September 19, 2013 |
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Volume 1 Issue 36 |
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County Approves Vicious Dog Ordinance and Website First Reading |
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(SANTA ANA, CA) The Board of Supervisors, at its Sept. 17 meeting, passed the first reading of an ordinance modifying the definitions of a vicious or potentially dangerous dog. The ordinance also allows the Director of OC Animal Care to establish a website, accessible to the public, listing the address and photo of each dog that has been declared vicious or potentially dangerous.
The ordinance proposes the following definitions:
“A ‘potentially dangerous’ dog is defined as: (1) Any dog without provocation that, on (2) two separate occasions within a 36-month period, engages in any behavior that requires a defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury to any human, domestic animal, horse or livestock, whether the person taking the defensive action and the dog are on off the property of the owner or custodian of the dog.
(2) Any dog which, without provocation, bites a person causing any injury less severe than a “severe” injury.” For the purposes of this section, severe injury means any physical injury to a human being that results in muscle tears, disfiguring lacerations, multiple bite wounds, or one of more broken or fractured bones, or with respect to which the victim receives multiple injuries or staples or corrective or cosmetic surgery.
(3) Any dog which, without provocation, has killed, seriously, bitten, or, in an aggressive manner, inflicted injury to, a domestic animal, horse or livestock.
(b) A ‘vicious dog’ means any of the following:
(1) Any dog that is used primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or is training for fighting.
(2) Any dog which, without provocation, kills a human being, bites a human being inflicting severe injury or in an aggressive manner, otherwise inflicts injury to a human being, whether the person and the dog are on or off the property of the owner or custodian of the dog.”
The animal control director is currently authorized to have a dog destroyed under certain circumstances. Both Board Chairman Nelson and Supervisor Spitzer are adamant that such classified dogs be removed from the community.
Spitzer suggested amending the proposed ordinance so that those dogs deemed potentially dangerous or vicious should be presumptively destroyed, thereby requiring the owner and the director to have to justify, with specific evidence and findings, why the animal should not be put down and what action plan would be implemented to protect the public in the future.
Currently, many of the dogs impounded for being vicious or potentially dangerous are returned to their owners. Spitzer suggested the default for the County should be that dangerous dogs are killed, with the OC Animal Care Director having to justify giving the dog back to its owner.
“If a dog breaks bones or disfigures someone so badly they require surgery, I don’t want that dog anywhere in the County,” Spitzer said. “I think there needs to be a presumption that if a dog meets the definition of vicious or dangerous, that animal will be destroyed unless findings otherwise are made.”
In addition to vicious or potentially destructive dogs being listed on the website run by OC Animal Care, dog owners are required to take measures, including limiting the dog’s access to children and physically restraining the dog on and off the owner’s property.
“I don’t understand why anyone would want to have a vicious dog,” Spitzer said. “But assuming they do, the public has a right to know that they have it.”
Violations of the ordinance could result in a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
A second reading for final adoption of the ordinance is scheduled to be considered at the Board meeting on Oct. 1. |
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County to Use Falcons to Mitigate Gulls at Landfills |
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(SANTA ANA, CA) The Board of Supervisors, at its Sept. 17 meeting, approved a contract with three falconry companies to provide bird abatement at Olinda Alpha Landfill in Brea, Prima Deshecha Landfill in San Juan Capistrano and Frank R. Bowerman Landfill in Irvine.
The California Code of Regulations requires that a landfill operator take adequate steps to minimize bird problems at the landfill. The use of falconry involves releasing one falcon or hawk at a time to fly and disperse the pest birds. As long as the raptor's presence is maintained, the problem is largely solved.
“Our landfills attract nuisances including birds and seagulls in particular,” Supervisor Todd Spitzer said. “They infiltrate the landfills and get into the waste and then fly around and spread things, creating serious issues.”
Other bird abatement measures used in the past included the use of cracker shell and whistler shell pyrotechnics, strobe lights, gull in distress calls, and radio controlled airplanes. Although some measures worked in the short-term, the problem remained.
Spitzer had concerns about the cost of the services and asked OC Waste and Recycling to closely monitor the process and evaluate its efficiency.
“Falconry is really an old science that is being brought back,” Spitzer said. “I understand the need, but it is expensive. We need to monitor its effectiveness closely.”
Spitzer is working with OC Waste & Recycling to invite the public to witness and observe how falcons are used to mitigate pest birds.
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Community Resources Accepts Funding for Veterans’ Employment-Related Assistance Program |
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(SANTA ANA, CA) The Board of Supervisors, at its Sept. 17 meeting, authorized OC Community Resources to receive funds up to $400,000 from the State of California Employment Development Department for Veterans' Employment-Related Assistance Program.
The funding came from a Veteran's Employment-Related Assistance Program grant application to the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD). The grant is funded through June 2015.
The funding will serve veterans discharged from the United States Armed Forces within the past four years, as well as other campaign veterans and veterans with disabilities. Access to training, supportive services, and behavioral-health connections will also be provided.
“Orange County has one of the largest veteran populations in the nation,” Supervisor Todd Spitzer said. “It is exciting to assist veterans in reintegrating into the workforce and in a small way repay them for the service they gave to our country.”
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County Approves Appointment to OCERS Board |
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(SANTA ANA, CA) The Board of Supervisors, at its Sept. 17 meeting, approved the appointment of David Ball to the Board of Retirement for Orange County Employee Retirement System (OCERS). Ball has several years of experience in the private sector, previously working for Wells Fargo, Union Bank and Arnel Development Company. The Board of Supervisors has four appointments to the 10-member board.
Appointments to the Board of Retirement must be independent of County government. For example, Stanton Mayor David Shawver asked for consideration. However County Counsel advised the Board that Stanton contracts for law enforcement with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, thereby making him ineligible.
Ball will replace Reed Royalty, who recently retired from OCERS.
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North Tustin BBQ set for September 22 |
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(NORTH TUSTIN, CA) The “Old-Fashioned Community BBQ,” organized by the Foothill Communities Association, and hosted by The Legacy Foundation, is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22 in Area 2 at Irvine Regional Park.
The event features food, games a Steel Guitar Band and reduced tickets for pony rides and park train rides.
Cost is $5 for adults and $1 for children. Parking will be free, since Supervisor Todd Spitzer arranged to have the normal fee have waived.
“This is a great event for the unincorporated community of North Tustin to come together as a community,” Spitzer said.
For more information, visit http://www.fcahome.org/north-tustin-community-bbq. |
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Sheriff-Coroner to Donate Excess Food Grown at Musick Jail to OC Food Bank |
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(SANTA ANA, CA) The Board of Supervisors, at its Sept. 17 meeting, approved a request by the Sheriff-Coroner to donate excess produce grown by inmates at the James A. Musick Jail Facility in Irvine to the Orange County Food Bank.
Inmates at the jail grow limited amounts of produce to supplement food purchases for inmate meals. These efforts have resulted in harvests that exceed the needs of the inmates.
The current surplus of cantaloupes and watermelons is anticipated to last through October. Instead of throwing the excess produce away, the Orange County Food Bank will pick up the produce and distribute it to families in need.
Supervisor Todd Spitzer was pleased with the request.
“This is a very wise decision by the Sheriff-Coroner,” Spitzer said. “The food that is grown at Musick Jail, which is within the Third District, won’t go to waste and the inmates are helping needy members of the community.” |
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Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch Set to Open Oct. 21 |
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(ORANGE, CA) The Irvine Park Railroad’s Eighth Pumpkin Patch opens Saturday, Sept. 21 and runs through Oct. 31 at the Irvine Park Railroad inside Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road.
The Pumpkin Patch is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. This year’s Pumpkin Patch activities include: Train rides, hay rides, panning for gold, a child-friendly haunted house, a hay maze, a moon bounce, carnival games, cookie decorating, John Deere tractor racers, face painting on the weekends and picture stands.
Parking at Irvine Regional Park is $3 during the week and $5 on weekends. Admission into the Pumpkin Patch is free. Prices for all other activities vary.
For more information, visit http://www.irvineparkrailroad.com/ or call 714-997-3968. |
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Spitzer Appoints Two to Assessment Appeals Board |
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(SANTA ANA, CA) The Board of Supervisors, at its Sept. 17 meeting, approved Supervisor Todd Spitzer’s appointments of Tustin attorney Kevin Rice and Orange resident Danna Campbell to the Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board.
The term for both appointees is three years. Campbell has already served three three-year terms. Rice has been active in his community for more than a decade as an attorney and community volunteer.
“I appreciate the service Mr. Rice and Ms. Campbell are willing to give to the Third District,” Spitzer said. “I believe they will prove to be very capable in their duties.”
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OC Animal Care Pet Adoption |
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Click on the image above to view a PDF version. |
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Pet of the Week |
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Click on the image above to view a PDF version. |
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Events Around The District |
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Anaheim
Family Storytime
6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23
Anaheim Central Library, 500 W. Broadway
http://www2.anaheim.net/images/default/docs/library/Sept_central.pdf
Black Star
Tarantula Trek up Black Star Canyon
6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25
Black Star Canyon Rd.
http://www.naturalist-for-you.org/calendar.htm
Orange
Anime Nights
6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25
Orange Public Library, 407 E. Chapman Ave.
http://www.cityoforange.org/depts/library/teen_services/default.asp
Irvine
California Business and Entrepreneurship Forum
7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25
Kia Motors America Multi-Purpose Room, 111 Peters Canyon Rd.
http://irvinenewsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Don-Wagners-Business-Forum.jpg
Tustin
Time Management for Teens
5-6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24
Tustin Public Library, 345 E. Main St.
http://ocpl.org/libloc/tustin/calendar
Villa Park
Villa Park Women’s League
6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19
Trinity Episcopal Parish, 2400 N. Canal St.
http://www.vpwl.org/Sept-Gen-Mtg.html
Yorba Linda
100th Birthday of Yorba Linda Public Library and Doo Wop Performance by The Alley Cats
6:30-7:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26
Yorba Linda Public Library, 18181 Imperial Hwy.
http://www.ylpl.lib.ca.us/mod.php? mod=calendar&op=show_event&event_id=1473
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