Sheriff Hutchens’ 120-day Report & CCW Permits

As promised in her interview for the appointment, Sheriff-Coroner Sandra Hutchens provided the Board a 120-day “State of the Department” presentation. A couple of highlights worth mentioning include her diligent efforts to establish a special investigative team that is conducting a comprehensive review of the District Attorney’s Special Grand Jury report on the death of John Chamberlain.

Also, I have received numerous communications voicing concern regarding the Sheriff’s new Concealed Weapons Permit (CCW) policy. I took the opportunity to address this issue face-to-face with the Sheriff, both privately and during her public presentation. In response to the Board discussion, I requested that the Sheriff return to the Board with specifics on how she will implement this policy and address her definition of good cause. Finally, I have asked the Sheriff to report on the feasibility of creating an appeal process for CCW permit applicants. To see her entire PowerPoint presentation, please click here.

Office of Independent Review Moves Forward

Office of Independent Review Executive Director Stephen Connolly presented his budget and management implementation plan to the Board. My colleagues and I approved his first phase of hiring staff as included in his budget. To view his entire report and plan, please click here.

Grant Funding for District Attorney Vertical Prosecutions

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office provides vertical prosecution of complex fraud or theft including insurance fraud cases. Besides the Healthcare and Disability Insurance Fraud Program, the District Attorney (DA) also receives State funds to participate in the State Automobile and Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud Investigation and Prosecution Programs.

Vertical prosecution is a more efficient way of completing a prosecution because it ensures the case is handled by the same Deputy District Attorney from the point of filing to closing. The Board authorized the DA to accept the State funding of $662,791 to be utilized by directing effort towards the investigation and prosecution of disability and healthcare insurance fraud cases.

Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act Annual Report

The Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA), AB 1913, was enacted as an urgency statute in 2000, Chapter 353, to reduce juvenile crime and delinquency in the State of California. The Act authorized state funding for each county to develop a comprehensive plan to address juvenile crime. The plan is submitted annually by local Juvenile Justice Coordinating Councils to the State Corrections Standards Authority (formerly known as the Board of Corrections) for approval. To view the required annual report for JJCPA, please click here.

Crime Survivors 5K Run/Walk Health and Safety Expo

On Saturday, October 11, the County’s Department of Child Support Services will participate in the annual Crime Survivors 5K Run/Walk Health and Safety Expo being held at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base. The mission of Crime Survivors is to ensure the public knows victims’ rights and needs as well as to provide resources, support, and information to empower crime victims to survive and thrive. Child Support Services will have exhibit space at the event, highlighting its role to the public on the availability of child support services through the agency. The Crime Survivors Expo will be held from 7 AM to 12 PM. Funds raised from the annual event will benefit Crime Survivors, Inc. programs. For more information, please click here.

High-Risk Drinking Prevention

The Board of Supervisors approved a contract with the North Orange County Community College District for provision of high-risk drinking prevention services at Fullerton College for the 2008-09 academic year. The agreement will support the University Mothers Against Drunk Driving (UMADD) chapter on campus that conducts ongoing campus and community prevention activities. In addition, funding will allow Fullerton College to continue training school leaders, groups, organizations and clubs on techniques to reduce alcohol-related problems. The college will also facilitate the campus/community alcohol prevention coalition. The goal of this coalition is to form partnerships between campus personnel, students and the community to reduce high risk drinking on campus and in the surrounding community.

The consequences of high-risk drinking by college students affect all college campuses and surrounding communities. These consequences include academic problems, injury, alcohol related traffic accidents, assaults, and sometimes death. According to a local implementation of the National College Health Assessment, 45% of community college students who consume alcohol reported binge drinking. Funding from the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Federal Block Grant provides the opportunity for targeted programs and activities to reduce the incidence of high-risk drinking by students.

Emergency Planning Near Nuclear Facilities

California Health and Safety code requires state agencies and local governments located near operational nuclear power plants to conduct offsite emergency response planning. Any state and local costs related to such emergency response planning that are not reimbursed by federal funds are to be borne by the utilities operating the nuclear power plants. Funds and procedures for this emergency planning are handled by the Emergency Manager within the Sheriff’s Department. The Board of Supervisors gave its annual approval for delegation of these duties and policies to ensure the County remains in compliance for reimbursement funding.

With regard to nuclear power plant emergency planning, school districts also have defined responsibilities related to nuclear planning and preparedness (NPP). Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) has nuclear planning and preparedness responsibilities due to its location in South Orange County adjacent to the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. To ensure emergency coordination and potential response, CUSD receives a small portion of funding out of the County's NPP funding. The Board of Supervisors approved CUSD’s request of $16,000 plus a response trailer purchased for $7,956.

South County Disaster Preparedness Expo 2008

As the recent Chino Hills earthquake and this week’s wildfire at Camp Pendleton reminded us all too well, disasters can often strike quickly and without warning. Last year’s devastating Santiago Fire was also painful evidence that such disasters can force many residents to evacuate their neighborhood or confine them to their homes.

The best way to make sure your family and home are safe is to be prepared before disaster strikes. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Get ready. Learn how!

As we approach the one year anniversary of the Santiago Fire, I urge you to attend the South County Disaster Preparedness Expo on October 18 at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center in Mission Viejo, beginning at 9 AM, immediately following the City of Mission Viejo’s “Walk Against Drugs.” For more information, please click here.

Sigma Finance SIV Sale Saves Taxpayers Millions

The last few weeks have been trying, to say the least, learning almost daily that financial institutions such as Washington Mutual and Wachovia hung by a thread or went under. These are tough financial times and as a careful steward of your tax dollars, I am pleased to bring you great information from our Treasurer Tax-Collector, who sold all County holdings in the Sigma Finance SIV (Structured Investment Vehicles) just a day before Lehman Brothers Investment Bank collapsed. Under current market conditions, I am told losses to the County would have surpassed $50 million without the prompt action. To view a recent press release, please click here. For additional information the Treasurer has provided, please click here.

Meet Your Firefighters & Learn How to Prevent Home Fires

Bring your family and friends to see live fire demonstrations, put out make-believe fires, take a ride in a fire engine, try on firefighter turnouts, and discover life and fire safety in a fun-filled environment. Come out and meet your local firefighters while learning how to prevent home fires as the Orange County Fire Authority hosts its 3rd Annual Open House on Saturday, October 11, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its Regional Fire Operations & Training Center located at 1 Fire Authority Road (Jamboree & Tustin Ranch Rd.) in Irvine. For more information, please click here.

County Joining in the Great Southern California ShakeOut

On November 13 at 10 AM, millions of southern Californians will drop to the ground, take cover under a table or desk, and hold on. Is this an earthquake prediction? No, the Great Southern California ShakeOut is a week of special events featuring the largest earthquake drill in United States history, organized to inspire Southern Californians to get ready for big earthquakes and to prevent disasters from becoming catastrophes. What we do now, before the big one, will determine what our lives will be like after. For more information, please click here.

Stay Informed: AlertOC

AlertOC is a mass notification system designed to keep Orange County residents and businesses informed of emergencies and certain community events. By registering with AlertOC, time-sensitive voice messages from the County or City in which you live or work may be sent to your home, cell or business phone. Text messages may also be sent to cell phones, e-mail accounts and hearing impaired receiving devices. For more information, please click here.

Guided Hikes in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Explore the trails and learn about the flora, fauna, geology and history of Laguna Coast Wilderness Park with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalists and OC Parks staff! For more information, please click here.

Saturday, October 11
Signs of Life
8:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Enjoy learning about diverse life forms on this 2.4-mile (100-ft. steep elevation gain) hike with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalists Kathleen Farinacci and Karin Klein. Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Canyon View Staging Area, Gate 7 (from southbound Aliso Creek Road, turn right on Glenwood (turns into Pacific Park) and right on Canyon Vista to Canyon View Park). Reservations required: 949-923-2235.

October Events and Programs at OC Parks

To see a list of events and programs being offered in the month of October at OC Parks throughout Orange County, please click here.

OC Animal Care is now part of the recently created OC Community Resources agency. However, OC Animal Care's website is still located at OCPetinfo.com.

Voters Choosing to Avoid Lines

Between September 20 and October 7, the Orange County Registrar of Voters (ROV) added over 16,000 new vote-by-mail voters. These voters joined the nearly 500,000 voters who choose to permanently vote-by-mail in Orange County. What is significant about these numbers is that nearly 1,000 voters per day have requested a vote-by-mail ballot for November.

The ROV has been actively communicating for months that the turnout and lines for November could be significant and is encouraging voters who do not wish to wait to vote to request a vote-by-mail ballot. Voters can apply online and can also track their vote-by-mail ballot status. Anyone who chooses to vote-by-mail can request a ballot through October 28 and must return the ballot so that it arrives at the ROV no later than 8 p.m. on Election Night (postmarks do not count per California law). For more information, please click here.

Living History Day and Second Saturday Art Fair

On Saturday, October 11, enjoy Mission San Juan Capistrano's Living History Day. Also known as 'Second Saturdays', this event is held the second Saturday of each month from 11 AM to 2 PM. The Living History Society makes history come alive for visitors of Mission San Juan Capistrano and creates drama and intrigue while providing historical information through stories, demonstrations and crafts. For more information, please click here.

Also on October 11, San Juan Capistrano will host their "Second Saturday Art Fair" from 11 AM to 5 PM. The Art Fair is a monthly event, showcasing over 50 artists, craftspeople, musicians, and performers who display their work in the parks and plazas along downtown Camino Capistrano, Verdugo and Los Rios Streets and is held in conjunction with Living History Day. For more information, please click here.

• Attended the Los Rios Park Groundbreaking Ceremony in San Juan Capistrano. For more information, please click here.