NELSON TEAM
Denis Bilodeau
Chief of Staff

Audra Adams
Policy Advisor /
Communications Director

Steve Spernak
Policy Advisor

David Zenger
Policy Advisor

Scott Carpenter
Policy Advisor

Mark Lopez
Policy Advisor

Neha Sata
Executive Aide

Kristin Gilbart
District Representative

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Welcome to Nelson's E-News!

Welcome once again to my newsletter.

March has so far been a busy month with very substantive items coming before the County Board of Supervisors as well as other agencies on which I serve. Specifically, voters will get to decide on various important issues this June, especially my proposal to place before the electorate the possibility of Supervisors receiving the minimum County pension offered. Please continue reading to learn more about recent accomplishments I have made for the residents of the Fourth District and Orange County.

I am pleased to announce the recent appointment of Mr. Paul Kott to the OC Parks Commission. Paul has deep roots here in the Fourth District, particularly in Anaheim, the largest city that I represent. Graduating as a Colonist from Anaheim High School, he remains very active in the community by serving and volunteering his time with many local organizations. On the Parks Commission, he will be charged with evaluating the multiple projects and proposals that come before the County annually. The decisions made at the commission have significant impacts on those using our recreational facilities, as many go to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.

With his vast knowledge and experience at the local government level, I am confident that Paul will be a valuable addition to the OC Parks Commission. Please join me in welcoming him to this important position in County government.

Please have a safe St. Patrick’s Day celebration this weekend.

Sincerely,
Shawn Nelson.

As mentioned in the last Nelson E-News, voters will have the chance this June to vote on the future Board of Supervisors’ pensions. Last week, Supervisor Nelson sat down with “Local Edition” on Time Warner Cable to discuss the rationale for placing the “Mandatory Minimum Pension Enrollment” measure on the ballot and what impact it will have on Orange County.

As a government agency, the County is exempt from Social Security, pending any change in legislation. In the meantime, Supervisor Nelson proposed allowing voters to decide whether Supervisors should be automatically enrolled in the more fiscally sound, minimum pension plan offered.

Following this first step in the pension reform process, Supervisor Nelson will plan a countywide expansion of more financially realistic retirements during his remaining service on the Board of Supervisors.

The five-minute discussion also includes the latest update on the search for the suspect in last month’s fatal hit-and-run, which tragically took the life of a three-year-old Anaheim girl. The entire interview can be found by clicking the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7urpY8U6k8

One year ago, the Board of Supervisors approved, by a 4-1 vote, a zoning change in an unincorporated County island that will convert a single family housing parcel to senior apartments. While deferring to district prerogative during the original three hour discussion last March 15, Supervisor Nelson objected to the method by which the item came before the Board, arguing that the process was an ineffective means of establishing County land use policy.

This week’s news article summarizing the judge’s decision to overturn the Board’s vote can be found below.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/zoning-344426-county-senior.html

If you are a registered voter living within the Savanna School District, in the southwest Fourth District, you will also notice a bond measure on June’s ballot, Measure G, for school improvements in the amount of $28,750,000.

Below is the Notice of Election for both the school district bond and the pension measure. Click here to see the letter assignments for the complete list of June’s measures throughout the county.

http://bos.ocgov.com/legacy4/newsletters/pdfs/Vol3Issue5/
notice_election.pdf

At the March 6 Board meeting, Supervisors supported three bills that affect Orange County and are currently working their way through Sacramento: AB 1455, regarding High-Speed Rail, and AB 1815 and SB 1231, regarding retirement systems.

AB 1455 (Harkey) bifurcates $9.95 billion in bonds, approved by voters under Proposition 1A in 2008, to fund the high-speed rail. The bill prevents the larger share of the bonds, $9 billion, from being released. Meanwhile, the other $950 million will remain available for funding other local rail purposes, such as grade separations and rail crossing improvements.

AB 1815 (Harkey) specifically targets the Orange County Board of Supervisors’ retirement system, preventing all newly elected or appointed Supervisors from enrolling in the County pension program. After adding the suggestion that the Board place future Supervisors into the Social Security system, Supervisor Nelson supported the bill.

SB 1231 (Walters) would allow Boards of Supervisors statewide to freeze any supplemental cost of living increases, if doing so creates an unfunded liability and requires additional County funding.

The current language for each bill is available below:

http://bos.ocgov.com/legacy4/newsletters/pdfs/Vol3Issue5/1455.pdf

http://bos.ocgov.com/legacy4/newsletters/pdfs/Vol3Issue5/1815.pdf

http://bos.ocgov.com/legacy4/newsletters/pdfs/Vol3Issue5/1231.pdf

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is seeking qualified volunteers to serve on the Measure M Taxpayers Oversight Committee (TOC). The eleven-member committee monitors OCTA’s use of Measure M funds and ensures that all revenue collected from both Measure M1 (M1) and the Renewed Measure M2 (M2) is spent on voter-approved transportation projects. The independent committee was formed after the passage in 1990 of Measure M, a half-cent sales tax to fund transportation improvements in Orange County. Applications for the 2012-2015 term will be accepted through April 23, 2012 to fill four positions; one each in the First, Second, Fourth and Fifth Supervisorial Districts. Orange County residents residing in these areas are eligible to apply. Candidates must be 18 years of age, reside in one of the districts named above and be willing to participate for a three-year term. Potential committee members should also demonstrate a history of participating in community activities and knowledge of public transportation. The Grand Jurors Association of Orange County is conducting the recruitment program and will recommend qualified candidates for membership. For additional information or to request an application, call the selection panel at (714) 970-9329 or visit OCTA’s Web site at www.octa.net/toc.

The OCTA Board of Directors met for its bimonthly meeting earlier this week, with several important items on the agenda.

The OCTA Board authorized studying the costs and options of improving the SR-57 from Orangewood Avenue to Katella Avenue on the northbound side, complementing current improvement projects from Katella to Lambert Road.

Forming part of the southeastern boundary of the Fourth District and funded with Measure M2 dollars, this important first step on the SR-57 will see a lane addition to the northbound side as part of the project, relieving traffic congestion on one of Orange County’s busiest freeways.

The OCTA also approved a resolution for a so-called “blended approach” to the development of a higher speed rail system. This approach “blends” improvements to existing transportation infrastructure, such as grade separations, in anticipation of a statewide higher speed rail system in California. Simultaneously, Supervisor Nelson advocated pursuing policies to remain focused on a more practical statewide transportation goal, including the implementation of rail service between Bakersfield and Palmdale.

This new blended approach originated from Supervisor Nelson’s efforts at the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) to remove the High-Speed Rail from the agency’s Regional Transportation Plan, resulting in $1 billion in rail improvement funding for Southern California.

Finally, the Board removed the 19th Street Bridge from the Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH) in an unusual one-time exception to its consensus policy. If built, the bridge would have spanned over the Santa Ana River from Newport Beach to Huntington Beach. However, due to the bridge’s prohibitive cost of approximately $150 million without an identified funding source and strong opposition from several stakeholders, including the cities of Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach as well as members of the public, the Board approved removal.

These extraordinary circumstances caused the Board to waive the prerequisite that all parties achieve consensus before the project’s removal from the MPAH. Although the bridge had first been placed in the MPAH in the 1950s, its deletion was considered periodically since the early 1990s. Below are two maps of indicating where the controversial bridge would have been constructed.

http://bos.ocgov.com/legacy4/newsletters/pdfs/Vol3Issue5/octa1.pdf

http://bos.ocgov.com/legacy4/newsletters/pdfs/Vol3Issue5/octa2.pdf

Click on the image above to view a larger version.


Click on the image above to view a larger version.

In celebration of April Poetry Month, Charles “Chuck” Wright, local naturalist, teacher, photographer, and poet, will dramatically read some of his poetry, share what and how things inspire his poetry creations, and field questions from the audience. Mr. Wright will be at the La Habra Branch Library on Sunday, April 15 at 2:30 pm in the library meeting room. This free program is appropriate for all ages and the public is welcome to attend.

Supervisor Nelson’s office was honored to attend the celebration of life memorial for Anaheim resident, AUSD Trustee and former National PTSA President Jan Harp Domene, who passed away peacefully on February 27th. Supervisor Nelson presented a County Proclamation that memorialized the lifetime achievements that Jan delivered to the children of Anaheim, with her two years of service as National PTSA president. Tributes were delivered by the current PTSA president, Betty Landers, State Senator Lou Correa, Dr. Novack and Carlo Nino, former State PTA president. Frank Garcia of “We Give Thanks,” provided an elegant luncheon on the open lawn of Zion Lutheran Church for the 800 friends that attended to honor this incredible spirit and proud Anaheim High School Alumni.

The Brea Community Center’s Spring Craft Boutique is set for Saturday, March 17, from 9 am to 4 pm. Admission is $2 and parking is free. Unique, one-of-a-kind crafts, seasonal and year-round gifts and décor, wearable art, jewelry, florals, baby items, tasty goodies and much more from over 250 vendors! This boutique has it all. KidWatch babysitting service is available for $2.25 per hour per child. Please note, strollers and shopping carts are not allowed at the boutique. Shoppers can also pick up a quick snack or beverage at the Food Alley. The Brea Community Center is located at 695 E. Madison Way (across from the Brea Mall). For more information on the Spring Craft Boutique, call (714) 990-7771 or visit www.breaspecialevents.com.