There was no regular Board meeting this week. The next Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 27th at 9:30 am.

During the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Board of Directors meeting, I recognized an 11 year old Yorba Linda resident who saved the life of her baby sister by calling 911. The 911 heroes program recognizes lifesaving children from throughout the OCFA service area. For pictures, please click here.

Mid-Year Financial Report- Orange County Fire Authority Assistant Chief Lori Zeller presented the Mid-Year Financial Report and the Authority’s proposed fiscal health action plan. The Board of Directors voted to postpone various new staffing requirements to address the economic climate and plan for less growth than budgeted in property taxes. To view a copy of the presentation, please click here.

I attended a special briefing at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Prado Dam office for Lieutenant General Robert Van Antwerp, Chief of Engineers and Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I was joined by Congressman Ken Calvert, Orange County Water District Director Denis Bilodeau, Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority general manager Celeste Cantu, U.S. Army Corps South Pacific Division Commander Colonel Janice Lembke Dombi, and U.S. Army Corps Los Angeles District Commander Colonel Thomas Magness. Representatives from the Orange County Flood Control District, Orange County Sanitation District, Riverside County Flood Control, San Bernardino Public Works and the Jurupa Water District were also present. We discussed the Santa Ana Mainstem Project with Lieutenant General Van Antwerp along with a number of other issues. Later on we joined the Lieutenant General for a tour of the Prado Dam site. For pictures, click here. For more information on Lieutenant General Van Antwerp, click here.

I presented a certificate commending the region’s participation in the Donate Life California organ and tissue registry at the Placentia Regional Office of the California Department of Motor Vehicles. As of January 9, 2009, the registry contains the names of 4,214,773 Californians who have committed to the program. The red dot placed on the driver’s licenses has the ability to save the lives of eight people through organ donation and up to 50 people through tissue donation. For more information, please click here.

I met with John Wayne Airport Director Alan Murphy to discuss the upcoming capital improvement program and the financing strategy necessary to fund construction at the airport. The two phases are expected to be completed over the course of the next seven years. For pictures from a recent staff tour of the airport, please click here.

I attended a discussion at the Orange County Business Council (OCBC) about the current economic downturn and the proposed federal stimulus package. Business, labor and political leaders from both parties made suggestions on how Orange County could best secure an equitable amount of funding for projects that will help Orange County’s economy. To review OCBC’s Economic Vitality and Business Prospects for 2009, please click here.

I met with Tom Davidson of the Orange Park Acres Association to discuss issues of importance in the Orange Park Acers community.

I met with Mitch Brown and Tony Ferrero from Kisco Senior Living to discuss a proposed senior living facility in North Tustin.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

2009 Point-In-Time Count and Survey of the Homeless- In the early morning of January 24th, 2009, OC Community Services and its partners, Applied Survey Research (ASR), OC Partnership, and the Orange County Healthcare Agency, will be conducting the third biennial countywide homeless population count and survey. In order to ensure that Orange County continues to receive important Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding for homeless shelters and supportive services, a count of the homeless is required. The count brings together non-profits, County and local government, the faith based community, service clubs, and hundreds of individual volunteers from every region to help maintain eligibility for approximately $11 million in annual federal homeless assistance funding. This colossal task can only be accomplished through the efforts of dedicated volunteers. Interested individuals are encouraged to donate their time or resources needed to assist the County and its partners with the Point in Time Count. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, please click here or you may also contact Kelly Lupro, the County Homeless Coordinator, at 714-480-2744.

State of the Santa Ana River Watershed Conference- I would invite you to join me at the State of the Santa Ana River Watershed conference on Thursday, January 29, from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at the Ontario Convention Center. The goal of this conference is to bring stakeholders together to discuss regional solutions to water supply and water quality issues facing residents, industries and the environment in the watershed. For more information and to register, click here.

Brea Budget Workshop- The City of Brea will hostan interactivebudget workshop this Saturday, January 24 at the Brea Community Center beginning at 8:00 a.m. This session will be both educational and interactive. The goal is to create a transparent process for citizens to explain both obligations as well as restrictions for limited city resources. Fore more information, click here.

Chili Cook-Off in Tustin- From noon to 3 pm o Saturday, January 24th, Aldersgate Church will celebrate it 50th Anniversary Chili Cook-Off. For more information, please call (714) 544-3653.

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

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