Header image with Photo of Supervisor Pat Bates. Followed by office information
October 10, 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. SOUTH COUNTY NEWS

3. TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION

4. AIRPORT ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES

5. HEALTH HERALD

6. RECORDER RECORD

7. SAFETY SENTRY

8. NOTES FROM THE FIELD

9. LIBRARY LIBRETTO

10. SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR

11. FIFTH DISTRICT WRAP-UP

OUR STAFF...

Brian Probolsky:
Chief of Staff

Erik Weigand:
Deputy Chief of Staff

Veronica Carpenter:
Policy Advisor

James Dinwiddie:
Policy Advisor

Ruth Strachan:
Office Manager

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Volume 8 Issue 40
BOARD BULLETIN BOARD

Dana Point Harbor Lease Amendments

As the County moves forward with the Revitalization Plan, which includes renovation and new construction of buildings, as well as the demolition of many existing structures, it is critical for the merchants to maintain their current level of services to the public as required in their current lease agreements. Maintaining merchant quality service delivery is essential to achieving the mission of OC Dana Point Harbor and satisfactorily serving the public.

On Tuesday, the Board approved the First Amendment to the lease with San Clemente Sportfishing., Inc., dba Dana Wharf Sportfishing to extend the expiration date of its current lease for an additional ten (10) years, through 2032. The Board also approved a lease amendment with 18 tenants in the Mariners Village and one tenant on Dana Wharf at OC Dana Point Harbor. Tenants will have the option to extend their leases for an additional five years commencing July 2015.

I would like to thank the OC Dana Point Harbor staff and CEO Real Estate for their efforts. To view the staff reports and complete list of tenants please click here and here.
SOUTH COUNTY NEWS

The Seventh Annual South County Disaster Preparedness Expo

As we’ve learned all too well, wildfires, earthquakes and floods are ever present threats in Southern California. As such, I’m pleased to host my 7th annual South County Disaster Preparedness Expo on Saturday, October 18 at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way, in Mission Viejo.

The South County Disaster Preparedness Expo is being held in conjunction with the City of Mission Viejo’s “Walk Against Drugs” and will take place from 9 AM to 12PM.

We can’t predict when a disaster will strike, but we can certainly prepare for one. I urge you and your family to attend the 7th annual South County Disaster Preparedness Expo.

For more information please click here.
TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION

San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency Approves Refinance

At its regularly-scheduled monthly meeting, the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency Board of Directors approved the issuance of toll road refunding revenue bonds to refinance half or more of its $2.2 billion in outstanding debt issued to fund construction of the 73 Toll Road.

The refinancing takes advantage of current low interest rates in the municipal bond market and recent strong performance of the 73 Toll Road to allow for a refinancing that will improve the agency's long-term financial health.

Lowering the annual debt service growth rate and bond interest rate, along with the removal of the current requirement to aggressively raise toll rates to maximize revenue, allows the Board of Directors more flexibility to implement toll rate policies. I believe the Board having more discretion in determining future toll rates for the SR-73 drivers is critical.

The current toll rate bond covenant requires that toll rates be set annually to achieve maximum revenue. This current toll setting has resulted in non-discretionary toll rate increases averaging 5.6% FY12, 10% in FY13, 10% in FY14 and 5.9% in FY15.

The refinancing structure also includes call features to allow bonds to be paid off early so the actual final maturity date may be shortened depending on future road performance and Board decisions on toll rates.

To learn more please click here.
AIRPORT ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT'S 25TH ANNUAL STUDENT ART CONTEST

John Wayne Airport's (JWA) 25th annual Student Art Contest is underway. All Orange County public and private school students in grades kindergarten through 12 are encouraged to submit artwork inspired by this year's theme: "OC125: Exploring Orange County's Story." Entries should be submitted to the Orange County Department of Education, any Orange County Public Library Branch or participating city libraries, no later than 4 p.m., Wednesday, November 5, 2014.

This year, the JWA Student Art Contest theme was selected to commemorate Orange County's rich 125-year history. For inspiration, students are encouraged to visit JWA's OC 125 Exhibition currently on display in the passenger walkway between Thomas F. Riley Terminal B and C or explore the OC 125 companion guide available at www.ocair.com. Artworks that best depict this year's contest theme are selected for exhibition and prizes. Winners and honorable mentions from grades K-12 will be exhibited from December 9, 2014 through March 6, 2015, in the arrival level in baggage claim adjacent to Baggage Carousels 1 and 4.

Each entrant will receive a certificate of participation from the Airport, and select winners will be awarded prizes donated by sponsors including Boomers! Irvine, Disneyland Resort, Irvine Museum, JWA McDonald's, Knott's Berry Farm, Laguna College of Art and Design, La Habra Children's Museum and Southwest Airlines.

For more information, visit www.ocair.com or contact Art Program Coordinator Jeffrey Frisch at Jfrisch@ocair.com.
HEALTH HERALD

EBOLA Virus Frequently Asked Questions

The Health Care Agency is providing the information about Ebola in light of increased media attention and public concern. There has been only one Ebola case in the United States and none in Orange County. There is no heightened concern about Ebola in Orange County and an FAQ is provided for informational purposes only.

To view the FAQ please click here.

'Laura's Law' Hotline Launches in Orange County

The Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program, also known as Laura’s Law, provides court-ordered treatment for persons with severe mental illness who meet specific criteria. The program is designed to assist individuals who are resistant to obtaining or maintaining treatment. A Hotline is available for AOT referral and criteria verification. Please call 1-855-HCA-1421 or 1-855-422-1421, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.

There are specific guidelines determining who can request AOT and who qualifies for AOT. A summary of criteria can be found at this link. There is an information session scheduled for October 14, 2014 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Delhi Center, 505 E. Central Avenue, Santa Ana, 92707. The information session, which is free and open to the public, will cover the guidelines and criteria for Laura’s Law and Assisted Outpatient Treatment in detail. Attendees will have an opportunity to speak with behavioral health services professionals and ask questions.

Orange County is one of several counties in California to approve implementation of AB1421, commonly referred to as Laura’s Law. The law was named after Laura Wilcox, a mental health worker who was killed by a man who had refused psychiatric treatment. To qualify for the program, an individual must have a serious mental illness and a recent history of psychiatric hospitalizations, incarcerations, or acts, threats or attempts of serious violent behavior towards them self or others.

The Health Care Agency offers a variety of outreach and engagement programs and hotlines for individuals and families in need of behavioral health services and resources. Please refer to the list below for a brief summary.

Behavioral Health Resources
  • OC Links (855-OC-Links)
    Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Information and Referrals for anyone seeking Behavioral Health Services, including: mental health, crisis programs, alcohol and drug inpatient and outpatient, and prevention and early intervention services.
  • Emergency Psychiatric Evaluation
    (866) 830-6011 / 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
    The Centralized Assessment Team responds to private residences, police stations, health clinics, private doctors’, therapists’ offices, and in the field
  • Orange County Crisis Prevention Hotline 1-877-7CRISIS or 1-877-727-4747
  • BHS Emergency Phone Numbers
RECORDER RECORD

Saturday Clerk Services for Busy Workers and Families

Special weekend hours for the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department will again be available Saturday, October 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana and the department’s branch offices in Laguna Hills and Fullerton.

As the special Saturday openings have surged in popularity, especially with families and those who work during the week, additional Saturday hours are being planned once a month through the end of the year. Please check www.ocrecorder.com for exact dates and times. FREE parking will be available at all three locations.

For more information, please click here.
SAFETY SENTRY

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month

The internet plays a huge role in our daily lives with uses ranging from performing professional tasks to utilizing it for personal entertainment. However, being constantly connected brings increased risk of theft, fraud and abuse. Cyber security risks can threaten our finances, identity, and privacy, which is why this issue is one of our country’s most important national security priorities.

This October marks the 11th annual National Cyber Security Awareness Month, which is sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in cooperation with the National Cyber Security Alliance and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center. The goal of the month is to engage and educate the public about cyber security.

The Department of Homeland Security has also created the Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign, a national public awareness campaign aimed at increasing the understanding of cyber threats and empowering the American public to be safer and more secure online. The campaign advises internet users to:
  • Stop-Before you use the Internet, take time to understand the risks and learn how to spot potential problems.
  • Think-Take a moment to be certain the path ahead is clear. Watch for warning signs and consider how your actions online could impact your safety or your family’s.
  • Connect-Enjoy the Internet with confidence. Take the right steps to safeguard yourself and your computer.

Some additional tips to keep your information safe when online include:
  1. Set strong passwords and don’t share them with anyone.
  2. Keep your operating system, browser, and other critical software optimized by installing updates.
  3. Maintain an open dialogue with your family, friends, and community about Internet safety.
  4. Limit the amount of personal information you post online and use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely.
  5. Be cautious about what you receive or read online—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Additional tips will be posted on our OCSD Facebook and Twitter pages throughout the month.

For more information on cyber security awareness, visit Stop.Think.Connect at http://www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect or the National Cyber Security Alliance at http://www.staysafeonline.org/

Get Ready to Shake Out

The County of Orange will join millions of people worldwide to practice how to Drop, Cover, and Hold On at 10:16 a.m. on October 16, 2014 during the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill.

If you would like to read more about this or for more information on emergency preparedness please click here.
NOTES FROM THE FIELD

Red Ribbon Week

OC Parks is proud to partner with the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) in the countywide Red Ribbon Week for the fourth year. OCSD will distribute 1,000,000 Red Ribbon wristbands to every school-aged child in public and private schools, as well as many businesses and government agencies throughout Orange County.

Since 1988, Orange County has been celebrating Red Ribbon Week – a national drug prevention effort. Drug Use Is Life Abuse has played a leading role in this effort.

OC Park Participation:

OC Parks will permit each student wearing a red Drug Use is Life Abuse wristband to receive the following for them and their family. Free weekend entrance to 8 OC Parks and free admission to OC Zoo October 11 & 12, 2014.
  • Ralph B. Clark Regional Park
  • Ted Craig Regional Park
  • Irvine Regional Park
  • Laguna Niguel Regional Park
  • Mile Square Regional Park
  • Santiago Oaks Regional Park
  • William R. Mason Regional Park
  • Yorba Regional Park
  • OC Zoo (inside Irvine Regional Park)
The “Drug Use is Life Abuse” posters and will be displayed at the Parking Attendants Booth.
LIBRARY LIBRETTO

Scavenger Hunt Raises Literacy Awareness at OC Public Libraries

California Library Literacy Services recently celebrated 30 years of providing high quality, learner centered, volunteer based adult literacy services in libraries around the state.

In honor of this milestone, and to promote awareness of adult literacy in our county, the OC Public Libraries and READ/Orange County will be hosting a Literacy Scavenger Hunt throughout the month of October 2014.

The Literacy Scavenger Hunt, which starts October 1, is a great opportunity to raise community awareness to help potential learners come forward and to recruit new volunteer tutors for READ/OC.

To enter, interested participants can visit their local branch of OC Public Libraries to pick up a form - visit www.ocpl.org for a list of branch locations - or visit the READ/OC website at www.readoc.org for an entry form and the official scavenger hunt rules.

A winner will be selected from entries received by 10/31, and the winner will receive a Kindle Paperwhite 6” eReader with WiFi (valued at $120), and a $75 amazon gift card, generously provided by the Friends of READ/OC.
SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR

Aliso Viejo: Founder's Day Celebration

The public is invited to meet one of Orange County's founding families - the Moulton family - and learn about the history of Aliso Viejo during the City's Founder's Day celebration on Saturday, October 11 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the 7-acre City ranch, located at 100 Park Ave. For more information, please click here.

Dana Point Library: Re-Opening Celebration

The Dana Point Library Re-Opening Celebration will be held on Tuesday, October 14 at 10:15 am. To RSVP please call (949)496-5517
FIFTH DISTRICT WRAP-UP

In addition to my many meetings, briefings, and other supervisorial activities, I also:
  • Participated in the Orange County Transportation Authority’s Regional Planning and Highways Committee and the Finance and Administration Committee meetings.
  • Participated in the LAFCO Board Meeting.
  • Received an update on County road projects from our Public Works Director, Shane Silsby
  • Met with the 2014-2015 Orange County Grand Jury.
  • Participated in the Transportation Corridor Agencies Board of Directors meetings.
  • Attended the 2nd Annual Marian Bergeson Women of Character Awards ceremony to honor outstanding women leaders.

 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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