With Supervisor Andrew Do, OCTA Vice Chair Tim Shaw, OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson and staff.

This week, as Chairwoman of the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors, I was joined by OCTA Vice Chair Tim Shaw, OCTA Finance Committee Chair and Board of Supervisors Chair Andrew Do, OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson and staff in New York for OCTA’s annual meetings with the rating agencies and financial institutions.

This year’s meetings focused on the I-405 Improvement Project and the impacts to the 91 Express Lanes from the extension into Riverside County, as well as the OC Streetcar project. 

I was pleased to assist the OCTA team in providing an update on the Orange County economy, OCTA’s fiscal year 2018-19 approved budget, bus ridership, Measure M2 sales tax collections and forecast, and debt service coverage calculations.

The meetings were well received and there was a lot of interest regarding the 405 Express Lanes project, OC Street Car, 91 Express Lanes and Orange County’s economy in general. 

It was great to see the level of understanding Wall Street has on what we are doing here in Orange County with regards to transportation investment.

Click the image above to enlarge.

Caltrans District 12 proposes to make improvements to SR 133 in both directions from south of El Toro Road to SR-73 in Laguna Beach.

A public hearing (open house format) will be held Wednesday, June 27, from 5 PM to 7 PM at Laguna Beach High School Library, 625 Park Avenue, Laguna Beach 92651.

The project will make drainage improvements, widen the shoulders, add a Class II Bike Lane, underground overhead utilities, and provide other safety improvements.

The project is being evaluated to ensure all practical measures are taken to minimize harm to the wetlands and floodplain.

The proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and Initial Study/Environmental Assessment (IS/EA) are available online for review or during normal business hours at:

• Laguna Beach Library, 363 Glenneyre Street, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
• Laguna Woods Village Library, 24266 Calle Aragon, Laguna Woods, CA 92637

Please submit your comments in writing no later than 5 PM, July 10, to: Edward Dolan, Associate Environmental Planner, Caltrans District 12, Division of Environmental Analysis, 1750 East 4th Street, Suite 100, Santa Ana, CA 92705 or via e-mail. 

Caltrans began accepting comments June 11. If there are no major objections, Caltrans will proceed with the project’s design. For more information, please see the Public Notice or visit the Caltrans website.

Desalination uses reverse osmosis technology to transform ocean water into high-quality drinking water.

If implemented, the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project would provide a high-quality, locally controlled and drought-proof water supply while protecting the environment. Unlike traditional desalination facilities, the Doheny facility would use advanced slant wells that protect marine life by drawing water from beneath the ocean floor.

Come to the Doheny Desalination Draft EIR meeting to speak with project team members and visit educational stations. The meeting will take place Tuesday, June 26 from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Capistrano Unified School District Administrative Offices, 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675.

Learn more about the project and provide comments on the findings in the Draft EIR. All comments must be submitted by August 6, 2018.

Enjoy all of Laguna Beach this summer without the traffic and parking hassles. Climb aboard the Laguna Beach Summer Breeze (OC Bus Route 689) at the Laguna Canyon Road parking lot in Irvine, just off the I-405 and SR 133, and breeze all the way into town!

This FREE service is available Saturdays & Sundays, June 30 to September 2, every 30 minutes from 11 AM to midnight. Stops include:

• Sawdust Art Festival
• Laguna Art-A-Fair
• Festival of the Arts / Pageant of the Masters
• Laguna Playhouse
• Laguna Beach Bus Station

From the Laguna Beach Bus Station, you can connect with the FREE Laguna Beach Trolleys. The Trolleys connect with shopping and foodie destinations along Pacific Coast Highway. Main Beach is only a block from the Laguna Beach Bus Station.

To return, just hop onboard at any of the Summer Breeze stops and ride the air-conditioned bus back to your car! For the Summer Breeze schedule, map and directions, visit the website. See the flyer below for more information.

Click the image above to enlarge.

With an OC Bus Youth Summer Pass, kids can get out of the house and have a summer worth posting. A pass costs $20 and is valid for unlimited rides for 30 consecutive days between June 1 and Aug. 31.That’s a 50 percent savings over the typical cost for a 30-day youth pass.

For the past 17 years, OCTA has provided a summer bus pass for ages 6 to 18 to help young riders discover affordable, convenient public transit. But kids aren’t the only ones that like the freedom of having a set of wheels. Parents appreciate having a safe, reliable, affordable transportation alternative to being the family chauffeur.

The Youth Summer Pass can be used on any OC Bus fixed route, whether it’s to get to the beach, a local shopping mall or to an amusement park. In addition to unlimited service on OCTA buses, Youth Summer Pass holders will also enjoy several discounts at local attractions.

As part of this year’s promotion, OCTA is also offering prizes as part of a Summer Youth Pass photo contest. Simply hop on an OC Bus and take a selfie with your pass and post it using #OCSummerBus. Prizes for selected winners include tickets to Knott’s Berry Farm and additional OC Bus passes to be used at a later date.

The Youth Summer Pass is on sale now through August 15 via the OC Bus mobile app, online and at participating Orange County Ralphs, Vons, or the OCTA Store. For more information, click here and here.

Enjoy some of your favorite movies at Lantern Bay Park, 25111 Park Lantern in Dana Point every Friday in June from 8 PM to 10 PM. Popcorn is free and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, visit the event website.

• Participated in a weekly California State Association of Counties officers call. 
• Met with representative from Health Care Agency to receive an update on the latest programs and projects. 
• Participated on a call of Orange County Fire Authority Fire Chief regarding Helitankers. 
• Was the guest speaker on Roseanne Nitt's, "Keeping it Real-Estate" podcast on OC Talk Radio. 
• Flew to New York with Orange County Transportation Authority to meeting with Rating Agencies. 
• Welcomed attendees to the 11th annual Fête de la Musique, hosted by Laguna Beach Sisiter Cities Association (LBSCA). View the 2018 Fête photo album on my website!

L-R: At the Fête de la Musique with Laguna Beach Woman of the Year Betsy Jenkins, LBSCA CEO Karyn Philippsen, Mayor Kelly Boyd, and a representative from the French Consulate
 

With Laguna Beach Councilman Steve Dicterow, Mayor Kelly Boyd, and Fête Committee Members Pat Kollenda and Susan Davis.

At the Fête with Laguna Beach City Treasurer Laura Parisi.

• Met with County staff to create new opportunities for internships in the Board offices and County agencies. 
• Toured all OC Probation centers. 
• Attended the Planning Commission meeting. 
• Attended the Orange County Community Coalition for Behavioral Health. 
• Met with Senior Pastor John Steward of Mount of Olives Church in Mission Viejo to discuss homelessness. 
• Presented a certiciate of recognition in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for My 360 Massage in Lake Forest.
• Attended the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce Annual Breakfast to present certiciates of recognition to their 2018 Scholarship Winner and Outgoing Board Members.  
• Attended the Laguna Niguel State of the City Luncheon.
• Attended the post Fête de la Musique reception to present certificates of recognition to Laguna Beach 2018 Woman of the Year Betsy Jenkins and C'est la Vie Restaurant Owner Hossein Abassi for sponsoring the event. View the 2018 Fête photo album on my website!

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, presenting a certificate of recognition to Laguna Beach Woman of the Year Betsy Jenkins (center) with Fête Committee Member Susan Davis.

With LBSCA CEO Karyn Philippsen presenting a certificate of recognition to C'est la Vie Restaurant Owner Hossein Abassi for sponsoring the post Fête reception.

With San Juan Capistrano Mayor Sergio Farias at the Laguna Niguel State of the City Luncheon.