| July 24, 2015 |
 |
Volume 3 Issue 22 |
|
|
| Supervisor Todd Spitzer Welcomes 2015 Special Olympics World Games Athletes to Orange County |
|
| |
Supervisor Spitzer and Special Olympic Athletes |
| |
Supervisor Todd Spitzer had the honor of welcoming 2015 Special Olympics athletes to Orange County at the OC Host Town Welcome Ceremony. Over 1,000 Special Olympic athletes were recognized and celebrated at the event that was held at the OC Fair.
Athletes traveled from Aruba, Bahamas, Bosnia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Guyana, Indonesia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Myanmar, Norway, Rwanda, Senegal, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay and Vietnam to compete in the games. Many of the athletes were hosted in Orange County cities.
“What a wonderful time to see the world come together and the community come together to welcome these international athletes with open arms,” said Supervisor Todd Spitzer. “I am proud that Orange County is able to play a significant role in these Olympic Games as a Host Town to showcase the greatness that Southern California exemplifies.” |
| |
 |
| |
| For more information on the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.LA2015.org and on social with #ReachUpLA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. |
| |
 |
| |
| Board of Supervisors Congratulate Nick Chrisos on his Retirement from Orange County |
|
(Chairman Todd Spitzer, Vice Chair Lisa Bartlett, Retired County Counsel Nick Christos, Supervisor Michelle Steel and Supervisor Andrew Do |
| |
This week the Board of Supervisors congratulated Nick Chrisos on his retirement from Orange County as County Counsel. Chrisos started working at the County in 1980.
“Orange County owes a great debt of gratitude for Nick for dedicating his career to serving and legally protecting Orange County,” said Supervisor Todd Supervisor.
Mr. Chrisos received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Michigan in 1972 and his Juris Doctor degree at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1976. Mr. Chrisos' career with the County began in March 1980 in the Office of the Public Defender. Later, Nick transferred to the Office of County Counsel in February 1985 at which time Adrian Kuyper was County Counsel, and the office had 29 attorneys.
Then, on April 1, 2009, Mr. Chrisos was appointed to the position of County Counsel. Under Mr. Chrisos’ leadership the office has provided excellent service to its clients and has steadily maintained a litigation success rate and client satisfaction rate in excess of 95%. The office presently has 69 lawyers, 30 support staff, and a budget in excess of $19 million. |
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
| Supervisor Todd Spitzer Announces Plan to Place OC City and Military Flags at the OC Civic Center |
|
Orange County Flag |
| |
This week at the Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Spitzer requested that the County members of the Civic Center Joint Power Authority seek to replace the 50 state flags in the Plaza of the Flags with the flags of Orange County’s 34 cities, the County flag, the State flag, the U.S. flag, and the flags of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
The request was made by Supervisor Spitzer to remove the Confederate Flag from flying in the Civic Center and to help build unity amongst the County and the cities. The Confederate Flag is currently part of the flag of the State of Mississippi. To many, the Confederate Flag represents one of the darkest and most shameful eras in the history of our country.
The Mississippi Legislature added the Confederate Flag to their state flag in 1894, and in a 2001 referendum, 64% of Mississippi voters rejected removing the Confederate Flag from their state flag.
In 2001, the Georgia Legislature shrunk the Confederate Flag from dominating two-thirds of their state flag down to a tiny barely visible box on a stripe featuring all their former state flags. Then in 2003, 73% of Georgia voters removed the Confederate Flag entirely.
Unlike the people of Georgia, the people of Mississippi have chosen to keep the Confederate Flag in their state flag and have it flown throughout their state.
“We in Orange County, California, may not be able to change the minds of the people and leaders of Mississippi, but that doesn’t mean we need to be displaying their flag,” said Supervisor Todd Spitzer.
Two weeks ago, the South Carolina’s Republican Legislature and the Republican Governor Nikki Haley voted to remove the Confederate Flag from the State Capitol after it had flown there for 54 years.
Unlike the leaders of South Carolina who removed the Confederate Flag in front of their State Capitol, the leaders of Mississippi have chosen to keep the Confederate Flag in their state flag and have it flown throughout their state. |
| |
|
| |
| Chairman Todd Spitzer Calls Special Board of Supervisors Hearing on Public Safety Oversight |
|
Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Sandra Hutchens
Merrick Bobb, Executive Director of the Police Assessment Resource Center
Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of the University of California, Irvine’s School of Law
Tom Dominguez, President of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs
Brian Buchner, President of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement
Michael Gennaco, Principal at OIR Group
|
|
Orange County Board of Supervisor, Chairman Todd Spitzer called a Special Board Hearing on adopting a new public safety oversight model. The hearing will allow the Board of Supervisors to receive testimony, hold discussion and analyze various oversight models including the Office of Independent Review.
“Oversight of law enforcement in Orange County is not working,” said Chairman Spitzer. “I found out more about law enforcement incidents from the newspaper than from the Office of Independent Review,” Chairman Todd Spitzer said. “In order to get a model that actually provides oversight, we have to start over.”
A prominent group of distinguished presenters will discuss options with the Board of Supervisors.
Merrick Bobb, Executive Director of the Police Assessment Resource Center
(PARC) has agreed to present an overview of the successes that he had in providing oversight and transparency to various law enforcement agencies including those in Los Angeles County.
Additional speakers include:
- Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Sandra Hutchens
- Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of the University of California, Irvine’s School of Law
- Tom Dominguez, President of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (AOCDS)
- Brian Buchner, President of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE)
- Michael Gennaco, Principal at OIR Group
The contract for the current Office of Independent Review (OIR) expires at the end of August. The Board expressed its intention to not renew the contract for the current provider and expressed interest selecting a different model that allows for true oversight and transparency of law enforcement.
The Orange County Office of Independent Review was established by the Board of Supervisors in 2008 to “monitor, assist, oversee and advise” the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department in its handling of critical incidents and allegations of employee misconduct.
The special hearing will be held on Friday, July 24 from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm in the Board Chambers at 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd. in Santa Ana. The meeting is open to the community and will provide a time for public comments. |
|
| |
|
| |
| Chairman Todd Spitzer Forms Committee to Advance Ethics in Orange County |
|
Supervisor Todd Spitzer Speaking at Ethics Roundtable held in April 2015 |
| |
At the urging of Chairman Todd Spitzer, the Orange County Board of Supervisors formed a committee on ethics during today's Board of Supervisors meeting. Each Supervisor was asked to appoint a staff member to the committee to study the issue of an ethics commission and to formulate policy recommendations on the ethics commission debate. The Board discussed potential issues that should be addressed including the budget, subpoena power, appointments and training.
“We presented the public with Measure E to partner with the Fair Political Practices Commission, and the voters agreed,” said Chairman Spitzer. “Unfortunately, implementation is stalled in the state legislature so we need to revisit the issue.” Chairman Spitzer directed the new committee to gather information and propose initiatives to formulate recommendations to the Board of Supervisors over the next thirty days.
In April 2015, Chairman Spitzer hosted an informative roundtable discussion on the future of ethics in Orange County. After voters approved Measure E, Supervisor Spitzer committed to launching a countywide discussion on ethics in Orange County. At the forum, an overview regarding the current structure of ethics oversight was addressed. The public participated in identifying issues of concern related to enforcement and possible solutions for improving the ethical culture of county elected officials in Orange.
Measure E was the Nelson-Spitzer measure that would allow for the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) to Enforce County Campaign Finance Rules upon passage of legislation to allow for the County to contract with the FPPC. Orange County voters approved Measure E by a decisive 56.5%-43.5% margin in the November 2014 election, authorizing the FPPC to enforce Orange County’s local campaign finance ordinance (TINCUP). 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 Supervisors Shawn Nelson and Todd Spitzer. |
| |
|
| |
| County Event Alcohol Ordinance Amendment |
|
|
| |
(Portions courtesy of OC Parks)
This week the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the first reading of an amendment to the current ordinance prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages at specifically identified County events in regional parks and beaches.
If approved after a second reading, this amendment would allow the public to bring, possess, and consume alcoholic beverages within public park property during certain County-implemented events, such as the OC Parks Summer Concert Series. Friday, July 24 the Board is scheduled to consider a resolution that would allow the County to use the 2015 OC Parks Summer Concert Series as a pilot program to test the revised ordinance.
This resolution and ordinance amendment would not affect the majority of events in County parks and beaches or day-to-day operations. Only specific events that are clearly identified would permit consumption of alcoholic beverages. OC Parks would also develop policies and procedures to properly implement and enforce the policy and revised ordinance. |
| |
|
| |
| Eco Challenge Day at Angel Stadium on Saturday, July 25 |
|
|
| |
(Portions courtesy of OC Waste & Recycling)
OC Waste & Recycling, in partnership with Discovery Cube OC, Goodwill of Orange County, and Angels Baseball LP, will hold its annual Eco Challenge Day collection event on Saturday, July 25, from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. In 2014, the event drew over 1,000 Orange County residents to Angel Stadium and collected over 10 tons of household hazardous waste, e-waste, and gently-used clothing. This year, there will be free certified paper shredding, in addition to safe disposal options for household hazardous waste and e-waste. Gently-used clothing and household goods will be accepted by Goodwill of OC.
The first 150 cars to bring items to recycle will receive priority access for meeting Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella for an autograph and the opportunity to choose between four FREE tickets to an Angels game or four FREE general admission tickets to experience the County’s Eco Challenge Exhibit at the newly expanded Discovery Cube OC (while supplies last).
For more information, please visit www.ocEcoChallenge.com. |
| |
|
| |
| Pet of the Week |
|
Click on the image above to view a PDF version. |
| |
|
| |
| Events Around the District |
|
Anaheim
Concert in the Park, Visions of Fleetwood Mac
Thursday, July 23, 2015, Dusk
Ronald Reagan Park, 925 S. Weir Canyon Rd.
The Music Makers
Saturday, July 25, 2015, 10:00 AM
East Anaheim Branch Library, 8201 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd.
Book Discussion
Wednesday, July 28, 2015, 11:00 AM
Canyon Hills Branch Library, 400 Scout Trail
Irvine
Certified Farmers Market
Sunday, July 26, 10:00 AM
Orange County Great Park, 6950 Marine Way
Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts, Savor: Santana Tribute
Sunday, July 26, 1:15 pm
Irvine Spectrum, Edwards 21 Theater
Orange
Classical Guitar Performance
Saturday, July 25, 2:00 PM
Orange Public Library & History Center, 407 E. Chapman Ave.
Orange Concerts in the Park, Wise Guys
Wednesday, July 29, 7:00 PM
Hart Park, 701 W. Glassell
Silverado
Silverado Summer Concert Series
Saturday, August 15, 6:00 PM
Silverado Fairgrounds, Community Center 27641 Silverado Canyon Rd.
Tustin
Farmers Market
Wednesday, July 29, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
El Camino Real & 3rd St.
Concert in the Park, Pettybreakers, Tom Petty Tribute
Wednesday, July 29, 6:00 PM
Peppertree Park, 230 W. First Street
Villa Park
Paint Day
Thursday, July 30, 3:00 PM
Villa Park Library, 17865 Santiago Blvd.
Concert in (Villa) Park, Heartache Eagles Tribute Band
Friday, August 7, 7:00 PM
Villa Park High Outdoor Amphitheater
Yorba Linda
So Many Saxaphones
Saturday, July 25, 2:00 PM
Yorba Linda Library – 18181 Imperial Highway
Nixon Library Concert
Sunday, July 26, 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
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
