Board Assignments- The Board approved the 2010 Commission/Committee assignments for each Board member. For a list of this year’s assignments, click here.

OC Planning Audit Recommendations Update- 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. The Board also approved an allocation of $150,000 to consolidate all permit services to the first floor at 300 North Flower Street including OC Planning, OC Engineering Geomatics, Right-of-Way Engineering, County Property Permits, County Surveyor, Special Services cashier, and OC Waste and Recycling cashiering services. In response to customer demand, a representative from the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) will now be available at the public counter every other Thursday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Co-locating these services to an integrated public counter will enhance the availability of staff to provide timely customer service and discontinue the need for customers to navigate different floors of the building for assistance. For a copy of the January OC Planning Performance Audit Progress Report, click here.

CNG Fueling Station Prices- The County approved Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel prices for sale to the public and County departments at the County’s CNG station located at 2023 W. Collins Avenue in Orange. This station will serve both the public and the County on a 24-hour, 7-day per week basis. Using the industry standard CNG Price Calculator, the Board approved a price of $2.13 per gasoline gallon equivalent for CNG fuel dispensed to the public. OC Public Works will monitor the CNG fueling station expenses and revenue; review and calculate the prices for CNG fuel; and adjust prices based on fluctuations in related costs. OC Public Works expects to finalize an opening date in the upcoming weeks.

MOU with Rancho Santiago Community College District- The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the provision of Veterans Services with the Rancho Santiago Community College District. The Health Care Agency will work with the Community College District to implement a Veterans’ Student Center, where veterans who are students can connect with each other, participate in informative workshops and academic support, and be referred to on-campus and off-campus resources. This program will complement Santa Ana College’s current Veterans Affairs Office which provides veterans with the help they need to access G.I. benefits, but is unable to provide additional counseling or support services.

Traffic Committee Recommendations- The Board approved the Orange County Traffic Committee Report recommendations to maintain a 40 mph "Radar Enforced" speed limit on Red Hill Avenue between Irvine Boulevard and La Colina Drive, and to maintain a 35 mph "Radar Enforced" speed limit on Red Hill Avenue, between La Colina Drive and La Loma Drive.

Local Emergency Proclamation- The Board approved a Proclamation of a Local Emergency in connection with the damage caused by the recent winter storms. To read the Proclamation, please click here.

Today, Supervisor Norby will be sworn-in for the 72nd Assembly District. I attended a going away reception for former Supervisor and newly elected Assemblyman, Chris Norby. On behalf of the Transportation Corridor Agencies, I presented Chris with a memento thanking him for his service on the TCA’s. For pictures from the County’s reception, click here.

Chairman’s Goals- At this week’s OCTA Board meeting, Chairman Jerry Amante outlined his goals for OCTA in 2010. Chairman Amante’s 2010 goals include: growing workplace excellence and efficiency; transitioning seamlessly from Measure M1 to Measure M2; stabilizing bus operations; enhancing rail services and safety; completing the Central County Major Investment Study; securing Orange County’s fair share of funding from the State and the federal government; enhancing customer experience; and implementing and exploring HOV/HOT lane improvements. To read all of Chairman Amante's 2010 goals, click here. In addition to Chairman Amante outlining his goals for the next year, OCTA’s Chief Executive Officer, Will Kempton, also outlined his 2010 goals for the Authority. To read the CEO’s 2010 goals, click here.

OCTA Committee Assignments- The OCTA Board of Directors approved the 2010 committee assignments. I was reappointed Chairman of the Finance and Administration Committee and Vice Chairman of the Transportation 2020 Committee. I will also continue to serve on the Executive Committee, the ARTIC Ad Hoc Committee, the State Route 91 Advisory Committee, the Riverside Orange Corridor Authority, the Central County Major Investment Study Committee and the Security Working Group. To view all of OCTA’s 2010 Committee Assignments, click here.

Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Project Funding- The OCTA Board of Directors approved a request from the City of Brea to modify the scope of the City’s Rails to Trails Phase 1 Project which was to be funded by OCTA Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds. Phase 1 of the project originally included creating a pedestrian and bicycle trail between State College Blvd. and Kraemer Blvd within the City’s limits. The City had difficulty acquiring the right-of-way required for that segment. As a result, the City of Brea approached OCTA with moving the funding from the State College-Kramer segment of the trail to a new segment along the same trail. The newly funded segment will be along the Brea Creek Channel from the Union Pacific rail line to Arovista Park. Transferring the TDA funds to this trail segment will allow for the construction of a new trail segment while the City continues to work on the State College-Kramer segment.

Pedestrian Walkway at the Tustin Metrolink Station- OCTA awarded a construction contract to Pointer Enterprises, Inc. for the construction of a pedestrian walkway at the Tustin Metrolink Station. The new pedestrian walkway will provide riders, who wish to access the station from the east, access from Dow Avenue along a pathway directly to the Tustin station. Currently, there is no public access for riders approaching the station from the east. To view a map of the new pathway, click here.

Metrolink Ridership- During the first quarter of FY 2009-10, Metrolink ridership decreased. Weekday ridership on the Orange County lines decreased 13.1 % compared to the first quarter of last year. Ridership was also down 11.0 % on the OC Line, 14.4% on the 91 Line, and 23.4% on the Inland Empire/OC line. Weekend ridership increased 14.9% compared to the same period last year.

ROCA Update- At the Riverside Orange County Authority (ROCA) meeting last Friday, the Board received a presentation on the study completed evaluating the feasibility of a tunnel between Orange and Riverside counties beneath the Cleveland National Forest. The study found that a transportation tunnel between the two counties is technically feasible although greater study of the area’s water resources, the tunnel’s ventilation system, construction methods, and traffic and revenues would need to be completed before design and construction could begin. The ROCA Board of Directors was also informed that the preliminary cost estimate of the transportation tunnel was estimated at $8.6 billion! After receiving the feasibility report and the cost estimate, the ROCA Board directed staff to perform an analysis of what tolls would be needed to support a tunnel cost of $8.6 billion, and authorized staff to explore the possibility of using public/private partnerships for the project. To view the presentation given to the ROCA Board on the feasibility study, click here.

ROCA Elections- At its meeting last week, the ROCA Board also elected a new Chairman and Vice Chairman. Riverside County Transportation Commissioner (RCTC) and City of Corona Mayor Pro Tem Karen Spiegel was elected Chairman. OCTA Director and City of Orange Mayor Carolyn Caveeche was elected Vice Chairman.

I adjourned this week’s Board meeting in the memory of Pat Markley, a resident of Irvine who passed away on January 14, 2010. Pat was an employee of the County for 25 years. To read my adjournment for Pat, please click here. I also adjourned this week’s meeting in the memory of Glen Bell, founder of Taco Bell, who passed away on January 16, 2010. To read my adjournment for Glen, please click here. Please keep Pat, Glen, and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

I moderated a panel discussion for the Golden West Chapter of the World President’s Organization reflecting on the first year of President Obama’s term. The panel included Professor Fred Smoller of Brandman University, Anaheim Mayor and former California Assembly Speaker Curt Pringle, Tom Flanigan President of Thomas E. Flanigan, Inc., the former Chief Investment Officer of the CalSTRS, the Orange County Employees Retirement System.

I attended the Central County Major Investment Study Policy Advisory Committee meeting.

I met with Erik Holmes, government/public safety editor for the Orange County Local News Network. For more information, click here.

I met with Wanda Shaffer from the League of Women Voters to discuss the County’s TINCUP ordinance.

I met with Orange County Treasurer Tax-Collector Chriss Street and received an update on the County’s investment pool and revenues.

I met with Internal Audit Director Peter Hughes and received an update on the Department’s ongoing County audits.

I met with Steve Connolly, Director of the Office of Independent Review to discuss the monthly report and activities of the office.

I attended the open house for the 2010 U.S. Census office which is located at 18 Goodyear, Irvine. I learned that the office location is designated as "Newport Beach" because each Census office assumes the same location as its local U.S. Representative’s district office. For pictures, click here. For more information about the 2010 Census, click here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

OPA Annual Meeting- The Orange Park Acres Association will host its annual meeting at the Villa Park Fire Station on Saturday, January 30, beginning at 8 am. The Villa Park Fire Station is located at 5020 Santiago Canyon Road in Orange.

I would like to congratulate the Orange County Public Works Department for receiving the Orange County Engineering Council’s "Engineering Project Achievement Award" for 2009. The Seismic Retrofit and Barrier Wall Replacement Project on Santiago Canyon Road will be recognized at the annual awards banquet on February 20th. For information on the event, please click here.

Great Skate at the Great Park- On Saturday, January 30 from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, the Great Park will house a temporary ice rink on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through February 28th with free ice skating for the entire community. Even the skates are provided at no charge. Along with ice staking, on January 30th, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, the Great Park will kick off the Great Skate with the Great Park Snow Day. For more event information, including ice skating hours, call (866) 829-3829 or click here. For more information on the Great Skate, 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.