It has been a busy week at the Hall of Administration! In addition to serving as your Supervisor for Orange County’s beautiful Fifth District, I am also proud to have been appointed with the support of my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors to the following Boards, Commissions and Committees for 2007.

• California State Association of Counties: Regular Member / Elected to Executive Board
• Children and Families Commission: Alternate Member
• Coastal Greenbelt Authority: District 5 Board Member
• Emergency Management Council: Alternate Member #3
• Fire Authority: Regular Member #1
• Library Advisory Board: Regular Member
• Local Agency Formation Commission: Alternate Member
• National Association of Counties: Alternate Member
• Newport Bay Watershed Executive Committee: Alternate Member
• Orange County Council of Governments: Alternate Member
• Orange County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners: District 5 Board Member
• Orange County Transportation Authority: District 5 Board Member
• South Orange County Public Financing Authority: District 5 Board Member
• Southern California Water Committee: Regular Member
• Talega Joint Planning Authority Board of Directors: District 5 Board Member
• Transportation Corridor – Eastern/Foothill: District 5 Board Member
• Transportation Corridor – San Joaquin Hills: District 5 Board Member
• Urban County Caucus: Regular Member

As District 5 Board Member on the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), I was selected by the OCTA Board of Directors to also serve as:

• Member of the Executive Committee
• Chair of the Legislative and Government Affairs / Public Communications Committee
• Chair of South County Major Investment Study
• Member of the Finance and Administration Committee

The El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) – the coalition of South County cities that successfully united to stop the El Toro airport – met on Monday for the last time at Lake Forest City Hall, ceasing operations after tirelessly battling pro-airport forces for over a decade.

Bestowing much of the credit of our victory to others, ETRPA approved the following resolution:

• Declare the Board's gratitude to the hundreds of thousands of citizen volunteers who contributed their time, money, leadership and inspiration to the successful effort to save Orange County from an unwanted, unneeded and unsafe airport.
• Declare the Authority's mission has been accomplished and that the Authority is no longer needed.
• Direct staff to transfer all remaining public records to the Orange County Archives.
• Complete required financial reports; pay all obligations and direct staff to distribute remaining funds to the cities that contributed them.

As a founding member and past Vice Chair of ETRPA, I regret not being able to attend Monday’s meeting but did send my Director of Public Affairs, Sergio Prince, in my place. As a longtime veteran of the El Toro airport battle, Sergio read a statement to the ETRPA Board on my behalf. Thank you very much, ETRPA, for a job well done!

To read my statement to the ETRPA Board, please click here.

To view photos of the meeting courtesy of Supervisor Bill Campbell, please click here.

To read the ETRPA resolution, please click here.

To read ETRPA’s final staff report, please click here.

The California Department of Water Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board just announced Proposition 50, Chapter 8 grant awards. The South Orange County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) was one of seven statewide proposals recommended for funding. As a result, South County will receive $25 million in state grants for enhancing our water supply, water quality and natural habitat thanks to the efforts of Marilyn Thoms, South Orange County Watershed Manager and Larry McKenney, Director, Watershed and Coastal Resources Division, Resources and Development Management Department. This is wonderful news for South County!

Dana Point Harbor Department officials provided me with an overview of the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan. This harbor enhancement project is a partnership of boaters, harbor merchants, the County of Orange, City of Dana Point and visitors. Upcoming improvement projects and their estimated start dates include the launch ramp reconstruction (Fall 2006), harbor dredging (Fall 2007), commercial core redevelopment (Winter 2007) and marina slips (Fall 2008). The next public workshop focusing on the marina’s design will take place on Tuesday, January 30, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. at the Youth & Group Facility, 34451 Ensenada Place, Dana Point. For more information about the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan, please visit http://www.dphplan.com/index.html.

At the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors meeting on Monday, I called for a cooperative effort between Orange County and San Diego County to study transportation issues and opportunities that involve our two counties. The SR 91 Advisory committee addresses transportation issues of mutual concern to Orange and Riverside Counties. On Monday, the OCTA Board voted to conduct a study focusing on transportation issues between Orange and Los Angeles Counties. It is time we formalize a cooperative transportation planning effort with our neighboring County to the south.

I’m very pleased to report that OCTA has approved a pilot program which will enable the California Department of Transportation to oversee the Federal highway Administration’s responsibilities as stipulated in the National Environmental Policy Act. This pilot program responds to a statewide effort to streamline the environmental process and will initially be applied to the 405 Freeway. It is estimated this will eliminate one year of process time. I was proud to vote in favor of this program as it is consistent with my pledge to work to implement regulations and procedures that will shorten the timeline for delivery of transportation projects.

This week the Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with the District Attorney and Forensic Science Services, Ltd. (FSS) to create an independent local database for DNA profiling of criminals that have committed crimes in Orange County. FSS will provide forensic software, DNA sample collection kits and sample analysis. FSS will turn around DNA profiles within 5 days to the District Attorney. This will improve the County’s ability to accurately and swiftly convict criminals and get them off our streets faster. Orange County is the first county in the nation to implement such database using a world leader in DNA forensic technology.

The 2007-2008 Capitol Fellowship Program is accepting applications from those interested in being an Assembly, Executive, Judicial, or Senate Fellow in Sacramento. The deadline for applications is February 28, 2007. Fellows receive a monthly stipend of $1,972 in addition to benefits and will earn 12 graduate level units from California State University, Sacramento. While I served in the Assembly, I was fortunate to have Assembly fellows assigned to my office at various times. Click here for more information about the program.

Among my numerous meetings, briefings, and other supervisorial activities, I also:

• Was sworn-in to the OCTA Board of Directors and attended the Finance & Administration Committee meeting.
  
  
• Attended the Orange County Business Council's 2007 Annual Dinner. The event featured an installation ceremony for the Business Council's 2007 Board of Directors. I had the honor of leading the more than 700 attendees in the Flag Salute. To view photos of the event, please click here.
  
  
• Gave a speech to the Orange County Taxpayers Association Board of Directors which was followed by Q & A. In keeping with their Mission Statement, we also discussed ways they could assist me in helping to make taxes and government "fair, understandable, cost-effective, and good for business.”
  
  

My staff and I look forward to continually providing you with updated pertinent information in our newsletter. Stay tuned as we will soon be launching our new website. I hope you will find them both useful.

Please feel free to contact my office with your comments or questions at (714) 834-3550.

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your Supervisor for Orange County's beautiful Fifth District. Thank you so much for your support!

As always,

Pat