Surveillance and Recording System for the Theo Lacy Facility - The Board made a unanimous emergency declaration to ratify a price agreement for the purchase and installation of a closed circuit television digital surveillance and recording system for the Theo Lacy Facility. This equipment will record not only the inmate barracks, but also the interior of the guard stations. The decision to use an emergency declaration which bypasses the traditional contract policy manual was done in order to expedite camera installation. I believe the additional cameras will add to the overall safety of the facility while maintaining inmate and deputy integrity.

Assessment Tax System / Property Tax Management System Project– The Board received an update on the Assessment Tax System (ATS) and Property Tax Management System (PTMS) project from Auditor-Controller, David Sundstrom, and Orange County Assessor, Webster J. Guillory. This project is the product of coordinated efforts by the Orange County Auditor Controller, Orange County Assessor, Orange County Treasurer – Tax Collector, and the Office of the Clerk of the Board. The Board was updated as to the current scope and revised cost of the ATS/PTMS project. The ATS/PTMS project is critical to the County’s operations and will replace the current system which was developed in 1987 and has now reached software and programming obsolescence. The ATS/PTMS system is central to the assessment of over 1 million properties assessed in the County and for nearly $6 billion in taxes billed and distributed for the County, cities, and special districts. To view the presentation on the ATS/ PTMS update to the Board, please click here.

El Toro Conveyor Bridge - The Board voted to remove the El Toro Conveyor Bridge, located on Portola Parkway near the SR-241 tollroad, and reuse segments for a bridge at the Green River Golf Course. The bridge is a legacy of the County’s 1990 agreement with El Toro Materials Company that was part of a mitigation agreement to lessen the impact on the company’s sand and gravel mining operations due to the County’s construction of Portola Parkway.

Asphalt Resurfacing Maintenance Program - The Board approved plans and special provisions for slurry seal and asphalt overlay resurfacing within three County parks as part of the annual maintenance program within OC Parks. The parks are Bayview Trail, Santa Ana River Trail (north), and Yorba Regional Park. This work will help to provide improved ride quality appearance and safety to the trails and roads.

Building Construction Code Updates - The Board adopted new building construction code updates which have been approved by the state of California. This is part of a periodic process in which the state updates various codes related to building construction and requires local agencies to adopt the substantive provisions of those updates with certain limited exceptions. Local agencies may adopt their own administrative procedures and can amend substantive provisions if they find it necessary to address local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. The administrative amendments include simplification of the permit appeal process, permit expiration and renewal provisions. The Board approved updates for building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and fire codes. To view a summary of the code changes, please click here.

Santa Ana Jail Tour - On Wednesday, I was given a tour of the Santa Ana Jail with City of Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, and Jail Administrator Russ Davis. The 11 year old facility still remains a cutting edge structure that houses approximately 480 local, state, and federal prisoners. The majority of the prisoners are housed under a direct supervision model. This philosophy of jail management takes a proactive approach to managing inmate behavior by constant interaction between inmates and the correctional officers. The design is built to minimize inmate movement by bringing all services to the housing area thereby reducing tension and the need for extra supervisors. Santa Ana Jail is manned by correctional officers. Administrator Davis attributes the success of the direct supervision program to the intensive training of the officers. For pictures, please click here.

Yearly Retreat and Conference - Each year the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) conducts its yearly retreat to discuss upcoming goals with staff and the community. The retreat this year was held at the Newport Beach Hyatt and the discussion focused on air quality health effects, clean port strategies, climate change and an update on the 2007 Air Quality Master Plan implementation status.

Proposed Bus Service Changes - On Monday, the OCTA Board of Directors held a public hearing to receive public comment and input on staff’s proposal to add two new bus routes to OCTA’s service plan and to modify Routes 470, 471, and 686. Staff is proposing that OCTA add Routes 671 and 792 to their service plan. Route 671 would operate from the Anaheim Canyon Metrolink Station and the Tustin/Lincoln Park and Ride in Orange to the Orange County Fair for the four weekends in July and August that the fair operates. Route 792 would be a new intra-county weekday route that would link Riverside and Corona with the Anaheim Canyon Metrolink Station and the Anaheim Resort area.

Staff is also proposing that Route 686, which travels from the Irvine Transportation Center to the Irvine Spectrum on weekends, be discontinued due to low ridership and suggested that Routes 470 and 471 be realigned and renumbered as Routes 473 and 472, respectively. To view the maps of the proposed realignment, click here.

The OCTA Board of Directors will make its final determination on these recommendations at its April 28, 2008 board meeting.

Pacific Electric Right-of-Way Update - As part of Chairman Norby’s 2008 OCTA Goals, the OCTA Board of Directors is developing a common vision for the ultimate utilization of the former Pacific Electric Right-of-Way that runs through northern and central Orange County. On Monday, the OCTA Board of Directors received two presentations on the Pacific Electric Right of Way. The first presentation was a video tour of the Pacific Electric Right of Way detailing the development abutting the right of way. The second presentation was made by the City of Santa Ana on the Cities of Santa Ana and Garden Grove’s vision for the Pacific Electric Right of Way and their efforts to develop a Go Local project concept using the right of way. To view the video tour of the Pacific Electric Right of Way, click here. To view a copy of Santa Ana’s presentation, click here.

The Pacific Electric Right of Way is a 12-mile segment of old trolley car right of way owned by OCTA that runs from Santa Ana to the LA/Orange county line.

Taxpayer Oversight Committee Recruitment - The OCTA is seeking qualified volunteers to serve on the Taxpayers Oversight Committee. The 11 member committee monitors OCTA’s use of Measure M funds and ensures that all revenue collected from Measure M is spent on voter-approved transportation projects. Applications to fill three positions on the Committee are being accepted through May 2, 2008. The three open seats consist of one in the Second District and two in the Third District. Orange County residents residing in the Second District or Third District are eligible to apply. If you are interested in serving on this committee or would like more information on the Taxpayers Oversight Committee, visit OCTA’s Web site at www.octa.net/toc or contact Alice Rogan at (714) 560-5577.

Disaster Continuity Planning -The Health Care Agency’s Health Disaster Management division is sponsoring a "How To" seminar on business continuity planning on Tuesday, April 29th at 2 p.m. at the Laguna Hills Community Center. The meeting is one of the quarterly Health and Emergency Preparedness Planning Council (HEPPC) meetings, focused this time on business disaster planning. Greg Livingston is a renowned expert in the field of Continuity Planning and worked extensively with the financial sector in San Diego during the past two fire seasons. He brings not only great credentials but also on the ground experience with some of California’s largest corporations. While his focus will be on creating a continuity plan for pandemic influenza, the information is equally useful in all hazards planning (for such things as earthquakes and wildfires). Topics he will discuss include mass absenteeism, supply chain management and how to deal with customer service. If you are interested in attending this event, please click here.

2008 Walk of Honor Program – This week the Orange County Veterans Advisory Council hosted the 2008 Walk of Honor Program at the Santa Ana Civic Center Veterans Memorial. The program was developed for fifth grade students to enhance their education of United States history, especially the contributions, sacrifices, and legacy of veterans. This wonderful program gives students the opportunity to hear the experiences of Orange County veterans. For pictures, please click here.

Sundown this Saturday will mark the start of the Jewish Passover which commemorates the exodus of the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt. I want to wish Orange County’s Jewish Community a happy Passover.

Congratulations to the public schools in Orange County that have been designated as California Distinguished Schools. Click here to view the list.

Congratulations to Woodbridge High School Mock Trail Team in Irvine on being the 2007- 2008 Orange County Mock Trial Runner-up.

I met with Ignacio Ochoa, Director of Public Works, Ted Rigoni, Manager of the County’s Roads Department, and a group of canyon residents, Linda May, Rich Gomez, Mark Levy, and Bob Hunt, to discuss the various options for a rural façade to be incorporated during the improvements of the Santiago Canyon Road bridge which is located in the rural Santiago Canyon area of unincorporated Orange County approximately 0.3 miles west of Silverado Canyon Road. To view a map of the bridge location, click here. The group also discussed an interest in developing an "Adopt-A-Roadway" program. Ignacio Ochoa agreed to work with the residents to develop an ongoing program that is designed to improve aesthetics and to support environmental well-being.

I met with Supervisor Nguyen and County staff as part of an ad hoc committee established to review the Santa Ana River Parkway Feasibility and Planning Study. The study is designed to identify potential aesthetic and recreation improvements along the length of the Santa Ana River. For pictures, please click here.

I attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new science center at Foothill High School. For pictures, please click here.

I attended the 32nd annual Spirit of Volunteerism Awards Program hosted by the Volunteer Center of Orange County. 254 individuals, families, and organizations were honored at the event including members of the Orange County Fire Authority. I presented certificates of recognition to our Fire Authority Volunteers and was also able to witness the OCFA Pipes and Drums Corps perform. Please click here for pictures from the event.

Upcoming Community Events

Annual Orange Plaza Car Show - Orange Sunrise Rotary Club will host the Annual Orange Plaza Car Show this Sunday, April 20 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Plaza in Old Town Orange. The show will feature over 425 pre-1975 custom and classic vehicles on display. Admission is free. For more information about Orange Sunrise Rotary, please click here.

Silverado Children's Center Annual Chili Cook-Off - The Silverado Children's Center is hosting its Annual Chili Cook-Off on Sunday, April 20th 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Irvine Lake. Along with the Chili Cook-off competition, attendees will enjoy live entertainment, family games and activities, and a vendor expo. All proceeds from the event are targeted for a new school age playground at the Silverado Children’s Center. Click here to view the invite.

It is a pleasure to serve the constituents of the Third District.

Please pray for our armed forces and our foreign services personnel.