Community Clinic TSR Funding- At Tuesday’s meeting, on a 3-2 vote, the Board voted to rescind its action of March 10, 2009 which had directed staff to provide a 30-day notice of intent to suspend a portion of Tobacco Settlement Revenue funding to the Coalition of Orange County Community Clinics for provision of Planned Parenthood services. As a result of Tuesday’s vote, the County will reinstate funding to Planned Parenthood through June 30, 2009. Supervisor Moorlach and I voted against this.

On a 5-0 vote, the Board voted to approve new policies regarding community clinic Tobacco Settlement Revenue funding to be implemented July 1, 2009. These new policies include:

• Restrict expenditure of community clinic TSR funds allocated to the individual clinics to direct medical, mental health and dental services for uninsured persons.
• Allow the Coalition and/or HCA to expend community clinic TSR for contract administration, for functions more effectively provided centrally, and for improvement of the community clinic system.
• Prohibit use of any community clinic TSR for abortions, abortion counseling, or promotion or advocacy of abortion as a method of family planning.

Orange-El Modena Curb, Gutter, and Sidewalk Repair Project- The Board voted to authorize OC Public works to go out to bid for the Orange-El Modena Curb, Gutter, and Sidewalk Repair Project. The project involves removal and replacement of damaged sections of existing curb and gutter; sidewalks; drive approaches; and access ramps in the unincorporated Orange-El Modena area. The work also includes removal and replacement of adjacent asphalt concrete pavement sections as well as planting of trees at locations where about 17 trees had been removed due to uplifting of the sidewalk. Removal of trees was recommended by the County's Arborist. For a project location map, click here.

Waste and Recycling Exhibit at the Discovery Science Center- The Board approved a joint exhibit between Orange County Waste and Recycling and the Discovery Science Center. The exhibit will be a state of the art interactive exhibit on waste and recycling. This exhibit is part of the County education efforts for reduction, diversion, and recycling of the waste as mandated by AB939. The exhibit is fully funded through surcharge revenues collected from self haul disposal at the landfills by Orange County Waste and Recycling. For more information about the exhibit, please click here.

OC Veterans Advisory Council- The Board reappointed Fred Whitaker to serve two additional years on the OC Veterans Advisory Committee. Fred is a resident of Orange and currently serves as chair of the Council’s legislative committee.

Assessment Appeal Board- The Board approved the nomination of Habib Malik of Irvine to the Assessment Appeals Board to fill the vacancy of David Calvert who resigned earlier this year.

Orange County Sheriff Department Volunteer Appreciation- The Board approved the use of Hart Park in the City of Orange for the annual Sheriff Department’s Correctional Programs Volunteer Appreciation Picnic. The picnic will be held on June 6th and recognizes the more than 1,100 volunteers who help to prevent recidivism and provide services to the inmate population.

Metrolink Regional Gateway Funding- When Renewed Measure M was approved the voters allocated twenty-five percent of the measure’s revenues to the development and implementation of a countywide transit program. One the six elements of the approved transit program was the conversion of Metrolink stations into regional gateways. The regional gateway program provides funding for the planning and modification of existing Metrolink stations so that the stations will be able to accommodate multi-modal transit connections including the high-speed rail service proposed by the State of California.

On Monday, the OCTA Board of Directors approved $875,000 for the City of Fullerton, $2.66 million for the City of Irvine, and $3 million for the City of Santa Ana for the initial planning of a regional gateway in each city. The Board also approved $117 million for implementation and construction of Phase 1 of the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC). Phase 1 will include relocating the existing Anaheim Metrolink station and supporting transit facilities to the ARTIC site at Douglas Road and the SR-57 freeway. It will also include the development of transit-oriented retail, mixed-use commercial and civic space at the center.

Renewed Measure M Website- This week OCTA launched a new Renewed Measure M website to better communicate with the public. The website was redesigned to allow the public to more easily find information about Renewed Measure M and the project funded under the ½ cent sales tax. To view a short video on the updated website and its new features, click here. To view the new website, click here.

Contracted Fixed Route Update- On Monday, the OCTA Board of Directors awarded a contract to MV Transit, Inc. for the provision of contracted fixed route, StationLink and express bus service. This award came after a competitive procurement process for these services. Overall, four firms submitted proposals to OCTA. The firms were MV Transit, Inc., First Transit, Southland Transit, Inc. and Veolia Transportation Services, the current contractor. The contract with MV Transit, Inc. is for an initial period of four-years at a cost of $33, 702,256. MV Transit will begin providing the service July 1, 2009.

Lucy Dunn Confirmed to CTC- I would like to congratulate Orange County Business Council President and CEO Lucy Dunn on her confirmation to the California Transportation Commission (CTC). This week, the Senate Rules Committee unanimously confirmed Governor Schwarzenegger’s appointment of Lucy to the Commission. Lucy has served Orange County well for many years and her time on the CTC will be no different.

Orange County Assessor Webster J. Guillory informed the Board that he has completed the updated 2008-2009 Supplemental Property Roll. The Supplemental Property Roll covers all real property (secured) assessments up to January 1, 2009 and has an approximate assessed value of $1.36 billion. When compared to the same period last year the roll is about 52% lower.

Swine Influenza Investigation Update- The Orange County Health Care Agency has been working with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to coordinate a local response to the Swine Influenza. To read the most recent update, please click here. For up to date information for the County Healthcare Agency, please click here.

Pets and Home Foreclosures- OC Animal Care has worked with Dr. Jim Gardner to develop an article providing tips for Orange County homeowners with pets who are facing foreclosure. To read the article which includes a listing of local shelter and rescue groups, please click here.

Earlier this week, the United States Army Corps of Engineers released a listing of Civil Works projects to be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Out of $4.6 billion appropriated to the Corps for its Civil Works programs nationwide, over $50 million will be spent in Orange County. To of the major projects are:

• $26,050,000. Complete contract for channel improvements to Reach 9 Phase 2 B of lower Santa Ana River
• $17,363,000. Funding will be used to complete plans and specifications and award a fully funded construction project that will complete this environmental restoration of the Upper Newport Bay and turn it over to the local sponsor. The project includes dredging of side channels.

I adjourned this week’s Board meeting in memory of Ann Conroy, wife of Former 71st Assemblyman Mickey Conroy of Orange, and Ann Siebert, also of Orange. To read my adjournment, for Ann Conroy please click here. To read my adjournment for Anne Siebert, please click here.

Please keep Ann Conroy, Anne Siebert, and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

Mary and I visited the Muzeo in Anaheim with two of our grandchildren. Currently the Muzeo is featuring an exhibit of movie monsters and special effects from Hollywood blockbusters. For pictures, please click here. For more information about the Muzeo, please click here.

I met with Roland Tanner and Denise Kruger of Golden State Water Company and Bill VanderWerff and Lisa Ohlund of the East Orange County Water District to discuss future service in East Orange County Water District.

I met with Municipal Water District of Orange County Board Member Larry Dick and John Lewis to discuss the Local Agency Formation Commission’s (LAFCO) governance study.

Third District staff attended the first annual Orange County Crime Victims March on Monday, April 27 at the Old County Courthouse. The event was sponsored by Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. Chair Bates and Vice Chair Nguyen read a resolution provided by the Board. To read a flyer from the event, click here. For pictures, click here.

I met with Orange County Fire Authority Chief Chip Prather and other members of the Reserve Firefighter Ad-Hoc Committee to discuss the future of the reserve program within the OCFA.

I attended the Orange County Tourism Council’s Annual Tourism Conference. The conference themed “Navigating the Road Ahead” and focused on of the current economic recession and the hotel, travel and leisure industry. Tim Pearson past CEO and President of the Zyman Group gave the keynote presentation on the impact of the economic crisis and how it will reshape the hotel, travel and leisure industry. For pictures from the event, please click here.

I attended the welcome event at John Wayne Airport for the inaugural flight of Virgin America’s service from San Francisco to Orange County. The launch party was attended by Virgin Group Founder and President, Sir Richard Branson. To view pictures from the event, please click here.

I joined City of Orange Orange Mayor Carolyn Cavecche along with City of Orange Councilman and Orange Water District Director Denis Biladeau at the groundbreaking ceremony for the northern portion of the Santiago Creek Bike Trail. Identified on the City’s Bikeways Master Plan, the County's Bikeways Plan and OCTA’s Strategic Bikeways Plan, the northern portion of the Santiago Creek Bike Trail is approximately 2.5 miles in length; beginning at Collins Avenue in Orange and running adjacent to Santiago Creek. Once completed, the trail will connect to Santiago Oaks Regional Park where existing trails already link to Irvine and Peters Canyon Regional Parks. For pictures, click here. For a map of the northern portion of the Santiago Creek Bike Trail, click here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Brea Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2009 Business and Community Expo & Fiesta on Friday, May 1, from 5-9 p.m. on Birch Street in Downtown Brea. For more information, click here.

The Orange Park Acres Association will host their annual Denim and Diamonds Dinner and Dance on Saturday, May 8 at the Orange County Mining Company Restaurant. For more information, please click here.

The Orange County Public Works Department will host its annual open house and collectors car show on Saturday, May 16 from 10am to 2pm at their new headquarters at 2301 North Glassell Street in Orange. For more information, please click here.

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

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