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February 17, 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. SOUTH COUNTY NEWS
4. CRITTER CHRONICLES
5. NOTES FROM THE FIELD
6. ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS
7. LIBRARY LESSONS & SESSIONS
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
Brian Probolsky:
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, February 28. 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 |
County/OCTA Comment on Draft RTP
As the federally-designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Imperial counties, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) must adopt a Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) every four years per state and federal law.
The draft 2012 RTP presents a long-term strategy for investments in the region’s transportation system between 2012 and 2035, at a total cost of $524.7 billion. The RTP also includes demographic assumptions and, for the first time, as mandated by SB 375 (2008), a Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) for the six-county SCAG region.
All regionally significant transportation projects must be included in the federally-approved RTP in order to advance through the project delivery process. The RTP must also demonstrate conformity with the air quality management plan for the region. This requires that transportation activities resulting from the RTP must not cause new or worsen existing air quality violations and/or delay timely implementation of federal air quality standards.
In addition, the RTP must include the SCS, a requirement of SB 375. The SCS focuses on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from cars and light trucks, primarily through land-use planning linked to transit and/or non-motorized travel. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) established GHG reduction goals of eight percent per capita by 2020 and 13 percent per capita by 2035, compared to 2005 levels.
The 2012 Draft Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS), and associated Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) were released in late December, as local agencies and members of the public were given until February 14 to provide comments.
A number of local agencies and organizations coordinated in their review of the extensive document, which includes more than 500 mitigation measures. Various agencies prepared individual comment letters. In addition, a number of agencies signed onto a joint letter, which emphasizes issues of common concern raised through the collaborative review.
Overall, there is shared concern that mitigation measures to meet GHG reductions appear to exceed SCAG’s authority with regard to land uses, statutorily and historically the prerogative of local government.
In addition, assumptions of new revenue sources, including a Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) tax, to fund transportation infrastructure can have significant impacts on businesses and the economy. This concept has not been fully evaluated through a comprehensive economic analysis that looks at the need for new revenues and how the new revenues are proposed to be invested.
To view the letter from the County of Orange, please click here and here.
To view the letter from the Orange County Transportation Authority, please click here.
To view the letter from the Orange County Council of Governments, please click here.
To view the letter from the Transportation Corridor Agencies, please click here.
To view the letter from the Building Industry Association of Southern California, Inc., please click here.
To view the joint letter signed by the above referenced agencies, as well as Orange County Business Council; League of California Cities, Orange County; Independent Special Districts of Orange County; Association of California Cities, Orange County; and Center for Demographic Research, please click here.
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| SOUTH COUNTY NEWS |
San Clemente Shooting
Last week, a tragic shooting occurred in San Clemente, involving an Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy and a resulting in the death of a resident marine stationed at Camp Pendleton. There has been much publicity about this shooting over the past week.
Protocol dictates the District Attorney’s (DA) office is responsible for assessing the legality of the use of deadly force, as the DA handles the investigation for all in-custody deaths in the jails and all deaths arising from or related to contact with law enforcement throughout the County. It is important that proper investigations proceed before conclusions are drawn.
I can assure you that the Orange County Sheriff’s Department of 2012 is not the same as in 2008. Subsequent to the jail beating death of Richard Chamberlin, much work has been done by both the Sheriff and the Board of Supervisors to ensure the Department is more accountable and actions more transparent. Procedures established subsequent to 2008 include the Office of Independent Review, which investigates all incidents with a critical eye.
If wrong doing is found, be assured that appropriate actions will be taken. I will continue to provide updates on this matter as the investigation proceeds.
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| CRITTER CHRONICLES |
New OC Animal Care Center Update
The Board of Supervisors continues to make progress on the development of a new Animal Shelter. On January 24, the Board approved an Exchange Agreement with the South Orange County Community College District (SOCCCD) for a land-swap of ten-acre parcels at the former MCAS Tustin Base. Five acres of the parcel to be received by the County, following release by the Department of Navy, has been designated as the site for a new Animal Care Center, which will replace the existing Animal Shelter currently in the City of Orange.
The planned Tustin site is centrally located in the County and easily accessible to all. OC Parks has been tasked with developing an 84-acre park directly across from the site, which will include one of the landmark blimp hangars. Conceptual plans have already been completed for the new Animal Care Center.
The County is continuing to work with the City of Tustin and SOCCCD to revise the documentation required by the Department of Navy as part of the Re-Use Process. It is hoped that a decision from the Department of Navy regarding conveyance can be obtained in late 2012 or early 2013.
Once the Department of Navy issues the decision on conveyance, construction plans will be developed and ground will be broken on the new site. Timing on construction will depend upon the actions of the Department of Navy and any requirements set forth in that action.
Previous cost estimates for the new Animal Care Center ranged from approximately $25 million to $30 million. Initial funding already has been set aside by the Board. Additionally, preliminary discussions have been initiated with an advisory group of city managers from the cities that contract with OC Animal Care regarding the balance required to complete the project, with more formal discussions on a funding agreement being initiated in the fall. Staff is also looking at other ideas for fundraising, including a non-profit fundraising effort.
Development of a new Animal Care Center is a high priority for the County and our partner contract cities. To that end, I will continue to provide updates on the progress as we move forward.
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| NOTES FROM THE FIELD |
O’Neill Regional Park: Get Outdoors! OC
Bring the whole family to O’Neill Regional Park in Trabuco Canyon on Saturday, February 25 to enjoy environmental education adventures with Inside The Outdoors. This event is FREE and RSVP is not required.
For more information or to download a flyer for FREE parking, please click here.
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| ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS |
Register Now for the 2012 OC Green Fair
Promote and build your brand as a sponsor or exhibitor at the 2012 OC Green Fair, taking place May 17 in Santa Ana. More than 3,000 attendees are expected to participate in this FREE event, which is open to the public and will feature green products and services, doors prizes, delicious food and networking opportunities.
The OC Green Fair raises awareness regarding environmental concerns and shows consumers how to reduce their impact on the earth by selecting sustainable, eco-friendly products and services, reducing energy consumption, conserving water, and limiting dependence on fossil fuels.
To register as an exhibitor at the event or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please complete the registration form by Monday, April 2.
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| LIBRARY LESSONS & SESSIONS |
Orange County Public Libraries eReader Open House
Orange County Public Libraries (OCPL) will host an eReader Open House at the Rancho Santa Margarita Branch Library on Tuesday, February 21 from noon to 2:00 PM, which will provide patrons with “hands on” experience with multiple e-reader devices.
This is an excellent opportunity for residents who may have a new e-reader device but aren’t sure how to effectively download e-books. Those who may want to purchase an e-reader but aren’t sure which can come and try each of them out, as OCPL staff will be on hand to assist. This event is FREE of charge and open to the public.
For more information, please click here. For information on other eReader Open House events, please click here.
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| FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT |
South County Goes Uptown, Winning Five Grammy Awards
Laguna Beach’s Taylor Hawkins, Foo Fighters drummer, and his band mates were awarded five Grammy Awards last Sunday night. As a result, Foo Fighters now rank third in all-time wins in “Group” Grammys – ahead of the Beatles!
Taylor went to school in Laguna Beach and lives in town with his wife and family. Last summer, Taylor answered the call when a local drummer was unable to perform during one of Laguna Beach's summer concerts at Bluebird Park, as he graciously entertained his hometown fans and neighbors.
For more information, please click here.
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| SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR |
San Clemente: The White House Garden
San Clemente’s Casa Romantica presents the only west coast showing of The White House Garden, a Smithsonian travelling exhibition capturing the history and beauty of one of the oldest continuously maintained landscaped gardens in America, on display through February 26. For more information, please click here.
Dana Point: 41st Annual Festival of Whales
On the weekends of March 3-4 and 10-11, hundreds of California Gray Whales on their annual migration to Mexico will splash by the seaside community of Dana Point – the West Coast's premier location to meet and greet these incredible creatures during the 41st Annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. For more information, please click here and here.
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| FIFTH DISTRICT WRAP-UP |
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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