There was no regular Board meeting this week. The next Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009, at 9:30 am.

Public Hearing on Bus Service Reductions- Last Friday, the OCTA Board of Directors held a public hearing to receive comments on the Authority’s plan to reduce bus service by 400,000 hours over the next year. The reductions are necessary because of a substantial decline in sales tax revenue and the elimination of State transit funds. This reduction in revenue has created a shortfall of $33 million in revenues supporting OCTA’s bus operations over the next fiscal year. The Board received a presentation on the proposed reductions for September and heard comments from 40 speakers. The speakers generally understood the financial need to reduce service and provided constructive comments on the changes proposed for September. To view the presentation, click here. To view a list of the possible September service changes, click here. The OCTA Board of Directors will consider final action on the September service changes on June 8, 2009.

2009 Commuter Bikeways Strategic Plan- The Commuter Bikeways Strategic Plan is a countywide master plan of the regional bikeway network in Orange County. It is also used to ensure that local bikeways and proposed bikeways are eligible for state Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA) funds. The BTA is a competitive funding source for bicycle projects throughout the state. At its last meeting, the OCTA Board of Directors approved an update to the Orange County Commuter Bikeway Strategic Plan.

ARTIC Update- The Board of Directors approved a funding agreement between OCTA and the City of Anaheim for Phase I of the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC). The agreement calls for OCTA to provide $175.6 million for the project. Funding will be provided through Measure M revenues, Renewed Measure M Project T bond proceeds, the 2008 State Transportation Improvement Program, and the transit funds designated to OCTA in Proposition 116. Phase I will include relocating the existing Anaheim Metrolink station and supporting transit facilities to the ARTIC site at Douglas Road and the SR-57 freeway. This move will enable the planned Metrolink service expansion and provide improved rail connections to fixed route buses and the proposed bus rapid transit system. Phase I will also include the development of transit-oriented retail, mixed-use commercial and civic space at the center. The City of Anaheim announced the selection of Parsons Brinckerhoff/HOK as the design team for ARTIC.

i-Shuttle Cooperative Agreement- The OCTA Board of Directors approved a cooperative agreement with the City of Irvine for the consignment of twelve 27-foot compressed natural gas buses. OCTA will provide these buses to the City for their operation of i-Shuttle. The i-Shuttle is a shuttle service in the Irvine Business Complex (IBC). It was developed to provide transit service in the area linking the Tustin Metrolink Station with the major employment centers in the IBC. For more information about the i-Shuttle and its routes, click here.

Reserve Program- The Orange County Fire Authority discussed the future of the reserve firefighter program in Orange County. The Board voted, 11 to 10, to maintain the reserve fire engines for Villa Park, Emerald Bay and Sunset Beach. I supported this action. The Board voted unanimously to increase the roster size at each station by five positions, support greater recruitment efforts, streamline training, outfit additional patrols with compressed air foam systems, and streamline various operational resources. The Board set January 1, 2010, as the date to review the response performance by volunteers at all stations. To view the OCFA presentation, please click here.

I attended the Tri-City Veterans event in observance of Memorial Day at the Orange County Santa Ana Cemetery. The cities represented were Orange, Santa Ana and Tustin. I was joined by Congressman Ed Royce, Assemblyman Curt Hagman, and Orange Mayor Carolyn Cavecche. To read the program with a list of all speakers and participants, please click here. To read my presentation of “Old Glory”, please click here. For pictures, click here.

Mary and I attended the annual Villa Park Family Picnic at Irvine Lake with my son Chris, daughter-in-law Daniela, and grandson Diego. We enjoyed an afternoon of games, food, and fun with the Villa Park community. For pictures, please click here.

I met with staff from the Sheriff’s Department, OC Community Resources, and OC Animal Care to discuss the County’s plans for large animal evacuation at the OC Fair Grounds and/or other emergency site alternatives in the event of a major natural disaster.

I met with Orange County Treasurer Tax-Collector Chriss Street to discuss the 2009-2010 County budget.

I met with Dr. Peter Hughes, director of Internal Audit, to discuss the results of recent audits performed by the Department.

I met with Mike Ruane, executive director of the Orange County Children and Families Commission to discuss the upcoming annual planning session and my role as incoming chairman, effective in July.

I met with Julie Miller-Phipps, CEO, Kaiser Permanente, John Stratman, Director of Public Affairs, Kaiser Permanente, Jon Gilwee, Senior Director, Government Health Care Programs, UC Irvine Medical Center, Chris Leo, Regional Director of Advocacy St. Joseph Health System, and Julie Puentes, Regional Vice President, Hospital Association of Southern California. We discussed upcoming agreements related to Orange County hospitals, trends in service, and the economic impacts on hospitals.

I met with Sheriff Sandra Hutchens to discuss the upcoming budget and other issues facing the County of Orange and the Sheriff’s Department

I attended an event hosted by the Boy Scouts of America honoring District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. To view pictures from the event, please click here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Live Oak Canyon Road Meeting- On Wednesday, June 3rd, the County of Orange, the California Highway Patrol, and the Sheriff’s Department will hold a community meeting to receive public comment regarding the proposed traffic study along Live Oak Canyon Road. The meeting will be held at Trabuco Elementary School at 7 pm. For more information, please click here.

Movie on the Lawn- On Saturday, May 30th, at 8:00 pm, the Orange County Great Park invites the public to picnic for the Great Park Movie on the Lawn. The Great Park will be showing Transformers before the sequel comes to theaters this summer. Admission and parking are free. For more information, please click here.

Yorba Linda’s Annual Celebration of Arts- On Sunday, June 7th, from 11 am to 5 pm, the Yorba Linda Arts Alliance is hosting its 10th Annual Celebration of Arts. The festival will include over forty performing groups, live music, and hands on activities for children. For more information, please click here or call (714) 996-1960.

Congratulations to Orange County Auditor Controller David Sundstrom on his appointment to the Government Accounting Standards Board by the Financial Accounting Foundation.

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

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