There was no regular Board meeting this week. The next Board meeting is Tuesday, September 15th at 9:30 am.

Caltrans SR 73 Overlay Project:- On August 31, Caltrans began work on an asphalt overlay project on the SR 73. The project includes overlaying both the northbound and the southbound lanes of the SR 73 from the I-5 interchange to Bonita Canyon Road. The project will also include the resurfacing of all SR-73 on and off ramps. As a result of this work, Caltrans will be closing portions of the SR-73 between now and the completion of the project each evening. Detour signs will re-direct traffic around the closed sections. Currently, the project is scheduled for completion in January of 2010. This completion date may change, depending on the temperature sensitivity of the asphalt mixture being used on the project. If evening temperatures become too low, work may be suspended causing the completion date to move to summer 2010.

Tomato Springs Reservoir Replacement Project- On Wednesday, the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA) Finance and Operations Committee received a presentation updating the Committee on the cover replacement of the Tomato Springs Reservoir owned by the Agency. The cover was damaged in the 2007 Santiago Canyon Fire. For the presentation, click here.

F/ETCA Finance and Operations Committee Election of Officers- On Wednesday, the F/ETCA Finance and Operations Committee elected Dana Point City Councilwoman Lisa Bartlett and Supervisor Pat Bates to serve as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee for the upcoming year.

September Meeting- On Wednesday, the Children and Families Commission of Orange County held its monthly meeting. The Commission received outcomes from the Mercy House Redirection Program at the County’s Cold Weather Emergency Shelter. The program served 127 families, including 180 children ages 0-5, 104 children of other ages, 208 adults and 492 total individuals. For the complete summary of outcomes of those individuals and families served, please click here. The Commission also received a presentation from staff on the recent trends in homelessness in Orange County, indicating an increase in the occurrence of families falling into homelessness for the first time. For the presentation, please click here.

H1N1 Update- The Commission received an update from the County’s Public Health Officer, Dr. Eric Handler, on the status of the H1N1 swine flu preparation efforts in Orange County. Since the most at-risk populations are infants under six months and pregnant women, Dr. Handler discussed the County’s partnership with the Commission to reach out to community clinics and private providers to prepare for vaccinations. I asked Dr. Handler to make a presentation to the Board of Supervisors at the September 15th meeting. For more information on H1N1, please click here.

Last Friday, I joined Congressman John Campbell, Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang, Supervisor John Moorlach, and many other Orange County Mayors and City Council members for the grand opening and dedication of Pretend City Children’s Museum. Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant brought his wife, Vanessa, and his two daughters, Natalia and Gianna to enjoy the museum.

Pretend City Children’s Museum is a 28,000 square foot museum located in Irvine that includes a miniature city designed to teach young children about how a community works. The museum includes a grocery store, farm, doctor’s office, art studio, amphitheater, beach, marina, construction site and many other exhibits in which children can learn through role play. To view pictures from the grand opening event, click here.

Over the weekend, Mary and I took our grandson, Diego, to the museum and he had a terrific experience. For information on Pretend City Children’s Museum, click here. For pictures from our family visit, click here.

I met with United States Congressman John Campbell to discuss issues facing Orange County. I traveled to Sacramento to meet with Governor Schwarzenegger’s Cabinet Secretary Victoria Bradshaw and Secretary of Legislation Michael Prosio. I also met with Assembly members Diane Harkey, Jim Silva, Jose Solario, and State Senator Mimi Walters. For pictures, please click here.

I met with Orange County Treasurer Tax-Collector, Chriss Street to discuss the County’s finances and investments.

I met with Steve Connolly, Director of the Orange County Office of Independent Review to discuss issues related to the Sheriff’s Department.

I attended the Orange Park Acres Association meeting with staff from the Orange County Public Works Department to present information on the Handy Creek Bridge Crossing Project. For pictures, click here.

I met with Equestrian Coalition of Orange County President Mark Hegpeth and Orange Park Acres resident Tom Davidson to discuss emergency equine evacuations in the county.

I met with Tustin Unified School District Superintendent Richard Bray and Assistant Superintendent Brock Wagner to review plans for the new Foothill High School pool. Construction for the new Foothill High School Aquatics Center is expected to begin in October. For pictures of the old pool and current site, please click here. For a rendering and layout of the new aquatics center, please click here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

36th Annual Orange International Street Fair- The City of Orange is hosting its annual Orange International Street Fair, a Labor Day tradition in Old Towne Orange for over 35 years. The Orange International Street Fair is organized by over 1,200 volunteers and the event proceeds go to more than 50 organizations dedicated to serving the people of Orange and the surrounding community. This year, the Fair begins on Friday, September 4 at 5 pm and will conclude Sunday, September 6, at 10 pm. For information about the food, music, and fun planned for this year's event, please click here.

Brea Jazz Festival- The Brea Jazz Festival returns on Fridays and Saturdays, September 11 - October 3. Live music begins at 6 pm. For more information, click here.

Tustin Police Department Blood Drive- The Tustin Police Department is partnering with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive on Tuesday, September 8, from 2 pm to 8 pm at the Tustin Community Center. Blood collected from the drive will go to replenish the blood used by the bank to sustain the recovery of Tustin Police Sergeant Havourd. For more information, please click here.

John Wayne Airport Travel Advisory- John Wayne Airport (JWA) anticipates a busier-than-normal travel period from Thursday, September 3 through Tuesday, September 8 during the Labor Day holiday weekend. Passengers and visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and give themselves two hours to find parking, check their luggage and go through the security checkpoint to ensure they are at their gate in time for their flight.

Bay Bridge Span Replacement Project- The San Francisco Bay Bridge was closed at midnight on Thursday and will remain closed until next Tuesday morning. Caltrans and contractors will be replacing a span of the bridge with a prepositioned 7000 ton span. To view this engineering and construction marvel, please click here. To learn more about the project, please click here.

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

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