2008 Accomplishments and 2009 Goals- At the beginning of Tuesday’s Board meeting, each Supervisor reviewed their list of accomplishments from 2008 and talked about some of their goals for 2009. For a copy of my list of 2008 accomplishments and goals for 2009, please click here.

2009 Board Appointments- The Board approved the 2009 list of Board appointments to the various boards, commissions and committees on which the County serves. For the list of this year’s appointments, please click here.

Freeway Complex Fire After Action Report- Orange County Sheriff’s Department Emergency Manager Donna Boston provided the Board with an after action report detailing the County’s response to the Freeway Complex Fire.To view the presentation, please click here.

Foothill High School "Every Fifteen Minutes Program"- The Board approved the use of a Sheriff’s Department transport bus and Department personnel to transport students and chaperones participating in the "Every Fifteen Minutes Program" at Foothill High School. The program highlights the statistic that every 15 minutes someone dies from an alcohol related crash in the United States. Approximately 30 students are selected to participate in a simulated traffic collision which is displayed in front of students in the upper grade levels. Participating students are transported by Deputies to a local mortuary, the Harbor Justice Center, the Tustin Police Department, and the Highway Patrol’s Santa Ana Office.

Hospital Emergency Administrative Radio (HEAR) Equipment- The Board approved a contract with the Hospital Association of Southern California to update outdated radio equipment from the early 1960s to ensure that hospitals throughout the region have the ability to communicate in the event of an emergency.

Alton Parkway Extension- The Board adopted a resolution declaring portions of Alton Parkway within the city of Irvine as a County highway for the purpose of design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction of the Alton Parkway Extension. This action was necessary to enable the County to close a critical roadway gap along Alton Parkway between Irvine Blvd., in the city of Irvine, and Commercentre Drive in the city of Lake Forest.

OC Planning Fee Schedule- The Board approved the revised and updated time-and-materials deposit and fee structure for plan check/permit inspection fees and planning services. The hourly billable rates for ministerial permits will decrease by an average of 3% and the hourly billable rates for discretionary permits will decrease by an average of 6%.

Katella Yard Improvements- The Board approved the award of a contract to The Richardson Group in the amount of $6,830,110 for the construction of improvements necessary for completing the relocation of County operations from the Katella Yard to 2023 West Collins in the city of Orange. The scope of work includes construction and other improvements to the Collins site including offices, a warehouse, a welding shop, vehicle maintenance areas, and a Compressed Natural Gas vehicle fueling facility. The project will also include related utility and street improvements.

OC Animal Care Shelter Pet Adoption Program- Periodically, the Board receives presentations from OC Animal Care staff who show live, ready-to-adopt animals to remind any interested residents about the Shelter’s Pet Adoption Program. This week, staff brought Mandy, a nine month old female domestic short-haired cat. For pictures of Mandy, please click here. For more information about adoptions, please click here.

Santiago Creek Bike Trail- The Board approved an agreement with the City of Orange in the amount of $2,358,000 to provide funding for the completion of the northern portion of the Santiago Creek Bike Trail. Identified on the City’s Bikeways Master Plan, the County's Bikeways Plan and OCTA’s Strategic Bikeways Plan, this portion of the trail is approximately 2.5 miles in length, beginning at Collins Avenue in Orange and running adjacent to Santiago Creek.Once completed, the trail will connect to Santiago Oaks Regional Park where existing trails already link to Irvine and Peters Canyon Regional Parks.

As part of this project, a trail staging area is planned at Cannon Street where the bikeway will connect to a proposed off-road trail. The Board’s approval of this item is in addition to an agreement with the City of Orange to provide County Proposition 1B funding for segments of the City's Santiago Creek Bicycle Trail project in the amount of $4,936,792 which was approved by the Board in March of last year. Funding for this agreement will come from savings identified by OC Parks from another already-budgeted trail project in the Third District.

The City of Orange’s contributions to the project include:

• $1,000,000 towards construction
• All project management responsibility
• Any additional costs needed to ensure the project is completed by the December 31, 2011 deadline

Additionally, once the project is completed, the City will be responsible for all operation and maintenance costs of the segments constructed with Proposition 1B and OC Parks funds. Upon completion, the Santiago Creek Bike Trail will be a tremendous recreational resource for the citizens of Orange County. For a map of the trail segment, click here.

After the Board meeting, I attended the Orange City Council meeting to speak in support of a funding agreement between the City and County for the completion of the Santiago Creek Trail North. I appreciate the Council’s support of the agreement and look forward to the completion of the trail. For pictures, click here.

Economic Stimulus Guiding Principles- On Monday, the OCTA Board of Directors approved guiding principles and project candidates for the Federal and State economic stimulus packages being considered by Congress and the State Legislature. OCTA is proposing and will ask Congress to allocate the transportation funding included in the Federal economic stimulus package on a formula basis, and will seek restrictions on the funding so that the money does not replace existing resources. As widely reported, the stimulus package passed the House on Wednesday afternoon. At the State level, OCTA will seek an acceleration of projects and funding to the local transportation agencies. OCTA’s priorities for funding are the Measure M2 Early Action Plan projects and local projects which are ready to be constructed.

I-405 HOT Lane Study- The Board of Directors voted to study the addition of high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes on the I-405, making this one of four alternatives being studied in the initial stages of the environmental analysis on the I-405 improvement project. This particular alterative would add one HOT lane and one general purpose lane on the I-405 between the SR-55 and the SR-605. The other alternatives being studied include adding one general purpose lane in each direction, adding two general purpose lanes in each direction, and adding no new lanes to the I-405. During the environmental review, staff will look to minimize the community impacts of each alternative.

Tustin Metrolink Parking Structure Update- On Monday, the OCTA Board of Directors approved a cooperative agreement with the City of Tustin for the construction of a parking structure at the Tustin Metrolink Station. The Board also selected Watry Design, Inc. to prepare the final design and planning documents for the structure. The Tustin Metrolink Station currently has 317 parking spaces. Demand for parking has increased significantly at the station, and now more spaces are required. The new structure will increase the total number of spaces available to 825.

Proposition 116 Funding- In 1990, California voters approved Proposition 116, the Clean Air and Transportation Improvement Act of 1990. The act designated $125 million for the construction of a fixed guideway demonstration project in the city of Irvine. The City began development of a fixed guideway project, but decided not to proceed with the project. Because the funds must be committed by January 1, 2010, the City and OCTA have been working to develop a cooperative agreement in order to keep the funds in Orange County. The agreement, which was approved by the Board on Monday, calls for the City and OCTA to work together to have the state transfer the funds to OCTA. OCTA will in turn provide the City with an equivalent amount in other funds to develop non-fixed guideway transportation projects within the City. OCTA will use the Prop. 116 funds to support the Metrolink Expansion Program.

MPAH Amendment- As part of the Great Park development in Irvine, the City has proposed constructing a new east-west roadway between Sand Canyon Avenue and Bake Parkway. The new roadway is being called Marine Way. On Monday, the OCTA Board of Directors voted to add a portion of Marine Way between Alton Parkway and Bake Parkway to the Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH). As part of the addition, a new alignment for Rockfield Blvd. was added to the MPAH as well.

Report on the Public Hearing for the Proposed BRT Service- The Board of Directors received a presentation on the results of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service along Harbor Blvd. Included in the presentation was information on travel time savings and the number of stops along the proposed route. My Board colleagues and I encouraged staff to improve the travel time savings and streamline the route. To view the presentation, click here.

SR-55 Improvement Feasibility Study- The Board of Directors selected Jacobs, Inc. as the top ranked firm to prepare a feasibility study for improvements to the SR-55 freeway between I-5 and the SR-91. The study will identify the range of operational improvements that can be implemented within the project area, and will consider adding new lanes, merging lanes, and other operational improvements within the SR-55 right-of-way.

I-5 Widening Update- On Monday, OCTA issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to retain a consultant team to prepare a project study report and provide project development service for the widening of Interstate 5 from the SR-55 freeway to the El Toro "Y".

Thirty Years of Safe Driving- I would like to congratulate OCTA Coach Operator James Moore on thirty years of safe driving. The OCTA Board honored this individual on Monday for his stellar safety record.

Virgin America Airlines- John Wayne Airport is pleased to announce that Virgin America will begin service from Orange County to San Francisco beginning April 30, 2009. Five daily flights will be offered with one way fares starting at $59 and will offer connections to Seattle, Boston, JFK, and Washington Dulles. The airline offers low-cost tickets, leather seats, power outlets, touch screens at every seat, and will soon offer in-flight internet on every flight.

In the early morning of January 24th, I participated in the third biennial countywide homeless population count and survey. I was pleased to see dedicated staff and volunteers who participated despite the rain conditions to ensure that Orange County continues to receive important Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding for homeless shelters and supportive services. For pictures from the count, please click here.

Last Saturday, I attended the Aldersgate Church chili cook-off in Tustin to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Also in attendance was County Counsel Ben deMayo who served as one of the celebrity judges. For pictures from the event, please click here.

I had the pleasure of being interviewed on TBN’s "Joy in Our Town" television program where I discussed some of the fiscal issues facing the County. For a picture, click here.

I attended the Orange County Fire Authority’s (OCFA) Best and Bravest Awards Ceremony.I provided joint certificates to the brave honorees with Chair Bates who served on OCFA last year. To view a list of the honorees, please click here. For pictures from the event, click here.

I met with Richard and Randall Lewis of Lewis Homes to discuss the County’s Greenspot property. I also met with Ali Sahabi of SE Corporation to discuss the County’s Greenspot Property.

I had the honor of serving in the role as emcee for the State of the Santa Ana River Watershed conference. With over 1,000 people in attendance, the conference brought stakeholders together with the goal of finding regional solutions to the water supply and quality issues facing residents, industries and the environment in the Santa Ana watershed. A representative from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) announced that if we do not receive more rain, all of Southern California may potentially be put on water rationing beginning in the Spring. For pictures, click here. For more information on the conference, click here. For tips on conserving water, click here.

Staff attended the Orange County Animal Community Outreach Committee to provide a certificate of recognition for Sharon Hayhoe, my Third District appointment, for her invaluable four years of service. For pictures, please click here.

Staff presented a certificate at the dedication ceremony for the new softball field at Santiago Canyon College.

I met with a constituent who has concerns about the development and management of the Great Park.

I spoke at the Arts Orange County kick-off event to celebrate the unveiling of their new website. "SparkOC" provides updated information on the arts activities of not–for-profit groups throughout the county. For pictures, click here. To visit sparkoc.com, please click here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

OPA Annual Meeting- The Orange Park Acres Association will host its annual meeting at the Villa Park Fire Station tomorrow, January 31, beginning at 8 am. The Villa Park Fire Station is located at 5020 Santiago Canyon Road in Orange.

Commissioner Poizner Hosts Forum for Freeway Complex Fire Victims- On February 4th, 2009 California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and disaster relief experts will host an insurance recovery forum at the Yorba Linda Community Center at 7:00 pm for victims of the Freeway Complex Fire. To view the invitation flyer, please click here.

Inter-Canyon League Community Meeting- The Inter-Canyon League, in conjunction with the County of Orange, the FireSafe Council and numerous community representatives will host a community meeting on February 10th 2009 at 7:00 pm at Calvary Chapel of the Canyons. The meeting will cover disaster preparation in the Canyons. To view the invitation flyer, please click here.

For the Love of Tustin event- On Thursday, February 5, the Tustin Chamber of Commerce is hosting its "For the Love of Tustin" event from 1 to 7 pm at the Clifton C. Miller Community Center at City Hall. For ticket information, call (714) 544-5341.

Mayor’s Inaugural Dinner- On Thursday, February 5, the Tustin Community Foundation will host the fourth annual Mayor’s inaugural dinner event at 5:30 pm. For ticket information, call (714) 393-8506.

Brea Sports Park Dedication- On Saturday, February 14, beginning at 9:00 am, the City of Brea will hold the Grand Opening and Dedication of its new sports park located at 3333 Birch Street (Birch St.and Valencia Ave.).After the ceremony, attendees will be able to tour the newmulti-sports park, watch sports demonstrations, and enjoy light refreshments. Festivities go from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

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

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