Olinda Alpha Landfill Cooperative Agreement- On Tuesday, the Board unanimously approved a cooperative agreement with the City of Brea for the expansion of the Olinda Alpha Landfill. The County plans to expand the landfill horizontally and vertically within the existing landfill boundaries. This expansion will allow the County to extend the landfill’s life by eight years. The County will pay the City 10.5 millon plus $1.50 per ton of solid waste received after 2013 to be used to offset the impacts of landfill operations on the community.

Yorba Linda Park- The Board approved the plans and specifications for the demolition and replacement of the deteriorated roof of Yorba Linda Park Group Shelter #4. The new shelter incorporates a solid roof and will improve public safety and provide better shade and drier conditions during inclement weather.

H&CD Commission- The Board re-appointed Jim Palmer to the Housing and Community Development Commission for another two-year term. Jim serves as president of the Orange County Rescue Mission in the city of Tustin and he also serves as a Tustin City Councilman.

Bus Service Reduction Update- Last month, the OCTA Board of Directors voted to eliminate 100,000 hours of bus service in September, and directed staff to return to the Board with a plan to consolidate the next three 100,000 hour service reductions into the December service change. On Monday, the Board received an update on the September service reductions with a report detailing plans to proceed with the next 300,000 hour reduction. Staff recommended that the 300,000 hour reduction in bus service take place in March instead of December. The Board approved this change because it will allow additional time to measure the changes in ridership and use of the existing route after the September service change. OCTA is reducing bus service to bring the cost in line with revenues.

SR-22 Collector Distributor Road- The Board received a presentation from Caltrans on four alternatives to solving the congestion caused at the eastbound SR-22/I-5 connectors as a result of a collector distributor road installed during the freeway’s widening. The SR-22 Collector Distributor Road separates traffic continuing to travel the eastbound SR-22 from the traffic transitioning to Interstate 5. It was installed as a transportation control measure to limit excessive weaving and unsafe lane changes by drivers trying to transition abruptly to the I-5. While the road has limited weaving, it has also caused congestion on the SR-22. Caltrans’s presentation presented four alternatives to reducing congestion. I encouraged Caltrans to examine several other alternatives given that three of their alternatives only reduced the congestion slightly. To view the presentation, click here.

Amendment to the Mater Plan of Arterial Highways- The Board voted to amend the Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH) with regards to two arterials in the city of Yorba Linda. The MPAH amendment added Bastanchury Road from Fairmont Blvd. to Village Center Drive as a primary, four-lane, divided arterial and reclassified Village Center Drive from Bastanchury Road to Fairmont Blvd. from a secondary, four-lane arterial to a two-lane arterial. These amendments are a result of the city’s extension of Bastanchury Road from Fairmont to Village Center Drive in 2006, and a traffic study which showed that Village Center Drive was no longer needed as a four-lane arterial.

Westbound SR-91 Lane Addition Update- On Monday, the OCTA Board of Directors selected RBF Consulting to prepare plans, specifications and cost estimates for the Westbound SR-91 Lane Addition Project. This project will add one additional westbound lane on the SR-91 freeway between Interstate 5 and State Route 57. RBF’s work on the project will bring the project to the construction phase.

Orange Transportation Center Parking Study- The Board approved a cooperative agreement with the City of Orange to study expanded parking at the Orange Transportation Center. Currently, there are 295 parking spaces available at the Orange Transportation Center. With OCTA’s expansion of Metrolink service, 600 spaces will be needed at the Orange station to meet the demands for parking. The feasibility study will evaluate the placement of a mixed-use parking structure in downtown Orange near the Transportation Center.

Natural Gas Refueling Station Infrastructure- The South Coast Air Quality Management District approved a $250,000 cost-share agreement with the County to co-fund the capital investment cost for a new fast fill compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station. The fueling station will support regional public and private CNG fleets and is part of the Southern California region’s alternative fuel network strategy.

Inland Empire Regional Composting Facility- I toured the Inland Empire Regional Composting Facility, along with San Bernardino County Supervisor Josie Gonzales, and South Coast Air Quality Management District Chairman Dr. William Burke. The facility is operated by the Inland Empire Utility Agency and is the largest enclosed facility of its type in the United States. The facility recycles over 75,000 tons of bio-solids per year, which reduces landfill usage and supports local green waste recycling. For pictures, please click here. For a presentation on the facility, please click here.

Solar Photovoltaic Demonstration- I met with AQMD staff to learn more about AQMD’s solar roof project which features a solar PV system. The solar PV system provides renewable power for AQMD’s building grid, which in turn powers an electrolyzer to produce hydrogen fuel for advanced vehicles under demonstration at AQMD. For pictures, click here.

Irvine Boulevard Re-Striping- The OC Traffic Committee held a public hearing on Thursday, July 16, to discuss the re-striping of Irvine Blvd. between Red Hill Avenue, east of Browning. This half mile long stretch is currently striped as four lanes, located in the unincorporated County area, bounded by the City of Tustin’s six lanes on both ends. This roadway is classified as Major Arterial per the Orange County Transportation Authority’s (OCTA) Master Plan of Arterial Highways. Twenty-four residents attended the hearing to express opposition to the OC Public Works staff recommendation to adopt a “No Stopping Anytime” restriction to allow for a future re-striping of the County’s section of Irvine Blvd. The Committee ultimately rejected the staff recommendation, and opposed any re-striping or parking restrictions.

I spoke at the monthly breakfast meeting of the Government Affairs Committee of the Orange Chamber of Commerce. I discussed the 2009-2010 County Budget and the impact of California’s financial crisis on the County. For pictures, please click here.

I met with Orange County Veterans Advisory Council member Fred Whitaker to discuss issues related to the Council.

I met with City of Orange YMCA Chief Executive Officer Dolores Marikian and Board Member Don Baddorf to discuss the programs and goals of the YMCA, and future plans for facilities in Orange.

Mary and I attended the second of this summer’s Concerts in the Park series at Hart Park in Orange. This concert generated the greatest turnout Mary and I have seen since we have been attending. This week’s concert featured The Fenians, who performed their mix of traditional Irish and contemporary music. For pictures, click here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SR 133 Road Closures- On Friday, July 17, Caltrans will be closing the northbound SR-133 to northbound I-5 connector. The road will be closed from 10 pm Friday evening to 5 am on Saturday, July 18. The road will also be closed on Saturday, July 18, from 10 pm to 8 am on Sunday, July 19. Detour signs will be posted to direct travelers along the detour routes.

SR 241 Closures- There is also a planed closured of the southbound SR-241 between SR-133 and Portola Parkway (Irvine) on Friday, July 17, from 10 pm to 6 am on Saturday, July 18.

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

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