June 13, 2014 |
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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. HARBOR HAPPENINGS
4. AIRPORT ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES
5. ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS
6. TAX COLLECTOR COLLECTIBLES
7. COUNTY CONNECTIONS
8. LIBRARY LIBRETTO
9. FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT
10. SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR
11. FIFTH DISTRICT WRAP-UP
OUR STAFF...
Don Hughes:
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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| BOARD BULLETIN BOARD |
FY 2014-15 Annual Budget for County of Orange
The Board held a public hearing to consider the proposed FY 2014-15 Annual Budget for the County of Orange. This year’s proposed budget stabilizes the County’s finances, limits impacts on staffing and services, defers significant reductions, and responsibly manages the County’s reserve levels, mitigating the impact of the Vehicle License Fee loss to the State of California.
The FY 14/15 Budget for the County is $5.4 Billion, an increase of $60 million over the previous fiscal year. The Final Budget adoption is scheduled June 24.
To learn more about the County’s proposed budget and view the staff presentation, please click here.
OC Animal Care Fee Schedule
The Board conducted a second hearing and adopted a resolution approving the OC Animal Care Fee Schedule to support the continued humane operation of animal facilities and maintain compliance with health and sanitation requirements.
In doing so, the Board also directed staff to conduct a performance audit of OC Animal Care to identify possible areas to reduce fees and improve efficiency.
For more information, please click here.
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| TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION |
Road Closures during President’s Visit to Laguna Beach
In an effort to assist the public in avoiding possible traffic congestion during the visit of President Barack Obama on Saturday, June 14, the following areas of Orange County should be avoided when possible to prevent travel delays for community members:
- North and Southbound Closure of PCH (CA 1) from Newport Coast Dr. in Newport Beach to Ledroit St. in Laguna Beach from 8:30 AM to 8:50 AM.
- North and Southbound Closure of PCH (CA 1) from Newport Coast Dr. in Newport Beach to Ledroit St. in Laguna Beach from 10:00 AM to 10:20 AM.
- Katella Avenue and Douglas Road closures in Anaheim from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM.
- CA57 North and Southbound closure at Katella Avenue in Anaheim from 1:00 PM to 1:10 PM.
This information has been provided to the public with approval of the U.S. Secret Service. For more information, please click here.
South Orange County Transportation Forum
There are several important transportation-related projects taking place throughout South County to keep our region moving.
Learn what's going on, what's being planned and how it will impact you during the June 27 South Orange County Transportation Forum featuring Darrell Johnson, CEO of the Orange County Transportation Authority.
The Forum takes place Friday, June 27 from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM at the Orange County Realtors Association (25552 La Paz Road, Laguna Hills). The event is FREE but seating is limited. Register now! For more information, please click here.
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| HARBOR HAPPENINGS |
Public Appeal Hearing: Coastal Development Permit
An appeal has been filed to the City of Dana Point for CDP13-0018, Dana Point Harbor that was previously heard and approved by the Dana Point Planning Commission on May 12.
The Dana Point City Council has scheduled a Coastal Development Permit appeal hearing for 6:00 PM Tuesday, June 17. This hearing will be held at Dana Point Community Center at 34052 Del Obispo, Dana Point and will be open to the general public.
For more information, please click here.
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| AIRPORT ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES |
JWA Settlement Agreement Amendment Project
The County of Orange, as owner and operator of John Wayne Airport, recently issued Draft Environmental Impact Report 617 (Draft EIR) for the John Wayne Airport Settlement Agreement Amendment Project.
The Draft EIR has been prepared in conformance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to address the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed modification and extension of the Settlement Agreement.
The Settlement Agreement formalized consensus reached between the County of Orange, the City of Newport Beach, the Airport Working Group (AWG) and Stop Polluting Our Newport (SPON) on the nature and extent of facility and operational improvements that could be implemented at John Wayne Airport.
The Draft EIR and technical appendices are available for public review by clicking here, as well as at the John Wayne Airport Administrative Office, the City of Newport Beach Planning Department, and various public libraries.
Comments on the Draft EIR will be accepted until 5:00 PM, July 8 and may be submitted via email to DEIR617@ocair.com or by mail to:
Ms. Lea Choum
John Wayne Airport
3160 Airway Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
For more information, please click here and here.
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| ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS |
Aerial Weed Survey
Currently ongoing through Friday, June 20, the Nature Reserve of Orange County, in collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Parks, OC Parks, City of Irvine, City of Newport Beach, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, and Laguna Canyon Foundation, will conduct an aerial weed survey during daylight hours using a small, low-flying helicopter to document and map the distribution of over 30 weed species located within selected coastal parks and open space areas.
The resulting information will provide details about the abundance and distribution of invasive weeds and help land managers evaluate the effectiveness of current weed monitoring practices, identify emerging weed problems, and strategically plan future weed management actions.
The aerial weed survey will be focused on mapping the distribution of artichoke thistle and a minimum of 30 other established and emerging invasive weeds, which degrade natural habitat values important to wildlife and the park visitor experience. The survey will cover nearly 18,000 acres.
For the land areas involved and more information, please click here and here.
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| TAX COLLECTOR COLLECTIBLES |
Payment Plan for Delinquent Property Taxes
A listing of all properties by city with delinquent taxes owed for five or more years has been published by the Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector in the newspaper and online. These properties may be subject to auction unless owners act now to enter into an installment plan for payment.
Property owners have until Monday, June 30 to begin a Five-Year Installment Plan to pay the delinquent taxes on their properties. The property owner must qualify for the plan by meeting certain criteria.
If the tax-defaulted properties with more than five years without payment do not have an installment plan started and in good standing by June 30, the only way to avoid the tax auction is to pay 100% of the taxes, penalties and fees levied on the property prior to the date of the next tax auction. No partial payments or installment payments will be accepted prior to the auction date.
Have you moved, your business has relocated, or you haven’t received a property tax bill recently? If so, and you did not file a change of address with the Office of the Assessor nor gone online to pay your property tax bill, your taxes may be delinquent. You can download a change of address form at www.ocgov.com/octaxbill, just click on “How to” and then on “Request a Change of Address.”
An easy way to check whether your property taxes are outstanding is to go online at www.ocgov.com/octaxbill and input either the property address or the parcel number (APN). Click “find” and then click the APN link that will identify if there are outstanding property taxes due.
Taxpayers should consider checking online before the final tax installment payment date to make sure that all payments have been processed. Another easy way to remember to make your payments is to sign up for our email reminder system that sends an email alert when property tax bills are mailed. The alerts are sent 10 days prior to the last payment date and one day prior to the last payment date.
For more information, please click here.
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| COUNTY CONNECTIONS |
2-1-1 Orange County
When Orange County residents need help and it’s not a 911 emergency, it can be confounding knowing who to call. That’s where 2-1-1 Orange County comes in.
Dialing three numbers (211) connects callers with staff who are expert in assessing each person’s situation and referring them to the best avenues for help. The organization fields some 70,000 calls a year, and connects callers with assistance from a database of more than 2,000 agencies. Many of the most-referred agencies are within the County of Orange.
The organization has previously been cautious in promoting itself so that the volume of calls they handle doesn’t degrade the quality of the service they’re able to give callers. Newly acquired technology and the merger with another OC nonprofit, OC Partnership, puts them in a better position to serve more callers.
The County of Orange has been a supporter of 2-1-1 OC since 2006. Last month, the Board of Supervisors renewed our funding support for another year.
OC Partnership also has long ties to the County via its role in uniting government agencies and non-governmental organizations through the Commission to End Homelessness. The two organizations are moving into a common headquarters this summer in Santa Ana’s The Village nonprofit center.
The calls they handle include people seeking food, clothing, medical help or other basic human needs; navigating the Affordable Care Act or other insurance access; counseling for depression, mental problems or substance abuse; job training or help finding a job, and a host of other services. The needs list is topped by callers seeking or trying to hold on to adequate shelter.
2-1-1 OC’s work dovetails with OC Partnership’s long-term efforts with the County to end homelessness. Along with helping to keep families off the streets, the aid network accessed by 2-1-1 OC keeps many problems from escalating to 911 situations later.
The key to the service is the staff who answers the phones. Many come from a social services background and undergo weeks of training, of which a deep knowledge of the help options in the database is only one factor.
Along with being of service to the public, 2-1-1 OC’s role as a bridge to service agencies has advantages for the agencies as well. When a call is routed to them, the 211 staff has already determined that the caller and situation is relevant to the agency’s purview, and the caller has been pre-screened for eligibility.
Though calling remains the most effective means of finding help, there is an increasingly robust website at www.211oc.org.
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| LIBRARY LIBRETTO |
San Clemente Library Closure: Expansion Project
The San Clemente Library and Friends of the Library Bookstore will close for an expansion and remodeling project that will result in approximately 15,000 square feet of space, a completely redesigned interior, and flexible meeting room spaces to better serve the needs of our ever-growing and changing community.
The library’s last day open will be Sunday, June 15. Effective Monday, June 16, the library will be closed for approximately one year. San Clemente Library patrons can obtain library services at San Juan Capistrano Library, as well as most South County branches during the construction period.
For more information, patrons should call the San Clemente Library at (949) 492-3493 until June 15. From June 16 until the Branch’s reopening, information on library services and hours for specific neighboring branches can be obtained by visiting the OC Public Libraries website at www.ocpl.org.
Dana Point Library Closure: Skylights Renovation Project
Dana Point Library and the Friends of the Library Bookstore will soon close for a roof renovation project that will replace two large skylights. The new skylights will benefit patrons of the Dana Point Library by providing more light and improving energy efficiency.
The target closure dates are June 30 through September 1. Dana Point Library patrons can obtain library services at Laguna Niguel Library, as well as most South County branches during the construction period.
For more information, patrons should call Dana Point Library at (949) 496-5517 until June 29. From June 30 through September 1, or until the branch’s reopening, information on library services and hours for specific neighboring branches can be obtained by visiting the OC Public Libraries website.
FREE eBooks @ Your Library
Going on vacation and don’t want your books to be late? Check out OC Public Libraries’ eBook collection from Overdrive. With eBooks, you will never have any overdue books or late fees! eBooks come with a set due date and automatically return themselves on that date. That is what makes them perfect for traveling! You can feel at ease knowing you can literally be a million miles away and returning your library books is one thing you won’t have to worry about.
You can check out up to ten eBooks at a time. Download on the go with the Overdrive Media Console app. All you need is a Wi-Fi connection, a library card and library card pin number, and you can download these FREE books from anywhere! You can download eBooks to your smartphone, tablet or eReader device. You can even download them right to your web browser and read the book immediately on your computer. Ebooks give you access to your favorite titles 24/7.
What types of books are available as eBooks? All kinds! Browse the collection and take a look for yourself. Just like print books, you can place eBooks on hold. Many popular best-sellers are available as eBooks, and often the wait list is shorter than for the print book. Get the newest books faster! When you are browsing the eBook collection, all the books with a gray icon on the top right are currently checked out and ready for a hold to be placed and all the books with a black icon on the top right are available to be checked out today.
Ebooks are convenient and fun and they are even better when they are free from your local library! Check one out today! If you have an eReader device but aren’t sure how to download FREE library books through Overdrive you can visit any of the OC Public Libraries branches and get help. They love eBooks and are happy to help!
For more information, please click here.
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| FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT |
Laguna Niguel Councilmember Honored by SCORE
SCORE Orange County presented Laguna Niguel Councilwoman Laurie Davies with the “Extraordinary Advancement of Orange County SCORE by a Non-Member” Award at the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce monthly breakfast meeting recently.
“This annual award is presented rarely and only when there is significant reason to recognize outstanding accomplishments” said David Harris, Vice Chairman Outreach, for SCORE Orange County.
The criteria to receive this award are based on activity, support and promotion of small business services within the community while maximizing SCORE's resources. As a result of Laurie's tireless effort, the City of Laguna Niguel has become the benchmark. “Simply put, nobody is better” said Harris.
Laurie spearheaded the program but also had tremendous support from City Staff and the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce.
SCORE is a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to the formation, growth and success of small businesses, and provides no-cost or low cost small business training workshops of a variety of topics relevant to operating a new and existing small business.
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| SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR |
San Juan Capistrano: Summer Nites Concert Series
Attend the first San Juan Summer Nites Concert of the year Wednesday, June 18, with Country Western band "River Road". The FREE concert is held at Historic Town Center Park, 31852 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, and starts at 6:00 PM. For more information, please click here.
Laguna Niguel: Summer Concert Series
Add to your summer festivities by attending the City of Laguna Niguel’s FREE Summer Concert Series, beginning Sunday, June 27 with DSB (Journey tribute) from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Crown Valley Community Park, 29751 Crown Valley Parkway. For more information, please click here.
Lake Forest: Fourth of July Parade
Celebrate the Fourth of July at the City of Lake Forest’s 23rd annual parade, which begins promptly at 10:00 AM. For more information, including the schedule of events, please click here.
Rancho Santa Margarita: Summer Concert Series
The City of Rancho Santa Margarita presents its 2014 Summer Concert Series, beginning with “Stone Soul” (Motown) on Sunday, July 13 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Central Park, 30842 La Miranda. 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 in the Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors meeting.
- Participated in the Transportation Corridor Agencies Boards of Directors meetings.
- Adjourned the Board of Supervisors meeting in memory of Forrest Owen of Laguna Niguel.
My office also:
- Attended the City of Laguna Niguel Volunteer Appreciation Dinner to present a proclamation for their Citizen of the Year.
- Presented a certificate of recognition in honor of the 20th anniversary of Laura’s House in Ladera Ranch.
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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