| May 1, 2015 |
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Volume 3 Issue 11 |
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| Orange County Crime Victims’ Monument Breaks Ground at Mason Park During Survive and Thrive Run Walk Safety Expo |
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Chairman Todd Spitzer, Vice Chair Lisa Bartlett, Supervisor Andrew Do, Supervisor Michelle Steel, and County Executive Officer Mike Giancola |
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The Orange County Crime Victims’ Monument groundbreaking ceremony was held at William R. Mason Regional Park in Irvine in conjunction with the Survive and Thrive Run Walk organized by Crime Survivors, Inc.
The event commemorated National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and preceded the Crime Survivors, Inc. Survive and Thrive 5K Run/Walk and Health & Safety Expo. Scheduled activities included the monument’s groundbreaking celebration, a dove release and presentations from Chairman Todd Spitzer and special guests, including Supervisors Lisa Bartlett, Andrew Do, and Michelle Steel.
“People truly care about the Orange County Crime Victims’ Monument because it will give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves by providing a reflective place for hope and healing,” Chairman Spitzer said. “The Crime Victims’ Monument honors and memorializes those whose lives have been forever impacted by crime, and we thank the community for joining us in the groundbreaking and tribute in honor of Crime Victims' Rights Week.”
The monument is intended to serve as a space of solitude, reflection, dignity and peace
for crime victims and their loved ones. Crime Survivors, Inc. will oversee project maintenance and outreach, and engineering firm Tait & Associates has generously agreed to volunteer as project and construction managers. |
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Crime Survivors Founder/CEO Patricia Wenskunas, The Joyful Child Founding Director Erin Runnion and crime survivors |
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| “As the project moves into the construction phase, we are still in need of in-kind donations of construction and design services and materials,” Chairman Spitzer said. |
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Tait & Associates Project Manager David Sloan, OC Public Works Director Shane Silsby, Tait & Associates Business Development Director Trevor Tait, OC Parks Director Stacy Blackwood, Vice Chair Lisa Bartlett, Crime Survivors Founder/CEO Patricia Wenskunas, Chairman Todd Spitzer, Supervisor Michelle Steel, Supervisor Andrew Do, County Executive Officer Mike Giancola, and Griffin Holdings CEO Roger Torriero |
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Field Representative Alexandria Walker of Congressman Ed Royce’s Office, Cypress Councilman Paulo Morales, Council Assistant Harold Surh of Irvine Mayor Steven Choi’s Office, Villa Park Mayor Diana Fascenelli, Orange Mayor Pro Tem Fred Whitaker, Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Lisa Bartlett, Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Todd Spitzer, Crime Survivors Founder/CEO Patricia Wenskunas, Irvine Councilwoman Christina Shea’s Staff, Orange County Supervisor Michelle Steel, The Joyful Child Founding Director Erin Runnion, Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do, Senior Deputy District Attorney Mike Murphy, Superior Court Judge Jeff Ferguson, CSP Victim Assistance Programs Director Ronetta Johnson, Irvine Ranch Water District Director John Withers, Staff Assistant Kate Randle of Congresswoman Mimi Walters’s Office, and Tustin Councilman Allan Bernstein |
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| Supervisor Todd Spitzer Receives “Visionary in Victim Services Award” from Community Service Programs at the 11th Annual Victims’ Rights Conference |
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CSP Executive Director Margot R. Carlson, Supervisor Todd Spitzer, and CSP Victim Assistance Programs Director Ronetta Johnson |
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(Portions courtesy of Community Service Programs)
Board of Supervisors Chairman Todd Spitzer was awarded the Visionary in Victim Services Award from nonprofit Community Service Programs’ (CSP) at their 11th Annual Victim’s Rights Conference. CSP holds the conference to honor victim advocates and to offer education to train law enforcement, social workers, therapists, and those who serve victims. The CSP Victims’ Rights Conference took place a week prior to National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (April 19-25, 2015).
Community Service Programs selected Chairman Spitzer to receive the award due to his demonstrated and steadfast commitment to public safety and victims’ rights throughout his career. He has a legislative record of numerous successful efforts that put victims at the forefront; most notably his leadership in the successful 2008 campaign to pass Proposition 9, the nation’s most comprehensive victims’ rights law, Marsy’s Law (California Victims’ Bill of Rights).
In Orange County, Supervisor Spitzer has received numerous recognitions for his work in support of crime victims. One special area of public policy focus has been in working to address the county’s DUI problem. Supervisor Spitzer held a summit involving stakeholders including public health experts, law enforcement and victim service groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to bring public focus and policy recommendations to county and city leaders. He has also been the driving force for the establishment of a Crime Victims’ Monument, which will be constructed at William R. Mason Regional Park in Irvine. The Crime Victims’ Monument will pay tribute to victims of crime and provide a gathering space, which will allow for contemplation, remembrance, and healing for those touched by crime.
Chairman Spitzer is one of Orange County’s leading public safety champions, Chairman of the Orange County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, a former Assistant District Attorney, and a former Los Angeles Reserve Police Officer. |
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| Supervisor Todd Spitzer Supports the Every 15 Minutes Drunk Driving Program at Foothill High School |
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Foothill High School student participants with Supervisor Todd Spitzer
The images in this article are from the Every 15 Minutes enactment. |
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This week, Supervisor Todd Spitzer attended the Every 15 Minutes program at Foothill High School. The Every 15 Minutes program is conducted for teenagers to see and feel the impacts that come from drunk and drug impaired driving. The program emphasizes that every 15 minutes, someone dies from an alcohol or drug related collision.
In 2011 in Orange County, there were 188 juvenile convictions for driving under the influence, and 965 juveniles were charged with misdemeanors.
Supervisor Spitzer spoke about the importance of students and youth in staying sober and about the need for parents to make a deal with their teens, so that they can call for a ride with no questions asked.
For more information regarding the Every 15 Minutes program, click here. |
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| Wagner and Spitzer Discuss Public Safety GPS Proposal, AB 1213, Unanimously Passes Assembly Public Safety Committee |
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Supervisor Todd Spitzer, Assemblyman Donald Wagner, OC Chief Deputy Probation Officer Bryan Prieto, and OC Probation Officers |
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On Friday, April 24, Assemblyman Donald P. Wagner (R-Irvine) and Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Todd Spitzer held a joint press conference to discuss Assembly Bill 1213. Assemblyman Matthew Harper (R-Huntington Beach) also participated in the press conference.
Sponsored by the County of Orange and authored by Assemblyman Wagner, AB 1213 proposes the creation of the California Offender Global Positioning System (GPS) Database so that criminal justice agencies can better scrutinize the location and possible interactions of offenders wearing court-ordered GPS monitoring devices.
Currently, GPS monitoring devices operated by different law enforcement agencies are unable to interact with each other, so offenders wearing GPS monitoring devices from different jurisdictions are able to interact without any law enforcement agency knowing. The database proposed by AB 1213 would enable all California law enforcement agencies to monitor offender GPS units across jurisdictions.
On Tuesday, April 28, AB 1213 unanimously passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee and heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. |
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Supervisor Todd Spitzer holds a GPS tracking bracelet as OC Probation Officers look on |
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| Roundtable Discussion on the Future of Ethics in Orange County |
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California Fair Political Practices Commission Counsel Emelyn Rodriguez presenting |
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| Board of Supervisors Chairman Todd Spitzer hosted an informative roundtable discussion on the future of ethics in Orange County that was moderated by Professor Stephen J. Stambough, Ph.D., who is Chair of Cal State Fullerton’s Division of Politics, Administration & Justice. The meeting was an opportunity for the public to engage in a roundtable discussion. Many views on ethics were discussed by the community, including an ethics commission proposal that was presented by Shirley Grindle. The meeting was held at the Irvine campus of Cal State Fullerton. |
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Deputy Executive Director Los Angeles City Ethics Commission David Tristan, Executive Director Los Angeles City Ethics Commission Heather Holt and Orange County Senior Deputy District Attorney Mark Sacks |
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The following speakers presented information at the event:
- Emelyn Rodriguez, Commission Counsel, California Fair Political Practices Commission
- Ann Fletcher, Senior Assistant County Counsel, Orange County
- Mark Sacks, Senior Deputy District Attorney, Orange County
- Heather Holt, Executive Director, Los Angeles City Ethics Commission
- David Tristan, Deputy Executive Director, Los Angeles City Ethics Commission
After voters approved Measure E in November, Supervisor Spitzer committed to launching a countywide discussion on ethics in Orange County. The Board of Supervisors had voted unanimously to place Measure E on the ballot at the urging of the Board’s Subcommittee on Ethics, which consisted of then-Chairman Shawn Nelson and Supervisor Todd Spitzer. Measure E allows the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) to enforce Orange County’s local campaign finance ordinance (TINCUP) if legislation is passed to allow for the oversight. Orange County voters approved Measure E by a decisive 56.5%-43.5% margin in the November 2014 election.
“The voters are clearly not satisfied with the way campaign finance laws are currently enforced in Orange County,” Supervisor Spitzer said. “There is a mandate for change to the way TINCUP is enforced.”
TINCUP’s campaign contribution limits for County elected officials remain unchanged by Measure E, and no FPPC contract can alter them. The TINCUP campaign contribution limit formula cannot be changed without voter approval via another ballot measure.
Measure E is based on San Bernardino County’s successful pursuit of an FPPC contract. San Bernardino County received legislative authorization in 2012 for an FPPC contract that went into effect in 2013.
Supervisor Spitzer coordinated the ethics forum in an effort to help facilitate the discussion on ethics is leading the County’s examination of all of the comments and proposals presented at the forum. |
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| Orange County Board of Supervisors Approves High-Tech Renewable Energy Project for Santiago Canyon Landfill |
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OC Waste & Recycling Engineering Tech Scott Mach, OC Waste & Recycling Central Region Operations Manager John Tzeng, Ener-Core, Director of Sales Mark Owen, Ener-Core CEO Alain Castro, UCI Advanced Power & Energy Program Associate Director Vince McDonell, Chairman Spitzer, OC Waste & Recycling Director Dylan Wright, and Ener-Core Market Development Manager Mike Leone |
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(Portions courtesy of OC Waste and Recycling)
The Orange County Board of Supervisors approved an academic-government‐business partnership that will convert landfill gas into clean energy at the closed Santiago Canyon Landfill. The partnership of the County, UCI, and Ener-Core will convert landfill gas into clean power.
In addition to the County’s closed landfill, the partnership includes UC Irvine’s Advanced Power & Energy Program (APEP) and Ener‐Core, an Irvine‐based company.
“Creating clean energy power from landfill gas is a smart investment that helps the environment and advances science and engineering,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Todd Spitzer, who has championed renewable energy projects, including the new power plant being built at the County’s Frank R. Bowerman Landfill east of Irvine. “Advancing important technology that helps the environment and potentially generates revenue is the best way for Orange County to do business as a leader in clean energy projects.”
In January 2015, the California Energy Commission awarded a $1.5 million research grant to APEP in partnership with OC Waste & Recycling and equipment manufacturer Ener‐Core. The partnership’s task under the grant is to install and test a 250 kilowatt ultra‐low emissions power plant at the 113‐acre landfill adjacent to Irvine Lake.
As proposed, the power plant will use landfill gas created from solid waste decomposition to produce electricity for site operations, which, in turn, will lower the County’s utility bill. Until now, the landfill gas at Santiago Canyon has been flared because it could not be used to fuel older technologies. |
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A key part of the research work will be to demonstrate whether pollution control and power generation for low‐quality renewable fuel streams can be efficiently attained using advanced technologies.
If the initiative is successful, Irvine‐based Ener‐Core’s thermal oxidizer/micro‐turbine system, a patented, state‐of‐the‐art conversion technology, could be retained for long‐term operation at the landfill. In addition, the system could be used at other landfills and expanded to other California industries, which would provide numerous environmental and economic benefits for communities statewide. |
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| Board of Supervisors Recognize OC Public Works Deputy Director Mary Fitzgerald on Her Retirement |
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Chairman Todd Spitzer, OC Public Works Director Shane Silsby, OC Public Works Deputy Director for Administrative Services Mary Fitzgerald, Vice Chair Lisa Bartlett, Supervisor Michelle Steel, County Executive Officer Mike Giancola, and Chief Operating Officer Mark Denny |
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| The Orange County Board of Supervisors recognized Mary Fitzgerald on her retirement after more than 30 years with the County. Fitzgerald held many leaderships role in her time working for Orange County, including as Deputy Director of OC Public Works for Administrative Services since 2012 where she managed the staff and the operations of six units that included Budget and Finance, Accounting, Information Technology, Business Services, Central Quality Assurance, and Procurement. |
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| 7,500 Korean Books Donated to OC Public Libraries |
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Irvine Mayor Steven Choi and Bongsoo Lee officially donating a Korean book to Board of Supervisors Chairman Todd Spitzer and County Librarian Helen Fried for OC Public Libraries |
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(Portions courtesy of the County of Orange)
The Orange County Board of Supervisors has accepted a generous gift of 7,500 Korean language books for the OC Public Libraries with a value of $52,500.
The donation was the result of a collaborative partnership between the Orange County Korean Cultural Center, Irvine Mayor Steven Choi, and the Irvine Korean Cultural Festival Committee. The books will be distributed to three library branches in Irvine—Heritage Park, University Park, and Katie Wheeler branch libraries—as well as other branches in the 33-branch OC Public Libraries system. |
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“I am so delighted that the OC Public Libraries has accepted these books donated by the Orange County Korean Cultural Center,” Mayor Choi said. “We appreciate the library accepting the books and making them available. The readers of these books will be very happy with the donation.”
“The gift of Korean books will certainly be well used at all of our libraries in Orange County,” said Supervisor Todd Spitzer, whose district includes Irvine, home to nearly 20,000 Korean Americans.
The books were originally donated to the Orange County Korean Cultural Center by a Korean group that provides native language books for adults and children living overseas. Twenty volunteers from the University of California, Irvine and five interns labeled the books and made them ready for final processing and cataloging at OC Public Libraries. Adults and children will equally benefit from fiction and nonfiction books available for all ages. The donation will enable the Orange County Korean Cultural Center to fulfill its mission of sharing Korean culture with the public.
“Many thanks to Mayor Steven Choi who was instrumental in having the Orange County Korean Cultural Center donate these books to OC Public Libraries,” County Librarian Helen Fried said. “Orange County is a rich and diverse community and the donation of the Korean language material would be very much appreciated by our Korean speaking community.” |
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| 3rd Annual Eco Challenge Angels Baseball Poster Contest |
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Batting Clean Up For Team Planet!
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 The County of Orange’s 3rd Annual Eco Challenge Poster Contest is a chance for a child to be an Honorary Bat Kid at an Angels baseball game by creating a poster that clearly demonstrates how children personally 'Take the Eco Challenge'.
Children between the ages of 8 and 14 can enter by designing a poster which shows examples of projects or activities that they have developed or engaged in that promote recycling, reusing, or reducing in their school, home, or community. The posters should focus on their personal plans of action. Posters will be judged based on originality, visual clarity, relevance to theme, artwork, and effectiveness of message. Winners will be selected by the County of Orange, Discovery Cube of Orange County, and Angels Baseball representatives.
Entries can be brought or mailed to Discovery Cube or OC Waste & Recycling Headquarters by June 30, 2015. One lucky winner from each of Orange County's five Supervisorial Districts will be awarded the status of Honorary Bat Kid during an Angels home game and receive other prizes. For contest details, please visit ocEcoChallenge.com/batkid or call (714) 834-4174. |
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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 view a PDF version.
Click on the image above to view a PDF version.
Click on the image above to view a PDF version.
Click on the image above to view a PDF version. |
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Anaheim
Family Storytime
Saturday, May 2, 2015, 11:00 AM
East Anaheim Branch Library, 8201 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd.
Preschool Storytime
Friday, May 8, 2015, 10:30 AM
Canyon Hills Branch Library, 400 Scout Trail
Irvine
Certified Farmers Market
Sunday, May 3, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Orange County Great Park
National Bike Month – Ride at Jeffrey Open Space Trail
Saturday, May 30, 11:00 AM
Cypress Community Park, 255 Visions
Orange
Water Conservation: California Friendly Landscaping
Wednesday, May 20, 6:30 PM
Orange Public Library & History Center, 407 E. Chapman Ave.
Silverado
10th Annual Chili Cook-Off and Cinco de Mayo Celebration
Sunday, May 3, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Irvine Lake, 4621 Santiago Canyon Rd.
Tustin
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Tuesday, May 5, 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Tustin Family & Youth Center, 14722 Newport Ave.
Farmers Market
Wednesday, May 6, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
El Camino Real & 3rd St.
Villa Park
Villa Park’s Great American Family Picnic
Sunday, May 24, 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Irvine Lake, 4621 Santiago Canyon Rd.
Yorba Linda
Grow it Now: Succulents
Saturday, May 2, 7:00 PM
Yorba Linda Public Library Community Room, 18181 Imperial Hwy.
Nixon Library Concert, Sounds of Grace Handbell Choir
Sunday, May 3, 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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