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. ASSESSOR ASSESSMENT

6. SAFETY SENTRY

7. HEALTH HERALD

8. HARBOR HAPPENINGS

9. ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS

10. NOTES FROM THE FIELD

11. CRITTER CHRONICLES

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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Lobbyist and Health Care Ordinances

The Board approved the second reading of both the Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Ordinance and the Orange County Health Care Authority Ordinance.

The Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Ordinance establishes a system requiring individuals and corporations seeking to influence the Board of Supervisors through the use of lobbyists to register with the County. The ordinance also requires a report be published showing those who have registered with the County that will be available to the public.

With the approval of the second reading, the Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Ordinance will go into effect July 1. For more information, please click here.

The Orange County Health Care Authority Ordinance came out of discussions related to the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which would allow public agencies like CalOptima, the County’s health care provider for low-income residents, to run health insurance exchanges.

These exchanges will commence operation in each state, offering a marketplace whereby the private sector can compare policies and premiums and buy insurance subsidized by the government.

The Board believes this program exceeds the mission of CalOptima and approved the ordinance prohibiting CalOptima from competing against the private market in providing health insurance.

With the approval of the second reading, the Orange County Health Care Authority Ordinance will go into effect on May 19. For more information, please click here.

National Emergency Grant: 2010 Severe Storm Project

The Board accepted National Emergency Grant (NEG) 2010 Severe Storm funding in the amount of $503,216 and approved a Cost Reimbursement Agreement with the Orange County Conservation Corps for $397,370.

The NEG Severe Storm Project is a collaborative effort between the Orange County Workforce Investment Board, Orange County Conservation Corps, OC Parks, and OC Community Resources.

This project will create jobs to assist with the emergency clean-up and restoration of County park facilities damaged by the December 2010 storms, including Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, Aliso and Wood Canyon Wilderness Park, Caspers Wilderness Park, and O’Neill Regional Park.

To that end, the NEG Storm Project funds will support the Orange County Conservation Corps in assisting 35 dislocated and/or long-term unemployed youth between ages 18-21 with temporary work that may also lead to future employment opportunities.

For more information, please click here.

Transportation Contract for Foster Children

The Board renewed a contract with A White and Yellow Cab, Inc. to provide transportation services for 80 children and teens who currently reside at Orangewood Children’s Home.

State law requires the County allow children and teens in the foster care system to continue attending their current school regardless of where they reside. To that end, the Orange County Social Services Agency has formed a great partnership with A White and Yellow Cab to provide nearly 4,000 trips yearly between Orangewood Children’s Home and Orange County schools.

Exceeding the terms of their contract, A White and Yellow Cab also matches drivers to youth so they have the same driver in their daily commutes; is responsive and flexible with constantly changing schedules; and strives to be more efficient to keep their prices low. This is a wonderful example of the County contracting out services, resulting in a positive benefit to everyone.

For more information, please click here.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: South County Job Fair May 11

As a reminder, 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 Job Fair may register by clicking here.

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

After the Job Fair, attendees are also 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.

National Public Transportation Career Day

National Public Transportation Career Day is a national workforce development initiative to reach out to our youth – tomorrow’s workforce – and to encourage careers in transportation engineering or science. This year, National Public Transportation Career Day is Thursday, May 12.

As our primary transportation agency, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) keeps Orange County moving by providing bus and rail transit, 91 Express Lanes, freeways and road improvements. We are committed to educating, mentoring and encouraging students from kindergarten to college to consider careers in transportation.

OCTA’s Youth Program is designed to enrich the lives of our youth by helping them understand not only how to use public transportation, but also to open the door to choices by presenting the skills required for careers in public transportation.

Our program provides customized activities for students, including onsite educational programs on how to use public transportation; bus & rail tours; transit facility tours; an interactive career fair and occupation discussions, and more.

Please let us know your interest in participating in the Youth Program by clicking here.

OCTA Bike Festival May 7

To celebrate National Bike to Work Week, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) will host a bike festival Saturday, May 7 at the University of California, Irvine from 9:00 AM to noon.

This event is fun and educational, with live entertainment, contests, safety and maintenance demonstrations, complementary bike registration, vendor booths, raffles and more! For more information, please click here and here.

County Awarded $2.9 Million for Homeless Services

OC Community Services is pleased to announce $2.9 million in Federal Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance funding which has been secured for all “new” projects submitted in the 2010 National Grant Competition. The $2.9 million is in addition to $12.2 million in Homeless Assistance Grant “renewals” secured in January.

This grant award is a direct result of the County’s partnership with cities and homeless service organizations to address the issue of homelessness in Orange County. This collaborative effort is part of a regional plan aimed at breaking the cycle of homelessness.

To that end, the grant funding will help four new programs in the County begin offering critically needed permanent and supportive housing and services to homeless persons and families. For more information, please click here.

Important Dates in County Redistricting Effort

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 more information, please click here and here.

e-File Your Business Property Statement (BPS)

As reported in my newsletter last week, 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.

Call 811 Before You Dig

As we head into the warmer months, SoCalGas wants to remind customers and contractors to “call 811 before they dig” in their yard or construction site. Doing so will help avoid unnecessary and costly damage to buried natural gas lines, as well as possible injury or service interruption.

For more information, please click here.

Shots for School: New School Immunization Law

A new California school immunization law requires all students entering 7th through 12th grades in the 2011-2012 school year be immunized with a pertussis vaccine booster called Tdap. Don't wait! Get your child vaccinated today!

For more information, please click here and here.

Dana Point Harbor: 40th Anniversary Celebration

On Friday, May 13, Dana Point Harbor will host a 40th Anniversary Open House from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the retail and restaurant area of the Harbor. Merchants will feature a sidewalk sale and restaurants will offer specials and extended happy hours, while live music serenades Harbor visitors throughout the evening.

On Saturday and Sunday, May 14 & 15 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, the sidewalk sale and restaurant specials continue as you enjoy a Dockside Art Show & Sale and tour history through the Dana Point Historical Society’s Mobile History in Public Places Walk. You can also visit the Ocean Institute’s Open House.

On Sunday, local radio station KSBR will broadcast live during their Blues segment; and from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, the Harbor will share its anniversary excitement with a Cupcake Celebration, providing over 1,000 FREE mini-cupcakes to attendees!

But wait, there’s more! In appreciation of the community’s support over the last 40 years, forty $25 Dana Point Harbor Gift Certificates will also be given away. Just visit any Harbor merchant to pick up and drop off your entry, or simply visit www.danapointharbor.com.

For more information, please click here and here.

San Juan Capistrano Sample Ballots Mailed

The Registrar of Voters (ROV) office is currently on schedule for the June 7 San Juan Capistrano municipal election. This election involves Measure B, a development measure for a project comprised of two sites in San Juan Capistrano.

As such, San Juan Capistrano voters should have received their sample ballots in the mail this week. The ROV will begin to mail vote-by-mail ballots on May 9. For more information, please click here.

Environmental Education Competitive Grant Program

As reported in my newsletter last month, OC Waste & Recycling announced a competitive grant opportunity for nonprofit organizations. Utilizing AB 939 surcharge funds, the grant program is designed to increase student counts and encourage them to practice better environmental habits, such as recycling, reuse, and waste reduction.

The program also aims to increase environmental literacy by aligning state-standard, curriculum-based environmental education that engages students to make informed waste-prevention choices. Applications are due by Monday, May 16.

For more information, please click here.

John Wayne Airport: OC Metro 2011 Green Team

John Wayne Airport (JWA) was recently named to OC Metro's 2011 Green Team. The story appeared in the April issue of OCMetro, as JWA’s green efforts have become a model for airports across the nation.

In 1999, JWA officials installed air units at the passenger gates, eliminating the need for carbon-spewing onboard auxiliary power units. In 2008, the airport required fleet vehicles, including taxis, to use compressed natural gas or other alternative fuels. And JWA’s water conservation program, which includes limiting water used for washing general aviation planes, earned the airport an award last year from Mesa Consolidated Water District.

For more information, please click here.

On Location: Silent Films in Orange County

Orange County’s silent film history is vast, thanks to its proximity to Hollywood, its sweeping natural vistas and pristine beaches. Did you know that “The Two Brothers,” filmed in 1910 at Mission San Juan Capistrano under the direction of legend D.W. Griffith, was the first motion picture filmed in Orange County?

Between 1910 and 1928, Orange County might well have been called “Hollywood’s back lot,” as it was home to the production of hundreds of films, ranging from comic shorts and newsreels to full-length silent movies.

To celebrate the County’s pivotal role in creating this Hollywood magic, the Orange County Archives and OC Parks proudly presents “On Location: Silent Films in Orange County.” The exhibit runs May 6 through August 5 in the 3rd Floor Museum Gallery at the Old County Courthouse, 211 W. Santa Ana Blvd., in Santa Ana. Exhibit hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays.

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 May newsletter, 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, plus the price of adoption will be FREE! Limit two animals per household.

For more information, please click here and here.

How well do you know your dog?

Take a fun quiz and find out how well you know your furry friend by clicking here.

South County Resident Recognized by Fire Authority

At a recent Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Board of Directors meeting, Laguna Niguel resident Molly Taylor received a letter of commendation for her swift action that successfully saved a neighbor and their home from fire.

On February 5, Molly called 911 to report a fire at her next door neighbor’s house. Molly initially realized there was a problem next door when she saw smoke coming from the area around her neighbor's fireplace. Molly knocked on the door, entered the home, and found her neighbor asleep on their couch. After she awoke them, Molly opened some windows and turned off the gas to the fireplace.

Approximately 15 minutes later, Molly saw more smoke coming from inside and outside of the residence. She knocked on the door and, again, there was no answer. Molly re-entered the home and there was indeed much more smoke. She called 911 and awoke the resident, this time from their bed in an adjacent bedroom, and managed to get them safely out of the house.

Molly also called her husband, a Fontana firefighter, at work. He gave her some simple directions, including how to check for heat in the wall near the fireplace. During this time, Molly observed fire near the mantle over the fireplace. Molly then exited the home and OCFA firefighters soon arrived. Molly's actions last month helped save not only her neighbor’s property, but quite possibly their life as well.

San Juan Capistrano:

First Friday Film

Come to San Juan Capistrano Library on Friday, May 6 at 7:00 PM and enjoy the film “Somewhere,” a witty, moving, and empathetic look into the orbit of actor Johnny Marco. For more information, please click here.

Family Film Feature

On Saturday, April 2, bring the whole family to San Juan Capistrano Library at 11:00 AM to see the hilarious animated film “Yogi Bear.” Enjoy FREE admission and popcorn at this fun family film feature! For more information, please click here.

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

• Chaired the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Executive Committee meeting.
• Met with Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens to be briefed on Sheriff’s Department issues.
• Met with constituents on issues relating to ambulance rates and committee/commission appointments.
• Adjourned the Board of Supervisors meeting in memory of Barton “Bo” Boyd, brother of Laguna Beach City Councilman Kelly Boyd.