Open Space Donation- The Board approved a Letter of Understanding to the Irvine Company and The Nature Conservancy identifying the County’s intentions regarding the transfer of approximately 20,000 acres of permanent open space from the Irvine Company to the County. The lands range from Gypsum Canyon on the north to Laguna Laurel and are some of the most pristine and beautiful natural areas in all of Orange County. Included in the 20,000 acres is the "Sinks" area of Limestone Canyon which you can view by clicking here and Fremont Canyon which you can view by clicking here. As the approval of the Letter of Understanding is the initial step in the potential land transfer process, the Board directed that a standing agenda item be placed on OC Parks Commission agendas to receive a monthly status report on the project and to allow for public input. I asked staff to return to the Board by March 31, 2010 with transaction documents and final agreements for the Board’s consideration. For more details on the proposed open space transfer, click here. For a copy of the Letter of Understanding, click here. For a map of the proposed new County open space lands, click here.

Orange County Financing Initiative for Renewable and Solar Technology Program- The Board approved the issuance of Request for Proposals (RFP) for the selection of an administrator for the Financing Initiative for Renewable and Solar Technology (FIRST) Program. The FIRST Program will provide a financing structure for property owners to install solar and other energy efficiency systems for both residential and commercial properties. The system will be paid through a 20 year assessment on the owner’s property tax bill. The Program Administrator will be responsible for all aspects of operating the program including bond financing, marketing, and management. The County will release the RFP for the FIRST Program on October 8, 2009.

Update on State Budget Impacts to the County- The Board received an update from County Budget Director Frank Kim on the State budget impacts to the County and the revised budget reduction plan by the Sheriff-Coroner. The allocation of State funding reductions to the County of Orange is estimated at $95.5 million, which includes $63 million in suspended Proposition 1A funds. To view a summary of the budge impacts, please click here. To view the staff presentation, please click here.

Grove Oak Drive Storm Drain- The Board approved the plans for the Grove Oak Drive Storm Drain Improvement Project. The project will extend the existing storm drain along Grove Oak Drive from the intersection of Grove Oak Drive and Calm Hill Circle to approximately 180 feet going west. The work to be done includes installation of 200 linear feet of 18" Reinforced Concrete Pipe; removal and replacement of asphalt concrete pavement; and construction of curb and gutter, inlet, and junction structure. Construction of this project will eliminate flooding on streets and adjacent private properties and improve public safety. For a project location map, click here.

OC Planning Performance Report- The Board received the monthly status report from OC Planning on the implementation of the Performance Audit recommendations for Planning and Development Services. This monthly report provides the Board and the public with information on the comprehensive actions being taken for making improvements to staff development, customer service, business processes, information systems, management, and operations in the County’s Planning Department. For a copy of the status report, click here.

CalOptima Board of Directors Appointments- The Board appointed Dr. Margarita Pereyda as the health care provider member and Dr. Chung Bui as the physician member on the CalOptima Board of Directors, effective on September 30, 2009.

Washington, D.C. Update- The Board received a presentation from the County’s Washington, D.C. lobbyist Jim McConnell. For a copy of the presentation, please click here.

Imperial Highway Grade Separation Project- This week, OCTA and Caltrans announced that the Imperial Highway Grade Separation Project, which was originally scheduled to be completed in late 2010, will be completed ahead of schedule and will fully open by the end of November 2009. The project was to build an overpass at the intersection of Imperial Highway and the BNSF railroad, south of Esperanza and Orangethorpe. When construction began, Caltrans informed OCTA that construction would last three years. At that time, I requested that OCTA and Caltrans staff work together to determine if the construction time could be reduced. Through their efforts a year’s time has been saved and commuters traveling Imperial Highway will now be able to enjoy the new grade separation much earlier.

Public Transit Fund Lawsuit- In 2007, the California Legislature took over $1 billion from public transportation funding to balance its 2007-08 State Budget. This left all transit agencies throughout the state with less transit funding to support their public transit systems. As a result, the California Transit Association (CTA) filed a lawsuit against the State alleging that the Legislature’s action was unconstitutional. CTA argued that the voters had approved the creation of the Public Transportation Account as a trust fund and through their action had required that PTA revenues be spent only on public transit. This past June, the Appellate Court ruled that the Legislature’s action was unconstitutional. The State appealed the court’s ruling; however, this week, the California Supreme Court declined to hear their appeal. This means that the Appellate Court’s ruling is final and the Legislature's act was unconstitutional. The court, however, did not clarify whether the Legislature must repay the funding or must simply refrain from seizing the funding in the future.

OCTA Website Redesign- During the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors meeting, staff unveiled the Authority’s newly redesigned website. The website was improved to provide better navigation and online tools to make finding information easier. The new format features a "Quick Links" menu to improve access to website content, a more user-friendly main menu to direct visitors to the topic of their interest, and shortcuts to bus route update, bus pass purchase, and trip planning applications. To view OCTA’s redesigned website, click here. To view a video tutorial on the new site’s features, click here.

Metrolink Station Security- The Board voted unanimously to enter into cooperative agreements with the Cities of Fullerton, Santa Ana and Tustin for the installation of video surveillance systems at each city’s Metrolink station. The installation of video surveillance systems at these stations will allow for increased security monitoring and will aid law enforcement in protecting commuters at these stations. The cooperative agreements define the roles and responsibilities of OCTA and the cities with respect to the design, installation and operation of these systems.

Safe Driving Record- Congratulations to OCTA Coach Operator Philip Rosin for serving the citizens of Orange County for the past 30 years with no traffic accidents.

This week, Supervisor Moorlach adjourned in the memory of Villa Park resident and long-time County employee Bert Scott. Please keep Bert and his family in your thoughts and prayers. For a copy of Supervisor Moorlach’s adjournment, please click here.

The California State Association of Counties recently announced the winners of its 2009 Challenge Awards. The CSAC Challenge Awardsrecognize the innovative and creative spirit of California county governments as they find new and effective ways of providing programs and services to their citizens. The Santa Ana River Trail and Parkway Partnership won a Merit Award for its innovative and collaborative approach to build and manage the trail. Created as a regional partnership to oversee the completion of the crest-to-coast trail, the Santa Ana River Trail and Parkway Partnership is comprised of the counties of Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino, the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority, the nonprofit Wildlands Conservancy and 14 cities located along the Santa Ana River.

Mary and I attended the Families Forward gala in commemoration of the organization’s 25th anniversary. I had the honor of being recognized on behalf of the County for the efforts to support Families Forward. Since 1998, Families Forward, which was formerly known as Irvine Temporary Housing, has been awarded approximately $1.4 million under the SuperNOFA Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Application process. This year, the Board of Supervisors awarded Families Forward a three-year grant of $170,871 for General Financial Assistance for the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing HUD Stimulus Funds. For more information on the 2009 honorees and the event sponsors, click here. For pictures, click here.

I met with Glenn Roquemore, Al Tello, and Keith Shacklefore of Irvine Valley College to discuss the college’s proposed athletic stadium.

I met with Sheriff Hutchens to discuss issues related to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

At Wednesday’s Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency Operations and Finance Committee meeting, the Committee recognized 86 year old Joe Morreale, a longtime TCA toll attendant, on his retirement from the Agency. Joe was recently featured on KCAL and CBS for his service to TCA. To view the news clip, click here. To view a picture, click here.

I attended a retirement luncheon for OC Public Works Operations and Maintenance Division Manager Bill Hisey. Thank you for your 19 years of service and congratulations on your retirement. For a copy of the Board’s Resolution, click here. For pictures, click here.

I attended the 2009 Orange County Catholic Prayer Breakfast. The keynote speaker was author and lecturer Matthew Kelly. Matthew is the director of the Matthew Kelly Foundation, which seeks to affirm the highest values of the human spirit, reminding people of their unrealized potential, and inspiring them to become the best they can be. For pictures, click here. For more about the Matthew Kelly Foundation, please click here.

I met with UCI Medical Center CEO Terry Belmont and University Physicians and Surgeons CEO Dr. John Heydt to discuss activities at the Medical Center.

I attended the Yorba Linda City Council meeting to introduce OCTA’s new CEO Will Kempton to the Council. For pictures, click here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Silverado Country Fair & Arts Festival- The thirty-seventh annual Silverado Country Fair will be held on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, from 10 am to 5 pm. The fair begins at the Silverado Volunteer Fire Station on Saturday at 9 am and will progress to the Silverado Community Center. On Saturday night from 5 pm to 9 pm, the fair includes a Music Fest Live Rock and Roll Blues band. For more information, please click here.

Tustin Tiller Days- Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 3 to 5, marks the fifty-second annual Tustin Tiller Days carnival at Columbus Tustin Park. For times and ticket information, please click here. For information on the pancake breakfast on October 3, please click here.

Villa Park Annual Pancake Breakfast- On Sunday, October 4, the Villa Park Firefighters' Association will host its forty-seventh annual Pancake Breakfast from 7 am to noon at Station 23. For more information, please click here.

OCFA Annual Open House- The Orange County Fire Authority will host its fourth annual open house on Saturday, October 3, from 9 am to 2 pm at the Fire Authority headquarters. For more information, please click here.

Archival Workshop- On Saturday, October 3, from 9 am to 2:30 pm, the Orange County Historical Commission, OC Parks, and the Old Courthouse Museum Society are hosting a light impression archival workshop for the public to learn about preservation and care of historical materials. For more information, please click here.

Hoag Hospital Community Forum- Earlier this year, Hoag assumed a long-term lease for the hospital facility formerly known as Irvine Regional Hospital and Medical Center in Irvine. The facility will be an extension of Hoag’s services in Newport Beach and its seven Hoag Health Centers located throughout Orange County. On Wednesday, October 7 at 7pm, Hoag Hospital Irvine is hosting a community forum to share a preview of the state-of-the-art renovations that are currently underway and discuss future health care offerings of the hospital, which is slated to open in 2010. For more information, 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.