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. AIRPORT ARRIVALS

5. COUNTY CONNECTIONS

6. ASSESSOR ASSESSMENT

7. SAFETY SENTRY

8. HEALTH HERALD

9. HARBOR HAPPENINGS

10. ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS

11. NOTES FROM THE FIELD

12. CRITTER CHRONICLES

13. LIBRARY LESSONS & SESSIONS

14. FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT

15. SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR

16. 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, May 3. 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.

South County Job Fair May 11

As previously reported in my newsletter, South County employers and job seekers are encouraged to participate in the 2011 South County Job Fair on Wednesday, May 11 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Laguna Hills Mall.

This event, which is hosted by the Orange County Board of Supervisors and 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 a FREE review. 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.

Transit Police Conduct Record Number of Rail Operations

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Transit Police Services (TPS) officers conducted an exercise to prepare for potential emergencies and disasters at transit centers and aboard trains throughout Orange County.

Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) operations and exercises involve uniformed deputies, bomb technicians and explosives detection canines inspecting trains and stations. In addition, uniformed teams and plainclothes officers are trained to observe any unusual and suspicious behavior. Most passengers appreciate the added security.

The law enforcement teams conducted a record number of VIPR operations last week, covering the entire Metrolink service area. Officers also conducted security inspections in Long Beach on the Metro Blue Line during the Long Beach Grand Prix.

A few days later, TPS joined enforcement agencies nationwide for a rail safe security surge on Amtrak lines. To that end, TPS deputies joined Orange County Sheriff’s Department personnel and canines, Federal Air Marshals and Transportation Security Administration Rail Security Inspectors.

OCTA Releases Long-Range Transportation Plan

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has finalized its Long-Range Transportation Plan, Destination 2035. To that end, Destination 2035 is OCTA’s input to the Regional Transportation Plan prepared by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).

As part of OCTA’s transportation vision for the next 25 years, the plan identifies several strategies for developing a new transit focus for Orange County, exploring public-private partnership opportunities and supporting fiscal and environmental sustainability.

For more information, please click here.

OCTA Receives Funds For Orange County Fair Bus Service

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) was awarded $211,360 from the South Coast Air Quality Management District to help fund operating costs for Orange County Fair Flyer service. OCTA plans to implement the express bus service to provide low-cost weekend transportation to the 2011 Orange County Fair.

The planned Flyer Service will provide hourly, non-stop bus service directly to the Orange County Fair from the following transit facilities:

• Fullerton Park & Ride
• The Depot at Santa Ana
• Goldenwest Transportation Center
• Anaheim Canyon Metrolink Station at the Tustin / Lincoln Park & Ride
• Junipero Serra Park & Ride

JWA Celebrates Completion of $31 Million Central Utility Plant

Officials from John Wayne Airport, construction manager Barnhart Balfour Beatty, and several elected officials and community leaders gathered April 21 to mark the completion of the Airport's new Central Utility Plant (CUP) and Cogeneration Facility that will provide approximately 95% of the Airport's power needs.

Construction of the CUP started in 2009 as part of the Airport's $540-million improvement program and included landscaping, security, fire protection, site utilities, mechanical and electrical equipment and controls. Along with producing electricity, the facility creates chilled water for air conditioning.

For more information, please click here.

Important Dates Approach in County Redistricting Effort

The month of May is an important time on the Redistricting calendar for the County of Orange as the effort to establish Supervisorial District boundaries for the next ten years reaches a critical period.

Individuals and groups planning to submit a Redistricting plan who wish to have the Center for Demographic Research (CDR) at California State University, Fullerton conduct a preliminary review for accuracy of data and conformance with requirements need to submit their proposals by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, May 4.

The next meeting of the County’s Redistricting Committee is scheduled for Thursday, May 12 at 2:00 PM in the Board Hearing Room of the Hall of Administration, 333 W. Santa Ana Boulevard, Santa Ana 92701.

The final date to submit a complete Redistricting plan for consideration is Wednesday, May 18 at 5:00 PM. For questions about developing and submitting Redistricting plans, please contact CDR staff by calling (657) 278-4670. Information about requirements for submitting Redistricting plans and the resources available to assist in developing a plan is also available by clicking here.

For more information, please click here.

e-File Your Business Property Statement (BPS)

Your 2011 Business Property Statement (BPS) must be filed by Monday, May 9 at 5:00 PM to avoid a 10% late file penalty. For more information, please click here and here.

Wildfire Awareness Week Runs May 3–9

With the warmer weather and local winds starting to blow, it’s a perfect time to kick-off Wildfire Awareness Week, May 3–9. As we’ve learned all to well in Orange County, it’s not a matter of “if” but “when” the next major wildfire will happen. As such, the most important person in protecting your life and property is YOU!

For more information, please click here and here.

Dispose of Unused or Expired Medications

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration is holding a Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 30 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Take advantage of this safe way to dispose of unwanted medications.

To find a collection site near you, please click here. For more information, please click here.

Bullying Prevention Conference

A Bullying Prevention Conference sponsored by the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) and Behavioral Health Services will be held Monday, May 2 from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM at the Orange County Department of Education, 200 Kalmus Drive, in Costa Mesa.

For more information, please contact the HCA Center of Excellence at (714) 667-5600 or hcacenterofexcellence@ochca.com, or click here and here.

California Clean Marinas Recognizes Dana Point Harbor

In unprecedented action, Dana Point Harbor received a clean sweep of Clean Marina Certifications when the California Clean Marinas program approved two Dana Point Harbor facilities and recertified two others the same day.

This accomplishment underscores OC Dana Point Harbor Department’s commitment to water quality, environmental stewardship and strong leadership. For more information, please click here.

Stormwater Best Management Practices Workshop

As reported in my newsletter last week, a South County Workshop will be held Wednesday, May 4 from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. This workshop, being held in the Saddleback Conference Room at Mission Viejo City Hall is educational in nature and seeks to provide information on the applicability of Low Impact Development (LID) Best Management Practices (BMPs) in site design, the efficacy of onsite storm water capture and treatment, regulations triggering storm water BMP incorporation, systems in place in the watershed, lessons learned and appropriate selection of BMPs.

Much of the South Orange County Watershed Management Area is highly urbanized and can pose a challenge when requiring LID BMPs to achieve compliance with the new requirement. As such, the target audience for this workshop includes municipal engineers and planners, as well as owners and managers of properties with large hardscape areas, such as corporate headquarters, corporate distribution centers, shopping malls, apartment complexes, and institutions.

For more information, please click here.

Rancho Days Fiesta Returns to Heritage Hill Historical Park

OC Parks and Heritage Hill Historical Park in Lake Forest present the annual Rancho Days Fiesta on Sunday, May 1 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Come explore the rich history of Orange County’s Native American tribes and the Mexican Ranchos while experiencing the sights and sounds of the past through music, dance, crafts, food, and first-person re-enactors.

For more information, please click here.

Forever Friends for FREE!

Please visit OC Animal Care on Saturday, May 14 for FOREVER FRIENDS FOR FREE sponsored by the Angels Baseball Foundation, as hundreds of adorable animals will be available for adoption and the price of adoption will be FREE! Limit two animals per household.

For more information, please click here and here.

OC Voices & Visions: Heroes

Orange County teens (ages 12 to 18) are invited to enter their creative works in a contest sponsored by OC Public Libraries (OCPL). OC Voices & Visions showcases works of prose, poetry, art and film. A new theme is announced at the beginning of each month, with entries due by the last day of the month. Winning entries are published in the Voices & Visions website.

The theme for the month of May is “Heroes.” All entries must relate to the theme and will be judged in part on how well they interpret it. Entries must be the teen’s original work, using only non-copyrighted materials in their production. Entries will be judged by panels of librarians. Winners of the May contest will be on the Voices & Visions website in July, 2011.

Teens may enter only one work per category each month but can enter in more than one category. They must also have a valid OCPL library card to enter. For more information, please click here and here.

One of the Voices & Visions winners for the month of March is from the 5th District! Ian Haberlin, a 9th grade student from Aliso Niguel High School, entered at Aliso Viejo Library and won in the Poetry category, as the theme in March was “Challenges.” To read Ian’s winning poem, please click here.

South County Schools Advance to Global Competition

Five teams from the Capistrano Unified School District have advanced to the Destination ImagiNation Global Finals in Knoxville, Tennessee after placing first or second in their respective competitions at the state tournament earlier this month.

• DI Ops, a team from Moulton Elementary School, placed first in the Mythology Mission at the elementary level.
• Serious Pandas, a team from Las Flores Middle School, took first place in the middle level of Mythology Mission.
• Moonbow Kids from Bathgate Elementary School was named outstanding in the Dynamic Networks competition at the middle level.
• Dana Hills High School’s Pura Vida was named an outstanding team at the secondary level.
• Fearsome Five, a team with members from Moulton and Truman Benedict Elementary Schools, placed second in the Mythology Mission competition at the elementary level

Dana Point: 5th Annual Grand Prix of Cycling

Join top professionals, amateurs and kids at the 5th annual Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling, as they race through downtown Dana Point on the best race course in America overlooking beautiful Dana Point Harbor.

This event on Sunday, May 1 will be action-packed with amateur and professional races, a Fan Expo, celebrities, fantastic food, and an all new Kids Zone, featuring bike safety demonstrations, games, contests, and vendors for the future cyclists of America. For more information, please click here, here, and here.

Mission Viejo: Arts Alive Festival

During Mission Viejo's Arts Alive Festival, 160 talented artists will paint 82 squares to transform the pavement outside the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center into a work of art.

The annual Arts Alive Festival takes place from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday, April 30 and from noon to 4:00 PM on Sunday, May 1 at Oso Viejo Community Park on the Village Green and neighboring Norman Murray Center at 24932 Veterans Way.

For more information, please click here and here.

Laguna Beach: First Thursdays Art Walk

Join over 40 member galleries throughout Laguna Beach on Thursday, May 5 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM for First Thursdays Art Walk – a FREE festive, cultural evening held the first Thursday of each month, featuring artist demonstrations, exhibition openings, music, dance, and much more!

For more information, please click here.

San Clemente: Cinco de Mayo Celebration

San Clemente’s 21st annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Max Berg Plaza Park on Saturday, May 7 from noon to 6:00 PM will showcase live entertainment featuring Mariachis, Aztec Dancers, Ballet Folkloric and live bands along with a colorful student art contest and exhibit, children’s activities, authentic food and drinks.

For more information, please contact the Recreation Division at (949)361-8264 or click here.

Laguna Hills: Memorial Day Half Marathon, 5K & Kid’s Run

The 13th annual Laguna Hills Memorial Day Half Marathon and 5K will be held May 30. This favorite Memorial Day running event takes place in the beautiful South County cities of Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Woods, and Laguna Niguel. All are encouraged to sign up and participate!

For more information, please click here.

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

• Provided a transportation update to the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce Legislative/Transportation Committee.
• Attended the Executive Committee and a Special Meeting of the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Board of Directors.
• Participated in a meeting of the Sustainable Communities Strategy joint working group to review the draft proposal.