Header image with Photo of Supervisor Pat Bates. Followed by office information
September 21, 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. COUNTY CONNECTIONS

4. REGISTRAR REGISTER

5. HEALTH HERALD

6. TREASURER TREASURES

7. HARBOR HAPPENINGS

8. SAFETY SENTRY

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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Volume 6 Issue 37
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, September 25. 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

Locally Preferred Alternative on I-405 Project

On Monday, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Regional Planning and Highways Committee, on which I serve, considered the selection of a Locally Preferred Alternative for the I-405 Improvement Project.

As part of the I-405 Improvement Project, four alternatives are being considered:
  1. Add one general purpose lane in each direction;
  2. Add two general purpose lanes in each direction;
  3. Add one general purpose lane and one tolled express lane to be added to the existing HOV lane which would be converted to form a two lane express facility; and
  4. No build.
With any of the options, the improvements would generally occur on the I-405 freeway from Euclid Street to the I-605 interchange and stay within the existing freeway right of way. For more specific information on the various alternatives, please click here.

The Committee unanimously voted to support Alternative 1, to add a single general purpose lane in each direction of the I-405 freeway from Euclid Street to the I-605 interchange. In general, the Committee supported Alternative 1 because it delivers what Measure M2, a half-cent local sales tax approved in 2006, promised to voters – one regular lane in each direction. In addition, there is available funding for Alternative 1, which would cost an estimated $1.3 billion.

Alternative 2, to add two general purpose lanes in each direction, would cost approximately $1.4 billion, of which there is an approximate $100 million funding shortfall. Alternative 3 provides a Toll Lanes option as a means to cover the cost (approximately $1.7 billion) of the additional lanes. Since this concept was not presented in the Measure M2 voter approved ordinance, Committee members, including myself, raised several questions regarding this option.

The full OCTA Board of Directors is expected to consider the selection of a Locally Preferred Alternative on Monday, September 24. While the Regional Planning and Highways Committee is recommending the Board select Alternative 1, staff is recommending selection of Alternative 3.

OCTA Public Member Seat

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is currently seeking applicants for one of the two public member seats on the OCTA Board of Directors.

Interested applicants must be Orange County residents who have not served as a city, county, agency or special district elected official within Orange County at any time over the past four years. Applications are being accepted now through October 12.

For more information, please click here.

Roads Impacted during Triathlon this Sunday

With the Orangeman Half-Distance Triathlon set to trek through areas of South County on Sunday, September 23, residents should be aware of closures that will be in effect.

The event consists of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run. The bike portion is an "out-and-back" that takes athletes from Doheny State Beach east through the cities of Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano, including travel along the San Juan Creek Bike Trail, Paseo Tirador, Calle Arroyo, Avenida Siega and Ortega Highway.

Motorists should plan for delays and/or alternate routes that day. For more information, please click here and here.

COUNTY CONNECTIONS

Three County Programs Receive 2012 CSAC Awards

Three County of Orange departments – the Social Services Agency, Health Care Agency, and Office of the Performance Audit Director – were selected to be honored by the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) for innovation and cost effectiveness as part of the 2012 Challenge Awards program.
  • The Social Services Agency will receive a Challenge Award for its Doing More with Less in Orange County Program, designed to efficiently address increased workloads and decreased resources by transitioning from case-based to task-based service delivery.
  • The Health Care Agency will receive a Merit Award for its Leadership Development Program, a three-track training approach that provides employees with ongoing personal and professional development opportunities.
  • The Office of the Performance Audit Director will receive a Merit Award for Excellence through Performance Auditing. Orange County established the first county Performance Audit department in California that reports directly to the Board of Supervisors to enhance transparency, accountability, and effectiveness.
For more information, please click here and here.

REGISTRAR REGISTER

Online Voter Registration Open for Business

Online voter registration was launched statewide this week, enabling non-voters to register without using traditional paper forms.

The online system verifies data through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) database, which matches the applicant’s driver's license or identification card number, date of birth and last four digits of their Social Security number. If the information matches, the Orange County Registrar of Voters will then use an electronic image of their DMV signature to complete the application.

Using the system is fast and easy and will enable thousands of potential voters to register before the November election. The deadline to register to vote for the Presidential Election is October 22.

For more information, please click here.

HEALTH HERALD

Veterans Behavioral Health Conference a Success

The Orange County Health Care Agency recently hosted the Veterans Behavioral Health Conference. Over 240 community members and partner agencies attended the event to learn about “Strengthening Foundations for Veterans and Their Family Members,” this year’s conference theme.

The goal of the conference was to raise awareness about the challenges veterans and their families face with deployment and reintegration. To learn more about the available services for veterans and their families, please visit the Orange County Network of Care.

Is Your Child in the Right Car Seat?

National Child Passenger Safety Week was celebrated this week to increase community awareness on how to properly secure kids in car seats and seat belts. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1 through 12.

The Health Care Agency’s Buckle Up Orange County program reminds parents that the best way to protect children is to put them in the right seat, at the right time, and use it the right way. The program provides education and training to parents and providers, as well as referrals to countywide child passenger safety programs and resources.

For more information, please click here.

TREASURER TREASURES

Orange County Treasurer Installed as President of APTUSC

Orange County Treasurer Shari Freidenrich was installed last month as the 48th President of the Association of Public Treasurers of the United States and Canada (APTUSC) during their Annual Conference held in Williamsburg, Virginia.

The mission of APTUSC is to provide quality treasury management education and training, professional certifications, peer interaction, and professional connection opportunities for public treasury and financial officials.

Shari has been a member of APTUSC since 1996 and has been a member of its Board of Directors for the past six years. For more information, please click here.

HARBOR HAPPENINGS

Orange County Planning Commission Public Hearing

The Orange County Planning Commission has rescheduled the public hearing to consider the Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) No. 613 for Wednesday, September 26, for the Dana Point Harbor Marina Improvement Project. The Public Hearing will begin at 1:30 PM in the Planning Commission Hearing Room in the Hall of Administration.

A complete staff report can be found on the OC Dana Point Harbor website. For more information, please click here.

SAFETY SENTRY

2.2 Million OC Residents Receive AlertOC Test Call

Over 2.2 million Orange County residents received a call on Thursday, September 20 at 10:00 AM to test the County’s regional mass notification system, AlertOC. This was the third annual regional test of the system and included 23 participating cities as well as the County’s unincorporated areas.

The test was held in conjunction with National Preparedness Month and replicated a large scale, multi-jurisdictional emergency, requiring thousands of numbers to be called simultaneously. The phone message urged all residents to prepare for real-life emergencies by registering their contact information at www.AlertOC.com for the best chance to receive vital, timely information when away from home.

Emergencies can happen at any time. A wildfire could spread or a flood could close the roads to a neighborhood while residents are away from home. In these instances, AlertOC is a critical link for residents to immediately learn of any required actions.

For more information, please click here.

FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT

Paying Tribute to our Fallen Officers

Charged with protecting those they serve, police officers put themselves in harm’s way to enforce the law. Unfortunately, some officers pay the ultimate price, laying down their own life in valiant service to others.

In honor of these fallen heroes, the Sheriff’s Advisory Council and the Orange County Chiefs of Police and Sheriff’s Association (OCCPSA) are constructing a new Orange County Peace Officers Memorial Monument at the Regional Training Facility in Tustin. The new monument will honor the 51 law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty in Orange County.

Among the fallen is Sergeant Matthew Davis, who began his career with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in 1986. While assigned to patrol, he received numerous citizen commendations from the community and was honored by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) for his continual efforts to keep drunk drivers off the road.

On September 20, 2002, Sergeant Davis was involved in a traffic collision while on duty as a motorcycle officer in Mission Viejo, when a driver pulled out in front of Davis at an intersection. Despite heroic medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries two days later. “This memorial allows us to keep Matt’s memory alive. We do not ever want people to forget him and his sacrifice,” said Mary Huffman, Davis’ mother.

For more information, please click here, here and here.

SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR

Laguna Beach: Sunset Serenades

The City of Laguna Beach proudly presents “Sunset Serenades” – FREE live music at Heisler Park Amphitheater on Fridays at 5:30 PM throughout the month of September. For more information, please click here.

Laguna Niguel: NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick Competition

HEY KIDS... Come show off your football skills at the NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass & Kick Local Competition. This FREE event will take place Sunday, September 23 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Marina Hills Park in Laguna Niguel. For more information, please click here.

Dana Point: Battle of the Paddle

Come join the fifth year anniversary of the stand-up paddle phenomenon known as “Battle of the Paddle”. This year’s event is set for Saturday & Sunday, September 29 & 30 at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point. 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 City of Lake Forest's 20th Anniversary Celebration.
  • Participated in the Affordable Housing AdHoc Commitee meeting.
  • Met with representatives from the City of San Clemente and the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) to discuss Quiet Zone issues.
  • Participated in Assemblyman Don Wagner's Senior Survival Guide event in the City of Laguna Woods.
  • Met with Dana Point Harbor staff for a briefing on Harbor activities.
My office also:
  • Attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC).
  • Attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Laguna Beach Lifeguard Headquarters.
  • Attended the South Orange County Association of Mayors meeting.
  • Attended the Orange County Planning Commission meeting.
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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