Welcome to this edition of the Fifth District Report, an electronic newsletter keeping you updated about the events taking place in Orange County and in the Fifth District. It is my hope that you find this distribution informative and I would encourage you to contact me regarding any thoughts, comments, or concerns you may have.

PatBates@ocgov.com

IN THIS ISSUE...

1. BOARD BULLETIN BOARD

2. TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION

3. DISASTER READINESS, RESPONSE & RECOVERY

4. COUNTY CONNECTIONS

5. SOUTH COUNTY NEWS

6. FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT

7. HEALTH HERALD

8. CRITTER CHRONICLES

9. SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR

10. FIFTH DISTRICT WRAP-UP

OUR STAFF...

Chip Monaco:
Chief of Staff

Sergio Prince:
Executive Director of Public Affairs

Don Hughes:
Executive Policy Advisor

Kristen Thornton:
Executive Policy Advisor

Ray Grangoff:
Executive Policy Advisor

Ruth Strachan:
Office Manager

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Board Rejects Fee

On Tuesday, the Board unanimously voted against a proposed fee that would be charged to members of the public who request an arrest clearance letter. This type of letter, which serves as proof an individual has not been arrested in Orange County, is often requested by people who are going through the process of adopting a child or becoming a citizen.

Though the County faces financial challenges, I do not believe government should pass along extra fees as a way to solve budget shortfalls, especially as our citizens are facing their own financial challenges. The taxpayers of Orange County already pay plenty of taxes for services they receive from their government.

Additionally, I am not in favor of placing a financial barrier, no matter how small, in the way of a person who is trying to adopt or become a citizen. I continue to believe that through fiscal restraint and responsible budgeting, the County of Orange can and should live within its means.

Sheriff Update on State of the Jails and Budget

Sheriff Hutchens provided the Board with an update Tuesday on the status of the Sheriff’s Department’s budget. Looking ahead to fiscal year 2010-2011, the Department is faced with making approximately $65 million in needed cuts. As we prepare for next year’s budget, the Board will be working diligently with the Sheriff’s Department to address this shortfall and preserve necessary public safety services.

Following the Sheriff’s update, Assistant Sheriff Mike James presented an update to the Board on the state of our Orange County Jails. His report indicated that Orange County jails continue to experience declining inmate populations. Assistant Sheriff James also informed the Board that a new class of correctional assistants, replacing sworn deputies in administrative positions in our jails, recently began their training academy. The first correctional assistants are expected to start in the jails early next year. The correctional assistants will eventually compose 30% of jail staff and result in an annual cost savings to the County of over $10 million.

To view a copy of the power point presentation on the budget and jails click here.

Annual Report on the Conditions of Children

The 14th Annual Report on the Conditions of Children was presented to the Board this Tuesday. The report is intended to provide a comprehensive picture of the present condition of children in Orange County and to establish a baseline from which to measure future progress and track changing conditions. To view the report, please click here.

Friends of Libraries Donations

On Tuesday, the Board accepted two generous donations on behalf of South County Libraries. I would like to thank the Laguna Beach Friends of the Library for donating $75,000 to install a new energy efficient lighting system as part of the Laguna Beach Library Renovation. Additionally, I would like to commend the Laguna Niguel Friends of the Library for donating $10,000 worth of new reading material to the Laguna Niguel Library. Friends of the Library programs operate bookstores, hold fundraisers, and solicit donations to provide financial support, reading materials, and program support to the County’s regional library system.

MiOcean Donation

This week, the Board authorized OC Parks to accept a monetary donation from MiOcean, a non-profit organization, in the amount of $15,000 to support projects underway at Strand Beach in Dana Point. The generous donation will go to offset costs associated with the construction of a boardwalk extension that was completed in March 2009 as well as a storm drain improvement project that was completed in May 2009 at the beach. Both projects totaled $202,000.

MiOcean has been a great partner with the County of Orange in addressing urban runoff pollution at our beaches. In addition to this donation, MiOcean has provided more than $200,000 in funding to assist the County in the construction of the Poche Beach Ultraviolet Treatment project in San Clemente. On behalf of the County of Orange, I would like to thank MiOcean for its continued support of our mutual objective to help curb the harmful effects of urban run-off pollution to our local beaches. For more information about MiOcean, please visit http://www.miocean.org/.

Bus Service Reduction Public Hearing

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors will hold a public hearing at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, October 26 at OCTA Headquarters (1st Floor, Room 154, 600 South Main Street, Orange). The purpose of the public hearing is to receive input from the public on the strategies presented to the Board of Directors for reducing bus service. The Board is faced with needing to reduce 300,000 revenue vehicle hours in order to bring bus service to fiscally sustainable levels. The service cuts, once approved, are scheduled to take effect during the March 2010 Service Change. To view background information, service reduction techniques and the approaches the Board may take to reduce service, please click here.

Second Annual Disaster Preparedness Expo a Success!

On Saturday, October 17, I had the great pleasure of hosting the second annual South County Disaster Preparedness Expo. The event, attended by an estimated 5,000 Orange County residents, was held in partnership with the City of Mission Viejo and in conjunction with the City’s “Walk Against Drugs”.

Expo attendees were treated to an impressive array of state-of-the-art emergency response vehicles and equipment, as well as numerous interactive vendor booths featuring a wide spectrum of displays, give-aways, and important information related to emergency readiness, response and recovery. Among the special guest speakers joining me at the Expo were Orange County Fire Chief Keith Richter, Mission Viejo Mayor Frank Ury and Lt. Mike Gavin, Mission Viejo Chief of Police Services.

I want to thank all of our Expo participants, volunteers and generous sponsors who helped make this year’s event another resounding success! To see photos of the second annual South County Disaster Preparedness Expo, please click here. To get ReadyOC, Orange County’s new and improved emergency preparedness resource, please visit www.readyoc.org.

Orange County Network of Care for Veterans

The Orange County Health Care Agency, Behavioral Health Services is launching a new website, the OC Network of Care for Veterans, on Saturday, November 14. The launch will be held as part of a National Alliance on Menal Illness (NAMI) Frontline event, which focuses on educating the community about services and other resources available for Orange County veterans and their families.

The Veterans’ Network of Care website www.orange.networkofcare.org/Veterans is a valuable community resource that provides a one-stop shop for services, information, support, and advocacy related to veterans, their families, and those who provide services to veterans. It is also a resource for all components of the veterans’ community, including active duty personnel, reservists, families, members of the National Guard, employers, and the community at large.

For more information on the launch of Orange County’s Veterans Network of Care website, please click here.

Halloween at the Zoo

Take part in the Halloween fun happening at the Orange County Zoo. Come dressed as your favorite animal, or any other fun costume, and enjoy crafts for kids, face painting, trick-or-treating and a scavenger hunt! The first 100 children (ages 12 & under) in costume will receive a free gift! The animals will get to join in on the fun as they receive treat-filled pumpkins throughout the day. The event will take place on Halloween Day, October 31, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Orange County Zoo located at 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange. For more information, please call (714) 973-6846.

Libations with Legislators

The South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce is hosting its annual legislative meet and greet, “Libations with Legislators,” on Thursday, November 5 from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at the Saddleback Memorial Medical Center. Federal, state, county and local elected officials will meet and mingle with south Orange County business owners and residents in an informal setting.

In addition, two-time Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist and author Michael Ramirez will offer insightful and humorous observations of current events.

The event is co-hosted by the Orange County Business Council, Orange County Association of Realtors, Orange County Division - League of California Cities and the Orange County Chapter of the Building Industry Association of Southern California, UCI, Ware Disposal and Orange County Community Associations Institute. For more information about this event, please click here.

San Juan Capistrano Honored for Public Works Projects

The City of San Juan Capistrano will receive a 2009 Project of the Year Award and a National Public Works Week Award from the Southern California Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) on December 10 for two outstanding environmental and community projects benefiting the City.

The Project of the Year Award will be presented in honor of the City’s revolutionary, new Virtual Trail Tour. With funding provided by the San Juan Equestrian Coalition, the City worked with Digital Map Products to map and create a virtual trail tour of the City’s roughly 40 miles of trails. 250 videos were created and loaded onto YouTube, providing the first interactive virtual tour of a City's entire trail system. These videos provide a great informational tool for residents, hikers and bikers alike.

Additionally, the National Public Works Week Award will be presented in honor of the City’s Community Tree Planting event that took place earlier this year. On May 20, residents came out in force to help staff from the Public Works Department plant 27 donated oak trees at San Juan Creek Neighborhood Park in honor of Public Works Week, a week designated to highlight the essential efforts of public works employees nationwide.

Seasonal and H1N1 Flu Vaccine Update

Seasonal flu vaccines are now available through local pharmacies, community clinics, and private providers. To find a list of locations providing the seasonal flu vaccine, please click here. Those who are at greatest risk of medical complications and/or transmitting influenza to others - including people 50 years of age and older, children 6 months through 18 years of age, pregnant women, caregivers, and anyone with chronic diseases - are encouraged to obtain both the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccinations this year to increase their protection against influenza and its potential complications.

Due to unforeseen delays in the federal government’s distribution of the H1N1 vaccine, Orange County is now expected to receive the vaccine in mid-November. For more information on the availability of the H1N1 vaccine, individuals are encouraged to contact their primary health care provider or visit the Health Care Agency H1N1 website at http://ochealthinfo.com/h1n1/. As always, it is important to wash your hands frequently and stay home if you are ill to help prevent the spread of diseases.

Free Flu Shot Clinic in Mission Viejo

The City of Mission Viejo is hosting a free flu shot clinic through the Orange County Health Care Agency for people 60 years of age and older on Thursday, November 5. The annual flu shot clinic will take place from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm (as the vaccine is available) at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way. Drive-through service will be available for those with handicapped placards. Anyone allergic to eggs or who are running a high fever should refrain from getting the flu shot. For more information, please call (949) 470-3062.

Family Pet Day Extravaganza

Friends of Lake Forest Animals and the City of Lake Forest are teaming up to host the second annual Family Pet Day Extravaganza. Enjoy a day full of animal vendors, rescues, entertainment, food and much more. This will be a day to remember for all your family members - 2 and 4 legged alike! Don’t miss out. The event will take place Saturday, November 7 at Pittford Park in Lake Forest from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. For more information about this event, please click here.

Dana Point Cleanup Day

Are you ready to clean out those bulky items that are taking up space in your garage? The City of Dana Point is teaming up with CR&R to host a Cleanup Day on Saturday, October, 24 from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm at Dana Hills High School and Palisades Elementary School. Bulky items such as large appliances, furniture, televisions, computers, printers, fax machines, copiers, green waste, and other large items will be accepted for FREE by the City’s waste hauler CR&R. The Goodwill Industries will also be available to accept donated items. For more information, please click here.

Aliso Viejo Fall Harvest Festival

The Aliso Viejo Community Association (AVCA) will host its Fall Harvest Festival, a beloved community event that caters to all ages on Saturday, October 24. The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at Grand Park, nestled near Aliso Viejo Town Center.

The event includes family games, pony rides, crafts, balloon twisters, entertainment and a costume parade. Be sure to sport your favorite costume for the parade that kicks off at 10:30 am.

The City of Aliso Viejo is a community partner in the event that includes a canned-food drive to benefit the less fortunate in the county. Bring three canned-food items and you will be entered in an opportunity drawing to win a prize.

For more information about AVCA's Fall Harvest Festival and suggested canned-food items, visit www.avca.net or the City's Web site at www.cityofalisoviejo.com. Information is also available by calling (949) 243-7411.

Un-Halloween Carnival

Capistrano Valley Christian School is taking the fright out of Halloween night with an Un-Halloween Carnival. Taking place from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm on October 31, the Carnival will feature clowns, game booths, hay rides and a Ferris wheel. All income will benefit a charity food program next year. The event will take place at the school’s athletic field, located at 32032 Del Obispo in San Juan Capistrano. For more information, please call (949) 661-4991.

In addition to my many meetings, briefings, and other supervisorial activities, I also:

• Hosted the Second Annual South County Disaster Expo in Mission Viejo
• Attended the Laguna Niguel Women’s Club 40th Birthday Charity Fashion Show Celebration
• Met with OCFA Fire Chief Keith Richter and OC Parks Director Mark Denny to discuss implementing an OC Fire Watch program in our County Wilderness Parks. Stay tuned for more information.
• Provided a County Update at the Coto de Caza/Rancho Santa Margarita del Sol Rotary Club meeting
• Met with the Sheriff to discuss OCSD budget issues
• Joined Orange County elected officials in the Laguna Woods Republican Club’s “Great Ones on Parade” Fashion Show