Countywide Accounting & Personnel System (CAPS+) Financial System Upgrades- The Board received an update from Orange County Auditor-Controller David Sundstrom on the status of the Countywide Accounting & Personnel System (CAPS+) Financial System upgrades. The CAPS+ Financial System upgrades were completed on July 1, 2009, and have processed over 35,000 transactions in the past 28 days. Congratulations to Auditor-Controller Sundstrom and his team on successfully completing this major systems upgrade on time and under budget. To view the Auditor-Controller’s presentation, please click here.

2010 County Health Insurance Rates- The Board approved the 2010 health insurance rates for all active and retired employees. Most categories increased less than the national trend of 9%. This year lower rate increases are due to a combination of reductions in catastrophic claims, the continued favorable impact of the plan design changes and disease management programs, and an increase in claims incurred within the PPO network. Certain retiree plan costs will be decreased modestly next year. Below are the percentage increases or decreases in insurance plan rates for active and retired employees for 2010.

Plan	Actives	Retiree (Pre-65)	Retiree (Post-65)
Kaiser HMO	4.6%	(-18%)	6.0%
Cigna HMO	5.5%	4.4%	4.4%
Wellwise PPO	1.3%	(-1.3%)	(-1.3%)
Sharewell PPO	1.3%	(-1.3%)	(-1.3%)
Blue Cross Traditional HMO	N/A	9.0%	9.0%
Blue Cross Select HMO	N/A	9.0%	9.0%
Blue Cross Custom (PFFS)	N/A	N/A	83% *
Blue Cross Standard (PFFS)	N/A	N/A	33% *
Exclusive Care	N/A	11.7%	11.7%

* Significant increases due to Medicare changes.

Orange County Fairgrounds- The Board approved a Resolution brought forth by Supervisor Moorlach supporting Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposal to sell the Orange County Fairgrounds, on the condition that the property is sold to a local governmental agency or not-for-profit in order to perpetuate its use as a fairgrounds, event center and equestrian facility. For a copy of the Resolution, click here.

Harbor Justice Center Trial Court Transfer- As part of The Trial Court Facilities Act of 2002, or Senate Bill 1732, the Board approved the transfer of responsibility and deferred transfer of title for the Harbor Justice Center Trial Court Facility. The act transfers the obligation for funding trial court operations from each county to the State of California. To view staff’s presentation on the transfer process, please click here.

Stonegate Apartments- The Board approved a loan utilizing HOME Investment Partnership Act and Mental Health Services Act funds for Jamboree Housing Corporation in the amount of $3,003,700 for the development of Stonegate Apartment Homes. Stonegate Apartment Homes is a proposed 134-unit affordable housing development located in the city of Irvine between Sand Canyon and Jeffrey.

SR-22 Continuous Access Lane Survey- The OCTA Board of Directors received a presentation on the SR-22 Continuous Access Lane Survey. The survey results found that awareness of, experience with, and support for continuous access high –occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes has continued to expand since 2007, when the lanes opened and the base-line survey was conducted. The survey results show that 80% of the surveyed motorists recommend retaining the continuous access lanes on the SR-22, which is a 9% increase from the 2007 survey. Also, 71% of motorists surveyed support incorporating continuous access lanes on other Orange County freeways, which is an increase of 12% from the 2007 survey. To view the staff presentation of the survey, please click here.

Central County Major Investment Study- I attended a meeting of the Central County Major Investment Study (MIS) group. The MIS is in the second phase of the study which is reviewing various long-range alternatives for future roads and mass transit investment options in central Orange County. The intent of the MIS is to improve mobility, lower delay times, and lessen congestion through the central corridor of the County. Click here to see a map of the study area.

PM10 Attainment Re-designation Request- The South Cost Air Quality Management District (AQMD) Mobile Source Committee received an update on the re-designation request prepared for the United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The re-designation request is for the South Coast basin and Coachella Valley for PM10 (dust sized particles in the air) attainment compliance. Achieving satisfactory air quality conditions in any category should be a reason for celebration. However, due to the placement of a USEPA sensor on a dirt parking lot near a dirt road on a Native American reservation near Indio, the local office of USEPA rejected the re-designation request. AQMD intends to appeal this decision. To view the staff presentation, please click here.

2009 Electric Mini Cooper (Mini-E) Demonstration Car - I received one of five AQMD Electric Mini Cooper (Mini-E) demonstration cars, which I will test drive for the next several weeks. The five cars allocated to AQMD are part of a nation-wide demonstration fleet of 500 Mini-Es that will test how they perform under actual city driving conditions. These special Mini-Es have had the normal internal combustion engine replaced by a 200hp electric motor which recharges from a 220 volt/ 40 amp garage charger. For pictures of the E-Mini, please click here.

Irvine Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center- Orange County Waste and Recycling will temporarily close the Irvine Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center for rehabilitation and repaving of the facility from August 2 to September 15, 2009. Due to permit restrictions, the center cannot remain open during construction. However, the County’s four other regional household hazardous waste collection centers will be open to receive hazardous waste. For the location of the other County household hazardous waste collection centers, please click here.

I requested that the July 21, 2009, Board meeting be adjourned in the memory of Kenneth Stewart Morgan. Kenneth was a resident of Orange who worked 28 ½ years for the County of Orange. Please keep Ken and his family in your prayers. Click here to read my adjournment.

I met with Tom Epperson to discuss a privately funded equine and animal care facility.

I met with Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) president Doug Reinhart, and general manager Paul Jones to discuss the impact of the California State Budget on IRWD.

I met with Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens to discuss issues facing the Sheriff’s Department and the County.

Mary and I attended the Orange County Fair where we had the opportunity to view the 3-D movie “Al’s Brain”. We also attended the Pacific Symphony performance of Disney Music. For more information on Al’s Brain, click here. For pictures from our visit to the Fair, click here.

I attended the grand opening of the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center located adjacent to Irvine Regional Park. The 210-acre facility is operated by the Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America, and it includes: an astronomy camp, mining camp, ranch camp, ropes course, aquatic center, BB Gun and archers range, miles of hiking trails, and lodging bunkhouses for up to 288 participants. For the website, please click here. For pictures from the event, please click here. To read a copy of the Resolution, please click here.

I attended the grand opening of Bella’s Kitchen Too! located within Building 12 in the Civic Center Plaza. Bella’s Kitchen Too! is open from 7 am to 5 pm daily. For pictures from the grand opening, click here.

I hosted a baby shower for Louis Bronstein of my staff. Lou and his wife, Carin, are expecting their first child in August.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

America’s Night Out Against Crime- The City of Tustin and the Tustin Police Department are hosting their Night Out Against Crime on August 4th from 6 pm to 9 pm. The event will take place at the District at Tustin Legacy. 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. Congratulations to all the graduates of Leadership Academy Class XI. Click here for a picture of the most recent graduating class.

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

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