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. COUNTY CONNECTIONS

4. SOUTH COUNTY NEWS

5. HEALTH HERALD

6. ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS

7. SAFETY SENTINEL

8. CRITTER CHRONICLES

9. NOTES FROM THE FIELD

10. SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR

11. FIFTH DISTRICT WRAP-UP

OUR STAFF...

Chip Monaco:
Chief of Staff

Don Hughes:
Policy Advisor

Sergio Prince:
Policy Advisor

Kristen Thornton:
Policy Advisor

Ray Grangoff:
Policy Advisor

Sabrina Ross:
Policy Advisor

Katie Angotti:
Policy Assistant

Ruth Strachan:
Office Manager

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No Board Meeting this Week

There was no regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Supervisors this week.

Our next Board meeting will be held Tuesday, March 30. For Agenda & Meeting Information, please click here.

Live Internet broadcasts of Board of Supervisors meetings are available and archived as video-on-demand. To view live and/or past Board meetings, please click here.

County Cost for Grant Applications

Our County CEO has analyzed the County’s cost to prepare grant applications for one-time grants compared to the actual amount of the grant awards the County receives.

Four one-time grants from FY 08-09 were randomly selected to be reviewed. The total grant funds awarded was $1,014,231. The total staff cost to prepare the grant applications was $12,735. From this comparison the Board was pleased to learn our grant application process is well worth staff time and effort.

Farewell to OCTA Deputy CEO Jim Keenan

The Orange County Transportation Authority says goodbye this week to one of its most veteran and influential executives, Jim Kenan. Mr. Kenan has been a tremendous asset to OCTA for more than 30 years, leaving behind a legacy of transportation projects that have served commuters throughout the County well. I would like to thank Mr. Kenan for all of his hard work and extend very best wishes to him in his retirement.

San Juan Capistrano Revitalizing City Streets

In an effort to extend the life of city streets and provide motorists with a smoother ride, the City of San Juan Capistrano has several street rehabilitation projects scheduled for this spring. The projects are expected to begin April 12 and take three months to complete. San Juan Creek Road is the first street slated for improvement. For more information and a list of other streets scheduled for improvements, please click here.

Transportation Meeting Reminder

The Orange County Transportation Authority, in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation and the cities of San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano, are proposing the addition of one High Occupancy Vehicle (or “carpool lane”) in each direction from Avenida Pico to San Juan Creek Road on the I-5 Freeway.

To provide the public with more information on the project and the Initial Study/Environmental Assessment, Caltrans is holding a Public Information Open House on Monday, March 29 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the San Clemente Community Center (100 N. Calle Seville). For more information, please call the OCTA at (714) 560-5374.

LAFCO Seeks Public Member

The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) is accepting applications from individuals throughout the County interested in serving as the regular public member on LAFCO. Currently, I serve as an alternate member and would love to see another 5th District resident on this very important commission.

LAFCO is a vital agency which oversees all jurisdictional changes within the County of Orange. The agency manages incorporation of new cities, annexation of land to cities and special districts as well as the consolidation and dissolution of public agencies.

LAFCO meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. The public member would be expected to attend all meetings. The existing commission will select and appoint the public member to a four-year term at the June 2010 regular LAFCO meeting. The deadline to submit cover letters/resumes is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 12. The LAFCO office is located at 12 Civic Center Plaza, Room 235 in Santa Ana.

For more information, call (714) 834-2556. Information is also available at www.oclafco.org.

Orange County Registrar of Voters Seeks Volunteers

The Orange County Registrar of Voters (ROV) needs over 6,000 volunteers to assist with the various tasks that are required to conduct the upcoming June 8, 2010 Statewide Primary Election. Since June is a busy month for most of us, the Registrar typically has a more difficult time finding volunteers this time of year. If you or someone you know is interested in participating in any of the various Election Day volunteer opportunities, please visit www.ocvote.com.

Crown Valley Pool to Re-Open April 1

The City of Laguna Niguel’s Crown Valley Community Pool will re-open to the public on April 1 following a two month extensive renovation project. The project included a complete renovation of the pool shell and interior surface, replacement of the filtration system, and reconstruction of the diving platform. For more information, please click here.

Dedication of Veterans' Memorial at Strand Vista Park

A dedication to the new Veterans’ Memorial at Strand Vista Park in Dana Point will be held on Monday, April 12 at 11:30 a.m. The Memorial recognizes all five armed services, including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. The Veterans of Foreign Wars and the 5th Marine Regiment will be in attendance. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. For questions or more information, please call (949) 248-3597.

Laguna Beach Buys Bluebird Canyon Open Space

The Laguna Beach City Council has agreed to buy 3.2 acres along the north side of Bluebird Canyon Drive to add to the City’s open space. The property is part of a larger parcel owned by the Hopkins Trust, containing land on both sides of Bluebird Canyon Drive. The trust will continue to own the land south of the street.

Money to buy the land will come from the City’s Open Space Fund and the Capital Improvement Fund. Before the purchase is finalized, the Laguna Beach Planning Commission must approve the sale agreement and lot line adjustment.

Leadership San Clemente Program

The 2010 Leadership San Clemente Program will take place from April 8, 2010 to May 27, 2010. Classes are held each Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The class is filling up quickly, and applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested in applying or wish to learn more about the Leadership San Clemente program, please click here.

Santa Margarita Water District Sewage Spill Response

This past Tuesday, March 23, the County’s Environmental Health Department was notified by the Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) of a sewage spill in the Fifth District. The spill was caused by a line break from one of SMWD’s facilities allowing 250,000 gallons of raw sewage to overflow into Tijeras Creek.

Environmental Health immediately worked with SMWD management staff to determine the status and extent of the ongoing sewage spill. County staff determined that the initial sewage spill amount could not be contained downstream and would subsequently flow into San Juan Creek and the surf zone at Doheny State Beach.

To protect public health and ensure that all recreational water users would not be affected, Environmental Health proactively closed the ocean water areas of Doheny State Beach, Capistrano County Beach, and Capistrano Bay Community Beach. County staff was also able to work with the California State Park Lifeguards and County Lifeguard agencies to initiate closure procedures. Environmental Health has started daily ocean water monitoring of the affected area and will keep the area closed until the water quality results meet acceptable State bacteriological standards.

Environmental Health is currently participating in the multi-agency response to the ongoing incident by providing staff support at the SMWD incident command post, coordinating with OC Public Works in spill response efforts and providing updated beach closure information to the public and lifeguard agencies. For more information or to monitor the beach closure, please visit http://ocbeachinfo.com/

Free Compost Give-Away!

To commemorate Earth Day, CR&R Waste and Recycling Services together with the cities of Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills and Rancho Santa Margarita will distribute 30 pound bags of processed green waste (compost) to their valued customers. It is their way of thanking the community for supporting recycling programs. The free give-away event will take place on Saturday, April 24 from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 am. (while supplies last) at the City of San Juan Capistrano City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

Due to the high demand and limited supply, CR&R wants to ensure that each person who waits in line receives at least two bags of compost, so please remember that they will distribute only two bags per person with this coupon.

Cyber Safety

In an effort to educate parents and caregivers of the Internet dangers facing children and teens today, Aliso Viejo Police Services and the Orange County Sheriff's Department will give an interactive presentation on March 31 at 7:15 p.m. at the Aliso Niguel High School Theater, 28000 Wolverwine Way.

The seminar, “Keeping your Kids Safe in the Real and Cyber World”, will teach parents how to be proactive in keeping their kids safe online. Attendees will get the latest information about social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, current trends in text messaging and other valuable information.

Orange County Sheriff's Investigator Jeff Brown will lead the program that is designed for parents and guardians only. The Aliso Niguel High School PTSA welcomes parents from Aliso Viejo Middle School, Don Juan Avila Middle School and elementary schools in Aliso Viejo. For more information, call (949) 831-5590.

This Easter Give Chocolate Rabbits, Not Real Ones

As the Easter holiday approaches, parents may be tempted to get their children pet rabbits. Many people assume rabbits would be great pets for kids and that they don’t require expensive veterinary care, but that isn’t exactly the case.

In fact, rabbits generally do not like being picked up, which children are often tempted to do. It’s when they struggle to get away that injury could result to either the rabbit or the child. Also, rabbits do require some veterinary services which often require the care of more expensive specialists.

In the weeks following Easter, it is common to see an influx in abandoned rabbits at local parks and animal shelters. Therefore, if you’re considering purchasing a rabbit this year make sure to do your research beforehand to ensure it will be a good fit for your family. If not, consider giving the universally enjoyable alternative, a chocolate rabbit! For more information about rabbits and advice about whether they would be right for your family, please click here.

Blooms Abound on Wildflower Blog

With spring comes wildflower season in Southern California and OC Parks has some of the best blooms around. This year, Park Rangers and staff are posting photos and locations of the blooms they find on the brand new OC Parks Wildflower Blog at http://www.ocparkswildflowers.blogspot.com.

The brilliance of each season depends on the intensity of winter rainfall and the natural aftermath of fire recovery. At the wilderness areas of OC Parks, the 2010 wildflower showing is proving most beautiful in recently burned areas, including Santiago Oaks Regional Park and Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park. The wild floral shows began to bud and bloom in early March and should remain until the beginning of May at some parks.

Caspers Wilderness Park quite possibly has the largest and most dramatic wildflower population. Fields full of California Poppy, pristine Chocolate Lilly, and towering Lupine stems can be discovered throughout the season on Loskorn and West Ridge trails located just north of the visitor’s center in the park.

For upcoming wildflower hikes, check the OC Parks’ event page by clicking here.

5th District Easter Events

Easter is right around the corner and a number of Fifth District cities are hosting activities that will be fun for the family! Here are some events that every “bunny” will love happening right in your neck of the woods:

Aliso Viejo Spring Celebration and Pancake Breakfast

Saturday, March 27 from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Grand Park in the Aliso Viejo Town Center.
$5 for adults and $4 for kids under 10.
www.avca.net

Dana Point Egg Hunts

Saturday, April 3 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Pines Park, 34941 Camino Capistrano, Capo Beach AND
Sea Canyon Park, 33093 Santiago Drive, Dana Point
For ages up to 10 years old
http://www.danapoint.org/index.aspx?page=68&recordid=2633

Laguna Hills Late Night Flashlight Egg Hunt

Friday, April 2 from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Town Green at the Laguna Hills Community Center and Sports Complex
Price: $5 for residents and $7 for non-residents
Ages 7-14
https://activenet4.active.com/lagunahillscs/

Laguna Hills Mr. Bunny and Friend

Saturday, April 3 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
The Heritage Room at the Laguna Hills Community Center
Ages 1-6
https://activenet4.active.com/lagunahillscs/

Laguna Niguel Bunny Blast

Saturday, April 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Chapparosa Park, 25191 Chapparosa Park Road
$7 for children 2-12 and $2 for teens 13+
http://www.ci.laguna-niguel.ca.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=1545

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

• Presented a certificate of appreciation to Superintendent Dr. Robert Fraisse recognizing his dedication to high academic standards for the students of the Laguna Beach School District
• Provided an update on South County transportation projects to the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce Legislative and Transportation Committee
• Attended the Laguna Niguel Historical Society meeting
• Chaired the Coastal Coalition meeting
• Attended the American Heart Association Annual Go Red for Women Luncheon
• Presented a County update to the South Orange County Chapter of the California Republican Assembly
• Made a presentation at the Laguna Niguel Republican Women Federated membership meeting