Project Labor Agreement Ordinance- The Board voted 5-0 to support an Ordinance authored by Supervisor Moorlach which would bar the County from entering into a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) on public works projects. PLAs require contractors bidding on public works contracts to enter into agreements that set forth the terms and conditions of working on a construction project to which the employer, construction unions, and contractor are signatories. By essentially requiring the utilization of union labor on public works projects, PLAs reduce the number of contractors willing to bid on public works projects to those who are willing to incur the higher costs of union labor; costs which are ultimately borne by the taxpayers. In 2004, I voted to eliminate a PLA which had been in place at the County since 2000. The Board will consider the second reading and official adoption of Supervisor Moorlach’s Ordinance at the November 3 Board meeting. For a copy of the Ordinance, click here.

Commission on the 21st Century Economy- At Tuesday’s Board meeting, Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle provided the Board with a presentation on the findings and recommendations of the Commission on the 21st Century Economy. Established by Executive Order by Governor Schwarzenegger, the Commission on the 21st Century Economy is a 14 member, bipartisan Commission with seven members (including Mayor Pringle) appointed by the Governor and seven members appointed by the Legislature. The Commission’s charge was to suggest ways to modernize California’s out-of-date revenue laws in order to improve competitiveness and reduce volatility that has led to the State’s feast-or-famine State budget cycles. Beginning in January of 2009, the Commission held a series of 10 public hearings throughout the state, eventually releasing its final report and recommendations on September 29 of this year. For a copy of Mayor Pringle’s presentation, click here. For more information on the Commission on the 21st Century Economy, click here.

Newport Blvd. Pavement Rehabilitation- The Board approved an agreement with Caltrans and authorized the Clerk of the Board to advertise the Newport Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation Project for bids. The Newport Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation Project consists of the removal, reconstruction, and overlay of deteriorated pavement sections on a 1.97 mile portion of Newport Avenue from Wass Street to Hyde Park Drive in the unincorporated area of North Tustin. Rehabilitation of this portion of Newport Avenue will improve the condition of the street and public safety, and will include the installation of ADA compliant curb access ramps. The County will receive funding for this project from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the remainder will be covered by the County Road Fund. For a project location map, click here.

Crossing Guard Services- The Board approved a contract with All City Management Services to provide crossing guard services in unincorporated areas of the county and the City of Villa Park. The agreement with the City of Villa Park is included in the annual law enforcement contract between the County and the City.

Anaheim Adult Literacy Program- The Board approved an agreement between OC Public Libraries and the City of Anaheim in the amount of $10,000 to support the provision of literacy services to Orange County residents at the Anaheim Public Library.

CSAC Awards- The Board received a presentation from Paul Macintosh, California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Director on the 2009 Challenge and Merit Awards. The CSAC Challenge Awards annually spotlight the most innovative programs and services in county government throughout the state. Three Orange County programs were selected to receive awards out of the hundreds of programs submitted. The Sheriff’s Department received a Merit Award for its Tracking Automatic Graffiti Recording System. The Health Care Agency also received a Merit Award for its mobile clinics serving the homeless throughout Orange County. OC Waste and Recycling received a Prestigious Challenge Award for its AB 939 Surcharge Program. For pictures from the Board presentation, click here.

Public Comment- During the Public Comment portion of the Board meeting, former Assistant Sheriff and one-time Acting Sheriff Jack Anderson announced a cost savings proposal to create an independent department to oversee County jail operations, outside of the Sheriff’s Department. To read Jack Anderson’s comments, please click here.

Bus Service Reduction Update- On Monday, the OCTA Board of Directors held a public hearing to accept public comments on the bus service reductions proposed for March 2010. The Board heard from approximately 60 individuals. The majority of the comments requested that OCTA not reduce service in South Orange County, but instead proportionally reduce bus service throughout the system. Other members of the public requested that OCTA not reduce bus service by 300,000 hours, but find additional funding so that the reduction would be less severe. The Board listened to the public’s comments and directed the Finance and Administration (F&A) Committee to evaluate the use of additional funds to reduce the number of hours which need to be eliminated.

On Wednesday, the F&A Committee recommended to the Board of Directors a service reduction plan that eliminates 150,000 annual revenue vehicle hours in March as an alternative to the 300,000 hour reduction proposed. The change is primarily based on an assumption that state transit funding will be restored as a result of the California Transit Association’s successful lawsuit against the state over the diversion of funds. As part of this second proposal, the committee also voted to recommend a service reduction plan of an additional 150,000 hours that would go into effect as early as March 2010, but no later than March 2012, if state funding is not restored. To view the presentation given to the Board, click here.

Go Local Update- The OCTA Board of Directors approved advancement of five City of Irvine and the City of Laguna Woods’ bus/shuttle proposals to Step Two of the Go Local Program. Since cities are most familiar with the travel patterns within their communities, the Go Local Program allows for transit connections to match those patterns. Step One of the Go Local Program provided cities a $100,000 grant to identify and plan for increased transit access to Metrolink. Step Two of the program provides funding for the design and service plans for the proposed transit connections in Step One. For more information on the City of Irvine’s and the City of Laguna Wood’s proposals, click here.

Renewed Measure M Project V Update- When the voters approved Renewed Measure M, they approved Project V. Project V provides funding for community-based transit circulators. This past summer, OCTA invited cities to submit concepts for Project V funding. OCTA also asked cities submitting Project V proposals if they were interested in having their concepts evaluated for Go Local funding. The Authority received an indication that the cities of Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Buena Park, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Woods, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Tustin, Stanton and Westminster were interested in having their bus/shuttle concepts evaluated under both projects. On Monday, the OCTA Board of Directors approved funding for further evaluation of these concepts in Step Two of the Go Local Project.

Third District Staff attended both the UCLA Anderson Forecast of Orange County and the California State University Fullerton Mihaylo College of Business and Economics 2010 Economic Forecast. Both forecasts were cautiously positive in their estimates that the worst of the recession is over, and economic growth will start to return in 2010. However, the estimates differed in how quickly the economy will return to it pre-recessionary levels, and how long some of the effects of the recession, such as high unemployment and reduced real estate prices will continue to impact the region. Nevertheless, both forecasts projected that a more robust economic recovery would be underway sometime in mid-2011.

H1N1 Children’s Clinics- On Saturday, October 31, from 10 am to 2 pm, Nasal spray H1N1 influenza vaccinations are available for healthy children 2 years to 9 years old, and healthy people younger than 49 years old who are care givers for children younger than 6 months of age. Clinics will be held at Irvine Valley College and Santa Ana College. For more information, please click here, or call HCA’s Health Referral Line at 1-800-564-8448.

Health Fair and Flu Clinic in Brea- The Brea Senior Center will be providing free seasonal flu shots along with other health services and screenings at its annual Health Fair & Flu Clinic on Friday, November 6 from 9 am to 1 pm at the Brea Senior Center located at 500 S. Sievers Avenue. Free screenings include cholesterol, blood pressure, hearing, lung function and glucose. Free flu shots provided by St. Jude Medical Center will be available to all adults over age 60 while supplies last. There will be no H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine available. Additionally, various organizations will answer questions and distribute information of interest to seniors and their families. For more information about the Health Fair and Flu Clinic, call (714) 990-7750 or visit here.

Silverado Children Center Halloween Party- Silverado Canyon will host a Halloween party for children on October 31st at the Silverado Community Center from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

Modjeska Canyon Halloween Party- The Modjeska Canyon Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual Halloween party on October 31st. Hot dogs, drinks, candy, along with fun and games will be served. Residents are welcome to bring cookies and join the fun starting at 6:30pm. For more information, please email Labar@cox.net.

Villa Park Halloween Fest- The City of Villa Park is hosting the 8th Annual Halloween Fest on Friday, October 30 from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Villa Park Towne Center. For more information, please click here.

Tustin’s Halloween Howl- On Friday, October 30, from 3 pm to 5 pm, the City of Tustin is hosting its Halloween Howl event. For more information, please click here.

Trick or Treat at Lake View Senior Center- On Friday, October 30, the City of Irvine is hosting Trick or Treat at Lake View Senior Center. The event is for ages 2 to 6. For more information or to register, click here.

Special Treats and Haunted House From Kia- Kia Motors America is hosting a special Halloween open house for the area’s children on October 30 from 2:30to 5:30 pm at their Irvine headquarters located at 111 Peters Canyon Road. Fore more information about the event, click here.

Yorba Linda Annual Pumpkin Party- On Saturday, October 31 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, the Rose Drive Friends Church in Yorba Linda will host its 31st Annual Pumpkin Party. Attractions are geared for ages 3-13. For more information, visit here or call (714) 528-6496.

Mary and I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Halloween this year.

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

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