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June 1, 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. TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
3. COUNTY CONNECTIONS
4. ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS
5. HEALTH HERALD
6. HARBOR HAPPENINGS
7. NOTES FROM THE FIELD
8. CRITTER CHRONICLES
9. FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT
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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| 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.
The County Budget hearings will be held June 12 & 13. 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.
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| TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION |
CTC Awards Orange County $55.4 Million
At last week’s California Transportation Commission (CTC) meeting in Sacramento, Orange County received a total of $55.4 million in funding. The CTC allocated $48 million in Trade Corridors Improvement Funds to the Orangethorpe Avenue Grade Separation Project.
The Project will build an overcrossing over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe mainline. Construction of this grade separation is also funded with local Measure M sales tax and federal funds. Construction will cost approximately $73 million and will create approximately 1,314 jobs.
The CTC also allocated $4.5 million to the Tustin Ranch Road Extension Project in Tustin, $1.3 million to the La Paz Road Bridge Widening Project in Mission Viejo, $1.1 million to repair a landslide area near Cabot Road in Laguna Niguel, and $500,000 for a median enhancement project along Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point.
2011 OCTA and Measure M Annual Reports Available Online
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) strives to provide an integrated and balanced transportation system.
Each year, OCTA prepares an Annual Report and a Measure M Annual Progress Report to provide a snapshot of the actions taken during the past year to improve mobility in Orange County.
OCTA is pleased to provide the community with e-versions of its 2011 Annual Report and 2011 Measure M Annual Progress Report.
I-405 Public Hearings Provide Engagement Opportunities
The San Diego Freeway (I-405) improvement project draft environmental impact statement / draft environmental impact report was released May 18 and is available for public review and comment through July 2. The document is available for viewing on the Caltrans website.
Four public hearings are scheduled from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and will include a 6:30 PM project presentation:
- Monday, June 4 at the Orange Coast College Student Center, 2701 Fairview Road in Costa Mesa.
- Wednesday, June 6 at the Westminster Community Services Facility, 8200 Westminster Ave. in Westminster.
- Thursday, June 7 at Rush Park Auditorium, 3021 Blume Drive in Rossmoor.
- Thursday, June 14 at the Fountain Valley Senior Center, 17967 Bushard St. in Fountain Valley.
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| COUNTY CONNECTIONS |
15 County Programs Receive NACo Awards
Fifteen County of Orange programs were selected to receive a 2012 Achievement Award by the National Association of Counties (NACo). Among these, the Registrar of Voters’ “My Ballot” program (teaching high school students the value of our electoral process, democracy, and civic participation) was designated “Best of Category” in the Civic Education and Public Information category.
For more information, please click here and here.
New Voting Opportunity for New Citizens
Persons who became naturalized citizens after the close of registration (15 days prior to Election Day) are eligible to register and vote on or before the June 5 Primary Election. Interested citizens must register at the Orange County Registrar of Voters (ROV) office, show proof of citizenship and declare California residency.
Registration for new citizens must take place at the ROV office on or before Tuesday, June 5.
For more information, please click here.
Operation Santa Claus
Operation Santa Claus provides gifts to children served by the County of Orange Social Services Agency, Health Care Agency, Probation Department, Child Support Services and Community Resources, who have been abandoned, abused, neglected and placed in foster care, as well as to families that are without the means to provide gifts during the holidays.
To that end, you are invited to join Operation Santa Claus at their Inaugural Golf Tournament on June 18 (the day after Father’s Day) at the beautiful Arroyo Trabuco Golf Course in Mission Viejo.
For more information, please click here or call (714) 679-3438.
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| ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS |
Orange County Coastal Coalition
The Orange County Coastal Coalition, which I am pleased to Chair, provides an opportunity to learn about and collaborate on current topics affecting not only our coastal cities, but those inland as well. As such, our May 17 meeting provided a forum to hear from Dr. Stephen B. Weisberg, Dr. Martha Sutula and Mr. Ken Schiff from Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) – a public agency for environmental research.
Dr. Stephen B. Weisberg, SCCWRP Executive Director, shared the agency's history and mission. SCCWRP was formed in 1969, about the time California’s Porter-Cologne Act was passed, to prepare an integrative report about the effects of wastewater and other discharges on the Southern California coastal marine environment.
SCCWRP has evolved through the years to become a recognized leader in environmental research, providing innovative direction in marine sciences, developing new environmental monitoring methods, defining the mechanisms by which biota are potentially affected by pollutants, and fostering communication among scientists, methods developers, and water quality managers.
Dr. Martha Sutula, SCCWRP Principal Scientist, shared the Extent of Eutrophication in Southern California Estuaries. Typically, waterbodies in the US have designated beneficial uses ranging from human uses, such as recreational boating and agricultural water supply, to environmental uses, such as wildlife habitat.
SCCWRP is leading a series of research activities to support the development of consistent statewide criteria, establish a clear link between science-based criteria and impacted beneficial uses, and provide regionally-specific data to improve the performance of models linking criteria to nutrient loads.
Mr. Ken Schiff, SCCWRP Deputy Director, shared the Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Program. A bight is defined as a bend in the coastline. The Southern California Bight (SCB) is the 400 miles of recessed coastline from Point Conception (in Santa Barbara County) to Cabo Colnett, just south of Ensenada, Mexico.
In Southern California, subtropical waters flow north close to the shore, while subarctic waters flow south offshore. This unique ocean circulation pattern creates a biological transition zone that supports approximately 500 marine fish species and more than 5,000 invertebrate species.
Though many organizations conduct environmental monitoring to assess the potential effects of human activities on Southern California’s coastal ocean, only 5% of the area of the SCB is routinely monitored. To improve the efficacy of existing monitoring programs, and improve capacity for regional assessments, SCCWRP initiated a series of monitoring efforts throughout the SCB in 1994, 1998, 2003, and 2008; and will again in 2013.
To view the May 17 presentations from each of the speakers, please click here. Please visit the SCCWRP website if you would like to provide input or ask questions. To be placed on the email distribution list for Coastal Coalition meetings, please send your email address to andrea.toscano@ocpw.ocgov.com.
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| HEALTH HERALD |
New Interactive Beach Conditions Map
The Health Care Agency’s Environmental Health Division launched an upgraded website just in time for summer! The upgrades create a more user-friendly experience and include an interactive Google map for a quick check on current beach conditions. The menu bar provides easy access to find your favorite local beach and the color-coded pins (green-yellow-red) indicate the current conditions.
A close up view of the beach, current weather conditions, beach amenities, directions, monitoring locations and frequency are also available. To check out the upgraded site and see how your favorite beach is doing, please click here.
Environmental Health’s Ocean Water Protection Program is responsible for protecting the public from exposure to ocean and bay waters that may be contaminated with sewage or cause illness. The program monitors Orange County’s 42 miles of open ocean coastline and 70 miles of harbor and bay frontage.
You can learn more about the program by visiting their website and/or following them on twitter @ocbeachinfo.
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| HARBOR HAPPENINGS |
OC Dana Point Harbor Boat Show: May 31 – June 3
Dana Point Harbor’s annual Boat Show is now here! This year’s Boat Show will showcase new and used boats, as well as many marine-oriented products on display.
For Boat Show hours and a discount coupon, please click here. To view a Boating Advisory from the OC Dana Point Harbor Department, please click here. For more information, please click here.
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| NOTES FROM THE FIELD |
Stories in Stone: Geology of Laurel Canyon
When was the last time you explored Laurel Canyon in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park? Here is the second installment of Laguna Canyon Foundation’s short video segments, designed to show you what you have been missing. Along the way, you will also see some of Laguna Coast Wilderness Park’s amazing geologic features while hiking the Laurel Canyon Loop Hike. There are several stops along the way that will weave 15 million years of history into a three mile hike.
To view the video, “Stories in Stone: Geology of Laurel Canyon,” please click here.
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| CRITTER CHRONICLES |
Pet Fair 2012
Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 30, as OC Animal Care is kicking off summer with their biggest event of the year – Pet Fair 2012! Hundreds of animals will be available for adoption, along with pet-friendly vendors and rescue organizations, an adoptable dog parade, and lots of food and fun!
For more information, please click here.
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| FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT |
South County Girls Soccer Team Honored by City, ESPN
There was a large and enthusiastic gathering at the Aliso Viejo City Council meeting in May, as the Aliso Niguel High School Wolverines girls’ soccer team was recognized for their historic season, which ranked them #1 in the nation.
City Hall was filled to capacity with players, parents and residents, who cheered and laughed as a video showcasing some of the team’s winning games was played. The team was also honored by ESPN at the Aliso Viejo Aquatic Center on May 31.
For more information, please click here.
South County PTSA Wins State PTA Spotlight Award
Congratulations to Dana Hills High School (DHHS) Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) upon being awarded the California State PTA Spotlight Award. The PTA Unit Spotlight Award recognizes outstanding programs established by individual PTA organizations.
This honor was awarded to the DHHS PTSA for actively promoting and coordinating various drug and alcohol prevention and educational outreach programs to the Dana Point community and for establishing collaborative partnerships with the City of Dana Point, DHHS Campus Intervention Specialist, Save Our Students (S.O.S.) Club, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and various community outreach groups.
For more information, please click here.
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| SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR |
Laguna Beach: Shakespeare in the Park
The Laguna Beach Arts Commission will be presenting a new program, “Shakespeare in the Park.” The weekly Friday performances will be held June 1 through June 22, 2012 at 6:30 PM at the Heisler Park amphitheater. For more information, please click here.
San Clemente: Bringing the Bands to the Sand!
The 13th Annual Beach Concert Series is “Bringing the Bands to the Sand!” Join the community to celebrate live music on the beach with the sunset as your backdrop and free seating in the sand by the San Clemente Pier on Friday, June 8 at 6:00 PM, featuring the San Clemente High School & Shorecliffs Jazz Band. For more information, please click here.
Laguna Niguel: Veterans Plaque Unveiling Ceremony
The Laguna Niguel Military Support Committee and Senior Citizens Committee invite you to join them at a ceremony dedicating a plaque in honor of the men and women of Laguna Niguel who served in our Armed Forces. The ceremony will take place Thursday, June 14 at 10:00 AM at the Sea Country Senior & Community Center, 24602 Aliso Creek Road. 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:
- Participated at a special event at the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink Station to promote the Angels Express special train service to Angels Stadium.
My office also:
- Attended San Clemente Chamber of Commerce Legislative and Transportation Committee meeting.
- Attended the Orange County Taxpayers Association meeting.
- Attended the Library Advisory Board meeting.
- Provided a County Update at the Ladera Ranch “State of the Community” event and provided certificates of recognition to the Teachers and Students of the Year, as recognized by the Ladera Ranch Chamber of Commerce.
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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