Header image with Photo of Supervisor Pat Bates. Followed by office information
January 24, 2014

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. SAFETY SENTRY

4. HEALTH HERALD

5. ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS

6. NOTES FROM THE FIELD

7. REGISTRAR REGISTER

8. FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT

9. SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR

10. FIFTH DISTRICT WRAP-UP

OUR STAFF...

Don Hughes:
Chief of Staff

Kristen Camuglia:
Deputy Chief of Staff

Sergio Prince:
Policy Advisor

Erik Weigand:
Policy Advisor

Emily Osterberg:
Policy Advisor

Veronica Yniguez:
Policy Advisor

Ruth Strachan:
Office Manager

Click here to subscribe.

Click here to unsubscribe
Volume 8 Issue 3
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 2014 Board meeting schedule, please click here.

Our next Board meeting will be held Tuesday, January 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.
TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION

The Toll Roads Removing Cash Toll Collection in May

The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) last week introduced three new Express Account payment options that will give toll road drivers more options for paying tolls. With the new, transponder-free ExpressAccounts, images of a vehicle's license plate taken on The Toll Roads are linked to an account and the appropriate toll is collected.

When customers sign up for an ExpressAccount, they may choose one of three payment options:
  • Prepaid – Customers open an account with a prepaid balance and tolls are deducted from the amount whenever they use The Toll Roads.
  • Charge – At the end of each day, customers’ tolls are charged to the credit card on file for each trip on The Toll Roads.
  • Invoice – Customers are sent an invoice at the close of the month for tolls incurred that month; no need to use a credit card or link a bank account to your account. This account type includes an invoice fee.
TCA, which operates The Toll Roads (SRs 73, 133, 241 and 261) will remove all cash toll collection from the 51-mile toll road network in May 2014. The Express Accounts offer drivers who do not have a FasTrak transponder new ways to pay tolls without stopping.

Customers with FasTrak, which uses transponder technology affixed to a vehicle's windshield, will continue to pay the lowest tolls and may be used on all toll roads, lanes and bridges throughout California. FasTrak customers won't have to make any changes to their accounts when cash collection ceases on The Toll Roads.

For more information, please click here.

OCTA: On The Move

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has released its latest edition of “Orange County: On The Move.” To view the OCTA e-newsletter, please click here.

Annual Measure M Public Hearing

Members of the Measure M Taxpayer Oversight Committee (TOC) will conduct their annual public hearing Tuesday, Feb. 11 to review major committee actions and Measure M financial audit results, as well as listen to public comments relating to the implementation of Measure M during 2013.

Measure M is the countywide sales tax measure that funds transportation services and projects throughout Orange County. The hearing will begin at 6:00 PM at the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) headquarters in Orange.

The independent, 11-member oversight committee serves as a voter safeguard to monitor OCTA’s use of Measure M funding, approve all changes to the Measure M plan, and hold annual public hearings on the expenditure of funds generated by the sales tax measure.

Hundreds of local projects that impact residents every day have already been completed using Measure M funding. These projects include enhancements to freeways, street widening, signal synchronization, intersection improvements and the Metrolink commuter rail service.

For more information or to provide feedback regarding Measure M, please click here.

OCTA Customers save $4 On Tet Festival Admission

Come celebrate the Year of the Horse at the world’s largest Tet Festival outside of Vietnam on February 7, 8 & 9 at the OC Fair & Event Center.

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has partnered with organizers to usher-in the Vietnamese New Year with a great discount to the Tet Festival. OCTA bus riders will receive $4 off the $5 admission price when they show their bus pass. Those who wear traditional Vietnamese attire to the opening ceremony Saturday, Feb. 8 between 10:00 AM and noon will get FREE admission.

Additionally, OCTA will add trips on Routes 47, 55, 71 and 178 during the festival on Saturday and Sunday for added convenience to guests. Schedules will be available at OCTA.net/TetFestival soon.

For more information, please click here.
SAFETY SENTRY

E-Cigs: A Dangerous New Trend in Orange County Schools

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD), more youth are using e-cigs with marijuana to get high at Orange County schools. To view a special report by CBS featuring OCSD Deputy Clay Cranford, please click here.

Are you prepared?

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has an Emergency Management Division, which would like all residents to be informed and prepared in the event a disaster strikes. Below are recommended ways you can ensure your safety and survival during an emergency:
  • Get a kit of emergency supplies, including tems such as water, non-perishable foods, a first aid kit, and also important documents and medications.
  • Make a plan. By developing a family emergency plan, you can ensure that family members will know what to do no matter where they might be when an emergency starts.
  • Have supplies ready. Whether you need to get in the car and go, or make shelter at home, have supplies for any disaster accessible.
  • Be informed. It is always a good idea to educate yourself on the potential threats and disasters that may happen. It is important to know where to go and what to do for help. By signing up for AlertOC, you will have direct access to Orange County’s mass emergency notification system.
  • Get involved in preparing your community. After preparing yourself and your family, go out and help others prepare for themselves.
For more information, please click here, here and here.
HEALTH HERALD

2013 Orange County Health Profile

A new report from the Orange County Health Care Agency shows a complex picture of health in Orange County. Orange County’s health indicators fare well compared to other counties and state and national data; however, disparities exist in health conditions amongst groups of people based on economics, race, ethnicity, gender, age, and geography.

The report provides a breakdown of many health and health-associated indicators at a sub-county level to help in understanding where these health disparities occur. Examples of the more than 70 indicators in the report are Life Expectancy, Health Insurance Coverage, Violent Crime, Crowded Living Conditions, Breastfeeding, Heart Disease Deaths, Obesity Rates, Smoking Rates, Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths, and Suicide Rates.

For more information, please click here. To view the 2013 Orange County Health Profile, please click here.
ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS

Save Our Water

With the Governor declaring a state of emergency in California brought on by the driest year in history, residents are urged to conserve water. The Governor is asking Californians to reduce water use by 20 percent.

For simple tips that will help you save water both inside and out, please click here. For more information, please click here and here.
NOTES FROM THE FIELD

2014 OC Parks Annual Passes Now Available

2014 OC Parks annual passes are now available for purchase. OC Parks annual passes and decals offer convenient parking at your favorite regional and wilderness parks, as well as all County beach parks. Enjoy hiking, mountain biking, exploring, surfing or rest and relaxation in nature with simple pre-paid parking at all locations.

The 2014 OC Parks annual pass rates remain the same affordable and accessible prices as in 2013. For the best value, purchase a combination pass to enjoy all OC Parks and beaches. Seniors are eligible for a discount and Distinguished Veterans (per California State Parks) are eligible for a no-fee pass.

Annual Regional Park Parking Passes and Wilderness Park and Beach Parking Decals are available to purchase in person at most OC Parks facilities. Please contact the facility of your choice first to confirm availability and office hours.

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

Clerk-Recorder Extends Hours

Effective Monday, February 3, the Orange County Clerk-Recorder will be extending the hours at the department’s branch offices in downtown Fullerton and at the Laguna Hills Civic Center. The branch offices will now be open to the public from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The branch offices previously were open until 4:00 PM, while the department’s main offices in Santa Ana stayed open until 4:30 PM. For more information, please click here.

The Orange County Clerk-Recorder will also be offering extended hours and is now accepting reservations for couples who wish to be married on Valentine’s Day at the department’s three marriage offices.

Ceremony rooms and marriage services will be available at the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Ceremony rooms and marriage services will be available at the department’s branch offices in Laguna Hills and Fullerton from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. In addition, the branch office locations offer free parking.

Appointments are highly recommended for those wishing to have a ceremony on Valentine’s Day since this day continues to be one of the most popular days to “tie the knot.” You can make an appointment by visiting their website at www.ocrecorder.com and use the online application and appointment system. Walk-ins will be assisted based on availability of ceremony rooms.

Valentine’s Day has consistently been one of the busiest days for civil marriages at the Clerk-Recorder. Last year, the department married 170 couples. The all-time record for the department is 173 ceremonies performed on Valentine’s Day in 1997. The department also issued 224 marriage licenses last year on Valentine’s Day.

For more information, please click here.
REGISTRAR REGISTER

Orange County Recognized by Presidential Commission

This week, the President and Vice President of the United States met with the bi-partisan Presidential Commission on Election Administration. The Commission was formed by the President following the 2012 general election, as a result of the excessive wait times experienced by voters in battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida.

At the meeting, the Commission presented its report to the President, which includes 19 recommendations for improving the administration of elections nationwide.

I am pleased to announce Orange County is one of just a handful of jurisdictions that has been identified in the report for best practices, innovation and election operations. The improvements to our operations have been cited as a model for other jurisdictions to emulate.

I would like to thank our very able Orange County Registrar of Voters, Neal Kelley, for his diligent efforts in running an exceptional operation leading to this national recognition.

The report can be found at http://www.supportthevoter.gov.
FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT

Soccer Champs

The Golden Jaguars Girls’ Soccer team is the first Under-10 team in Aliso Viejo history to win the American Youth Soccer Organization Area 11L Regional Championship, in which the team won five consecutive games to claim the title in December. This came after the team clinched the city championship. The Aliso Viejo City Council will recognize the team February 5.

To view a photo, please click here.
SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR

Lake Forest: SnowFest

Bring your family and friends to the City of Lake Forest’s annual SnowFest on Saturday, January 25 at Pittsford Park from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. For more information, please visit facebook.com/LakeForestEvents or call the SnowFest hotline at (949) 461-3459.

Laguna Niguel: FREE Business Training Workshop

The City of Laguna Niguel will provide FREE business training workshops on a variety of topics to help local businesses be successful. The next workshop will be Thursday, February 6 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Laguna Niguel City Hall. For more information, please click here.
FIFTH DISTRICT WRAP-UP

In addition to my many meetings, briefings, and other supervisorial activities, I also:
  • Participated in a meeting of the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors.
  • Chaired the Orange County Coastal Coalition meeting. More on this in next week’s Newsletter.
  • Participated in a meeting of the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Board of Directors meeting.
  • Received a monthly briefing from the OC Public Works Director on Fifth District projects.

 My office also:
  • Presented certificates of recognition at the Aliso Viejo Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner.

 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.

Follow me on Facebook!