| February 13, 2015 |
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Volume 3 Issue 6 |
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| Supervisors Commend Susan Novak on her Retirement from the County of Orange |
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Vice Chair Lisa Bartlett, Chairman Todd Spitzer, Clerk of the Board Susan Novak, and her son Michael |
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The Orange County Board of Supervisors honored Clerk of the Board Susan Novak to thank her for her dedicated service to Orange County. Susan Novak joined the County in 1983 as an Accountant Auditor I in the Auditor-Controller’s office and has decided to retire after nearly thirty-two years of service to the County.
Susan D. Novak has served as the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors since February 10, 2012, leading a department with a $3.5 million budget and 29 staff that is responsible for support functions assisting the Board of Supervisors and for Assessment Appeals services assisting taxpayers and the Assessor’s office.
Prior to her appointment as the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Susan Novak was Chief Deputy Clerk of the Board of Supervisors for fifteen years.
As Clerk of the Board, Novak improved public access to current agenda records by providing them in a format compatible with tablet devices. In addition she implemented new assessment appeal processes for more efficient hearing scheduling, which significantly reduced the annual backlog of appeals. Susan Novak was also instrumental in enabling online access to five years of historical agenda records.
“Assuring greater access to Board meetings, agendas and staff reports has been a passion of Susan’s,” Supervisor Todd Spitzer said. “The public and the Board have so much to thank her for. We truly appreciate all of her hard work and dedication.” |
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| Supervisor Spitzer Calls for Improvements to Civic Center Safety |
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(Portions courtesy of OC County Executive Office)
Beginning March 3, 2015, people attending Orange County Board of Supervisors meetings will be required to pass through a metal detector before entering the Board Hearing Room.
The recommendation came from the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center, a multi-jurisdictional network of law enforcement agencies that develops best practices to protect the residents, visitors and critical infrastructure of the county. Courthouses in Orange County have used metal detectors since 1999.
“This measure will protect employees and attendees at the Board meetings. It is necessary but metal detectors are simply the first step in ensuring the safety of the Civic Center,” said Supervisor Todd Spitzer. “Employees deserve to feel safe when they come to work every day, and right now, it is clear they do not.”
Referencing a letter that was sent by the Orange County Employees Association (OCEA) expressing employees’ safety concerns, Supervisor Spitzer listed the safety precautions that the County has taken to secure the safety of those in the Civic Center. In addition, he directed the County Executive Officer to meet more extensively with OCEA to work on these safety issues, to send employees safety tips reminders, and to report back to the Board of Supervisors with recommended safety improvements. |
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| Crime Victims’ Monument Moves Forward |
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Rendering of the future Crime Victims’ Monument |
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(Portions by OC Community Resources)
The Crime Victims’ Monument project moved forward this week with unanimous Board approval of the maintenance contract with Crime Survivors Inc. Crime Survivors Inc. is a victims’ advocate nonprofit whose mission is to provide hope and healing to survivors of crime through advocacy, resources and empowerment.The project itself was also approved unanimously by the Board at the November 18, 2014 board meeting.
To address the long-term maintenance responsibilities of the Crime Victims’ Monument, the maintenance agreement was prepared with Crime Survivors Inc. that would enable the organization to deliver routine services, including general cleaning, removal of debris and weeds, and basic graffiti removal. Under the agreement, the County will provide security, monitoring, and utilities for the Crime Victims’ Monument. The agreement is for a period of five years and can be renewed for each subsequent five-year period.
“The Crime Victims’ Monument is a meaningful and significant county asset and will make a strong statement about our commitment to crime victims. There was a need to have a place for reflection, healing, and contemplation for those that have been affected by crime. This need inspired the vision to pursue a Crime Victims’ Monument,” said Supervisor Todd Spitzer.
Only 30 years ago, crime victims had no rights, access to crime victim compensation, or services to help rebuild their lives. They were often excluded from courtrooms, treated as an afterthought by the criminal justice system, and denied an opportunity to speak at sentencing. Yet through decades of advocacy and hard work, we have come a long way. Today, all states have enacted crime victims’ rights laws and established crime victim compensation funds. Californians passed Marsy’s Law in 2008, creating the strongest and most enforceable rights in the nation. More than 10,000 victim service agencies help victims throughout the nation. Every year, states and localities receive millions of federal dollars to support these services.
Victims often absorb the physical, emotional, and financial costs of crime largely by themselves. Meeting these challenges requires insight, dedication and continued awareness. That is why the County of Orange, the Board of Supervisors, and OC Parks launched a design competition for the monument that garnered national and international participation. Orange County received 59 formal design entries from around the world. All five Supervisors appointed judges, who selected the final design created by Jason Zerafa. These judges included crime victims and their families, community leaders/volunteers, and some who are involved with victims’ rights through organizations such as Justice for Homicide Victims, Parents of Murdered Children, and Crime Survivors Inc. The winning design will be inherently egalitarian and human-scale, expressing the cross-cultural and inter-generational impact of crime on members of our community and society. |
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| Orange County to Hold Property Tax Auction |
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 (Portion courtesy of the Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector)
The County of Orange property tax auction will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 12:30 PM in the Orange County Board of Supervisors Hearing Room at 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd. in Santa Ana. The list of properties scheduled for auction will be posted on the Treasurer-Tax Collector website on February 4, 2015 and updated daily thereafter as parcels are paid off or removed.
The Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office will register bidders on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 between the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at 625 N. Ross Street, Room G-58 Santa Ana. A deposit of $5,000 in the form of cash or cashier’s check payable to the County of Orange will be required at the time of registration. Registration is not permitted on the day of the property tax auction sale. A valid picture identification such as a driver’s license, military identification card, or California identification card will be required at the time of registration. |
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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 Story Time
Saturday, February 14, 2015, 11:30 AM
East Anaheim Branch Library, 8201 East Santa Ana Canyon Road
Overdrive Classes at Canyon Hills Library
Monday, February 21, 1:00 PM
Canyon Hills Branch Library, 400 Scout Trail
Irvine
Certified Farmers Market
Sunday, February 15, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Orange County Great Park
Orange
Lego Movie
Saturday, February 14, 2:00 PM
Orange Public Library & History Center
Tustin
Farmers Market
Wednesday, February 18, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
El Camino Real & 3rd St.
Villa Park
Toddler Storytime
Tuesday, February 17, 9:30 & 10:30 AM
Villa Park Library, 17865 Santiago Blvd.
Yorba Linda
Nixon Library Concert, Chamber Music by the Aliant Trio, Piano: Beth Nam
Sunday, February 15, 1:30 PM
Richard Nixon Library, 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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