Header image with Photo of Supervisor Pat Bates. Followed by office information
August 30, 2013

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. AIRPORT ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES

4. SAFETY SENTRY

5. CRITTER CHRONICLES

6. NOTES FROM THE FIELD

7. HARBOR HAPPENINGS

8. TAX COLLECTOR COLLECTIBLES

9. HEALTH HERALD

10. ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS

11. FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT

12. SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR

13. FIFTH DISTRICT WRAP-UP


OUR STAFF...

Don Hughes:
Chief of Staff

Kristen Camuglia:
Deputy Chief of Staff

Sabrina Ross:
Deputy Chief of Staff

Sergio Prince:
Policy Advisor

Erik Weigand:
Policy Advisor

Emily Osterberg:
Policy Advisor

Veronica Yniguez:
Policy Advisor

Ruth Strachan:
Office Manager

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Volume 7 Issue 34
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 2013, please click here.

Our next Board meeting will be held Tuesday, September 10. 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

OCTA to Serve as LOSSAN Managing Agency

In September 2012, the Governor signed SB 1225 (Chapter 802, Statutes of 2013), authorizing local control of the administrative responsibilities for the management of the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner rail service. The legislation provided for the creation of a new joint powers authority (JPA) to manage and improve the rail service, which is the nation’s second busiest intercity rail corridor. Prior to this legislation, the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Board of Directors was advisory only which prevented the directors from actual decision making regarding AMTAK Surfliner operations.

In October 2012, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors, on which I serve, directed the CEO to submit a proposal to serve as the managing agency. The two other agencies that submitted proposals were the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS).

On August 23, 2013, the LOSSAN Board of Directors, on which I also serve, voted to support staff’s recommendation to approve OCTA to serve as the new LOSSAN Managing Agency which was the recommendation of both the LOSSAN evaluation committee and the chief executive officers of the non-proposing member agencies.

Once a contract is negotiated and signed between the LOSSAN JPA and OCTA, OCTA will embark on a 100-day action plan that will entail coordinating ideas and procedures with the LOSSAN partner agencies and State transportation officials.

OCTA’s Director of Rail & Facilities, Capital Programs, Jennifer Bergener, will serve as the LOSSAN Managing Director.

Measure M2 Progress Report

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors reviewed the Measure M2 Progress Report for the period of April through June 2013. This quarterly report reflects current activities and progress within the overall M2 Program for the period.

Measure M2 is a 30-year half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Orange County approved by the voters in 2006.

To view the report, please click here.

AIRPORT ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES

JWA: Labor Day Holiday Weekend Travel Tips

John Wayne Airport (JWA) anticipates a busier-than-normal travel period from Thursday, August 29 through Tuesday, September 3, during the Labor Day holiday weekend, with the busiest travel days being the Thursday before and Tuesday following Labor Day.

Visitors to JWA during this holiday period can check the Airport homepage www.ocair.com for the most up-to-date construction activities around the Riley Terminal. Drivers are encouraged to exercise caution when navigating Airport roadways and follow posted speed limits.

For more JWA travel tips and other information, please click here.

SAFETY SENTRY

Summer / Labor Day Holiday Avoid DUI Campaign

The Summer/Labor Day National Anti-DUI crackdown has resulted in a significant number of DUI arrests from routine traffic enforcement and special “Avoid the 38” Task Force DUI deployments. For more information, please click here and here.

Over the course of the enforcement period ending September 2, checkpoints, saturation patrols and warrant events will continue to be conducted throughout Orange County. All regularly scheduled traffic and patrol officers will focus efforts at stopping and arresting DUI drivers during their normal shifts.

The Laguna Beach Police Department will also be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint at an undisclosed location within the City limits along with special DUI Roving Saturation Patrols over the Labor Day weekend.
  • The DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint is set for Saturday, August 31 from 9:00 PM to 3:00 AM.
  • Roving DUI Saturation Patrols will be deployed Sunday, September 1 from 6:00 PM to 3:00 AM.
All drivers contacted by officers at the checkpoint are provided educational literature and checked for possession of a valid driver’s license. Specially trained drug recognition officers will also be available on both nights to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving.

For more information, please click here.

Barbecue Safety Tips

Summertime is barbecue time. Below are tips to help you safely enjoy your natural gas barbecue:
  • Locate your barbecue away from combustible surfaces such as wood siding or deck railings.
  • Install a flexible gas line connection from the barbecue to the gas houseline to reduce the possibility of damage due to movement.
  • Keep the area near the barbecue free from combustible materials such as leaves.
  • When lighting a gas barbecue, always keep the lid open and your head away from the grill.
  • If the grill fails to light, keep the lid open for at least five minutes to allow residual gas to disperse before attempting to relight.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of fire.
  • Always follow the manufacturer's instructions that accompany the natural gas barbecue.
For more information, please click here.

CRITTER CHRONICLES

K9 Victor Retires

In February 1985, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department recognized the need to initiate a K-9 program. Eight deputies and their canine partners currently provide coverage within the County. The high levels of training and commitment of the canine deputies has established this Unit as one of the most highly respected in the state.

Deputy Hilliard and K9 Victor graduated the Patrol Canine Academy in June 2007 and were assigned to the City of Dana Point. K9 Victor is a black and tan Belgian Malinois dog bred and imported from Holland. Together, Deputy Hilliard and K9 Victor conducted 250 suspect searches. Deputy Hilliard was promoted to Sergeant in June 2013; and K9 Victor is now retired from service and enjoys going boating on “the river” and the RVing in the desert.

For more information, please click here.

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

Laguna Niguel Regional Park: Bats of Orange County

Join OC Parks this Saturday night, August 31 from 7:15 PM to 8:30 PM, for a special evening event at Laguna Niguel Regional Park – Bats of Orange County.

Park Ranger Brad Barker a will lead a 45-minute presentation about the bats of Orange County, followed by a ½-hour round-trip walk to the nearby lake, as we look for bats and listen for their echolocation using a bat detector. Come early to look at a bat skeleton and skull!

Space is limited and registration is mandatory. For more information, please click here.

HARBOR HAPPENINGS

OC Dana Point Harbor: Upcoming Events

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend, August 31 – September 2, represents the end of the summer for many people; but here in Orange County, some of the best weather of the year follows Labor Day. The following are suggestions for enjoying Dana Point Harbor during the busy Labor Day weekend:
  • Public parking and picnic areas fill up early, so plan accordingly.
  • If you are a boater, plan ahead and bring supplies to your boat early.
  • Attendants will be monitoring parking gates during holiday weekend.
  • Campers, R.V.s and trailers are prohibited in marina lots and may be towed.
  • If you have guests coming, make plans to meet them at the parking gate.
For more information, please click here.

Tall Ships Festival

The Tall Ships Festival in Dana Point Harbor will take place Sept. 6 – 8, beginning with the Tall Ships Sunset Parade sail Friday from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM. The Tall Ships Sunset Cannon Battle will take place Saturday and Sunday between 4:30 PM and 7:30 PM.

Boaters should remember that Tall Ships do not maneuver easily and that ship crews may not see smaller vessels as they close in. Therefore, boaters are advised to maintain a safe distance from Tall Ships at all times.

Public parking will be available at the Selva Lot and the RH Dana Elementary School Lot, with shuttles running 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM.

For more information, please click here. For more information other upcoming events in Dana Point Harbor, please click here and here.

TAX COLLECTOR COLLECTIBLES

Unsecured Property Tax Bill Payments Due September 3

The due date for Unsecured Property Tax bills mailed in July is September 3. These are taxes on business property, leased equipment, boats, and aircraft. Mailed payments must be received by this date or have a United States Postal Service postmark on or before September 3 to avoid incurring a 10% late penalty fee plus a $75 collection fee.

The Treasure-Tax Collector encourages taxpayers to save the cost of a stamp and pay on-line by eCheck at www.ocgov.com/octaxbill (there is no charge for this service). Once the eCheck payment is made, taxpayers will receive an email confirmation receipt they can print for their records or they can print the payment confirmation page. Online payments are considered timely up to midnight September 3.

Credit and debit card payments are also accepted through the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s website or through the automated telephone system by calling (714) 834-3411 (2.3% convenience fee for all credit and non-VISA debit cards with a minimum of $3.95 or $3.95 for VISA debit cards).

Payments can also be made in person at the Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector at 625 N. Ross Street, Room G-58 in Santa Ana between 8:00 AM and 4:45 PM. Parking is not validated.

HEALTH HERALD

Breast Health Education

Susan G. Komen Orange County, in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente, invites you to attend an education seminar titled “Don’t Let Fear Takeover Your Life.”

Please join Dr. Michael Hanna, Director of Mental Wellness Programs for Kaiser Permanente Orange County, for a compelling presentation on emotional coping and fear of recurrence after breast cancer treatment. Having some concerns about recurrence is natural, but too much worrying can affect your quality of life. Learn how to manage fear of recurrence so you can feel more confident and secure about survivorship.

This session is FREE and takes place Thursday, September 12 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Kaiser Permanente, Irvine Medical Center Campus, Medical Office Building 1, 4th Floor, Conference Rooms 1 and 2, 6670 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA 92618. Parking is FREE.

To RSVP, please call (714) 796-2657 or e-mail Cheryl.A.Vargo@kp.org.

ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS

California Coastal Cleanup Day September 21

Every year, on the third Saturday in September, people join together at sites all over California to take part in the State's largest volunteer event – California Coastal Cleanup Day.

This year represents the 29th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day. OC Parks, OC Public Works and the City of Laguna Niguel are cohosting an invasive special removal project and trash clean up at Narco Channel/Laguna Niguel Regional Park. For more information, please click here.

OC Dana Point Harbor is also seeking volunteers for California Coastal Clean-Up Day. A unique aspect of the clean-up effort at OC Dana Point Harbor is an Underwater Clean-Up, and open water-certified divers are invited to volunteer and participate. For more information, please click here.

FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT

ETWD Recycled Water Expansion Project

El Toro Water District (ETWD) continues to move its Recycled Water Expansion Project forward with a recent groundbreaking ceremony for the Tertiary Treatment Plant and the upcoming start of construction in the North Laguna Hills project area. To date, more than 36,000 feet of pipeline has been installed.

ETWD is expanding its existing Water Recycling Plant to nearly triple the amount of recycled water it treats and delivers from 500 acre feet per year to approximately 1,400 acre feet per year, which is the equivalent of covering the entire footprint of Laguna Woods Village with five inches of water or filling Angel Stadium nineteen times!

For more information, please click here.

SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR

Laguna Beach: Art Festival Season

Don’t miss Laguna Beach’s world famous summer art festival season, which ends next weekend! For information on the Festival of Arts / Pageant of the Masters, please click here. For information on the Sawdust Art Festival, please click here. For information on Art-A-Fair, please click here.

Rancho Santa Margarita: Patriot Day Event

Join friends and neighbors at the City of Rancho Santa Margarita’s Patriot Day event Sunday, September 15 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Civic Plaza at Central Park. With involvement from the City’s adopted 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines (2/5), this year’s event has been expanded into a FREE all day event. For more information, please click here.

FIFTH DISTRICT WRAP-UP

In addition to my many meetings, briefings, and other supervisorial activities, I also:
  • Met with the Orange County delegation in Sacramento to discuss the VLF lawsuit and SB 298.
  • Participated in a Special Board Meeting Closed Session regarding the VLFAA lawsuit with the State of California.
  • Chaired a joint meeting of the OCTA and SANDAG to discuss mobility issues affecting our two counties.

My office also:
  • Attended a meeting of the South Orange County Economic Coalition.
  • Attended the Mental Health Board meeting.
  • Toured the PACE Care Center.
  • Attended the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee 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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