Header image with Photo of Supervisor Pat Bates. Followed by office information
October 8, 2010

Pat Bates's Picture


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. REGISTRAR REGISTER

4. COUNTY CONNECTIONS

5. SOUTH COUNTY NEWS

6. ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS

7. NOTES FROM THE FIELD

8. CRITTER CHRONICLES

9. LIBRARY LESSONS AND SESSIONS

10. FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT

11. SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR

12. 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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Volume 4 Issue 40
BOARD BULLETIN BOARD

Solar Power Purchase Agreement

This week, the Board approved a pilot solar project, which will produce 4 mega watts of electricity across 7 County rooftop installations, offsetting approximately 6% of the County’s total electricity usage. The public/private partnership is structured as a power purchase agreement, with the County having no upfront costs, as federal tax credits and state solar credits made this project possible.

I am pleased to support this sensible green initiative, which is projected to save in excess of $5 million over the life of the contract. As the guardian of your tax dollars, and understanding how quickly technology can change, I worked with the project participants to craft a final agreement that shifted the financial and technological risks to our private partner.

To view the PowerPoint presentation provided to the Board, please click here.

Thank You to our OC Community Resources Volunteers!

OC Community Resources uses volunteers to provide a wide array of services for the four departments under its purview: OC Animal Care, OC Community Services, OC Parks, and OC Public Libraries. As such, the Board approved a Resolution, authorizing annual expenditures for providing appreciation certificates, letters, plaques, awards, meals and refreshments to volunteers at OC Community Resources volunteer recognition events.

In fiscal year 2009-10, 38,618 individuals volunteered for OC Community Resources, accounting for 87% of all County of Orange volunteers. These volunteers contributed 456,740 service hours, offsetting $9 million in costs.

OC Animal Care volunteers participate in socializing, training, fostering, grooming and bathing animals. OC Community Services volunteers assist the elderly and veterans, provide job employment services, and serve as conflict mediators. OC Public Libraries volunteers provide tutoring for numerous library and literacy services. Additionally, in 2009-10, Friends of the Libraries volunteers donated nearly one million dollars in services and materials to OC Public Libraries patrons. And, lastly, OC Parks volunteers work to promote, preserve and protect our County parks through its Adopt-A-Park and OC Fire Watch programs.

Volunteers are an invaluable asset to the County and its residents, as they facilitate projects, tasks and services not always possible, given the County’s current budget and staffing constraints. To continue to encourage growth and interest in our volunteer services – as well as express our appreciation for their efforts, contributions and talent – the Board of Supervisors is pleased to recognize our OC Community Resources volunteers!

For information on becoming a County of Orange volunteer, please click here.

TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION

OCTA Approves Environmental Restoration Project Funding

On September 27, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors approved nine restoration projects throughout Orange County for potential funding through Measure M2’s Environmental Mitigation Program.

Measure M2, Orange County’s half cent transportation sales tax, includes funding for programmatic mitigation to offset impacts of freeway projects in return for assurances of streamlined permitting from resource agencies. The mitigation program includes funding for acquisition of open space lands, as well as restoration projects.

Six restoration projects were approved for the first phase of funding and three others as secondary (contingency) projects to be funded if any primary projects do not meet program requirements. The total funding allocation is approximately $5.5 million. Of the six projects recommended for funding in the primary group, two are located in the Fifth District, as $1.5 million has been approved for the City of San Juan Capistrano’s Shea Restoration Project and $87,500 for the City of Laguna Beach’s Big Bend Project.

OCTA Board approval of the restoration projects is subject to the project sponsor's completion of a Restoration Plan, in accordance with Board approved restoration funding guidelines. The project sponsors in the primary funding group will be expected to complete their restoration plans and grant agreements by spring 2011. If any project sponsors fail to meet the deadline, projects in the secondary funding group will be considered for funding. The restoration plans and grant agreements will need to be reviewed and concurred with by OCTA staff and the resource agencies.

To view the list of selected restoration projects, as well as restoration project funding guidelines, please click here.

Southern California Leaders Discuss Transportation Solutions

Last week, I joined officials from the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) and Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) to discuss transportation projects that span county lines.

OCTA Deputy CEO Darrell Johnson, SANDAG Executive Director Gary Gallegos and TCA Chief Executive Officer Tom Margro and respective staff also participated in the meeting, which focused on the status of projects of regional significance and inter-county connectivity benefits.

The discussion centered on the status of the Foothill Transportation Corridor project and improvements on the I-5 corridor in south Orange County and north San Diego County, as well as service integration efforts for the Los Angeles/San Diego rail corridor. Officials also discussed activities related to SB 375, legislation curbing greenhouse gas emissions, and impacts due to lack of a state budget.

Pavement Preservation Project Underway on 241

Last month, Caltrans completed an asphalt overlay project on the 73 Toll Road; and the 241 Toll Road is now receiving similar treatment. The roadway will be resurfaced from the 91 Freeway to the 133 Toll Road to improve vehicle traction and preserve the life of the pavement.

The project began in July and is expected to be completed in spring 2011. Work will stop during the winter, when nighttime temperatures drop below 55 degrees. Caltrans plans to complete the southbound direction of the roadway this fall and the northbound direction next year.

The Toll Roads: VIEWSLETTER

The Toll Roads has released the October issue of VIEWSLETTER. To view the Transportation Corridor Agencies publication, please click here.

Senior Transportation Workshop: “How to Get Out of Town”

Confused by the many senior transit choices in Orange County? Please attend the 2010 Senior Transportation Workshop on Friday, October 15 from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM at the Norman Murray Senior and Community Center in Mission Viejo.

Identify the best system for your specific needs. Receive a FREE transportation resources list. Refreshments will be served. FREE admission! For more information or to reserve a seat, please call (949) 470-3062 or click here.

REGISTRAR REGISTER

Official Start to Voting

Although planning for the 2010 November General Election began nearly a year ago, the official start of casting a ballot began October 4 for Orange County voters. Vote-by-mail voting also started last week across California. For more information, please click here.

Deadline for Voter Registration is October 18

The upcoming General Election will take place Tuesday, November 2. Please ensure a positive voting experience by confirming you’re a registered voter. Have you moved since the last election? Will you be turning 18 on or before November 2? If so, you may need to register or re-register to vote. Voter registration forms are available at your local public library or City Hall, and through the Orange County Registrar of Voters office.

Don't delay! The deadline to submit a voter registration form is October 18. Vote-by-Mail applications are available until October 26. For more information, please call the Registrar of Voters at (714) 567-7568 or visit www.ocvote.com.

COUNTY CONNECTIONS

CORRECTION: Cell Phone Numbers and ‘No Call’ List

Last week, my staff received notification from state offices that all cell phone numbers were to be released to telemarketing companies this month. To avoid receiving and being charged for unwanted sales calls, the notification advised registering one’s cell phone number with the Do Not Call Registry and to forward the information to others.

As such, my office included the notification and Do Not Call information in my newsletter. While consumers may register their phone numbers as extra protection against unwanted telemarketing calls, I have since learned the information my office received regarding the release of cell phone numbers to telemarketing companies was incorrect. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

For more information, please click here and here.

SOUTH COUNTY NEWS

Destructive Pest Found in Laguna Beach, First in U.S.

A beetle native to Southeast Asia that is a serious pest of palm trees has been found infesting Canary Island date palms in Laguna Beach. The Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus Ferrugineus, is considered one of the most destructive pests of palm trees worldwide.

Its detection during residential tree removals in Laguna Beach represents the first time the insect has been found in the United States. The discovery of the Red Palm Weevil represents a serious threat to most common types of landscape palms, as well as California’s date palm industry. State detection crews will deploy traps in Laguna Beach this week within 400 meters of the infested properties.

ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS

Slow the Flow: Make Your Landscape Act Like a Sponge

The California Water Board Training Academy and the Storm Water Program have produced a film called "Slow the Flow: Make Your Landscape Act Like a Sponge" to educate homeowners, community associations, and local governments on the many benefits of slowing down storm water runoff by using techniques commonly called Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Infrastructure (GI).

The half-hour high-definition documentary brings to life practices and projects created to steward our watersheds and slow the flow of storm water, one of the largest contributors of pollution into our waterways. Slow the Flow offers solutions any homeowner can put into place and ways individuals can make a difference. To view the video Slow the Flow, please click here.

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

Nix Nature Center: Amazing Raptors

Get a close look at live hawks, owls and falcons from the Orange County Bird of Prey Center! Learn to identify raptors in flight, dissect an owl pellet, find out how owls fly silently, and discover other raptor survival secrets!

For ages 8 and up. Saturday, October 9 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area / Nix Nature Center (west side of Laguna Canyon Road / SR-133, approximately 3.5 miles south of I-405). Reservations required: (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donations appreciated!

For more information, please click here.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park: Laurel Canyon Trail

Without virtual maps and GPS navigation, finding your way can be as simple as observing and memorizing landmarks. In the wilderness, these natural trail markers can take especially striking forms. As an example, click here to see an oak growing out of a rock along Laurel Canyon Trail in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

Along the same path, hikers will spot distinctive sandstone caves and rock formations, fossil shells, a seasonal creek, a waterfall (running only in heavy rain) and even a rusting VW bug. As an added bonus, the Laurel Canyon Trail now features signposts that list numbers to access recorded information about landmarks via cell phone.

For more information, please click here.

Doheny State Beach Update

The Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association (DSBIA) has released its DOHENY UPDATE to better inform the public about events in the State Park. To view the DSBIA October newsletter, please click here.

CRITTER CHRONICLES

OC Animal Care: Vaccine and Microchip Clinic Rescheduled

Due to rain, the Oct. 5 Vaccine and Microchip Clinic, as reported in my newsletter last week (see: Help Your Pet Find Its Way Home), has been rescheduled for Thursday, October 14 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

For directions to OC Animal Care, please click here. For more information on OC Animal Care’s monthly vaccination clinic, please call (714) 935-6848 or click here.

October is Adopt-A-Dog Month

What can an adopted dog bring to your life? The answers include things such as companionship, fun, exercise and unconditional love. However, the truth is there are as many responses to that question as there are dogs in the world!

That’s why during the American Humane Association’s Adopt-A-Dog Month celebration in October, people are encouraged to adopt a shelter dog and experience the joy of finding their own answers. For more information, please click here and here.

LIBRARY LESSONS AND SESSIONS

Laguna Niguel Library Closing for Renovation

To serve you better, the Laguna Niguel Library will close for extensive remodeling and renovation October 14, as the newly remodeled Laguna Niguel Library is scheduled to reopen fall 2011.

All holds and Inter-Library Loan materials may be picked up at the Aliso Viejo Library. In the meantime, please feel free to visit any of our branches of OC Public Libraries (OCPL). The Aliso Viejo, Dana Point or San Juan Capistrano libraries are perhaps closest to Laguna Niguel residents.

To locate the OCPL branch nearest you, please click here.

FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT

Mission Viejo Girls Softball Team Wins National Championship

The Mission Viejo City Council recently recognized Adrenaline – the Mission Viejo Girls Softball 10U Gold All Star Team – for its 1st place win at the 2010 Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Western National Championship in Tucson, Arizona. Adrenaline’s victory was impressive, as the girls were pitted against 40 other teams. The team also displayed extraordinary talent, zeal and sportsmanship, both on and off the field.

Adrenaline’s road to the nationals was paved with notable victories along the way, as they took first place in the Canyon Hills Memorial Day Tournament, Mira Mesa Runway Classic Tournament, Laguna Niguel Sea Country Classic, and the Central District Tournament. The team also qualified to compete in the State Tournament in Lancaster, California, winning 2nd place against West Agoura Hills Softball before heading to the ASA Nationals.

To view a photo of the team, please click here. For more information, please click here.

SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR

San Juan Capistrano: Second Saturday Events

On Saturday, October 9, 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 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, as the Living History Society makes history come alive for visitors by creating intrigue while providing historical information through stories, demonstrations and crafts. For more information, please click here.

But wait, there’s more! The San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce also hosts its Second Saturday Art Fair on October 9 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Art Fair showcases over 70 artists, craftspeople, musicians and performers, who exhibit their artistic prowess throughout historic downtown San Juan Capistrano the second Saturday of each month. For more information, please click here.

8th Annual Barn Dance & Equestrian Fair

The San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition will host its 8th Annual Barn Dance & Equestrian Fair on Saturday, October 9, from 6:00 PM -10:00 PM at beautiful Blenheim Farms in San Juan Capistrano.

The equestrian heritage of San Juan Capistrano is one of the most unique and beloved parts of the historic town. As such, the Equestrian Coalition invites you to come out for an old-fashioned western goodtime of BBQ, dancing and games!

For more information, please click here.

San Clemente Seafest

Come to beautiful San Clemente and enjoy a day at the beach and the cool Pacific Ocean at the annual San Clemente Seafest on the Sunday, October 10 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

The Seafest includes FREE shuttle parking and features a Chowder Cook-off, Fisherman’s Lobster, Business Expo, Arts & Craft Show, Live Entertainment, and a Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demo – all at historic San Clemente Pier. For more information, please click here.

Nixon in San Clemente: The Western White House Years

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens in San Clemente presents "Nixon in San Clemente: The Western White House Years," an exhibit of memorabilia and memories from 1969 to 1974, when President Nixon called La Casa Pacifica in San Clemente “home.”

The show focuses on how Nixon's La Casa Pacifica home put San Clemente on the international map and changed the town. The exhibit runs through November 2 at Casa Romatica, 415 Avenida Granada in San Clemente. For more information, please call (949) 498-2139 or click here.

Make Plans to Attend ‘Game Night

Teens, adults and parents are invited to Mission Hospital's "Game Night." The event will teach participants about prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse trends and prevention strategies in the home. Game Night will also include food, games and prizes along with opportunity drawings throughout the evening for a chance to win gift certificates to local eateries and businesses.

Game Night takes place Wednesday, October 13 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Mission Hospital Pavilion Conference Room, Main Hospital, 27700 Medical Center Road in Mission Viejo. Seating is limited! Early reservations are recommended and available by emailing mmar@cspinc.org. For more information, please click here.

Aliso Viejo Community Open House

The City of Aliso is inviting residents to a Community Open House at Iglesia Park Community Center on Thursday, October 14 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. For more information, please click here.

FIFTH DISTRICT WRAP-UP

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

  • Toured the Ortega Highway Project.
  • Attended a special meeting of the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Board of Directors to hear a presentation on OCFA budget reductions.
  • Adjourned the Board of Supervisors meeting in memory of Grace Bradley Boyd and Arlene S. Hagan, both of Dana Point.
My office also:
  • Participated in the United Way Kick-Off event in the Civic Center Plaza.
  • Provided certificates of recognition for the recipients of the Heart and Soul Award presented by O'Connor Mortuary; the Honoree of the Month of the Historical Society of Laguna Woods; and Pastor Tommy Stewart of REACH Community Church in Lake Forest.
  • Presented a certificate of recognition for the ribbon cutting ceremony of ABC Pilates in Laguna Niguel.
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 concerns, comments or questions at (714) 834-3550. It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your Supervisor for Orange County's Fabulous Fifth District.

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