There was no regular Board meeting this week. The next Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 14th at 9:30 am.

91 Express Lane Toll Rate Adjustments- In July 2003, OCTA adopted a toll policy for the 91 Express Lanes which bases toll prices on congestion management pricing. The 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 potential traffic congestion is identified, the rate increase is implemented. If hourly traffic volumes drop below optimal levels, a decrease in the toll rate is made. The toll policy also calls on an annual adjustment in toll rates for inflation. This annual adjustment is only made to toll rates which have not been adjusted during the last six months. On July 1, 2009, the 91 Express Lanes made its annual adjustment. It also decreased the toll rate for the 6:00 pm hour on Thursdays due to lower traffic volumes during this hour. To view the new toll rates, click here.

June Commission Meeting- On Wednesday, the Children and Families Commission of Orange County held its monthly meeting.  The Commission received an update on United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County’s (UCP) partnership with the Urban Land Institute to develop a regional daycare center with onsite services and treatment.  The Commission also received a fascinating presentation from Ted Smith, CEO and Founder of the MIND Research Institute, on preschool-age initiatives to support early learning in math. To learn more about UCP’s programs and services, please click here. For more information about the MIND Research Institute, click here.

Election of Officers- At the end of the Commission meeting, I was elected as the Commission’s new Chairman for FY 2009-2010, and Commissioner Sandra Barry was elected to serve as Vice-Chair. The Commission will be dark for the month of August, returning for the first meeting of the year on September 2, 2009. I look forward to serving in this new position with my fellow Commissioners.

Mary and I attended the Extron Electronics company picnic as a guest of the company’s president, Andrew Edwards. At the picnic, I had the opportunity to learn more about Extron Electronics and meet many of the company’s employees. The picnic was catered by Bill Ellis BBQ from Wilson North Carolina. To view pictures from the event, click here.

I attended Orange County Fire Authority Chief Chip Prather’s retirement barbecue at OCFA headquarters. To view pictures from the event, please click here.

I attended the Orange County Fire Authority Class #36 Academy Graduation. The academy was the subject of Fox Reality Channel’s “The Academy.” For pictures from the event, please click here. To read the oath of office for firefighters, click here. Click here to read the list of graduates. For information about the show, please click here.

I met with Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Assemblyman Jose Solorio of Santa Ana to discuss the transportation challenges facing Orange County. To view pictures from the meeting, click here.

I met with Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Chriss Street to discuss the impacts of the State’s continuing budget problems on the County.

I met with a property owner and the OC Planning Department to discuss the Foothill-Trabuco Specific Plan and permitting procedures for renovation of a specific property in Trabuco Canyon.

I attended the 12th annual Irvine Lake Blues Festival. For pictures from the event, please click here.

I met with Richard McPherson of DownRange G2 Solutions to discuss alternative energy possibilities in the County. Richard is a retired United States Navy Lieutenant Commander with a background in nuclear engineering. He has an interesting website with information on energy, economic and political topics. To view the website, click here.

I met with former California State Legislators Rusty Areias and Jim Brulte, along with Barnett Davis of the LIFE Foundation to discuss Orange County real estate.

I met with a resident of Orange Park Acres to discuss trail access for horse riders with disabilities.

Mary and I had dinner with Barbara and Tom Searles, and Laura and Matt Cunningham as our guest at King’s Fish House in Orange. Barbara and Tom won the evening’s dinner as my guest as part of the Orange Rotary’s annual fundraiser and auction.

I toured the former Sully-Miller mining property on Santiago Canyon Road in Orange. For pictures, click here.

I met with Steve Beazley, President and CEO of the Orange County Fairgrounds to discuss the 2009 Orange County Fair. For information on this year’s OC Fair, click here.

I met with Rick Nelson, Bruce Junor, Irene Brace, Jerry Wolf, and Mike Rubin of the Foothill Communities Association (FCA) to discuss issues related to the North Tustin area.

OC Animal Care reported 66 pet adoptions from the Shelter’s Pet Adoption Fair last weekend. For more information about OC Animal Care’s pet adoption program, please click here.

FOURTH OF JULY EVENTS

Orange’s Annual 3rd of July Event- The City of Orange is hosting its annual Orange Salutes the Red, White and Blue celebration, featuring Orange Community Master Chorale of Santiago Canyon College on Friday, July 3rd, from 4 pm to 9 pm in Fred Kelly Stadium at El Modena High School. Tickets are $5 for anyone over the age of two. For more information, please click here or call (714) 744-7278.

Orange Park Acres Parade- The Orange Park Acres Association will host its annual 4th of July Parade on Saturday, July 4th from 9 am to 11 am. The parade route starts at Orange Park Blvd. and Frank Lane next to the Salem Lutheran Elementary School, which is on the corner of Santiago Canyon Road. For more information, please click here.

Anaheim Hills 4th of July Concert- The Canyon Hills Community Council and Anaheim Hills Rotary Club will hold a series of 4th of July activities, including fireworks at 9 pm at Peralta Park. For a list of the day’s activities, click here.

Brea’s Annual Country Faire- The City of Brea will host its 30th Annual Country Faire on Saturday, July 4th from 7 am to 4 pm at City Hall Park. Day-long festivities begin with the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast from 7am to 11 am, followed by the Brea Ministerial Association morning service. The fair officially opens at 10 am with entertainment until 4 pm. For more information call (714) 990-7771.

Irvine Police Association’s 4th of July Concert- The Irvine Police Association is hosting its annual 4th of July Fireworks Celebration and Concert on the Green. The event will take place at Irvine High School. Tickets are available on an advance sale basis or at the gate. Prices are as follows: $40 per family (2 adults and up to four children), $12 for adults, and $7 for seniors and children. For more information, call (949) 724-0488 or visit here.

Tustin’s 4th of July Fireworks Show- The City of Tustin is hosting its annual 4th of July fireworks display and celebration at 6 pm at Tustin High School. For more information, please call (714) 573-3326.

Yorba Linda’s 4th of July Spectacular- The City of Yorba Linda is hosting its annual 4th of July Spectacular at Veterans Park at 4 pm. The afternoon entails food, music and games. Fireworks begin at 9 pm and last about 20 minutes. For more information, call (714) 961-7181.

Mary and I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July!

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

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