March 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. BOARD BULLETIN BOARD
2. NEWS YOU CAN USE
3. TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
4. ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS
5. AIRPORT ARRIVALS
6. HEALTH HERALD
7. HARBOR HAPPENINGS
8. RECORDER RECORD
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
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| BOARD BULLETIN BOARD |
CalOptima
The Board of Supervisors voted to approve changes to the County’s membership on the CalOptima Board of Directors. The new composition of the CalOptima Board includes one additional County Supervisor (for a total of two) and one alternate member, the Health Care Agency Director, and the Social Services Agency Director will now serve as a nonvoting member, in addition to representatives from healthcare providers, the business section, patients, and the general public.
Prior to the approved changes, the CalOptima Board only included one member from the Board of Supervisors, the Health Care Agency and Social Services Agency Directors, representatives from healthcare providers, patients, the business sector and the general public.
As a result of federal and state audits that found numerous procedural deficiencies, the Board of Supervisors directed the County Executive Office to develop alternatives to the County’s membership on the CalOptima Board.
In the coming weeks, the Chair of the Board of Supervisors will appoint the two Supervisors and alternate member to the CalOptima Board of Directors.
To view the report, please click here.
Carrying a Concealed Weapon Application Process
On February 13, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declared the guidelines many county Sheriffs in California were using for their Carrying a Concealed Weapon (CCW) permits were unconstitutional. That decision updated the Orange County Sheriff’s Department protocols and procedures for the CCW application process.
Immediately following the ruling, the Sheriff’s Department received a very substantial increase in applicants and, subsequently, an increase in wait times for processing those permits. It was then determined by the Sheriff that more resources were needed to assist with that influx.
On Tuesday, the Board approved the Sheriff hiring 15 experienced and trained employees to help streamline the backlog. Funds in the Sheriff’s current budget are adequate to cover the increase in staff. Over the next several months, the Board will receive an update on the progress and determine whether the demand for these employees is still necessary.
For more information, please click here. For information on how to apply for a CCW permit, please click here.
Ambulance Request for Proposals
On February 3, the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) notified Dr. Sam Stratton, Orange County Emergency Medical Services Agency (OCEMS) Medical Director, that OCEMS must conduct Requests for Proposals (RFP) and provide contract monitoring for Basic Life Support (BLS) emergency medical transport services for the 19 cities served by the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA). Previously OCFA has handled the RFP process for these services.
Currently, OCFA contracts for BLS emergency transport services will expire August 31.
On Tuesday, the Board directed OCEMS to provide the EMS system providers, stakeholders, and community members an opportunity to comment on the 2014 EMS Plan and the Emergency Ambulance RFP.
In the coming weeks, the Board will consider the policy options related to Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advance Life Support (ALS) ambulance transport services. OCFA paramedics provide the ALS services for our ambulance providers. Policy discussions regarding the services will be reflected in the RFP proposals that will be released to providers in the next few months.
To view the report, please click here.
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| NEWS YOU CAN USE |
Turn Clocks Ahead This Weekend
It’s time to turn clocks ahead and lose an hour of sleep this weekend when Daylight Savings Time kicks in Sunday at 2:00 AM. The American Red Cross reminds everyone it’s also a great time to make sure you and your loved ones are prepared for emergencies.
CHECK YOUR SMOKE ALARM BATTERIES – When you turn your clocks ahead, take a few minutes to replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and push the test button to make sure the alarms are working. It’s also a great time to check your carbon monoxide detectors.
GET YOUR HOUSEHOLD PREPARED – Disaster can strike anywhere at any time. It’s important for everyone to make sure their household is ready and knows what to do should an emergency occur. The Red Cross wants everyone to know about the three steps they should take to be prepared:
- Get a kit – Keep supplies in an easy-to-carry bag that you can use at home or take with you if you have to evacuate.
- Make a plan – Meet with members of your household and discuss what emergencies could occur in your home, taking into account what type of disasters could happen in your neighborhood. Plan what steps everyone should take if something happens.
- Be Informed – Learn what emergencies can occur in your area and how officials will notify you should a disaster occur. Know the difference between weather watches and warnings. Tell others what you have learned so they can be ready too.
Learn how to be prepared for different situations, from thunderstorms and floods to landslides and power outages by checking out the Red Cross preparedness pages. Download the suite of Red Cross apps for mobile devices which give people vital information to help keep them safe during everyday emergencies and large-scale disasters.
For more information, please click here.
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| TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION |
South County Transportation News
Drivers will see construction activity ramping up on the San Diego (I-5) Freeway in South County, as crews begin work on a $249 million traffic-relief project.
Beginning Sunday night, March 9 from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM, the on- and off-ramps in both directions will be closed at Pacific Coast Highway and Camino Las Ramblas. Closures to different ramps at different times will occur during the overall work window. In addition, a stretch of PCH/Camino Las Ramblas underneath I-5 will be closed in both directions. Detours will be in place.
The $249 million Measure M project is adding a carpool lane in both directions between San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, as well as rebuilding the Avenida Pico interchange in San Clemente.
To learn more about the project and view closures and a detour map, please click here. To sign up for future alerts, please click here.
La Pata Gap Closure Update
This spring, the County of Orange Public Works Department will break ground on the first phase of the La Pata Avenue Gap Closure. The first phase of the Project will extend the existing 1.8-mile portion of La Pata Avenue, south of Ortega Highway, outside the City of San Juan Capistrano, to the intersection of Calle Saluda in the City of San Clemente.
In preparation of this significant Project milestone, the County of Orange will host two community meetings in San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente next week to provide information on the potential environmental and construction impacts to the community and proposed mitigation measures.
The Project will improve South County mobility and reduce local traffic congestion by providing a north/south alternative for daily commuters and will ultimately provide an alternative access route in the event of an emergency, as well as benefit the community by providing improved access to schools, residences, commercial areas, and recreational amenities.
Meeting dates and locations are as follows:
Tuesday, March 11
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
San Juan Hills High School
Library Media Center
29211 Vista Montana
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Saturday, March 15
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
San Clemente High School Upper Campus
Multi-Purpose Room
700 Avenida Pico
San Clemente, CA 92673
For more information, please click here.
Metrolink Track Work this Weekend and Next
For two consecutive weekends, Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9 and March 15-16, there will be scheduled bridge and track work that will limit service on Metrolink's Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines.
Metrolink train service will not operate past the San Juan Capistrano Metrolink Station on March 8-9.
On Saturday and Sunday, March 15 & 16, trains will not operate past the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink Station.
There will be no bus service or alternate transportation provided to or from Oceanside or San Clemente either weekend. No Metrolink trains will provide service to or from the Oceanside or the San Clemente stations either weekend.
For more information, please click here and here.
Orange County: On The Move
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has issued its latest edition of “Orange County: On The Move.” To view the OCTA e-newsletter, please click here.
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| ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS |
Orange County Coastal Coalition
Please join me Thursday, March 27 for the Orange County Coastal Coalition meeting, which I am pleased to Chair. The meeting will be in the City of Newport Beach Public Library, 1000 Avocado Avenue, Newport Beach.
Presenting will be:
- Phil Cruver, Catalina Sea Ranch – Shellfish Initiative Emphasizing Sustainable Aquaculture
- Dr. Jeff Armstrong and Dr. Sam Choi, Orange County Sanitation District – Disinfection Processes Degrading Marine Invertebrates
Question and Answer sessions will follow each presentation. For more information, please click here and here.
2014 Eco Challenge Poster Contest
Orange County youngsters have the opportunity to participate in the 2014 Eco Challenge poster contest presented by the County of Orange, Discovery Science Center, and Angels Baseball for the chance to be an Honorary Bat Kid at a 2014 Angels baseball game.
For more information, please click here and here.
Orange County Slated for $37.3 Million in New Federal Funds
Orange County is slated for $37.3 million in new federal funding through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the next two years, on top of another $45.9 million in funds already authorized by the President and Congress.
The bulk of the funds are targeted for the Santa Ana River Mainstem Project, a decades-long undertaking spanning 75 miles to provide flood protection to Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Congress already appropriated $42 million for the Santa Ana River project for this federal fiscal year. The additional $30.8 million is recommended for funding in the 2015 federal budget, subject to congressional approval. The new money, which is expected to be approved, will speed up construction of the massive project for eventual completion in the early 2020s.
The Corps also announced it will boost spending this year on operations and maintenance for the Santa Ana River, bringing the total to $4.5 million. Another $3.9 million has been recommended to be funded in the 2015 budget.
Additionally, two much smaller but long-needed projects in Orange County will receive funds this year, according to the Army Corps of Engineers: $1.1 million for the Aliso Creek Feasibility Study and $752,000 for the Westminster Watershed Feasibility Study.
The Aliso Creek study will determine how best to stabilize the creek and allow restoration of the ecosystem; the Westminster study will address flood damages along the East Garden Grove-Wintersburg channel and its aging levee system, which affects residences and businesses in 11 cities. Funding for the Aliso study is new, while additional funds for the Westminster project will allow that study to be completed by late 2015.
Lists of the projects approved for funding in the current fiscal year and those recommended for 2015 were released Tuesday by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
For more information, please click here.
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| AIRPORT ARRIVALS |
JWA Announces Results of Economic Impact Study
John Wayne Airport (JWA) has announced the results of an Economic Impact Study of
Airport Operations for 2012. The study, conducted by InterVISTAS Consulting LLC, measures the direct, indirect and induced economic impacts generated by JWA in Orange County and three neighboring counties (Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino).
Key findings of the Economic Impact Study include:
- Economic Output (Spending Impacts): $6 billion – The dollar value of industrial output produced; reflects spending by firms, organizations and individuals.
- Employment: 43,000 jobs – Full time, part time and seasonal jobs.
- Earnings: $1.7 billion – Wages, salaries and benefits associated with employment tied to the Airport.
- Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $3.3 billion – A measure of the money value of final goods and services produced locally as a result of economic activity.
To view the study in its entirety, please visit www.ocair.com.
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| HEALTH HERALD |
Electronic Cigarettes: The New ‘E-Diction’
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is hosting the following FREE public presentations in South County on “Electronic Cigarettes – The New ‘E-Diction’”:
- Monday, March 10 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Dana Hills High School.
- Wednesday, March 19 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Laguna Hills Community Center.
- Tuesday, March 25 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Lake Forest City Hall.
Drug liaison deputies, professionals from Orange County Health Care Agency and the Orange County Department of Education, as well as Community Outreach groups, will be presenting information on electronic cigarettes and vapor pens. The presentation will cover topics such as types of e-cigs, how they work, their prevalence in local schools and communities, health concerns, prevention tips, and law enforcement’s approach.
The presentations are intended for adults only. For more information, please click here.
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| HARBOR HAPPENINGS |
Community Notice: Island Way and Bridge Repairs
OC Public Works Construction will begin staging preparation Monday, March 10 for scheduled repairs to the Island Way Roadway and Bridge. Actual construction is planned to begin Monday, March 17.
Construction is expected to last 45 working days and OC Dana Point Harbor staff asks for your patience as you transit through the construction area both in your vehicle and vessel. It is important that if residents and businesses must traverse through the construction area, they do so with caution.
For more information, please click here.
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| RECORDER RECORD |
Clerk-Recorder Offers Special Saturday Hours
The Clerk-Recorder will offer special Saturday hours at all three Orange County locations, including the South County Branch Office in Laguna Hills, March 8 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Reservations for civil wedding ceremonies and passports are recommended due to limited space.
For more information, please call (714) 834-2500 or click here.
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| SOUTH COUNTY CALENDAR |
Dana Point: Festival of Whales
The Dana Point Festival of Whales is celebrating the final weekend of its 43rd anniversary Saturday & Sunday, March 8 & 9. For more information, please click here and here.
San Juan Capistrano: South County's Got Talent
Mark your calendars for the inaugural "South County's Got Talent", starring South County's talented civic and community leaders, Wednesday, March 12 at The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.
For more information, please click here.
Aliso Viejo: Aquatic Center Open House, Movie Night
The Aliso Viejo Aquatic Center will host a special Open House and Family Movie Night on Friday, March 14. The event is from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Aliso Viejo Conference Center, next to the Aquatic Center at 31 Santa Barbara. 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 (OCTA) Regional Planning and Highways Committee meeting.
- Participated in the Orange County Visionary Leaders Conference sponsored by the Board of Supervisors and United Way.
- Participated in the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Fire Station 56 groundbreaking ceremony in South County.
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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