Look for burgers to return to Aliso Beach this summer! At Tuesday's Board meeting, my fellow Supervisor's and I approved plans for the construction of new restrooms and a concession building at Aliso Beach Park - located in South Laguna Beach. The project provides for the demolition of the existing restroom and concession building (which is the remaining portion of the former pier that was demolished by storms in 1997) and construction of a new restroom and concession building on another site within the Park. The new facility will also provide ADA compliant restrooms. For general information about Aliso Beach Park, please click here.

At Tuesday's Board meeting, my colleagues and I approved Commercial Day Camp Licenses for Junior Lifeguard Programs with US Ocean Safety, Inc. and California Junior Lifeguard Programs, Inc. at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point.

California Junior Lifeguard Programs are dedicated to providing young participants with the best instruction in ocean safety and lifeguarding skills. The junior lifeguard instructors are professionals in the areas of ocean safety and related activities. For more information about California Junior Lifeguard Programs, please click here or visit http://www.JrLifeGuards.com

The Orange County Legislative Bulletin provides the Board of Supervisors with analyses of measures pending in Sacramento and Washington that are of interest to the County. To view the Orange County Legislative Bulletin as approved by the Board of Supervisors on March 13, 2007, please click here.

On Tuesday, March 13, the Board of Supervisors approved a resolution to initiate the 2007 Weed Abatement Program and authorize a public hearing to be set for April 17, 2007, to consider any protests to removal of fire hazards by the County contractor.

The objective of the Weed Abatement Program is to provide a reasonable degree of fire safety to unincorporated areas of the County and to abate serious fire concerns. By encouraging residents, businesses, and other property owners of Orange County to take responsibility for the removal of hazardous vegetation, as well as the consistent use and maintenance of fuel and fire breaks in designated areas, we hope to keep the public safe from the ravages of wildfires such as the Laguna Firestorm of 1993. By closely examining how and why these devastating fires occur in the first place, we can be better prepared to avoid the loss of life and property that might otherwise occur. For more information about the Orange County Weed Abatement Program, please visit http://www.ocagcomm.com/va_introduction.asp

To download a vegetation hazard complaint form and properly register a complaint about vegetation problems located within the unincorporated areas of Orange County, please click here.

The Windy Ridge fire broke out shortly before 8 a.m. Sunday when a white 2004 Honda Civic stolen in Riverside was set ablaze in brush near the toll booth. Authorities are searching for witnesses who might have seen anyone running or leaving the vicinity of the southbound Eastern (241) Toll Road one mile south of the Riverside (91) Freeway on Sunday morning.

"It was arson. Whoever started the car fire will be held responsible for the larger blaze," Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Stephen Miller said.

The fire was contained Tuesday but not before it burned 2,036 acres and three structures, and caused the evacuation of approximately 1,200 residents in Anaheim Hills and Orange. Anyone who might have seen anything suspicious is asked to call their local police or the Fire Authority arson tip line at 800-540-8282.

For more information about the Windy Ridge fire, please click here.

To view pictures of the fire, please click here.

Fire officials shut down most of the lanes of the San Diego (I-5) Freeway on Tuesday afternoon during a 2-acre fire that threatened a water facility just south of Oso Parkway. Southbound traffic backed up for miles after a vegetation fire forced police to close all but the carpool lane on the south lanes of the freeway. The northbound lanes also virtually stopped because of motorists slowing to watch the flames, some reaching 30 feet high. During that time, fire officials also issued a brief rail line closure for the area. The cause of the fire is unclear.

The Orange County Transportation Authority OCTA Board of Directors and I approved a $250,000 project to synchronize traffic signals along Oso Parkway and Pacific Park Drive beginning in the fall. The section to be synchronized begins at the corner of Pacific Park Drive and Canyon Vistas in Aliso Viejo, then runs east as Pacific Park Drive turns into Oso Parkway, all the way to the intersection of Oso Parkway and the 241 Toll Road in the east. The eight-mile route includes 34 traffic signals and traverses six cities and unincorporated areas of the county between Aliso Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita. The project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2008.

Orange County has several low-cost transportation options for people unable to use regular public transportation such as:

• Senior Non-Emergency Medical Transportation [SNEMT Flyer] provides older adults access to non-emergency medical appointments including therapies, dentistry, prescription pick-ups, testing, and x-rays. Curb-to-curb and door-to-door services are available. For more information, please call (800) 510-2020 or visit http://www.officeonaging.ocgov.com/
• ACCESS is the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) shared-ride service for people unable to use the regular, fixed-route bus service due to functional limitations caused by a disability. OCTA has a formal certification process that follows ADA guidelines. To request an application, please call (714) 560-5956, TDD (714) 560-5474, or visit http://www.octa.net/
• OCTA’s Senior Mobility Program provides services to fill gaps between local fixed route buses and ADA paratransit or ACCESS service. Participating cities include Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, La Habra, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Westminster and Yorba Linda. For more information, please visit http://www.octa.net/

2-1-1 Orange County provides a comprehensive information and referral system that links Orange County residents to community health and human services programs and support. Callers seeking assistance dial toll free 2-1-1 and are connected with certified, multi-lingual Information and Referral (I&R) Specialists who provide information on food services, shelter/housing resources, urgent care, medical/dental/vision services, equipment resources for older adults, government assistance programs, parks and recreation departments, and much more. 2-1-1 operators are ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, please visit http://www.211oc.org

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is offering free rides on Metrolink from the San Clemente North Beach station from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 25. Experience loads of fun exploring new adventures such as dining in downtown Fullerton, shopping at the Irvine Spectrum (free shuttle service available), enjoying the beach in Oceanside, touring Olvera Street in Los Angeles or dining in Old Pasadena. For more information, please click here.

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

• Was sworn-in as an alternate member to the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). To learn more about LAFCO, please click here.
• Met with Joyce Crosthwaite, Executive Director of LAFCO regarding Rancho Mission Viejo's governance proposal and the Municipal Service Review report for the Municipal Water District of Orange County.
• Met with Nacho Ochoa and Harry Persaud of the Resources and Development Management Department (RDMD) to review the transportation alternatives being addressed by the South Orange County Major Investment Study (SOCMIS).
• Hosted my 8th Annual St. Paddy's Day Celebration at Hennesy's Tavern in Dana Point.

My staff and I look forward to continually providing you updated information in our Fifth District newsletter and website.

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