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August 10, 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. HEALTH HERALD
4. COUNTY CONNECTIONS
5. RECORDER RECORD
6. LIBRARY LESSONS & SESSIONS
7. CRITTER CHRONICLES
8. FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT
9. SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR
10. 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.
Our next Board meeting will be held Tuesday, August 14. 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 |
Record Ridership on OC Fair Express & Angels Express
OC Fair Express and Angels Express trains continue to post record ridership numbers as fans flock to faster, cheaper and more efficient forms of transportation for some summer fun. This past weekend alone, OC Fair Express buses served more than 11,000 passengers. Overall, the eight express bus routes served more than 37,000 passengers this summer and are on track to exceed 40,000 following the conclusion of the Fair on August 12.
For more information about the OC Fair Express, please click here.
As for the Angels Express trains, over 3,000 passengers boarded the trains to and from the games last week, with 1,764 taking the game-day trains on Friday alone. Nearly 26,000 fans have taken the Angels Express trains this year so far.
For more information about the Angels Express, please click here.
Outreach on I-5 Improvement Projects in South County
An Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Community Outreach Team went door-to-door to nearly 300 homes last weekend in San Clemente to talk to residents about the San Diego Freeway (I-5) South County Improvement Projects, specifically, the segment of the project between Avenida Pico and San Juan Creek Road and plans to construct a soundwall.
Three of the four soundwalls in the project area will be built exactly as high and long as the existing walls. They will just be further away from the freeway centerline to accommodate the wider freeway cross section.
Project representatives also met with the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee last week to discuss the aforementioned segment of the project, as well as the San Joaquin Hills Toll Road (SR-73) to El Toro Road segment.
The Avenida Pico to San Juan Creek Road segment of the project will begin construction in late 2013, starting in San Juan Capistrano.
For more information, please contact Julie Toledo at (714) 560-5573 or jtoledo@octa.net or visit the project website.
The Toll Roads Agreement with Warner Bros.
This week, my colleagues and I on the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency (SJHTCA) Board of Directors approved an agreement with Warner Bros. Pictures Inc. for use of the southbound 73 Toll Road between I-405 and Jamboree on October 13 and 14 for filming.
The agreement provides that Warner Bros. will reimburse SJHTCA for all lost toll revenues plus $10,000 per day. This is a great partnership that will help the filming industry and have minimal impact on toll road customers.
New 511 Feature Gives Stranded Motorists a Way Out
The Southern California 511 service added a new feature to assist motorists who encounter vehicle trouble while traveling on a freeway in Orange and Los Angeles counties.
From flat tires to exhausted gas tanks to overheated engines, motorists can now call 511 and ask for “motorist aid” at the main menu. Dispatchers will send out Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) operators to help stranded motorists with what they need to keep moving.
FSP operates on all Orange County freeways Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM; and from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Service also is available on freeways in the central core of the County from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM, Monday through Friday; and on select freeways from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM on weekends.
Outside of regular operating hours, the operator will assist motorists in getting help, although extra charges may apply. To utilize the service or for more information, please call 511 or click here.
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| HEALTH HERALD |
High Temperatures Bring Risk of Heat-Related Illnesses
Temperatures in many inland Orange County communities are expected to reach high temperatures above 95 degrees this weekend, increasing the risk of heat related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, for those who are more sensitive to heat.
Prolonged exposure to excessive temperatures may cause serious conditions and can even be fatal. For more information, including recommended precautions to prevent heat related illnesses, please click here, here and here.
County Confirms First Human West Nile Virus Case of 2012
An Anaheim man has tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) infection, becoming the County’s first confirmed human WNV infection in 2012. Although West Nile Virus activity in Orange County has been quite low over the last few years, it is important to recognize that West Nile Virus is endemic in Orange County, recurring every year during the summer months and continuing into the fall.
The best way to avoid West Nile Virus infection is to take precautionary measures to avoid mosquito bites. For more information, please click here and here.
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| COUNTY CONNECTIONS |
2012 LAFCO Strategic Planning Session
The Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) met to discuss its 2012 LAFCO Strategic Plan, which includes an end-of-year budget report, a look-back at past activities, as well as recommended changes to the two-year work plan for 2011-2013.
Kicking-off the meeting was an informative presentation by Eddie Northen, Vice President of Finance for the western region of UPS, who talked about innovations in efficiency in the private sector and public/private partnerships. To view Mr. Northen’s presentation, please click here.
A top priority for LAFCO in the coming year will be South County future governance. With development beginning on the Rancho Mission Viejo property, discussion about future governance for the entire South County area is about to restart. To that end, staff is recommending an ascertainment study of conditions in South County to determine the best way to proceed with discussing future governance in the area.
Among LAFCO’s successes has been the continuing development of its Shared Services program. As local governments in Orange County try to balance rising costs and dwindling revenues, the sharing of services can help reduce costs. The program allows cities, special districts, home owners associations, and the County to list what services they can share and what service they need. If a match is found, the program will send an email to the agencies involved. Eventually, LAFCO hopes to add private businesses and school districts to the matching service.
OC LAFCO has also been successful in developing its Fiscal Trend Analysis report. The Fiscal Trends Analysis System is a web-based financial dashboard, providing visual, graphic depictions of the financial condition and historical trends for each of the 34 cities and 27 independent special districts in Orange County. The System streamlines the analysis of the financial condition of local governments in Orange County and acts as a resource for the cities, special districts, the County and the public.
To view the 2012-2013 LAFCO Strategic Plan, please click here. To learn more about LAFCO, please click here.
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| RECORDER RECORD |
Recording Volumes Increase as Housing Market Warms
The volume of real estate documents recorded in Orange County rose for the fiscal year ending June 30, marking the third year in a row that recording has edged ahead of the previous year, a sign of renewed confidence and activity in the local housing market.
Since fiscal year 2008-09, after the housing market collapsed nationally and document recordings plunged, real estate transactions recorded in Orange County have jumped 18%.
Home prices rose nationally, albeit incrementally, for the fifth month in a row in June, suggesting the economy continues to seek stability.
The housing market has been a relative bright spot in the economy this year, although it remains hobbled by tight mortgage availability and ongoing foreclosures. Meanwhile, homebuilding is at its highest level in nearly four years.
For more information, please click here.
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| LIBRARY LESSONS & SESSIONS |
Laguna Niguel Library Grand Reopening Celebration
I’m pleased to report that the Laguna Niguel Library will host its Grand Reopening Celebration on Sunday, August 19. The public is invited to attend the festivities, which begin at 12:00 noon with the opening ceremony and will be followed by an afternoon of fun-filled entertainment.
Children can have fun at an origami craft table while adults enjoy the sweet sounds of a string quartet or kick their heels to the rhythm of a bluegrass band.
Since 2006, the City and County have been working together on the complete renovation and expansion of the library. The $5 million project is being jointly funded by the County and City and includes a 4,000 square feet expansion, new Friends of the Library bookstore, new community meeting room, additional computers and book stacks/shelves to accommodate an expanded materials collection, and a total interior and exterior remodel.
The Library is located at 30341 Crown Valley Parkway, next to Laguna Niguel City Hall. To view the invitation, please click here.
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| CRITTER CHRONICLES |
Angels for Animals
Join OC Animal Care and the Angels’ Wives on Saturday, August 17 for the 5th Annual “Angels for Animals” event at Angel Stadium! From 5:00 PM through the 2nd inning, fans can purchase 'mystery bags' containing memorabilia autographed by Angels players and coaches. Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet shelter animals!
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Angels Baseball Foundation and local animal shelters. For more information, please click here.
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| FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT |
South County Girls Win Gold!
Aliso Niguel High School rising star, sophomore Kyla Ross, won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. Olympic women's gymnastics team last week. Despite being the youngest member of the team, Kyla, 15, contributed to the team title by placing eighth on the uneven bars and fifth on the balance beam.
Another key to the American team’s gold medal victory was former Fifth District student McKayla Maroney, 16, who placed first on the vault during the team competition.
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| SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR |
San Clemente: Fiesta Street Festival
The San Clemente Fiesta Street Festival features fun and activities for the whole family on Sunday, August 12 from 9:00 AM until 7:00 PM on Avenida Del Mar in beautiful San Clemente. For more information, please click here and here.
Lake Forest: Prelude in the Park
Residents seeking a cornucopia of food, fun and music should pack their chairs and blankets and head to Lake Forest’s Pittsford Park on Sunday, August 19 for the Target Symphony in the Cities, featuring the Pacific Symphony, as Prelude in the Park festivities kick-off at 5:30 PM. For more information, please click here.
Aliso Viejo: Lip Dub
The City of Aliso Viejo is inviting residents, businesses, schools, churches, groups and organizations to take part in its one-of-a-kind Lip Dub, a giant street party set to music, on Sunday, August 19. This is a chance to help promote the City and make history. 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:
- Attended the annual Local Agency Formation Commission Strategic Planning Session.
- Participated in a meet & greet with Camp Pendelton’s new Commanding General, Vincent A. Coglianese.
My office also:
- Attended a briefing about the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).
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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