November 14, 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. SOUTH COUNTY NEWS
3. TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
4. AIRPORT ARRIVALS
5. ENVIRONMETNAL MEMOS
6. HEALTH HERALD
7. LIBRARY LIBRETTO
8. CRITTER CHRONICLES
9. SAFETY SENTRY
10. RECORDER RECORD
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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| 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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| SOUTH COUNTY NEWS |
Fifth District Community Forum the Annual Report on the Conditions of Children
Please join us at the Fifth District Community Forum the Annual Report on the Conditions of Children in Orange County is next Thursday, November 20th, at 8:30 am at the Murray Senior and Community Center in Mission Viejo.
The community forum will have a featured topic of Children’s Mental Health. You will also hear report highlights and data trends, learn from the experts about good health, economic well-being, educational achievement and safe homes and communities. Attendees will also receive a copy of the 20th Annual Report.
To register please click http://conditionsforum-missionviejo.eventbrite.com to view more information please click here.
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| TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION |
State Route 241/State Route 91 Study Update
On Monday, at the Orange County Transportation Authority’s (OCTA) Board of Directors Meeting, the Board received an update on the efforts underway to plan a toll-to-toll connector between State Route 241 and the 91 Express Lanes. The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), in coordination with the OCTA, the Riverside County Transportation Commission, the California Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration, is conducting a traffic analysis to study the design and concept of operations as part of the environmental review process. The analysis evaluates the new connector and its relationship to the 91 corridor traffic, the Orange County Transportation Authority's 91 Express Lanes, and the future Riverside County Transportation Commission’s Express Lanes. While this traffic analysis is under review, TCA will also be working with OCTA on the Traffic and Revenue Study, in order to understand the financing options and alternatives for the proposed project.
To view the powerpoint presentation please click here.
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.
I-5 South County Improvement Project Construction Alert
This week, crews will complete falsework installation on the northbound I-5 freeway over the PCH connector / off-ramp. In the coming weeks, falsework will also be installed on the southbound side of the bridge.
Nightly closures and detours are plotted on a Google Map and include specific closure times as well as recommended detours. Closures are updated in real time and can be accessed by clicking the images below or visiting www.octa.net/5southCountyDetourmap. This interactive map is easily accessible on your smart phone or you can bookmark the page on your computer and it allows you to see other local detour routes that may be convenient for your commute.
State Route 241 Wildlife Safety Fence Improvement Project – Phase 2
The Foothill Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency’s Board of Directors authorize the chief executive officer (CEO) to implement the second phase of the State Route (SR) 241 wildlife safety fence improvements.
Prior to the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (agency) initiating construction on SR 241 (the portion between SR 133 north to SR 91), the agency was required to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under Section 7 of the federal Endangered Species Act, and obtain a biological opinion (BO) for the 241 Toll Road. The BO analyzed the project’s potential impacts on federally-listed plant and animal species, and included specific Terms and Conditions to minimize, or offset, these impacts.
To implement these recommendations and maintain compliance with the BO, the Board in 2011
authorized staff to enter into a contract with the U.C. Davis Wildlife Health Center (UC Davis) to develop a plan that was consistent with USFWS’s direction. The UC Davis team developed a plan that would improve the wildlife fence and reduce the occurrence of animal-vehicle collisions.
The wildlife safety fence improvement project consists of constructing a new fence along each side of SR 241 that ranges from 10’ – 12’ in height, includes 18” outriggers to deter animals from climbing over the fence and onto the toll road, burying the fence 24” into the ground to prevent animals, such as coyotes, from digging under the fence and getting onto the road, and constructing jump-out ramps to allow animals that inadvertently gain entry onto the road a way to ‘jump-out’ of the highway and back into the open space. This robust design is the first of its kind and can be used as a model for other transportation projects across the country to reduce the likelihood of animal vehicle collisions.
San Joaquin Hills TCA Bond Refinancing Update
The refinance transaction approved by the Board on October 9, 2014 was successfully executed resulting in a refinance of more than half of the agency’s $2.2 billion in outstanding debt. The bond sale that took place on October 22, 2014 was well received by the market with $2.5 billion in orders for a bond issue sized at $1.4 billion reflecting the 73 toll road’s strong performance, rating upgrade and confidence in the credit profile. The transaction closed on November 6, 2014.
The refinancing of the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency’s debt improved the agency’s financial stability and long-term flexibility by significantly reducing annual debt service, lowering the rate of debt service growth from 8.8 percent to 1.6 percent over the next 10 years, and increasing debt service coverage margins, which will enable it to withstand future economic downturns, moderate toll increases and potentially pay off the debt ahead of the 2050 final maturity date. The transaction resulted in a net present value savings of $44 million.
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| AIRPORT ARRIVALS |
BOB HOPE USO OPENS AT JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT
Veterans Day marked the opening of the Bob Hope USO at John Wayne Airport (JWA). For 73 years, USO centers have welcomed troops and their families at airports across the nation. That warm welcome is being extended for the very first time at Orange County's John Wayne Airport. The USO Center features a stocked canteen, movies, travel assistance and free Wi-Fi for members of the military and their guests.
Construction of the Bob Hope USO at John Wayne Airport was made possible by sponsors who provided project support, pro-bono services and supplies. Snyder Langston led the effort and provided in-kind design-build services with project management by Butier Engineering, Inc. Many others contributed to the construction, furnishings and planning of the USO Center, which included the architectural services of Ware Malcomb.
The Bob Hope USO at John Wayne Airport is open 365 days per year from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Active and reserve members and their dependent family members are welcome, as well as military retirees on a space available basis.
For more information on volunteer opportunities, sponsorships or donations to the new Bob Hope USO, go to bobhopeuso.org
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| ENVIRONMETNAL MEMOS |
America Recycle Day
Orange County residents are invited to help commemorate America Recycles Day on Nov. 15, 2014 by bringing in their hazardous waste to one of the county's four community Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers and taking the national "pledge" to keep America beautiful by remembering to Reduce→Reuse→Recycle.
The four centers, which are free and open to all OC residents, are located throughout the county. They are operated by Orange County Waste & Recycling in partnership with the participating cities. OCWR also sponsors the Eco Challenge recycling outreach and education programs.
Click here.
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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.
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| LIBRARY LIBRETTO |
OC Public Libraries wants to hear your thoughts!
OC Public Libraries wants to hear your thoughts! Whether you are a “Library Lover” who regularly visits your neighborhood branch – whether you can’t remember the last time you visited or called your public library - whether you have a library card or not - OC Public Libraries wants to hear from you.
Your responses, which will remain anonymous, will help provide the library with an understanding of what the community thinks about the library and what they want from their library. The broad range of survey responses will help the library develop a plan for the future based on information from the community members.
Thank you for your valuable time in completing this survey.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GHZ38FQ.
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| CRITTER CHRONICLES |
Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Pets
‘Tis the season for friends, family and holiday feasts, but also possible distress for our animal companions. Pets won’t be so thankful if they munch on undercooked turkey or a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or if they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink.
To view some safety tips for a fulfilling Thanksgiving our pets can enjoy, too, please click here.
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| SAFETY SENTRY |
Cooking Safety Tips
The holiday season is upon us, which means lots of cooking and baking. It also means that your risk of having a residential cooking fire increases tremendously! When you are preparing all of your holiday traditions, please use extra caution when using the appliances in your kitchen.
Check cords on appliances, especially ones you don't use very often, and pay attention to where you are putting them. Keep combustibles, such as towels, pot holders, cutting boards, etc., away from heat sources. If you are simmering sauces or keeping things warm on the stove, set a timer to remind you to check on them.
Whatever you do, PLEASE DO NOT USE WATER ON A GREASE FIRE! Water reacts with even the smallest amount of oil/grease. It only takes a split second for a fire to occur. Please make sure your family and friends know the escape plan and your designated meeting place in case there happens to be a fire in the home. Creating a plan can definitely save a life!
For more information, please click here.
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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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| 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 Board of Directors Meeting and Finance and Administration Committee Meeting.
- Attended the Ocean Institute Board Meeting.
- Participated in the Local Agency Formation Commission Board Meeting.
- Participated in the Transportation Corridor Agency’s Board of Directors Meetings.
- Attended the Association of California Cities Orange County’s Analyzing the Results of the 2014 Election event with Dan Walters
- Attended the Building Industry Association’s Installation Gala.
My office also:
- Attended the CalOptima Legislative Luncheon.
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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