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. SAFETY SENTRY

4. REGISTRAR REGISTER

5. HEALTH HERALD

6. SOUTH COUNTY NEWS

7. CRITTER CHRONICLES

8. SENIOR SENTINEL

9. ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS

10. NOTES FROM THE FIELD

11. FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT

12. SOUTH COUNTY SUMMER CONCERTS

13. FIFTH DISTRICT WRAP-UP

OUR STAFF...

Don Hughes:
Chief of Staff

Kristen Thornton:
Deputy Chief of Staff

Ray Grangoff:
Deputy Chief of Staff

Sergio Prince:
Policy Advisor

Sabrina Ross:
Policy Advisor

Brian Probolsky:
Policy Advisor

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, August 17. 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.

Asphalt Overlay Project Improves Traction on 73 Toll Road

In July, Caltrans resumed work on the SR 73 Asphalt Overlay Project, which originally began in September 2009. Part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the project is funded entirely through stimulus funds and entails resurfacing the roadway from Interstate 5 to Bonita Canyon Road to extend the life of the pavement and improve drainage and vehicle traction.

The project was originally scheduled for completion in April 2010, but operations were suspended last winter, as rubberized asphalt cannot be effectively placed on the roadway if the temperature drops below 55 degrees in the evening. Construction operations will take place over the next few months and will be completed later this year. The 73 Toll Road is a state highway and, therefore, owned and maintained by Caltrans. Tolls collected go toward the cost of constructing and maintaining the road.

On a separate note, The Toll Roads’ Boards of Directors recently approved Fiscal Year 2011 (FY11) budgets, with expenditure cuts that put them below last year’s budgets and estimated actuals. With approval of the budgets, both Boards of Directors opted not to raise toll rates or fees in FY11. This is the first time in 8 years there has not been an annual toll rate increase on the 73 Toll Road. For more information, please click here.

Metrolink OC Line to Temporarily Cancel Service

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, in support of the Metrolink Service Expansion Program, will conduct extensive signal work on Sunday, August 22, resulting in a full-track closure north of the Anaheim station in the Fullerton area.

In 2005, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors approved the Metrolink Service Expansion Program to provide more frequent train service between Fullerton and Laguna Niguel / Mission Viejo. The $382.5 million program is primarily funded by Measure M, Orange County's half-cent sales transportation tax.

OCTA chose to cancel Orange County Line service on August 22 to avoid considerable delays to passengers. To that end, trains 661, 662, 663 and 664 will not operate that day. Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner will provide limited service during this time. The track closures will not impact the Inland Empire-Orange County Line service.

Aliso Viejo Traffic Improvement Project Update

A project to improve traffic at the intersection of Pacific Park Drive and Aliso Creek Road in Aliso Viejo is on target to be completed by the end of the month. The Pacific Park and Aliso Creek Road Intersection Project includes adding right-turn lanes from eastbound Pacific Park onto Aliso Creek Road and northbound Aliso Creek Road onto Pacific Park Drive.

The project began early July and heavy construction is expected to be finished by the end of the month, weather permitting. Striping and other follow-up work should be completed by Labor Day. Construction takes place 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily. For more information, please click here.

OCFA Headquarters To Close Every Other Friday

In an effort to reduce costs and maintain operational efficiency, the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) will be synchronizing the work schedule for staff at the Regional Fire Operations and Training Center (RFOTC) in Irvine. The new schedule will close the facility every other Friday, beginning August 20, 2010.

This change will affect customers that come to the RFOTC to conduct business, such as plan checks or to request a copy of an incident report. However, the change will not affect emergency services in any way. For more information, please click here.

Registrar of Voters Provides General Election Info Via Email

The Registrar of Voters (ROV) is responsible for conducting elections in the County of Orange, the 5th largest voting jurisdiction in the United States, with 1.6 million registered voters. The ROV is a County agency, which receives funding from the County’s General Fund and periodic reimbursement from the federal government, the State of California and local jurisdictions. For more information, please click here.

Last week, the ROV began sending electronic election newsfeeds for the November 2, 2010 Statewide General Election. The newsfeeds provide insight into the day-to-day operations of the County's elections office. Received by email, or accessed online, the newsfeeds are a great way for the media, campaigns and any interested citizen to keep informed on deadlines, ballot processing and more. Many questions are answered before they are asked through this up-to-the-minute service. For more information, please click here.

Mobile Multi Service Center Coming to South County

Last year, the Board of Supervisors joined Illumination Foundation (IF) in officially launching the Mobile Multi Service Center (MMSC). This partnership with the Orange County Health Care Agency, Giving Children Hope and the Lestonnac Free Clinic travels throughout Orange County, providing free medical care and wrap-around services to the homeless, as well as assistance to those at risk of homelessness before they reach a crisis situation, and connects the homeless with services to help them reach self-sufficiency.

IF’s focus is primarily on the homeless population; however, IF also serves those with no health insurance, as there are currently many people in this predicament. As such, IF and the MMSC partners will hold their next mobile clinic Wednesday, August 18, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at San Luis Rey Park in San Clemente. For more information, please click here. For more information about Illumination Foundation, please click here.

Basketball Hoop Reminder for Unincorporated Communities

It is summertime, and many of you may be enjoying the beautiful weather with your families and playing games such as basketball outside your homes. On this note, my office has received concerns from South County unincorporated communities about residents leaving basketball hoops in the public “right-of-way,” areas not within a residents’ driveway or property lines.

This makes it difficult for the County to conduct street sweeping and can also limit available parking. Please make sure you do not leave basketball hoops in the street. The County of Orange will post notices on basketball hoops left in the public “right-of-way” and inspectors will return after 10 days to ensure the hoops have been moved. Any hoops remaining in the public’s way after 10 days are subject to removal by Orange County Public Works and the Sheriff’s Department. Thank you for your cooperation!

3RD Annual ‘Angels for Animals’ Event

Join OC Animal Care and The Angels Baseball Foundation for the 3rd annual Angels for Animals event at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Come see adorable animals available for adoption and meet the Angels’ wives on Saturday, August 14 from 4:00 PM through the 2nd inning.

Proceeds from this special event will benefit the Angels Baseball Foundation and local animal shelters. For more information, please click here.

Summer Safety Tips for Seniors

August is generally the hottest month of the year in Orange County. People 65 years of age or older are at particular risk for heat-related illnesses because they may not compensate for heat stress efficiently and may be less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature.

To prepare for the warm summer months, the Orange County Office on Aging is now offering FREE plastic sun visors, collapsible cups, and stainless steel water bottles. The visors can help keep the sun off your face and cool you down a bit. The collapsible cups can easily be slipped into a pocket or put into a purse. The cups and water bottles can help you stay hydrated when the thermostat soars or be used to take medication or vitamins when not at home.

Please call the Office on Aging at (800) 510-2020 today and ask the Information Specialist to send you a visor or collapsible cup. Stainless steel water bottles are also available to be picked up at the Office on Aging in Santa Ana. The Specialists can also answer questions regarding other older adult services, such as housing, transportation, medical and health information, and caregiving. For more information, please click here.

HCA First in Nation to Use Rapid Water Testing Project

For 8 weeks this summer, the Orange County Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Water Quality team is undergoing a demonstration project to test for bacteria in ocean water using a new rapid water quality monitoring method. The new testing method yields results within 2 to 3 hours after sample collection, as opposed to 24 hours with the traditional method. This means faster, more meaningful water quality advisories to keep surfers, swimmers and other beach-goers better informed of water conditions.

Water samples are collected around 7:00 AM from nine sampling sites along Orange County’s coast and bay areas. At each site, three liter samples are taken and dropped off at the closest water quality lab by 8:30 AM, with testing results sent to public health officials by 11:00 AM. Public notices typically go out around noon the same day the sample was collected. If bacteria levels are over existing regulatory thresholds set by public health officials, notices are then posted on HCA’s beach information web site at www.ocbeachinfo.com, as well as on a Twitter feed at www.Twitter.com/ocbeachinfo.

In addition, warnings or closure information is sent remotely to five new video display monitors at major Orange County beach locations, including the Doheny State Beach entry. The electronic monitors were provided by Miocean Foundation and show results as red flags for closures, yellow for warnings, and green for open.

The traditional 24 hour growth method is still being performed daily alongside the new rapid method for comparison throughout the demonstration period. The rapid testing project is possible thanks to a collaborative partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, which provided the equipment and training. In addition, the Orange County Sanitation District and South Orange County Wastewater Authority are participating in the demonstration.

To see a slideshow on this project, please click here.

Natural Wonders of Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

Like countless similar depressions dotting South Coast Wilderness rock faces, Dripping Cave in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park was formed by wind and water erosion. Water seeping above the cave creates a rare, almost continuously damp, refuge from sun and heat. Stagecoach bandits once used this "Robbers Cave" as a hideout, boring holes in the rock and building fires that left still-visible soot marks on the ceiling.

Wood Canyon Creek supports oak and sycamore groves that make this area of Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park surprisingly lush and a great choice for summer exploration. The park is also rich in archeological evidence of its past as home to native peoples, explorers, missionaries and ranchers.

To see a photo of Dripping Cave, please click here. To take a mountain bike video tour of the Dripping Cave Trail, please click here. For more information about Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, please click here.

Maestro Carl St.Clair – Pacific Symphony Orchestra

On August 7, I had the great pleasure of presenting a resolution on behalf of the Board of Supervisors in honor of Maestro Carl St.Clair for his 20 years as Music Director of Orange County’s wonderful Pacific Symphony Orchestra. As Supervisor of the 5th District, I was particularly proud to present Carl with the Board resolution, as he is also a 5th District resident.

During his tenure, Carl St.Clair has become widely recognized for his musically distinguished performances, his commitment to building outstanding educational programs and his innovative approaches to programming. St.Clair's lengthy history with the Pacific Symphony solidifies the strong relationship he has forged with the musicians and the community. Few orchestras can claim such rapid artistic development as Pacific Symphony - the largest orchestra formed in the U.S. in the last 40 years - due in large part to Carl St.Clair's leadership. For more information, please click here.

Lake Forest: Target Symphony in the Cities

Sunday, August 15, the City of Lake Forest will once again be graced with a live performance by the Orange County Pacific Symphony Orchestra. Led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, the Pacific Symphony will perform a musical repertoire, ranging from Classical music to patriotic medleys to Broadway show tunes.

A “Musical Playground” will also be held for children, which will include a conducting clinic. Children who participate will also have the opportunity to assist Maestro St.Clair in conducting the Orchestra during a portion of the concert. The Musical Playground begins at 5:30 PM and the Pacific Symphony performs at 7:00 PM. For more information, please click here.

Laguna Beach: An Evening of Reggae

The City of Laguna Beach invites you to enjoy an evening of up-tempo Reggae with Trinidad & Tobago band “Upstream” at Bluebird Park Sunday, August 15, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. For more information, please click here.

Dana Point: Tribute to “The Boss”

The City of Dana Point invites you to enjoy a premier tribute to “The Boss” – Bruce Springsteen – featuring the band “Springsteen!” on Sunday, August 15 from 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM. For more information, please click here.

Laguna Beach Festival of Arts: Smooth Jazz Series

Laguna Beach Festival of Arts invites you to enjoy an afternoon of hip, up-tempo grooving songs with fresh urban jazz artist Jackiem Joyner, recently chosen “Debut Artist of the Year” by industry tastemaker Smooth Jazz News. Saturday, August 21, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM. Admission to the concert is free with purchase of a Festival of Arts ticket. For more information about this and other Festival events, please click here.

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

• Presented a Board resolution to Maestro Carl St.Clair for his 20 years as Music Director of Orange County’s Pacific Symphony Orchestra.
• Attended the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Annual Strategic Planning Session.
• Met with representatives of Rancho Mission Viejo Company to receive an update on Ranch Plan activities.