Header image with Photo of Supervisor Pat Bates. Followed by office information
May 18, 2012

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. SOUTH COUNTY NEWS

4. SENIOR SENTINEL

5. REGISTRAR REGISTER

6. COUNTY CONNECTIONS

7. HARBOR HAPPENINGS

8. CRITTER CHRONICLES

9. NOTES FROM THE FIELD

10. SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR

11. 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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Volume 6 Issue 19
BOARD BULLETIN BOARD

No Board Meeting This Week

There was not a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Supervisors this week. To view the Board meeting schedule for 2012, please click here.

Our next Board meeting will be held Tuesday, May 22. Regular Board meetings begin at 9:30 AM in the Hall of Administration. 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.

TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION

Environmental Restoration Projects Receive M2 Funding

This week, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors approved six restoration projects totaling approximately $5 million as part of the Measure M2 Environmental Mitigation Program.
  • Aliso Creek/ Laguna Niguel - $1.1 million (55 acres)
  • Chino Hills State Park/ Brea - $193,000 (21 acres)
  • Harriet Weider Regional Park/ Huntington Beach - $475,000 (10 acres)
  • Lower Silverado Canyon/ Irvine - $1.4 million (44 acres)
  • North Coal Canyon/ Yorba Linda - $247,500 (5.5 acres)
  • West Loma/ Irvine - $1.3 million (80 acres)
The restoration projects chosen are those determined to have the highest potential to support native plants, restore habitat for sensitive species and provide the highest potential to successfully replace resources lost to freeway construction.

The call for projects was issued June 2011, and OCTA received 40 proposals from throughout the County. The next step is to issue another call for projects with the remaining program funding of $400,000. The focus of the next round of projects will be on restoring watersheds affected by M2 freeway projects, specifically the Bolsa Chica Channel-Frontal Huntington Harbor, lower Santa Ana River, San Diego Creek and San Juan Creek.

The M2 Environmental Freeway Mitigation Program is a comprehensive plan to preserve and restore open space throughout the County, providing approximately $300 million during the next 30 years for this purpose.

For more information regarding OCTA's environmental program, please click here.

June 2012 Bus Service Change Program

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) implements schedule revisions to selected bus lines three times a year. Schedules for 27 OCTA bus lines will be adjusted as part of the June 2012 Bus Service Change Program.

Schedule revisions are designed to improve connections and on-time performance. Fifteen lines will have selected trip adjustments. Ten lines will have new schedules with adjusted running times. Two lines will operate on summer schedules.

For details about the specific changes to specific routes, please click here.

Measure M2 Quarterly Progress Report

The Measure M2 (M2) Transportation Ordinance and Investment Plan requires quarterly status reports regarding major projects detailed in the Ordinance. This week, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors received the progress report for the period of January through March 2012.

Implementation of Measure M2 continues at a fast pace, and revenue projections are on a positive trend. To view the staff report with an update on activities within the overall M2 Program, please click here.

OCTA Fiscal Year 2012-13 Budget Workshop

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors reviewed the Fiscal Year 2012-13 Budget in a workshop setting following the regularly scheduled OCTA Board meeting on Monday.

To view the power point presentation that was presented to the OCTA Board, please click here.

High-Speed Rail Program Revised 2012 Business Plan

The California High-Speed Rail Authority released its Revised 2012 Business Plan on April 2, updating the previous version released in November 2011. The Revised 2012 Business Plan includes updates to ridership and revenue projections, project cost, funding, schedule, and implementation strategies.

On Monday, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors received a report providing an overview of the key changes made in the Revised 2012 Business Plan.

The OCTA Board unanimously voted to direct staff to draft a letter to state officials, insisting that funding allocations for the first phase of the project focus on “closing the gap” between Bakersfield and Palmdale to create a workable system, rather than focus on the Central Valley, as requested by the federal government.

To view the staff report, please click here. When staff returns with a letter for Board approval, I will share a link to that as well.

SOUTH COUNTY NEWS

South County Job Fair 2012 a Success!

On May 10, I had the pleasure of co-hosting the second annual South Orange County Job Fair, which was held in collaboration with the City of Mission Viejo and the Orange County Workforce Investment Board. The Job Fair took place at the Norman P. Murray Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center in Mission Viejo.

I’m pleased to report the event drew over a thousand job seekers. 50 companies (with over 1,000 available job openings) participated. The Job Fair also resulted in 345 first and/or second interviews scheduled.

Job seekers were extremely pleased with the number of companies and positions available. Company representatives commented on the great venue and the professionalism job seekers displayed.

Additionally, 125 job seekers took advantage of the “no-cost” Professional Resume Critique service provided. 60 job seekers also attended the various workshops provided throughout the event.

For information about future job fairs and other job seeker resources, please visit www.jobsoc.org or www.oconestop.com.

SENIOR SENTINEL

South County Town Hall: Aging and The Silver Tsunami

I cordially invite you to a public forum discussion and town hall meeting on hot topics in aging policy. The South County Town Hall, "Aging and The Silver Tsunami," will feature an interactive discussion on the issues of aging, memory loss, dementia, research, as well as an opportunity to “Ask the Experts.”

This FREE event will take place Friday, May 25 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Mission Viejo Country Club, 26200 Country Club Dr., Mission Viejo.

For more information, please click here.

REGISTRAR REGISTER

Registrar of Voters Extends Hours on Registration Deadline

The deadline to register to vote for the June 5 Statewide Direct Primary Election is Monday, May 21. The Orange County Registrar of Voters (ROV) has extended its office hours to allow greater flexibility for citizens wishing to register for the June election. Additionally, registered voters may drop off their voted vote-by-mail ballot, pick up a vote-by-mail ballot or vote in the ROV office.

For more information, please click here and here.

COUNTY CONNECTIONS

Join OC Public Works at the Annual Open House

On Saturday, May 19, Orange County Public Works will host their annual Open House at 2301 North Glassell Street, aka “The Glassell Yard,” in Orange.

This fun and informative event is held each year in recognition of National Public Works Week, a celebration that occurs each May. The public is welcome and festivities begin at 10:00 AM and end at 2:00 PM.

This year, OC Public Works has invited students from engineering clubs at local high schools and campus chapters of engineering associations from colleges to visit the Open House to learn about internships with the County or future career opportunities.

The OC Public Works booths will include: OC Flood, OC Survey, OC Planning, Agricultural Commissioner, Watersheds, and OC Road, along with booths from other County agencies.

The event also includes games, opportunity drawings, complimentary hot dogs and drinks and tunes by the OC Band. Another highlight is the Collector’s Car Show, always a hit for classic car buffs.

For more information, please click here and here.

Public Budget Workshop

Orange County residents are invited to attend the County’s annual Budget Workshop for an introduction to the County’s Fiscal Year 2012-13 budget. The workshop will begin at 10:00 AM on Friday, May 25 in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, County Hall of Administration, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana.

For more information, please click here.

HARBOR HAPPENINGS

Dana Point Harbor Advisory: The Busy Season

Dana Point Harbor is about to begin its busiest season. This weekend, the Harbor is guaranteed to be a popular place. To view a sampling of this weekend’s events, please click here.

CRITTER CHRONICLES

Animals for Armed Forces

OC Animal Care and the Animals for Armed Forces Foundation would like to honor and say thank you to our dedicated service men and women by providing free adoptions during their Animals for Armed Forces event Saturday, May 26 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The adoption discount applies to current, former/retired military personnel or their immediate family members. For more information, please click here and here.

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park: Dripping Cave

When was the last time you hiked in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park? To remind you of what you’ve been missing, Laguna Canyon Foundation is producing a series of short films to show you places you may have forgotten about.

Here is the first – A Hike to Dripping Cave. If you enjoyed the film and would like to take a hike to Dripping Cave, please click here to view a map to help you on your way.

SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR

Laguna Hills: Children’s Spring Concert

Bring your family and friends to Stockport Park in Laguna Hills on Friday, May 18 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM to enjoy the wonderful sounds of the award-winning children’s band, “The Happy Crowd!” For more information about this FREE Children’s Spring Concert, please click here.

Lake Forest: Prelude in the Park

The City of Lake Forest is proud to present Prelude in the Park, a unique collaboration with the El Toro High School Instrumental Music Department. This FREE event at Pittsford Park on Sunday, May 20 from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM will feature musical selections and fun activities for all ages. For more information, please call (949) 461-3450.

Rancho Santa Margarita: Rancho Fest 2012

Rancho Santa Margarita invites you to join local businesses, family and friends at Rancho Fest 2012 – a fun-filled Memorial Day weekend for kids and adults alike – on Friday, May 25 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM; and Saturday, May 26 from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM at Central Park, 30842 La Miranda. For more information, please click here.

Mission Viejo: Memorial Day Ceremony

The public is invited to commemorate Memorial Day with a special ceremony at 8:30 AM on Monday, May 28 at the Mission Viejo Civic Center, 200 Civic Center. The Civic Center courtyard will also feature the American Heroes Tribute banner display May 21–30 to honor and remember military personnel who lost their lives serving our country. For more information, please click here.

FIFTH DISTRICT WRAP-UP

In addition to my many meetings, briefings, and other supervisorial activities, I also:
  • Attended the Laguna Beach “State of the City” Luncheon.
  • Presented a certificate of recognition at the grand opening of Whole Foods Market in Laguna Niguel.
  • Provided a County update at the South Orange County Association of Mayors meeting held in San Juan Capistrano.
  • Chaired the Orange County Coastal Coalition meeting. More on this in next week’s newsletter.
My office also:
  • Attended the OC Green Fair held in the Civic Center Plaza.
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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