| January 15, 2016 |
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Volume 4 Issue 1 |
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Supervisor Todd Spitzer, Supervisor Michelle Steel, Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, County Executive Officer Frank Kim, Supervisor Shawn Nelson, and Supervisor Andrew Do |
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Dear Friend,
It is an honor to serve the residents of Orange County and the Third Supervisorial District. It has been a privilege to serve as Chairman this past year to further promote and unify the County of Orange.
Looking back over this past year, we have enhanced public safety, strengthened fiscal responsibility, and advanced vital infrastructure.
I am most proud of the cohesive way that the Board of Supervisors worked together to serve the people of Orange County to help make the County a better place to live, work, and visit.
The following is a list of a few highlighted accomplishments achieved during my Chairmanship with the support of my colleagues:
- Secured a location for Orange County’s first year-round homeless shelter
- Placed an Ethics Commission on the ballot
- Strengthened public safety oversight by expanding the Office of Independent Review
- Accepted an open space land donation from the Irvine Company of 2,500 acres in the canyons providing additional connectivity to the 20,000 acres the Irvine Company donated in 2010
- Broke ground on the Crime Victims’ Monument
- Improved the County’s credit rating
- Broke ground on a green energy plant, the Bowerman Landfill Gas to Energy Project that will create 160,000 megawatt-hours of electricity, which is enough energy to serve about 18,500 homes
In addition, the Board of Supervisors hired, promoted and honored the following:
- Mike Giancola retired as County Executive Officer after 35 years
- Frank Kim appointed as new County CEO
- Michelle Aguirre appointed as new CFO Budget Director
- Nick Chrisos retired as County Counsel
- Leon Page appointed as County Counsel
- Alan Murphy retired as JWA Airport Director
- Barry Rondinella appointed as new JWA Airport Director
- Susan Novak retired as Clerk of the Board
- Robin Steiler appointed as new Clerk of the Board
- Public Defender Frank Ospino left upon becoming Judge
- Sharon Petrosino appointed as Interim Public Defender
- Steve Danely retired as Chief HR Director
- Teri Bruner appointed as interim Chief HR Director
- Peter Hughes appointed as Auditor
- Peter Hughes left for LA County Auditor Controller
- Eric Woolery appointed Toni Smart as Internal Audit Director
As a Supervisor, I am blessed to have the opportunity to work to improve our community, and I look forward to another great year serving on the Board of Supervisors. It is a privilege to serve you, the citizens, taxpayers, and businesses of Orange County.
Sincerely,
Todd Spitzer
Supervisor, Third District
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| Orange County’s Credit Ratings Upgraded |
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(Portions courtesy of the County Executive Office)
Strong management and good financial policies and practices, combined with a strong and diverse economy, have resulted in ratings upgrades for the County of Orange. The upgrades follow a ratings request from the County as part of a process to prepay a majority of its FY 2016-17 employer contribution to the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS), in exchange for a 5.8 percent discount.
S&P raised the County’s issuer credit rating to AA+ from AA and the rating on the County’s outstanding Lease Revenue Bonds and Pension Obligation Bonds from AA- to AA. The outlook on all ratings is stable, and they fall within the “high quality” range of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P’s ratings.
Following a surveillance call and review of information provided by the County, Moody’s Investors Service revised the County’s outlook from “negative” to “stable.” The outlook revision reflects a resumed, healthy tax base growth; improved financial performance with increases to reserves and liquidity levels; strong multi-year financial planning practices; and reserve policies that should support favorable future financial performance.
“This is a Board of Supervisors that is disciplined and fiscally conservative,” said outgoing Board of Supervisors Chairman Todd Spitzer. “We understand our County’s bankruptcy history. We have worked diligently to ensure that we fulfill the obligations of the financial plan we made towards solvency. This acknowledgement from the credit rating agencies is proof positive we are on a strong financial footing.”
“The ratings upgrades confirm that the County of Orange is in the strongest financial position it has been in for many years,” said County Executive Officer Frank Kim, who served as the County’s chief financial officer for 4 years before becoming CEO this past May. “In part, it means we are able to move forward with long-desired projects that benefit OC citizens, like a new animal shelter, an upgrade to the County’s public safety communications system and the year-round homeless shelter.”
Related Article:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/-698462--.html |
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| Bartlett Selected Chair, Steel Selected Vice Chair |
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Vice Chair Michelle Steel and Chair Lisa Bartlett |
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On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously selected Lisa Bartlett to serve as Chair and Michelle Steel to serve as Vice Chair for 2016. Both were first elected to the Board of Supervisors in November 2014.
Bartlett and Steel are the first Asian-Americans to serve concurrently as Chair and Vice Chair. They are also the second pair of women to serve concurrently as Chair and Vice Chair; the first pair were Chair Patricia Bates and Vice Chair Janet Nguyen in 2009.
A former Dana Point Mayor and Councilwoman, Bartlett represents the Fifth Supervisorial District, which includes the South County cities of Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, and San Juan Capistrano, as well as the community of Shady Canyon in the City of Irvine and the unincorporated communities of Coto de Caza, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, and Wagon Wheel.
A former member and Vice Chair of the State Board of Equalization, Steel represents the Second Supervisorial District, which includes the West County cities of Costa Mesa, Cypress, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Seal Beach, and Stanton, as well as portions of Buena Park and Fountain Valley, along with the unincorporated area of Rossmoor. |
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| OCDA Informant Policies and Practices Evaluation Committee Report Presented to the Board of Supervisors |
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Patrick Dixon, Robert Gerard, and Blithe Leece of the OCDA Informant Policies and Practices Evaluation Committee Report |
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At his last meeting as Chairman, Supervisor Todd Spitzer and the Board of Supervisors invited the OCDA Informant Policies and Practices Evaluation Committee (IPPEC) to present the findings of their recently released report.
Appointed by the District Attorney, the IPPEC made ten recommendations in their report, including the establishment of an OCDA Chief Ethics Officer and the appointment of an independent monitor for a three-year period. The report also described the OCDA office as functioning with a “failure of leadership.”
Subsequently, the Board held a closed session and met with the Board’s Office of Independent Review Michael Gennaco and County Counsel Leon Page. After receiving their advice, the Board announced a moratorium on the destruction of any documents and records in the District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Department related to issues that were addressed in the IPPEC. Written approval must be granted from County Counsel, Human Resources, and the County Executive Office prior to any such documents being destroyed, even if being disposed of in the normal records destruction schedule.
Additionally, the Board directed that District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and Sheriff-Coroner Sandra Hutchens respond in writing to the ten recommendations in the IPPEC report to identify which recommendations will be implemented and to provide an explanation for each rejected recommendation. Both the District Attorney and Sheriff’s Department were asked to provide fiscal estimates for each supported recommendation.
Chairman Spitzer reassured all county employees that the County of Orange does not tolerate retaliation, as he called on them to cooperate with outside law enforcement agencies investigating the District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Department.
The members of the IPPEC consisted of:
- Retired Orange County Superior Court Judge Jim Smith
- Retired Los Angeles County Assistant District Attorney Patrick Dixon
- Former Orange County Bar Association President Robert Gerard
- Blithe Leece, an attorney who specializes in ethics law and professional responsibility
- Loyola Law School Professor Laurie Levenson who served on IPPEC as a legal and ethics advisor
Related Articles:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/attorney-699617-gerard-county.html
http://voiceofoc.org/2016/01/supervisors-to-step-up-scrutiny-of-da-after-informants-scandal-report/ |
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| Board of Supervisors Congratulates Ruby Maldonado on Her Retirement from After 34 Years of County Service |
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From Left to Right: Supervisor Todd Spitzer, Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Supervisor Michelle Steel, and Supervisor Andrew Do look on as Ruby Maldonado reflects on her retirement.) |
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Supervisor Todd Spitzer and the Board of Supervisors honored Public Works Senior Planner and Administrative Manager Ruby Maldonado for her 34 years of service to the County.
During her time with the County, Maldonado worked for various divisions in OC Public Works and also served as the Orange County Zoning Administrator.
She was County Employee of the Year in November 1985 and has been recognized for her accomplishments and service by many people, including Planning Director Tim Neely and former County Supervisors Thomas F. Riley, Roger R. Stanton, and Bill Campbell. |
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| Congratulations to Miss California Bree Morse of Garden Grove |
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Supervisor Todd Spitzer, Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Miss California Bree Morse, Supervisor Andrew Do, and Supervisor Michelle Steel |
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| At the request of Supervisor Andrew Do, the Board of Supervisors presented a resolution to Bree Morse of Garden Grove who was named one of Orange County’s 100 Most Influential People by the Orange County Register last month. Crowned as Miss California 2015, Morse was also Miss Orange County 2014, Miss North County 2013, and Miss Garden Grove 2012. A graduate of Pacifica High School in Garden Grove and of Cal State Long Beach, she works a substitute teacher for Garden Grove Unified School District. |
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| Board of Supervisors Declares Korean American Day |
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Supervisor Todd Spitzer, Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Supervisor Michelle Steel, and Supervisor Andrew Do with members of the Korean American Federation of Orange County |
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At the request of Vice Chair Michelle Steel, the Board of Supervisors presented a resolution for Korean American Day to the Korean American Federation of Orange County. The Board also presented resolutions for Korean American Senior Day to both the Korean American Federation of Orange County and the Korean American Senior Association of Orange County.
“Korean-Americans form an important and vibrant community in Orange County, actively contributing to regional diversity and intercultural understanding. Cultural diversity is part of what makes Orange County a great place to live and work,” said Supervisor Todd Spitzer. “As the first Korean American on our Board, Supervisor Steel is a strong advocate and has rallied support for the Korean-American community. We all appreciate and benefit from her leadership.” |
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| Board of Supervisors Appoints Sharon Petrosino as Interim Public Defender |
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Interim Public Defender Sharon Petrosino |
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(Portions courtesy of the County Executive Office)
The Board of Supervisors appointed Sharon Petrosino as the Interim Public Defender of Orange County, replacing Frank Ospino who was appointed a Superior Court Judge by Governor Jerry Brown.
Petrosino has been an attorney with the OC Public Defender’s Office since 1985. As a Deputy Public Defender, she represented indigent clients in the criminal justice system in a wide variety of cases, including homicides, capital cases, and appellate work in the Superior Court and the Court of Appeal. She has been instrumental in helping develop Office policies and procedures, and remains involved in client case management and court representation.
She earned her Juris Doctor from Southwestern School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University. She has been a lecturer and a member of the California Public Defender’s Association. |
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| Supervisors Applaud Mutual Aid for San Bernardino County |
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(Portions courtesy of the County Executive Office)
Orange County Supervisors thanked Health Care Agency employees Tuesday for providing assistance to their San Bernardino County colleagues in the aftermath of the December 2, 2015, terrorist attack at the Inland Regional Center that left 14 dead and 22 wounded.
Nineteen County of Orange behavioral health professionals provided crisis counseling and training services in San Bernardino between December 15 and 17.
The work of the agency’s behavioral health division was affirmed by the Orange County Board of Supervisors as part of a mutual aid agreement among counties in the event of a medical or health calamity resulting in mass casualties.
“What happened at the Inland Regional Center was an unspeakable act that shattered dozens of lives and we’re thankful that so many of our employees stepped up to help,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Lisa Bartlett.
“We stand united with our colleagues in San Bernardino County as they come back from this horrific terrorist attack and resume their service to the public even while their lives have been changed forever,” said Vice Chair Michelle Steel.
Supervisor Andrew Do said Health Care Agency staff provided critical counseling for San Bernardino County’s environmental health division, which included some former Orange County workers and many cross-county friendships.
“This was a despicable act that called for an immediate response of compassion and support,” Supervisor Do said.
Supervisor Shawn Nelson said a tragedy such as that in San Bernardino is a grim reminder of the need for vigilance and preparedness—and for comfort in the aftermath. “Our employees did what they were trained to do even while knowing they had lost friends and colleagues,” Supervisor Nelson said.
Supervisor Todd Spitzer, who chaired the Board of Supervisors at the time of the attack, ordered workplace violence response training among County employees that will continue.
"Employers need to offer training to prevent and survive incidents of workplace violence and active shooters," Supervisor Spitzer said. "Increased training is the first step toward helping Orange County employees feel safer in the workplace."
Behavioral and Environmental Health staff and other County workers remain available should San Bernardino County request additional assistance. |
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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, January 16, 11:00 AM
Anaheim Public Library – East Anaheim Branch, 8201 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd.
Explorers Club
Friday, January 22, 3:00 PM
Anaheim Public Library – Canyon Hills Branch, 400 Scout Trail
Irvine
Orange County Great Park Farmers Market
Sunday, January 17, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Farmers Market at the Great Park
Winter Cleaning Event – Paper Shredding and Clothing Donations
Saturday, January 23, 9:00 AM
Lakeview Senior Center, 20 Lake Road
Orange
Children’s Musical Storytime
Saturday, January 22, 11:00 AM
Orange Public Library & History Center, 407 E. Chapman Ave.
Ukulele SOUP!
Saturday, January 30, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Orange Public Library & History Center, 407 E. Chapman Ave.
Silverado
Pilates
Wednesday, January 20, 5:30 PM
Silverado Community Center, Building A, 27641 Silverado Canyon Rd.
Tustin
Farmer’s Market
Wednesday, January 20, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
El Camino Real & W. 3rd St.
Movie Matinee
Thursday, January 21, 2:00 PM
Orange County Public Library – Tustin Branch, 345 E. Main St.
Villa Park
Book Club
Wednesday, January 20, 10:00 AM
Orange County Public Library – Villa Park Branch, 17865 Santiago Blvd.
Yorba Linda
S.T.E.A.M. Event
Saturday, January 16, 11:00 AM
Yorba Linda Public Library, 18181 Imperial Hwy.
Nixon Library Concert, Franz Liszt Competition Winners
Sunday, January 17, 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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