| October 30, 2014 |
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Volume 2 Issue 42 |
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| Supervisor Spitzer Congratulates Graduates of the OCTA Leadership Development Academy |
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Ken Phipps, Deputy CEO; Al Gorski, Manager, Risk Management; Connie Raya, Manager, Transit; Vicki Austin (back row), Manager, Accounting; Stella Lin (front row), Manager, External Affairs; Director Spitzer, Sean Murdock, Director, Finance; Meena Katakia, Manager, Contracts and Administration; Joe Gallardo, Manager, Right-of-Way; Dayle Withers, Project Manager, Transit Programs; Barry Reynolds, Manager, Information Systems; David Simpson, Principal, Government Relations |
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(Portions courtesy of the Orange County Transportation Authority)
Supervisor and OCTA Director Todd Spitzer presented certificates to honor Orange County Transportation Authority employees who completed the Leadership Development Academy. The Leadership Development Academy is the senior professional development program designed to grow and support the next generation of leaders at OCTA.
Faced with the impending retirement of more than 36% of their transit managers, OCTA embarked on an ambitious succession management and leadership development program in the Transit Division beginning in 2008. Today, the program has expanded to include the entire Authority.
The Leadership Development Academy provides an avenue for employees to prepare for their next step on the leadership ladder by focusing on strengths-based leadership approaches designed to build core strategic competencies defined by senior executives at OCTA.
While speaking with the graduates, Supervisor Spitzer shared his perspective on important leadership lessons he learned while attending the Executive Leadership Seminar at Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.
“Part of being an effective leader is learning to see the big picture and how the issue in front of us is intertwined with outside dynamics,” Supervisor Spitzer shared.
Participants are involved in a number of development experiences designed to increase interpersonal and strategic competencies, such as 360-degree evaluations, development plans, intensive workshops, job shadowing, leadership panels, and presentations. These experiences are supported through a series of workshops, opportunities to hear management and outside speakers, exposure to all facets of OCTA and the time and appropriate settings for reflective thinking, exploring, discussing and discovering new business paradigms. The goal is to move people from the tactical, day-to-day aspects of their job to a more strategic, holistic, OCTA-wide way of thinking. |
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| CalOptima’s Improvements in Place, CMS Lifts Enrollment Freeze |
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Supervisor Spitzer speaks at the CalOptima Information Series |
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(Portions courtesy of CalOptima)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will lift the enrollment freeze on OneCare, effective November 1, 2014. On that date, CalOptima may begin adding new members into OneCare, a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan.
CalOptima has corrected the problems that led to the enrollment freeze. CMS has been closely monitoring CalOptima’s work for the past nine months and will return to validate the improvements in January 2015.
CalOptima will inform OneCare stakeholders and members regarding this positive milestone on our path to serve vulnerable seniors in Orange County with a plan that coordinates Medicare and Medi-Cal benefits. OneCare currently has nearly 15,000 members.
Since May, a Board of Directors Ad Hoc Compliance Committee has been monitoring the improvements on a weekly basis. “The goal is to work together with CalOptima leadership and staff to make the necessary enhancements to our OneCare program,” said Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer, a CalOptima Board member. “Our efforts have been efficient and productive, leading to this encouraging news from CMS that we can reopen our OneCare program. I sincerely appreciate the commitment, patience and confidence of CalOptima staff, providers and the community during this intense time period.” |
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| Join Supervisor Todd Spitzer at the Dinosaur Dash |
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(Portions courtesy of the Yorba Linda Woman's Club)
The 24th Annual Dinosaur Dash will be held Sunday, November 2 at The Market Place in Tustin and Supervisor Todd Spitzer is scheduled to help start the race. The Dinosaur Dash features 5k and 10k timed races for all ages, a 2k non-timed "Fun Run/Walk" and a non-timed 50k/15k bike tour. All 5k, 10k and Bike Tour finishers will receive an exclusive finisher’s medal.
The family event will also include community booths, activities for children, food and music. All proceeds from the race support the Tustin Public Schools Foundation and TUSD schools. To register or for more information, click here. |
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| Public Update on Ebola Preparedness |
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OC Public Health Officer Eric Handler, MD |
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(Portions courtesy of OC County Executive Office)
Supervisor Todd Spitzer requested an update on Ebola preparedness from the OC Health Care Agency during the Board of Supervisors meeting held on Tuesday.
“I’m confident that Orange County is ready to respond to any risk but I want the public to be informed,” Supervisor Spitzer said. He is scheduled to attend Ebola response demonstrations later this week.
Emergency planning is well underway in Orange County in response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak in the West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The risk of contracting Ebola in the United States and in Orange County is very low.
There are currently no cases of Ebola in California, however Public Health Officer Eric Handler, MD shared that two people in Orange County, who are at very low risk, are being monitored. County officials are reviewing communicable disease response plans and conducting drills to exercise those plans.
In the event of a case in Orange County, the county’s emergency operations plan will be used to ensure a coordinated approach to monitor and limit the spread of the disease. The Health Care Agency routinely works closely with hospitals, health care providers, law enforcement and other government entities to ensure that Orange County is well prepared for any public health threat, including Ebola.
Ongoing Ebola readiness activities include:
- Assessing hospitals on infection control and preparedness
- Conducting training exercises, including demonstrating patient care protocols, and appropriate use of Personal Protective Equipment
- Establishing contracts for specialty hazardous-waste needs such as transport of laboratory specimens
- Distributing information to hospitals, clinics, laboratories and health-care providers on CDC screening protocols and management of suspected and confirmed Ebola patients
- Ensuring that county health workers have protective equipment and proper training as recommended by the CDC
Additional information about Ebola is available on the Health Care Agency website and can be viewed by clicking here. The California Department of Public Health has established an Ebola hotline call center to respond to public inquiries related to Ebola at 855-421-5921 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. |
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| Orange County Sheriff’s Department Receives Grant For Special Traffic Enforcement and Crash Prevention |
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 (Portions courtesy of OC Sheriff’s Department)
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has been awarded a $330,620 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program of special enforcements and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic related deaths and injuries. The funding will be used as part of the county’s ongoing commitment to keep our roadways safe and improve the quality of life through both enforcement and education.
After falling dramatically between 2006 and 2010, the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions saw slight increases in 2011 and 2012. Particularly worrisome are recent increases in pedestrian and motorcycle fatalities and the dangers of distracting technologies. This grant funding will provide opportunities to combat these and other devastating problems such as drunk and/or drugged driving and speeding.
Activities that the grant will fund include:
- Educational presentations
- DUI checkpoints
- DUI saturation patrols
- Motorcycle safety enforcement
- Distracted driving enforcement
- Seat belt and child safety seat enforcement
- Speed, red light and stop sign enforcement
- Warrant service operations targeting multiple DUI offenders
- Compilation of DUI “Hot Sheets,” identifying worst-of-the-worst DUI offenders
- Specialized DUI training such as Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE)
- Court “Sting” operations to cite individuals driving from DUI court after ignoring their license suspension or revocation
- Stakeout operations to observe repeat DUI offender probationers with suspended or revoked driver licenses
Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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| County Library Hosts “The Courage to Remember” Traveling Holocaust Exhibit |
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Holocaust Survivor and Irvine Resident Rosalie Wattenberg with Tustin City Councilman Allan Bernstein |
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| The Orange County Public Library and the Tustin City Council hosted a special welcoming of the exhibit, Courage to Remember, which is a traveling exhibit from the Museum of Tolerance. Moving remarks were given by Dr. Marilyn Harran, Director Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education, Chapman University and by Holocaust Survivors.
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Jack Parisher, Hetty Nihom, Tustin Council Member Dr. Allan Bernstein, Rabbi Shuey Eliezrie, Henry Kress and his granddaughter |
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| “The Courage to Remember” traveling Holocaust exhibit, produced by the Museum of Tolerance, the educational arm of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, features 200 exclusive photographs that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world, offering unique insight into the Holocaust. The exhibit is divided into four distinct themes:
Nazi Germany, 1933-1938; Moving Toward the “Final Solution,” 1939-1941; Annihilation in Nazi-occupied Europe, 1941-1945; and Liberation, Building New Lives.
The exhibit can be visited at the Tustin Branch of the Orange County Public Library for more information click here.
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| Court Launches Appeals Webpage |
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(Portions courtesy of the Orange County Superior Court)
The Orange County Superior Court has launched a new webpage that provides information about the appeals process for each type of court case. The process for appealing the decision in a case can be complicated, especially for individuals who do not have attorney representation. The appeals webpage provides a centralized location with information about which court will hear an appeal and what steps are needed to file an appeal.
The webpage includes information and online resources for the following appeals:
- Infraction/traffic, misdemeanor, and limited civil cases, which are heard by the Appellate Division of the Orange County Superior Court;
- Small claims cases, which are heard by a judge of the Orange County Superior Court;
- Administrative appeals cases, such as vicious dog determinations, parking tickets, and civil citations, which are heard by a judge of the Orange County Superior Court; and
- Felony, unlimited civil, probate, mental health, juvenile, and family cases, which are heard by the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three.
For general information about the Orange County Superior Court, click here. For general information about the Fourth District Court of Appeal, click here. |
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| Yorba Linda Woman’s Club 19th Annual Fall Craft Faire |
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(Portions courtesy of the Yorba Linda Woman's Club)
The Yorba Linda Woman's Club is proudly hosting its 19th Annual Fall Craft Faire on November 1 & 2 at the Yorba Linda Community Center (on the corner of Casa Loma & Imperial Hwy).
This fun-filled event is one of the largest in the Orange County area and this year has been increased to accommodate over 170 vendors.
All proceeds benefit the Yorba Linda Woman’s Club's many philanthropies including their College Scholarship Program. This event offers free admission and parking. |
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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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Click on the image above to find your polling place. |
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Anaheim
Family Storytime
Monday, November 3, 7:00 PM
Canyon Hills Branch Library, 400 Scout Trail
Drought Tolerant Plants
Saturday, November 8, 2:00 PM
East Anaheim Branch Library, 8201 Santa Ana Canyon Rd.
Irvine
32nd Annual Holiday Faire
Friday, November 7, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM & Saturday, November 8, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Irvine Fine Arts Center, 14321 Yale Ave.
Certified Farmers Market
November 2, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Orange County Great Park
Orange
Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch
Daily through Friday, October 31, 10:00 AM
Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Rd.
Job Search Intel for the Military Family
Monday, November 3, 6:30 PM
Orange Public Library & History Center, 407 E Chapman Ave.
Tustin
Halloween Howl
Friday, October 31, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Columbus Tustin Activity Center, 17522 Beneta Way
Farmers Market
Wednesday, November 5, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
El Camino Real & 3rd St
Villa Park
Toddler Storytime
Tuesday, November 4, 9:30 AM
Orange County Public Library - Villa Park Branch, 17865 Santiago Blvd.
Yorba Linda
Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Saturday, November 1, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Yorba Linda Public Library, 18181 Imperial Hwy.
Concert at Richard Nixon Library
Chamber Music with Constanze and Friends
Sunday, November 2, 1:30 PM
Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd.
For questions or comments regarding Spitzer’s E-Newsletter
please contact the Supervisor's office staff at: (714) 834-3330 or Melanie.Eustice@ocgov.com
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