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. SOUTH COUNTY NEWS

3. TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION

4. COUNTY CONNECTIONS

5. AIRPORT ARRIVALS

6. HARBOR HAPPENINGS

7. SAFETY SENTRY

8. NOTES FROM THE FIELD

9. ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS

10. CRITTER CHRONICLES

11. LIBRARY LESSONS & SESSIONS

12. FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT

13. SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR

14. 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. To view the Board meeting schedule for 2011, please click here.

Our next Board meeting will be held Tuesday, April 19. For Agenda & Meeting Information, please click here.

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

2011 South County Job Fair Coming Soon!

Attention all South County employers and job seekers! You are cordially invited to attend the 2011 South County Job Fair on Wednesday, May 11 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Laguna Hills Mall.

This event, which is hosted by the Orange County Board of Supervisors and the Orange County Workforce Investment Board, is FREE to all businesses and job seekers. For more information, please visit www.ocjobfair.org.

At the South County Job Fair, the Orange County Business Service Center will be available to provide assistance to employers with selection, screening, and training of new hires. Employers interested in participating in the South County Job Fair may register by clicking here.

In addition, job seekers are encouraged to bring their résumé to the South County Job Fair for FREE review on-site. For information on Job Seeker Workshops being held at the South County Job Fair, please click here.

After the Job Fair, attendees are encouraged to visit the South Orange County One Stop Center at 29222 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 103, in San Juan Capistrano for additional services. For more information, please click here.

‘Angels Express’ Rolls Out Successfully

As reported in my newsletter last week, the Orange County Transportation Authority and Metrolink have teamed up to offer special weeknight train service to and from Anaheim Angels games, which began with the Angels’ home opener on April 8.

With more than 372 fans riding to the game, the first night of Angels Express service was a huge success. By comparison, the first Dodger trains in LA only had about 15 passengers each.

Taking public transportation to sporting events is a safe and affordable alternative to driving, especially with gas prices heading toward $5 a gallon!

For a limited time only, your $7 roundtrip ticket will also include a FREE voucher to an upcoming Angels game! In addition, tickets for kids ages 5 and under are now FREE, and tickets for kids ages 6-18 are only $4!

For more information, please click here and here.

Crown Valley Widening Coming Soon

Construction is expected to begin May 2 on the Crown Valley Parkway / I-5 Widening Project. The project will take approximately 18 months to complete and will widen Crown Valley Parkway from Forbes Road in Laguna Niguel to the I-5 northbound onramp in Mission Viejo.

During construction, traffic flow in the area may be delayed at times and motorists should consider alternate routes if possible. When completed, traffic congestion along Crown Valley Parkway will be significantly reduced and overall traffic circulation will improve in the area.

For more information, please click here.

Census Data Shows Changes in Orange County

Data from the 2010 Census shows Orange County has grown at a slower rate in recent years than other counties in Southern California and the state as a whole. While California grew ten percent in the last decade, Orange County’s population growth was measured at 5.8 percent, bringing our total population to 3,010,232 or about 164,000 more residents than in 2000.

The Census also found changes in the population of Orange County’s five Supervisorial Districts. These changes will be examined as part of the Redistricting process, which is conducted every ten years in coordination with the release of Census information. To that end, the Redistricting process is well underway through the work of County’s Redistricting Committee. The Committee is now meeting on a regular basis to provide leadership.

Through May 18, individuals and organizations can submit Redistricting proposals to adjust Supervisorial Districts in a manner that makes them approximately equivalent in population. As the Redistricting process must be completed this year, the Committee’s proposal for changes to District boundaries is expected to be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for consideration in July.

For more information on Redistricting and the process of submitting a proposal, please click here.

Children and Families Commission of Orange County

As reported in my newsletter last month, a countywide recruitment was initiated to solicit applications for appointment to fill future vacancies on the Children and Families Commission of Orange County and current vacancies on its new Community Advisory Committee.

The Advisory Committee is to be comprised of community experts and leaders in emerging research and issues related to the health and development of young children.

Applications will be accepted through Thursday, April 21. For more information, please click here. To download the application, please click here.

JWA: Local Historic Civil Engineering Landmark

John Wayne Airport (JWA) has been named a Local Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers, Orange County Branch, and is one of only three airports worldwide bestowed with the honor.

A bronze plaque was presented to JWA in a ceremony held in the Thomas F. Riley Terminal last week, and has been placed permanently on a column in the Terminal B baggage claim area.

John Wayne Airport was selected for this designation as a result of the unique projects it has contributed to Orange County over the years. For more information, please click here.

JWA Improvements to Bring More Convenience & Efficiency

More than halfway through construction, the shell of the new 282,000 square foot Terminal C at John Wayne Airport (JWA) has been completed and the interior is taking shape.

More than 3,500 tons of steel have been erected throughout the building, including in the barrel vaults that help make the new construction mesh beautifully with the existing building. In addition, about 8,000 cubic yards of dirt were removed from the site and 12,000 cubic yards of concrete have been poured.

There's a tremendous amount of activity going on in plain view and behind the scenes, as all projects are being undertaken with the goal of creating more of the convenience and efficiency that JWA passengers have come to expect. For more information, please click here.

Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Update

On April 13, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) unanimously approved the Revised Findings and Suggested Modifications to the Local Coastal Plan Amendment (LCPA) Implementation Plan (IP) for the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization. This approval finalizes the action taken at the CCC hearing of January 12, 2010 by providing clarification to several specific provisions in the IP. To view the Revised Findings and Suggested Modifications, please click here.

With this approval by the CCC, including the Land Use Plan approved October 8, 2009 and the IP, the document will now be forwarded to the Dana Point City Council for acceptance prior to final certification by the CCC of the completed LCPA.

The LCPA is necessary for implementation of the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan, which conceptually allows construction of all new buildings and infrastructure, marina replacement, additional public parking and other Harbor enhancements with approval of a Coastal Development Permit.

The final certification of the LCPA will pave the way for the County to finalize conceptual plans discussed throughout the process. These concepts will lead to processing of a Coastal Development Permit application for construction of improvements in the Harbor with approval by the City of Dana Point Planning Commission.

The OC Dana Point Harbor Department is also working to finalize preparation of a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report that analyzes the proposed Marina Improvement Project, anticipating distribution of the document this summer.

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Drill

On Tuesday, the County participated in a federally graded drill at the Emergency Operations Center, designed to demonstrate Orange County’s preparedness in responding to a potential disaster at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).

The SONGS exercise is particularly significant to the 5th District due to our proximity to the nuclear plant. Virtually every department in the County, in addition to South County cities, the Orange County Fire Authority, the Orange County Transportation Authority, and local school districts were involved in the drill.

The drill is conducted and graded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency every two years. In addition to Tuesday’s drill, the County and State also spent two additional days conducting exercises to demonstrate preparedness for responding to radiological contamination.

I am extremely pleased with the professionalism and diligence of all who participated in the drill, as Orange County is fortunate to have a first-rate team to handle an emergency or a natural disaster.

Join OC Fire Watch!

As reported in my newsletter last week, training for OC Fire Watch, part of the County’s Adopt-a-Park program, takes place Saturday, April 16 at Santiago Oaks Regional Park in Orange. Volunteers will attend one program orientation meeting and one OC Fire Watch training session, with FREE lunch provided.

For more information, please click here and here.

OC Parks: Important Reservation Information

In an ongoing effort to provide excellent customer service, OC Parks is upgrading its online and telephone reservations systems. As a result, online and telephone reservations will be unavailable during the upgrade through Wednesday, April 27. For more information, please click here.

Caspers Wilderness Park: Adventure Day

Guests of all ages are invited to visit Caspers Wilderness Park for Adventure Day, a fun-filled family event taking place Saturday, April 16 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with a full schedule of natural history tours, entertainment, arts and crafts, wildlife exhibits, games and refreshments. Entry to Adventure Day is FREE. For more information, please click here.

Doheny State Beach Update

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

TCA: Conservation – Restoration – Appreciation

The Transportation Corridor Agencies’ (TCA) primary goals of enhancing regional mobility and providing congestion-free transportation never overshadow its steadfast commitment to environmental conservation, restoration and appreciation.

TCA’s extensive environmental programs – developed with the construction of the 73, 133, 241 & 261 Toll Roads – represent the most progressive approaches in habitat conservation, re-vegetation and management; scientific study and planning; endangered species protection; and greenhouse gas reduction.

As such, TCA has pledged to share what it has learned about Orange County’s unique habitat and nurture a deeper appreciation for the environment through free community programs. For more information, please click here.

Laguna Beach: KelpFest

For more than 20 years, Orange County’s kelp forests had declined by as much as 80%; but over the past nine years, thousands of people have worked to restore these critical habitats.

To that end, the public is invited to the second annual KelpFest on Saturday, April 16 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Laguna Beach's Main Beach for a fun-filled day of activities, including live performances, educational exhibits about giant kelp and California marine life, kayak trips to see the restored kelp forest off Laguna Beach, and much more!

For more information, please click here.

America's Family Pet Expo returns to Orange County

America's Family Pet Expo, the world’s largest pet and pet product event, returns to the Orange County Fairgrounds this weekend, featuring thousands of animals, including dogs, cats, equine, birds, fish, reptiles, and much more!

While attending the Pet Expo, please be sure to visit OC Animal Care, as they’ll be there with many adorable animals for adoption! For more information, please click here and here.

Saddleback College to Raise the ‘Woof’ at Dog Fair

Saddleback College will welcome a new breed of student at its first Dog Fair on Friday, April 22 from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Dogs and their owners are invited to the campus for a dog walk, dog-kissing booth, best owner/dog look-alike contest and much more.

Opportunity drawings will also be held throughout the day, as the grand prize is a two-night stay for a dog and its owner at the Hills Hotel in Laguna Hills. For more information, please click here.

Laguna Beach Library: Poetry Contest

Through April 30, poets of all ages are invited to enter Laguna Beach Library's 13th Annual Poetry Contest. There are seven age categories from Pre-K to Adult; and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each category will be awarded gift certificates up to $100 at an awards ceremony / poetry reading in June.

For more information, please click here and here.

Local Waste Hauler among World's Most Ethical Companies

Waste Management, a South County waste hauler, was recognized as one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by the Ethisphere Institute, a research-based international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption, and sustainability.

"Waste Management places a strong value on corporate responsibility, and being named to Ethisphere's 2011 World's Most Ethical Companies list is a testament to the solid foundation we have in place," said David Steiner, CEO of Waste Management.

This marks the fourth year Waste Management has received the award. Waste Management services the South County communities of Laguna Beach, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores and Trabuco Canyon. For more information, please click here.

Dana Point:

Foriegn Film Friday

Come to Dana Point Library the third Friday of every month at 7:00 PM for their FREE Foreign Film Friday! On Friday, April 15, Dana Point Library will feature the German film “Storm.” Doors open at 6:45 PM. For more information, please click here.

SoCal Woodie Club and Car Show

Start your springtime Southern California style on Saturday, April 16 by visiting the annual Southern California Woodie Club and Car Show at Doheny State Beach! Woodies start lining up in the south day-use area at dawn and begin departing in the mid-afternoon. Don’t miss out on this fun-filled day! For more information, please click here.

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

• Attended the biennial San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) disaster preparedness drill.
• Attended the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors meeting.
• Attended the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) meeting.
• Attended the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) Boards of Directors meetings.
• Provided certificates of recognition in honor of the Mission Viejo ribbon cutting ceremonies for CDA Law Center and Harmony Dentistry, respectively.