Board Ponders Tourist Funding

At our August 9 meeting, the Board of Supervisors will consider a request for $231,000 from the Orange County Tourist Council (OCTC). That $231,000 represents all of the County’s annual hotel/motel bed tax revenue from all five motels located in the unincorporated areas.

I strongly oppose public subsidies to the tourist council or to any private industry or association. The OC tourist industry is perfectly capable of handling its own promotion. Many cities have their own locally-funded tourist and convention boards, which make sense, since all local sales taxes and beds taxes accrue to those cities, not the county. The $231,000 grant requested from the county represents over 80% of the OCTC’s entire budget, most of which is to pay for salaries of its two employees.

Tourism is a valuable industry to Orange County, and brings in revenues to local government. Anaheim’s bed tax revenues topped $80 million last year. Many of the jobs, however, are low paying, such as busboys, waitresses, chambermaids and ride operators. Even if our tourist subsidies actually did increase jobs—which I doubt—they would be largely jobs for people who could not afford to live here.

Any industry, be it home builders, auto dealers, or manufacturers, is perfectly capable of promoting itself without government subsidies. We should spend the $231,000 on protecting and serving the public

Fullerton Leads in Signal Improvements

Unresponsive traffic signals cost motorists thousands of wasted hours of futile waiting time. Obsolete lights on dumb timers make motorists wait regardless of cross traffic. Others employ arbitrary left turn red arrows even when left turns are perfectly safe.

Fullerton has pioneered the use of passive progressive left turn signals, which allow drivers to continue left turns after the green arrow shuts off.  Since the early ‘90s, nearly 20% of all Fullerton’s signals have been reconfigured into the 5-light “doghouse” design.  When the left turn arrow is off, drivers are still offered a solid green, allowing those making left turns to do so when safe. Others cities like La Habra, Anaheim and Huntington Beach are also moving forward.

Fullerton is also one of only two OC cities to adopt the flashing yellow left turn arrow. Like the passive permissive signals, it allows drivers to make safe left turns after the green arrow is off, and is cheaper than physically reconfiguring the traffic lights.

Citing safety concerns, some OC cities are still resistant to signal upgrades. None of Irvine’s 300 signals are passive permissive, as that city is notorious for overly long signal cycles that are a leading cause of driver frustration. As passive permissive signals become more common, motorists will have less patience with the old unresponsive lights. Cities, like Fullerton and La Habra, have found widespread support for more responsive signals, as traffic flow increases and accidents decline.

As Chairman of the OC Transportation Commission’s Highway Committee, I have lead this discussion and secured a positive recommendation that all cities explore more responsive traffic signals

LAFCO Hears West Anaheim Annexation

The OC Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) will hear all sides of the proposed annexation of the West Anaheim county islands by the City of Anaheim. The hearing is set for this Wednesday, August 10 at 9:00 a.m. at the County Hall of Administration (N.W. corner of Broadway and Santa Ana Blvd. in Santa Ana).

An annexation agreement has already been reached between the Board of Supervisors and the Anaheim City Council, which would bring nearly 9,000 West Anaheim residents officially under city jurisdiction. All residents are welcome to share their concerns. Should LAFCO approve the annexation, opponents could force the issue on to the ballot with sufficient signatures.

I have supported the annexation, but can understand the concerns of residents long served by the County. I believe they will be better served in the long run by joining the city of Anaheim.

County Commission Vacancies:

The following commissions currently have vacancies for representation from Fourth District citizens. All interested applicants should call my office at 714-834-3440.

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee: Meets first Wednesday of each moth, 3:00 p.m. Provides advice to the Board of Supervisors regarding future economic directions.

Veterans Advisory Council: Meets 2^nd Wednesday of the month, 7:00 p.m. Advises the Board on various issues affecting OC’s veteran community. Appointee must have served in the U.S. military.

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors (Public Member): Meets 2^nd and 4^th Mondays at 9:00 a.m., plus various committee meetings. Directs various countywide transportation improvements including the spending of the half-cent Measure “M” sales tax. Appointment is made by the OCTA Board as a whole.

OCTA Special Needs in Transit Advisory Committee: Meets as needed, usually at least once per month.

Advises the OCTA regarding special needs and senior transportation issues.