Freeway Complex Fire After Action Report- Orange County Fire Authority Chief Chip Prather presented the After Action Fire Report to the Board on the Freeway Complex Fire. To view the presentation, please click here.

Temporary Transfer of Funds for School Districts- The Board approved a request by Orange County Treasurer Tax-Collector, Chriss Street, on behalf of several Orange County school districts who participate in the Treasurer Tax-Collector administered Educational Investment Pool for the temporary transfer of funds invested in the pool to fill shortfalls created by deferment of state payments. Because of the ongoing state financial crisis several billion dollars in apportionment payments due to school districts throughout the state are being deferred. The transfers will be limited to the 2009-2010 and the 2010-2011 fiscal years and will be repaid to the investment pool at the rate of interest earned by the pool during that period.

Tustin Unified School District Bond Issuance- The Board in a ministerial function approved the issuance of General Obligation Bonds for facility improvements in the Tustin Unified School District. These Bonds were approved by the voters in the Tustin Unified School District in 2002. This issuance will be the third series issued by the district and are in the amount of $25 million. The bonds are the sole obligation of the Tustin Unified School District.

2009-2010 General Fund Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes- The Board approved the terms, issuance and sale of General Fund Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANS) for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. The TRANS will be used to bridge the County’s cash flow needs during the year due to the timing difference between revenues and expenditures during the year, and preserve the County’s cash reserves and other alternative liquidity sources.

Stimulus Funding for Seniors- The Board approved Standard Agreements with the California Department of Aging to receive $606,737 of Federal Stimulus funding for enhancing the level of service for the Senior Community Services Employment Program and the Elderly Nutrition Program. These programs support senior employment and the delivery of nutritious meals for adults over 60 year of age in Orange County.

Child Support Services Department-The Board appointed Steven Eldred to serve as Director of the Child Support Services Department. Steven Eldred has worked in Child Support Services in Fresno County and Orange County, as an attorney, and as Chief Deputy Director since 2002. Steven has been a public servant since 1997, serving as a Major with the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General Corps. He has also been a Deputy District Attorney for Fresno County, and a police officer in Walnut Creek and San Anselmo, California.

Bravo! Update- On Monday, the OCTA Executive Committee received an update on OCTA’s proposed bus rapid transit (BRT) service called, Bravo!. When the Bravo! service was approved by the OCTA Board of Directors in 2007, the Board directed staff to implement three BRT lines with unique vehicle branding, shelters, a real-time passenger information system, and traffic signal synchronization. The Board also directed staff to develop a preliminary design for a transit signal priority system. When the project was approved, a budget of $126.6 million was established for the service’s implementation. Given the reduction in transit funding as a result of the economic downturn, the available funding for the BRT program is $20 million. OCTA is required to implement this service in order to comply with air quality mandates, but the service level will be reduced. Staff is in the process of revising the service proposal and will return to the Board for final approval of a streamlined BRP program.

SR-91 Advisory Committee - On Friday, I attended the quarterly meeting of the SR-91 Advisory Committee. I was elected Vice-Chairman of the Committee and Bob Magee from Lake Elsinore was elected Chairman. The Committee received a presentation on the 2009 Draft SR-91 Implementation Plan, outlining the timeline for planned congestion improvement projects along the SR-91, as a result of the Orange-Riverside Major Investment Study. Under the plan, $144.4 million in improvements are scheduled for completion by 2011. The plan also adds another $1.9 billion in projects to be completed by 2015, and $1 billion in projects by 2022. By 2030, the improvements for this corridor are expected to total $11.9 billion. To view the presentation given to the Committee, click here.

91 Express Lanes Toll Rates- The SR-91 Advisory Committee also received a presentation on the adjustments made to the toll rates on the 91 Express this past October and January. Based on the toll policy adopted by OCTA in July 2003, the 91 Express Lanes tolls are based on congestion management pricing. This policy is designed to optimize 91 Express Lanes traffic flow at free-flow speeds. To accomplish this, hourly traffic volumes in the 91 Express Lanes are continually monitored. Once the hourly traffic volumes are consistently too high and there is the potential for traffic congestion, an increase in the rate is made. If hourly traffic volumes drop below optimal levels, a decrease in the toll rate is made. Since October, the toll rate during 16 eastbound hours has been decreased. To view the presentation give to the Committee, click here. To view the current toll rates on the 91 Express Lanes, click here.

Annual Planning Meeting- The Commission held its annual planning meeting on Wednesday, June 3rd. As in-coming Chairman, I participated in a post-election strategy session with former Assemblyman Phil Isenberg and Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle to discuss the State’s fiscal crisis and potential impacts on Orange County programs supported by the Commission. After the strategy session, the Commission received a presentation on the long term financial plan, which accounts for a four percent decline in tobacco tax revenue over the next ten years, coupled with the Commission’s projected encumbrances. The Commission also received a fascinating presentation about future investments for early learning initiatives in math and science from Gerald Solomon, executive director of the Samueli Foundation. To view the presentation on the long term financial plan, please click here.

This week both the San Joaquin Hills (SJHTCA) and the Foothill/Eastern (F/ETCA) Transportation Corridor Agency Board of Directors approved their Fiscal Year 2009-10 budgets. The budgets for both agencies represent a reduction in expenditures from FY 2008-09. Despite this reduction, the budgets call for an increase in toll rates, account fees and violation fees. These increases are necessary to address the agencies’ reductions in revenues and the anticipated increase in debt service for both agencies in 2010.

The new toll rates will be effective as of July 5, 2009, at 10 pm.  Click here to view the rate schedule.  To view the FY 2009-10 budget presentation for the SJHTCA Board, click here. To view the budget presentation given to the F/ETCA Board, click here.

Live Oak Canyon Community Meeting- On Wednesday, June 3rd, I attended a public meeting in Trabuco Canyon in which the County of Orange, the California Highway Patrol, and the Sheriff’s Department received public comment regarding traffic along Live Oak Canyon Road. Input from the meeting will be used to help conduct a traffic study regarding the area. The County plans to evaluate the findings and present recommendations at the July Traffic Committee meeting. To view pictures from the event, please click here.

Last Friday, I attended the annual Government Leaders’ Prayer Breakfast. This year’s keynote speaker was the Honorable Tim Philpot, Judge of Fayette Circuit Family Court in Kentucky. For the program, please click here. For pictures, click here.

I toured Rancho Los Lomas located in Silverado Canyon. The zoological garden at Rancho Los Lomas is home to a variety of animals from Africa, Central America, Asia and North America including Scarlet Macaws, Zebra, Alpaca and Bengal Tigers. For pictures, click here.

Mary and I attended the Salvation Army’s Annual Spirit Awards dinner with Elaine and Gaddi Vasquez. I presented former Ambassador Vasquez with a proclamation honoring him for the Salvation Army’s "The Others Award", which he received for his service in Orange County and abroad. To read the proclamation, please click here. For pictures, click here.

Mary and I attended the 2008 Tustin Man and Woman of the Year dinner. The 2008 Tustin Man of the Year is Al Enderle and the 2008 Tustin Woman of the Year is Kimberly Bass. Click here to read their proclamations. Click here for pictures.

Chair Bates and I met with Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang and Councilmember Christina Shea to discuss the impact of the County’s social services reductions on Irvine residents.

I met with District Attorney Tony Rackauckas to discuss the upcoming budget and other issues facing the County of Orange.

I met with representatives from the city of Chino and Lewis Homes to discuss potential environmental uses for County property.

I met with Joe Adams and Dan Bolar of the Discovery Science Center to discuss a variety of issues.

I met with Tom Davidson of Orange Park Acres to discuss issues within the Orange Park Acres community.

Third District staff joined the County Librarian at the Friends of the Villa Park Library meeting to discuss a donation made to the Library.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tustin Street Fair & Chili-Cook Off- On Sunday, June 7th, from 11 am to 6 pm, the City of Tustin is hosting its 25th annual street fair and chili-cook off. For more information, please click here.

Orange Senior Center Golf Tournament- The Orange Senior Center will be hosting their 11th Annual "Hearts on Carts" Golf Tournament on Monday, June 15, 2009. The proceeds of the tournament benefit the Orange Senior Center’s Meals on Wheels program. For more information, please click here.

2009 Canyon Cleansweep- The Orange County Fire Authority, the Inter-Canyon League, and Baker Canyon Green Recycling will hold the 2009 Canyon Cleansweep. The program is designed to help mitigate the risk of flood and fires by creating a defensible space around property. The event will take place June 6th-7th, and June 13th-14th, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Baker Canyon Green Recycling is hosting free disposal of materials such as tree trimmings, weeds, and brush. For more information, please click here.

Congratulations to one of my staff members, Mike Johnson, on his recent graduation from the Orange County Leadership Academy.

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

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