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March 23, 2012
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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. NEWS YOU CAN USE
5. HEALTH HERALD
6. CRITTER CHRONICLES
7. NOTES FROM THE FIELD
8. SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR
9. 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
Ruth Strachan:
Office Manager
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| BOARD BULLETIN BOARD |
Redevelopment Successor Agency Oversight Boards
The Board of Supervisors established the Oversight Board for the County of Orange as the Successor Agency to the Orange County Development Agency (OCDA), as well as approved appointments to the respective successor agencies for County and City redevelopment agencies.
From the 5th District, these appointments included:
- Lake Forest – Jeff Dill, Vern Jones and Robert Woodings
- Mission Viejo – Patrick Imbrugia and Robert Breton
- San Clemente – Holly Veale, Candace Haggard and Joe Anderson
- San Juan Capistrano – Virginia Kerr, Bruce Tatarian and C. Lawrence Thomas
For more information, please click here.
Moulton Parkway Smart Street Project
The Moulton Parkway Smart Street project is designed to improve roadway traffic capacity and smooth traffic flow through traffic signal synchronization, bus turnouts, intersection improvements, additional travel lanes and turning lanes, as well as on-road bike lanes.
Segment 3 Phase II is the last phase of the Smart Street project to be constructed. It extends from north of El Toro Road to north of Santa Maria Avenue within the City of Laguna Woods. The estimated cost of construction for this phase is $6.8 million.
On July 25, 2011, the The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors approved the use of $3,421,017 in Proposition 1B State-Local Partnership Program (SLPP) funds for the project. Per SLPP program guidelines, there is a one-to-one match requirement from a local transportation sales tax.
To that end, the Board of Supervisors approved a cooperative funding agreement with OCTA and the City of Laguna Woods, which stipulates the County will provide the $3,421,017 match using Measure M2 Local Fair Share revenues. Construction on the project is expected to commence January 2013 and end September 2013.
For more information, please click here.
Speed Limit Recommendations Approved
The Board approved recommendations from the Orange County Traffic Committee to increase the speed limit on Oso Parkway between the Mission Viejo City limits and Coto de Caza Drive in the unincorporated County area of Las Flores/Wagon Wheel from 50 miles per hour (mph) to 55 mph, and maintain a 35 mph speed limit on O’Neill Drive between the Crown Valley Parkway and Benjamin Drive/Sienna Parkway in Ladera Ranch.
The California Vehicle Code (CVC) requires Engineering and Traffic Surveys (E&TS's) to be conducted and updated every ten years to support posting a speed limit and allow enforcement by radar. Speed limits are set near the 85th-percentile speed, which is the speed at or below which 85 percent of all vehicles are observed to travel under free flowing conditions past a nominated point.
Based on the latest E&TS reports, a new posted speed limit in Oso Parkway of 55 mph is now required to allow for continued enforcement, whereas the existing posted speed limit on O’Neill Drive is still justified and allows for continued enforcement.
In addition, the Board approved the Traffic Committee’s recommendation to assign an additional adult school crossing-guard to the intersection of Sienna Parkway and O’Neill Drive in Ladera Ranch. Due to the increase of pedestrians crossing at this roundabout intersection and the high volume vehicles during school peak periods, an additional crossing guard will assist the existing guard to expedite pedestrian crossings in a more orderly and efficient manner while allowing improved traffic flow.
The cost for the additional crossing guard is approximately $10,000 per year and will be funded by the Sheriff-Coroner through Proposition 172 funds.
For more information, please click here.
Extension of Recording Fee – Real Estate Prosecution Fund
The Board unanimously approved extension of a $3.00 recording fee on certain specified real estate documents for a 3-year period from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2015. The extension of this recording fee is necessary to provide a continued funding source to investigate, prosecute, and deter real estate fraud crimes.
In March 2009, the Board voted to establish a $3.00 recording fee on certain specified real estate documents to fund a real estate fraud prosecution unit in the Orange County District Attorney’s (DA) office. The sole purpose of this unit is to enhance the capacity of local efforts to investigate, prosecute, and deter real estate fraud crimes.
Since that time, the DA’s Real Estate Fraud Unit has convicted 53 people of criminal real estate fraud. The dollars lost by victims in completed cases alone totals $39.8 million. The program has received high praise from individuals in the real estate industry as well as those who are victims of fraud.
For more information, please click here.
Donation from Friends of the Laguna Beach Library
The Friends of the Laguna Beach Library operate a bookstore, hold fundraisers, and solicit donations to provide financial support for building improvements, reading material, and program support to the Laguna Beach Library.
To that end, the Board was pleased to authorize OC Public Libraries to accept a donation of $41,661.53 from the Friends of the Laguna Beach Library to purchase new furniture for the Laguna Beach Branch.
2012 Tsunami Awareness and Preparedness Week
At the start of Tuesday’s meeting, the Board proclaimed the week of March 25–31 as Tsunami Awareness and Preparedness Week.
The County of Orange along with the coastal communities of San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Seal Beach have been designated as TsunamiReady through the efforts of a collaborative program involving local, State and Federal partners, making Orange County the first in the nation to have all local agencies certified as TsunamiReady since 2006. The TsunamiReady program promotes tsunami hazard preparedness, public education and community awareness.
During Tsunami Awareness and Preparedness Week, the California Emergency Management Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Weather Service and the Orange County coastal communities of San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach and the County of Orange will participate in events designed to educate the public about the dangers of tsunamis and to encourage all residents to learn more about the tsunami threat and take steps to secure their lives and property against future tsunami events.
Residents and businesses in Orange County can make a promise to prepare and strengthen their personal preparedness at ReadyOC. You can also register to receive emergency information through your mobile devices at AlertOC. For important tips on what to do before, during, and after a tsunami, please click here.
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| SOUTH COUNTY NEWS |
Construction Commences on Rancho Mission Viejo
Construction has commenced at the first village of the new ranch community of Rancho Mission Viejo, comprised of more than 17,000 acres of permanent open space and 6,000 acres of future residential and mixed-use development, according to Anthony R. Moiso, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rancho Mission Viejo, LLC.
Rancho Mission Viejo, Orange County’s last working ranch, has been held in the O’Neill/Avery/Moiso family since 1882. Pursuant to a comprehensive County of Orange-approved open space preservation and land use management plan for the Ranch, approximately 75% will be preserved as part of a larger habitat conservation area known as The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo, and 25% will be developed into multiple villages.
Combined with additional open spaces already dedicated by the Rancho Mission Viejo family, The Reserve will grow over time to nearly 21,000 acres. Ultimately, The Reserve will be combined with County-owned lands to form the 33,000-acre Southern Sub-Region Habitat Reserve, one of California’s largest and most diverse habitat reserves.
Multiple villages are planned to be developed on a total of 6,000 acres of the Ranch. Collectively, over the next two decades, these villages are expected to offer 14,000 homes (including 6,000 active adult residences) and five million square feet of non-residential uses. In addition, schools, parks and recreational facilities, shopping and employment centers will be developed, as well as an inter-connected system of arterial roadways and hiking/biking trails carefully integrated with some of the Ranch’s agrarian spaces and natural habitat.
The first village on the Ranch will be Sendero, currently scheduled to open in summer 2013. Encompassing approximately 690 acres and offering approximately 940 attached and detached homes and 200 apartment units, Sendero will include the gated active adult enclave of Gavilan, providing 285 single-level residences adjacent to a private clubhouse and recreational facilities.
Among the amenities planned for all Sendero residents are a centrally located community hall, clubhouse and recreational core, a 15-acre community park, neighborhood parks, hiking/biking trails accessing Reserve trails and a County Regional hiking and biking trails network, a 10-acre retail plaza, fire station, and a child day care center.
Rancho Mission Viejo and the first village of Sendero are located in the heart of South County, just 2.3 miles from downtown San Juan Capistrano and five miles from the coastal attractions of San Clemente and Dana Point Harbor.
For more information, please click here.
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| TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION |
OCTA Launches Pilot Program for Metrolink Text4Next
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is partnering with Metrolink to provide passengers with a way to find out arrival times through their mobile phones for Metrolink trains in Orange County.
The Metrolink Text4Next is based on existing Text4Next service for OCTA bus riders. Launched in 2009, passengers can use text messaging on their mobile phones to find out the upcoming scheduled arrival times for buses at their stops.
A pilot program was launched this week, allowing Metrolink customers to find out the next three trains scheduled to arrive at the station. This will give Orange County Metrolink customers the flexibility to confirm train schedules on the go.
Passengers can follow these simple instructions to use the Metrolink Text4Next service:
Enter “Train” followed by a pair of three-letter station codes to 628246 (OCTAGO)
Example: Train ANA IRV (This indicates the customer wants the times for train travel between Anaheim and Irvine)
Upon entering the information, passengers will receive the scheduled arrival times for the next three trains:
- 719a train 682
- 834a train 600
- 259p train 684
This service is available at all 21 stations served by the three Orange County Metrolink lines – Orange County Line, Inland Empire-Orange County Line, and 91 Line. Depending on the results of the trial run, Metrolink may explore rolling out the service system-wide.
OCTA Text4Next service for buses provides nearly 300,000 bus schedules a month to customers. For more information, please click here.
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| NEWS YOU CAN USE |
Free State Homeowner Assistance Programs Available
Homeowners that have lost their jobs, need help reducing mortgage payments or are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure can get help FREE of charge through the California Housing Finance Agency.
The agency’s Keep Your Home California program offers assistance for low and moderate income homeowners who need to reduce their loan’s principal balance and mortgage payments, homeowners who need mortgages reinstated and homeowners relocating after short sales.
Nearly 40 loan service companies, including Bank of America and Wells Fargo, are participating in at least one of the Keep Your Home California programs, according to the state Housing Finance Agency’s 2011 annual report.
State officials this week warned about phone scammers attempting to collect fees of up to $900 for application assistance. There is no cost to apply.
Californians are encouraged to call (888) 954-5337 or click here. Additional information can be found at the California Housing Finance Agency website. For more information, please click here.
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| HEALTH HERALD |
World Tuberculosis Day
Saturday, March 24, marks World Tuberculosis (TB) Day – the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch discovered the bacteria that causes TB.
An estimated one-third of the world’s population is infected with TB, and nearly 2 million die from TB each year. This year, the slogan “Stop TB in my lifetime” aims to eliminate TB, a preventable and treatable disease.
California has one of the highest TB rates in the nation, providing a significant public health challenge that directly impacts individuals, families, schools and workplaces. In Orange County, there were over 200 TB cases in 2011, and thousands of additional people who may be carrying TB but have not become ill.
The Orange County Health Care Agency encourages all Orange County residents to become a partner to control and eliminate TB by increasing their awareness and understanding of TB. Learn more about TB, please click here.
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| CRITTER CHRONICLES |
Forever Friends for Free
Please visit OC Animal Care on Saturday, March 24 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM for the Forever Friends for Free event, sponsored by the Angels Baseball Foundation, as hundreds of adorable animals will be available for adoption. The adoption price for all animals will be FREE, not including the cost of the dog license or microchip. Limit two animals per household.
For more information, please click here.
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| NOTES FROM THE FIELD |
Aliso and Wood Canyons: Under the Sycamores
Join OC Parks and Laguna Canyon Foundation on Saturday, March 24 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, as they kick-off a new educational series titled "Under the Sycamores" at Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. Local snake researcher Steve Bledsoe will introduce live Rattlesnakes, Gopher Snakes, Rosy Boas, and California King Snakes.
This event will be fun for the entire family, as you learn to identify rattlesnakes and find out what to do in case you encounter one on the trails. All Under the Sycamores events are held outside at the sycamore grove in front of the Aliso and Wood Canyon Ranger Station. Space is limited. The event is FREE but parking is $3.00.
For more information, please click here.
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| COUNTY CONNECTIONS |
Make a Difference as a County of Orange Volunteer
Volunteer contributions enhance the quality of life for all of us who live and work in Orange County. Volunteers help build strong, healthy communities and demonstrate the importance of citizen participation.
To learn more, please click here.
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| SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR |
San Juan Capistrano: Swallows Day Parade
The 2012 Swallows Day Parade will be held Saturday, March 24. This FREE fun, family event celebrates the return of the swallows to the San Juan Mission and is the nation's largest non-motorized parade, taking place annually in historic downtown San Juan Capistrano. Please arrive early as most street closures will occur by 10:00 AM, with the parade beginning promptly at 11:00 AM. For more information, please click here, here and here.
Laguna Hills: Open House at the Community Center
The City of Laguna Hills is hosting an “Open House at the Community Center” event on Saturday, March 24 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, in celebration of ten years of offering classes and programs at the Center. For more information, please click here.
Mission Viejo: World-Famous Puppeteer and his Marionettes
World-famous puppeteer Scott Land will visit Mission Viejo on Saturday, March 24, delighting kids and adults alike with his musical variety show featuring hand-crafted marionettes. The fun starts at 3:00 PM in the Saddleback Room at City Hall, 200 Civic Center. For more information, please click here.
Laguna Niguel: Track & Field Meet
Boys and girls are invited to participate in the Laguna Niguel Track & Field Meet on Sunday, March 25. The Track Meet at Aliso Niguel High School will be governed by Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation guidelines. Check-in is at 12:30 PM. For more information, please click here.
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| FIFTH DISTRICT WRAP-UP |
In addition to my many meetings, briefings, and other supervisorial activities, I also:
- Met with District Attorney Tony Rackauckas to discuss the Real Estate Fraud Fee.
- Chaired the Orange County Coastal Coalition meeting. More on this in next week’s newsletter.
- Participated in the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Executive Committee meeting.
- Hosted my fifth annual South County Senior Summit. More on this in next week’s newsletter.
- Adjourned the Board of Supervisor’s meeting in memory of Scott L. Allen of Laguna Niguel.
My office also:
- Provided a proclamation in honor of Chief Mark Levy, who is retiring from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and leaving his position as Chief of Police Services for the City of Dana Point after more than five years of exemplary service.
- Provided a certificate of recognition in honor of Sheriff’s Deputy Barbara Murphy, who was named 2012 Law Officer of the Year by Laguna Woods American Legion Post 257.
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.
For an ADA version of our newsletter, click here.
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