November 7, 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. PAT’S PERSPECTIVE
2. BOARD BULLETIN BOARD
3. TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
4. SOUTH COUNTY NEWS
5. HEALTH HERALD
6. RECORDER RECORD
7. REGISTRAR OF VOTERS
8. FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT
9. SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR
10. 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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| PAT’S PERSPECTIVE |
In Observance of Veterans Day
On Tuesday, November 11, our nation will once again join together to salute our veterans, as we pause to celebrate their brave service with ceremonies and the flying of the American flag. These tributes are necessary and proper, but we can honor our veterans even more by fulfilling our responsibilities as citizens each and every day.
With the close of the election season this week, we may be tempted to disengage from the political process. The TV ads, political mailers, and get-out-the-vote phone calls have stopped. The ballots have been cast and our newly elected officials will soon take office. However, although we have made our voices heard through our votes, our civic duty as citizens does not cease on Election Day. As such, we must remain civically active and continue to participate in the workings of our local, state, and federal government.
By fighting to protect our freedoms, our veterans have done the work necessary to allow us to live in a free society. As citizens, we can further preserve our freedoms by exercising them on a regular basis and monitoring the workings of government. An active and engaged citizenry will ensure our veterans are always honored, as it will mean the free society they risked their lives to protect endures.
To that end, on Tuesday, November 11, there are many opportunities to recognize the courageous men and women who have served in our nation’s armed forces. To see a list of Veterans Day Observances taking place throughout Orange County, please click here.
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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 2014, please click here.
Our next Board meeting will be held Tuesday, November 18. 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 |
ORTEGA HIGHWAY CLOSURE
Ortega Highway is closed between I-5 and Del Obispo Street for approximately three weeks.
At 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, Ortega will close between Del Obispo and El Camino Real for approximately four and a half weeks.
The closures will allow crews to reconfigure the roadway as part of the $86 million I-5/Ortega Highway Interchange Improvement Project.
NOTE: During the closures, motorists can still exit southbound and northbound I-5 at Ortega Highway and drive east.
Ortega between I-5 and Del Obispo is expected to reopen on Nov. 25, 2014. At that time, traffic also will be shifted to the newly constructed portion of the southbound I-5 off-ramp and to the newly constructed bridge.
Ortega between Del Obispo and El Camino Real is expected to reopen on Dec. 5, 2014.
See a map of the closures here and a map of detours here. For more information about the project, go to octa.net/Ortega.
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| SOUTH COUNTY NEWS |
Help Protect Your Neighborhood During the Holidays: Permits Needed to Ensure Safe Holiday Displays Over Public Roads in Unincorporated Areas
Orange County (OC) Public Works wants to take this opportunity to remind residents in the unincorporated areas of Orange County that they must obtain an “encroachment” permit if they plan to stretch holiday displays, including strings of lights, over public roadways.
Displays fully contained on private property do not need a permit.
Public safety is the County’s top priority, and Public Works want residents and homeowner groups to be aware of the legal requirements to ensure a safe environment as they look to enjoy the holidays through lights and decorations.
The festive over-roadway displays, popular in some neighborhoods during Fall and Winter holidays, require a permit and safety inspection. The permit establishes guidelines to ensure public safety and code compliance for homeowner associations and individuals interested in installing holiday displays over public roads.
The purpose of the required permit is to ensure that displays provide adequate clearance for emergency and service vehicles and are installed with proper electrical connections.
Holiday display encroachment permits are necessary only for those considering lights or decorations stretched across public streets. Displays fully contained on private property do not need a permit.
The fee for a permit is $583, plus payment of a refundable $1,000 surety, which will be returned if no incidents occur during the display period. A $1 million insurance policy naming the County of Orange as additional insured also must be obtained.
To help control permit fees incurred by individuals, OC Public Works allows a homeowners association to purchase one permit for the entire community. OC Public Works would like to coordinate with interested homeowner associations and individuals to provide additional information about the permit process in advance of the holidays.
To learn more about obtaining an encroachment permit, individuals can contact OC Public Works’ Development Processing Center at (714) 667-8888 or visit the web site at www.ocplanning.net/permits.
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| HEALTH HERALD |
Flu Vaccine Now Available
Flu vaccine (flu shot or nasal spray) is now available from health care providers, clinics, and pharmacies throughout Orange County. Many community sites in Orange County will offer free flu vaccine this fall, and the Orange County Health Care Agency will offer free influenza vaccinations for people 6 months of age and older who do not have a medical provider or health care coverage.
For more information, please click here.
Update on Ebola Preparedness
Emergency planning is well underway in Orange County in response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak in the West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The risk of contracting Ebola in the United States and in Orange County is very low; there are currently no cases of Ebola in California and no suspect cases. County officials are reviewing communicable disease response plans and conducting drills to exercise those plans.
County officials have developed extensive preparedness procedures in coordination with other local, state and national partners, including the Orange County Health Care Agency, Orange County Sheriff’s Department and its Emergency Management Division, John Wayne Airport, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Los Angeles County Public Health Lab, which is a CDC-designated site with the capability to test for Ebola.
In the event of a case in Orange County, the county’s emergency operations plan will be used to ensure a coordinated approach to monitoring and limiting the spread of the disease. The Health Care Agency routinely works closely with hospitals, health care providers, law enforcement and other government entities to ensure that Orange County is well prepared for any public health threat, including Ebola.
- Ongoing Ebola readiness activities include: Assessing hospitals on infection control and preparedness.
- Conducting training exercises, including demonstrating patient care protocols, and appropriate use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- Establishing contracts for specialty hazardous-waste needs such as transport of laboratory specimens.
- Distributing information to hospitals, clinics, laboratories and health-care providers on CDC screening protocols and management of suspected and confirmed Ebola patients.
- Assuring that county health workers have protective equipment and proper training as recommended by the CDC.
Additional information about Ebola is available on the Health Care Agency website at http://www.ochealthinfo.com/ebola. The California Department of Public Health has established an Ebola hotline call center to respond to public inquiries related to Ebola at 855-421-5921 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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| RECORDER RECORD |
Saturday Hours in November and December
Appointments are being taken now for marriage licenses and ceremonies, as well as passport services, for Saturday Nov. 15, when the offices of the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department will open from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The Clerk-Recorder has opened office doors one Saturday each month since June to help customers who are unable to visit during regular weekday hours.
The Old County Courthouse will be open Nov. 15 for marriage licenses, civil wedding ceremonies and passport applications, as well as property research. Property and vital record copies, as well as marriage services, will be available at the Laguna Hills and Fullerton branch offices. FREE parking will be available at all three locations.
For more information, please click here for more information.
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| REGISTRAR OF VOTERS |
November 4th Election Results
With the election completed on November 4th, election results continue to come in. You can view results within the County by clicking here or results outside of the County by clicking here.
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| FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT |
Mission Viejo Amateur helped US team to win World Amateur Team Golfing Championship
Mission Viejo’s Beau Hossler contributed to the team effort that led the US team to the World Amateur Team Championship held in Karuizawa, Japan. The team consisted of Hossler, Bryson DeChambeau (SMU) and Denny McCarthy (Illinois), narrowly edging out a victory over the Canadian team by 2 strokes.
This marks the second straight win for the U.S at the team championships. The championships are held every two years by the International Golf Federation, with the US team smashing the previous tournament record set by the Netherlands in 2006 by 20 strokes. “There are personal achievements that we’ve all had but it’s in a different league to play for your country and represent your country well,” said Hossler.
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| SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR |
San Clemente: Veterans Day Ceremony& Marine Corps Birthday Celebration at Park Semper Fi
The community and all veterans and their families are invited to commemorate Veterans Day on Saturday, November 8 at 1 pm at the Marine Monument in San Clemente at Park Semper Fi located in the Pier Bowl. For more information, please click here.
Laguna Niguel: Veterans Day Celebration
Join the City of Laguna Niguel on Tuesday, November 11 from 11:00 AM to12:30 PM at Sea Country Senior and Community Center, as they honor all those who served in our Armed Forces. For more information, please click here.
San Juan Capistrano: Tribute to our Veterans
Join the City of San Juan Capistrano in honoring our nation's heroes at the Annual Veterans Day Ceremony hosted by VFW Serra Post 3801 at Veterans Park on November 11 at 10:45 AM (refreshments provided), followed by a BBQ and live entertainment at Historic Town Center Park. For more information, please click here.
Mission Viejo: Saddleback College Celebrates Veteran Success
In honor of Veterans Day, the Saddleback College Foundation, the Student Veterans Club, and the Veterans Education and Transition Services (VETS) will host events next week – leading up to the Second Annual Chili Bowl Festival on Thursday, November 11.
The Chili Bowl Festival is from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Saddleback College Veterans Memorial. The festival will raise money for VETS student scholarships and support.
The $30 entry fee includes a chili lunch, donated by Chili’s Bar & Grill, sides, drinks and dessert. Guests will have the chance to participate in a 50/50 raffle. Tickets are available by contacting the foundation office at 582-4479. Please click here for more details.
Lake Forest: Veteran's Day Program
The El Toro Memorial Park Committee invites you to the annual Veteran's Day Program at El Toro Memorial Park, 25751 Trabuco Rd., Lake Forest. The program on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 11:00 AM. The Veteran’s Day address will be given by 1st Lieutenant Frank Pangborn, 1st Air Calvary Division, Vietnam. The program will include music provided by vocalist, John Huntington. The event is free to the public and will take place rain or shine. For more information, please contact the cemetery at (949)951-8244.
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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’s Regional Planning and Highways Committee and the Environmental Oversight Committee meetings.
My office also:
- Presented a Certificate of Recognition to Elaine Gennawey the Worker of the Month for the Orange County Federation of Republican Women.
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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