessary to organize this meeting to allow all the stakeholders in Orange County to have an open discussion about how our respective departments can work together to make sure that the safety and health of Orange County residents are protected. We will continue to work with cities, the state and federal government to take all necessary action that will protect our communities from harm.

 
 
In The Community
Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month

It was a pleasure to proclaim March as ‘Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month’ at the Board of Supervisors meeting on February 25th. I presented the Board Resolution signed by all five Supervisors to Michelle Kim, Executive Director of the Hemophilia Foundation of Southern California.

In her remarks, Michelle gave us some interesting facts about bleeding disorders and how they affect us, as well as what treatments are available. Please take the time to visit their website at hemosocal.com to learn more about the signs and symptoms so you can help yourself, a loved one, or someone you know seek early detection and obtain prompt medical assistance.

 
 
John Wayne Airport's AirPAWS Program

Traveling through John Wayne Airport just became a lot less “ruff” and a lot more “PAWS-itive.” Thanks to the Orange County Board of Supervisors and OCAnimal Allies, your next trip to John Wayne Airport may include an encounter with a certified animal ambassador.

We all get stressed while traveling. That is why I asked my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors to initiate the AirPAWS program with John Wayne Airport and OC Animal Allies to bring therapeutic dogs to the airport to cheer up passengers in an effort to reduce stress. I am delighted to see that we can have a program that can both be a benefit for passengers going through John Wayne and a project that won’t be a burden on taxpayers.

Research shows that therapy dogs can provide physical and mental health benefits. For example, interacting with a therapy dog can reduce anxiety, provide comfort, diminish pain, aid in relaxation, and lower blood pressure. Approximately 60 airports in the United States have a similar program.

OC Animal Allies is comprised of human and dog ambassadors, dedicated to providing these benefits to the public while educating about responsible pet ownership, and advocating against animal cruelty. Formerly known as the OCSPCA, OC Animal Allies brings smiles to senior citizens at care facilities, with children affected by autism spectrum disorder, child victims of crimes at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and much more.

With the decades of experience behind OC Animal Allies, and the support of the County, I know this program will take flight and continue to make traveling through John Wayne Airport even more “PAWS-ome!"

 

 
 
District 2's Eagle Scouts

Congratulations to three fine young men who have joined the ranks of a very small fraternity by earning the highest rank in Scouting, that of Eagle Scout. It was a pleasure to have staff on hand to recognize Jason Voris, Justin Plantiko, and Ben Ransom - all from Troop 319 in Huntington Beach - at their Eagle Court of Honor. I’m very proud to have them in my District!

 

 
 
Cypress College Foundation's 45th Annual Americana Awards

On the evening of February 29th, Cypress College Foundation held their 45th Annual Americana Awards in the Disneyland Hotel Grand Ballroom. It was a pleasure to have staff on hand to present each of the ten Award Recipients with framed certificates of recognition. Eight recipients were ‘Citizens of the Year’ from their respective cities, and two received special awards.

Congratulations to the following honorees: Cathy Dutton - Anaheim, Mary McDonald - Buena Park, George O’Hara - Cypress, Damien Lurton - Garden Grove, Noella Law - La Palma, Dr. Bill Poe - Los Alamitos, Esther Kenyon - Seal Beach, Al Ethans - Stanton, Man of the Year - Bill Taormina, and American Service Award - Gail Taylor. I’m proud of each and everyone of you!

 

 
 
Special Board of Supervisors Meeting to Address Global COVID-19 Crisis

On the morning of March 2nd, I led the Orange County Board of Supervisors in a special meeting of the Board to address the global COVID-19 crisis. In the meeting, the board unanimously supported two agenda items, one ratifying last week’s state of emergency declaration for the county and another which mobilizes the County Healthcare Agency to ensure proper training and equipment to monitor the situation and prevent a potential outbreak.

Due to the severity of the global outbreak of COVID-19, I ordered a special session of the board of supervisors to address this situation. We authorized the healthcare agency to equip its employees with the proper training and resources to prevent this virus from coming to Orange County. It’s important to maintain calm and not panic. County medical professionals continue to monitor the situation and are prepared to respond as needed. 

 
 
Los Alamitos State of the City

The City of Los Alamitos, in partnership with the Los Alamitos Area Chamber of Commerce, presented the State of the City at a luncheon aboard Joint Forces Training Base. Mayor Richard Murphy did something unique and shared the stage with his fellow Council Members. Each one took a turn educating the packed room in a topical order. It was very well done and well received.

Congratulations to Mayor Murphy and City staff for doing such a great job!

 
 
Celebrating 100 Years of Vanguard University

Congratulations to Vanguard University and its President Dr. Michael Beals on their 100th Anniversary Celebration, as well as for the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of their new 42,000 square-foot Student Center!

On the morning of Tuesday, March 10th, I had the pleasure of joining with my colleagues in presenting President Beals with a Board Resolution commemorating their centennial. The Grand Opening of the Student Center took place a little over a week ago and I had staff on hand to join in the ceremony.

I am proud to have Vanguard University in my District, as it is a significant contributor to the educational, social, and economic fabric of Orange County. The impacts students, faculty and alumni have on Orange County are undeniable, and they are a force for good in our community.

As a university celebrating its centennial, I am excited for its bright and promising future. Today, Vanguard educates 2,200 students; has over 33,000 alumni worldwide; and generates over $474 million in economic activity in California, of which$211 million occurs in Orange County.

Happy 100th Birthday, Vanguard. I wish you Godspeed in the next hundred years!

 
 
Announcements from Our County Agency Partners
County of Orange Social Services Agency Marks First Full Year of Countywide Restaurant Meals Program

Please take a look at this announcement from the Social Services Agency: 

Orange County, Calif. (March 5, 2020) — The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) is pleased to share results of the first full year of the implementation of the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) countywide.
RMP is a program that enables eligible elderly, disabled and homeless CalFresh recipients to purchase prepared meals at participating restaurants using their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. The program is intended to increase food access for those who may not have a place to store or cook food, may not be able to prepare food or who lack access to a grocery store.


The Orange County Board of Supervisors initially authorized SSA to implement RMP as a pilot program, which launched in the cities of Anaheim and Santa Ana in early 2018. Based on the success of the pilot, the Board of Supervisors approved SSA’s recommendation to expand the Restaurant Meals Program countywide in November 2018, with program expansion beginning in January 2019.
Through significant outreach efforts, SSA has been able to secure restaurant participation in 30 out of 34 Orange County cities, ensuring program accessibility to the most vulnerable members of the community. Prior to the countywide expansion, SSA had 51 participating restaurants in Santa Ana and Anaheim; this figure grew to 108 as of January 1, 2020, with nearly 50 additional Orange County restaurants awaiting approval from the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.


In 2019, over 85,000 RMP transactions were completed in Orange County with a total of $889,000 in revenues generated for local businesses. These transactions represent a 745% increase over the prior year.
Additionally, RMP continues to show growth and diversity with the addition of five approved restaurant locations on the campus of California State University, Fullerton.
“We are very pleased with the success of the Restaurant Meals Program in Orange County and look forward to seeing continued growth in our number of participating restaurants,” said SSA Director Debra Baetz. She continued, “RMP helps the community on a number of fronts — in our ability to provide greater access to prepared meals and in our support and partnership with local businesses in the community.”
To learn more about the Restaurant Meals Program, please visit: http://ssa.ocgov.com/calfresh/calfresh/rmp

 
 
OC Public Libraries Welcomes Award-Winning and Bestselling Authors, Heather Morris and Jennifer Holm

Please Take a look at the Announcement from OC Public Libraries: 

SANTA ANA, Calif. (March 10, 2020) – Orange County Public Libraries is proud to present two bestselling author events: one with Heather Morris, author of the novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and the second with Jennifer Holm, author of the popular children’s series Babymouse. This second event is supported by OC READ Families for Literacy.

 

The authors will read from selected works and share their experiences as writers. Additionally, there will be a Q&A and an opportunity to meet each author. Both authors’ books will be available for purchase, and the authors will be signing their titles for booklovers.

 

WHO:

Heather Morris is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz. This debut novel is a beautiful, illuminating tale of hope and courage based on interviews conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist, Ludwig Sokolov.

Jennifer Holm is three-time Newberry honor winning and New York Times bestselling author known for her graphic novel series, Babymouse. This popular series showcases the trials and tribulations of elementary school.

 

WHEN:

Heather Morris – Saturday, March 14, 2020 from 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Jennifer Holm – Saturday, March 14, 2020 from 2-3 p.m.

 

WHERE:

Heather Morris – Laguna Niguel Library; 30341 Crown Valley Pkwy, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

Jennifer Holm – Tustin Library – 345 E. Main St, Tustin, CA 92780

 

WHY:

OC Public Libraries mission is to provide access to information and promote literacy at all ages. Access to world-class authors inspires reading communities to meet powerful role models in the literary world. For many, it is their only opportunity to meet an author.

REGISTRATION:

No registration required.

 

OTHER LINKS:

Heather Morris - https://www.facebook.com/events/519273455633637/

Jennifer Holm - https://www.facebook.com/events/242262050102015/

 

 
 
Orange County Clerk Recorder Special Saturday Opening

On March 21st, 2020 from 10-3 the Orange County County Clerk-Recorder's office will be having a special Saturday opening where they will be providing services. More info below: 

  • North County Branch Office: 222 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701

        Services Available: Birth/Death/Marriage Certificates

  • Old Orange County Courthouse: 211 W. Santa Ana Blvd, Santa Ana  Blvd. Santa Ana, CA 92701

        Services Available: Marriage Licences, Marriage  Ceremonies, Passport Services

  • South County Branch Office: 24031 El Toro Rd., Suite 150 Laguna Hills, CA 92653

      Services Available: Birth/Death/ Marriage Certificates, Copies of Property Records, Marriage Licences/Ceremonies, Passport Services

More information can be found at: OCRecorder.com or 714-834-2500

 
 
John Wayne Airport Posts January 2020 Statistics

Our Partners at John Wayne Airport just released their January 2020 statistics. Please take a look below for more information: 

March 11, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: 
Deanne Thompson
(949) 252-5182
dthompson@ocair.com

John Wayne Airport Posts January 2020 Statistics

SANTA ANA, Calif. - Airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport decreased in January 2020 as compared with January 2019. In January 2020, the Airport served 806,386 passengers, a decrease of 1.6% when compared with the January 2019 passenger traffic count of 819,358. 

Commercial aircraft operations decreased 9.0% and commuter aircraft operations increased 77.2% when compared with January 2019 levels.

Total aircraft operations decreased in January 2020 as compared with the same month in 2019. In January 2020, there were 22,685 total aircraft operations (take-offs and landings), a 0.5% decrease compared to 22,810 total aircraft operations in January 2019.

General aviation activity, which accounted for 66.7% of the total aircraft operations during January 2020, increased 1.7% when compared with January 2019.

The top three airlines in January 2020 based on passenger count were Southwest Airlines (264,695), American Airlines (135,644) and United Airlines (128,150).

John Wayne Airport
Monthly Airport Statistics January 2020

 

January
2020

January
2019

% Change

Year-To-Date
2020

Year-To-Date
2019

% Change

Total passengers

806,386

819,358

-1.6%

806,386

819,358

-1.6%

Enplaned passengers

402,291

409,972

-1.9%

402,291

409,972

-1.9%

Deplaned passengers

404,095

409,386

-1.3%

404,095

409,386

-1.3%

Total Aircraft Operations

22,685

22,810

-0.5%

22,685

22,810

-0.5%

General Aviation

15,141

14,893

1.7%

15,141

14,893

1.7%

Commercial

6,851

7,527

-9.0%

6,851

7,527

-9.0%

Commuter1

615

347

77.2%

615

347

77.2%

Military

78

43

81.4%

78

43

81.4%

Air Cargo Tons2

1,668

1,790

-6.8%

1,668

1,790

-6.8%


International Statistics3 (included in totals above)

 

January
2020

January
2019

% Change

Year-To-Date
2020

Year-To-Date
2019

% Change

Total Passengers

7,448

13,928

-46.5%

7,448

13,928

-46.5%

Enplaned passengers

3,495

6,808

-48.7%

3,495

6,808

-48.7%

Deplaned passengers

3,953

7,120

-44.5%

3,953

7,120

-44.5%

Total Aircraft Operations

72

152

-52.6%

72

152

-52.6%

1

Aircraft used for regularly scheduled air service, configured with not more than seventy (70) seats, and operating at weights not more than ninety thousand (90,000) pounds.

2

All-Cargo Carriers: 1,530 tons
Passenger Carriers (incidental belly cargo):  138 tons
(Current cargo tonnage figures in this report are for December 2019)

3

Includes all Canada and Mexico Commercial passengers and operations.

 
 
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