This week, I participated in the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and CalTrans groundbreaking ceremony for the I-5 South County Improvements Project. The Project, to be completed in 2025, includes 6.5 miles between SR-73 (San Joaquin Hills Toll Road) and El Toro Road.

Approximately 360,000 drivers travel this stretch of freeway daily, where an estimated 25% increase in traffic is expected by 2045.

At the I-5 South County Improvements groundbreaking.

To increase mobility and public safety, this project will:

• Add a regular lane in each direction between Avery Parkway and Alicia Parkway 
• Extend the second carpool lane from Alicia Parkway to El Toro Road in each direction
• Re-construct two interchanges
• Add dedicated turn lanes for all freeway on-ramp,
• Increase distance of merging lanes to allow for easier flow of traffic onto the I-5
• Widen Avery Parkway to five lanes in each direction between Camino Capistrano and Marguerite Parkway
• Widen the off-ramps to four lanes to prevent long backups
• Add one lane onto I-5 for more efficient merging 
• Add additional overhead signage for exiting traffic to enhance safety, and much more. 

In all, this is a $581 million investment in South County. 41% of the project will be funded by Measure M2 dollars, also known as OC Go funds, approved be Orange County voters to increase transportation dollars for safety and infrastructure projects. The remaining funding will come from state and federal transportation dollars. 

Once completed, it will mean fewer delays and help people arrive at their destination sooner. I look forward to this project and thank everyone who has been instrumental in making it a reality. Please stay tuned for construction updates. For more information, click here.

Site of the proposed Laguna Niguel Town Center.

This week, my Board colleagues and I approved the Option and Master Lease Agreements for the Laguna Niguel Town Center with Laguna Niguel Town Center Partners, LLC (LNTCP) for a mixed-use development on the County-owned 24-acre property formerly known as the South County Justice Center.

This multi-faceted development project is going to bring a wealth of opportunity to Laguna Niguel, along with the surrounding communities. I'm pleased to have selected Laguna Niguel Town Center Partners, LLC and am happy to get this project started on behalf of our South County residents.

The proposal from LNTCP for the property located at the intersection of Alicia and Crown Valley Parkway includes a mixture of retail, office use, residential, restaurants, a specialty market, food hall and a community event space.

This week, my office was also pleased to attend the Laguna Niguel State of the City, presented by Mayor John Mark Jennings at a luncheon hosted by the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce at El Niguel Country Club.

Laguna Niguel Mayor John Mark Jennings at the State of the City luncheon.
(Photo courtesy of Mark Montgomery Photography)

During Mayor Jenning's address, he highlighted many of the City's accomplishments - past, present and future - as Laguna Niguel proudly celebrates its 30th anniversary this year! To view the inspiring video produced by city staff and presented at the luncheon, please click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to view the Laguna Niguel State of the City video.

Since last October, the OC Flex microtransit pilot program has been transporting passengers on-demand within two areas of the County.

The one-year pilot program allows passengers to request a ride on demand by mobile app or phone. OC Flex operates within two designated zones, including portions of Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel, as eight-passenger shuttles take riders straight from their pickup location to their destination.

Riders pay $4.50 when using the OC Flex mobile app or $5 cash, with no surge pricing. The fare includes unlimited daily rides in either zone and free connections to OC Bus and Metrolink.

OC Flex ridership has been steadily increasing month over month, with more than 12,000 total boardings it its first six months of operation. More than 23 percent of the rides are shared, and nearly 30 percent of riders are transferring to or from an OC Bus or Metrolink train.

The OCTA Board and I will evaluate the performance of OC Flex after the pilot program is completed at the end of October. Learn more about OC Flex here.  

Astute readers will surely note that “affordable” and “world-class” are not usually linked in the same sentence. That’s part of the beauty of Metrolink Daycations!

A day-long vacation to internationally renowned cultural spots in San Juan Capistrano or the world-class beaches at San Clemente or Oceanside costs only $10 for unlimited Metrolink travel all day either Saturday or Sunday. Children five and under ride free (3 with each fare-paying adult). Find out more about the Metrolink Weekend Day Pass here.

San Clemente Pier

Perhaps you’re wondering how much vacationing you can actually do in a day. Fortunately, quite a lot. Check out ideas here for places to visit, fun things to do, and great places to eat. Many offer discounts to Metrolink riders.

Your choice of transportation will profoundly influence your ability to relax and enjoy the day. When you board a Metrolink train, you leave all the traffic and parking hassles behind and simply enjoy the ride.

Mission San Juan Capistrano

In addition, every month you’ll have an opportunity to enter to win an amazing prize package for four people. First up is the San Juan Capistrano package featuring Metrolink tickets, a family membership to the Mission for a whole year, a Mission gift card, and a gift card to acclaimed restaurant Trevor’s at the Tracks.

Enter to win now at our Daycation website and then enjoy a virtual exploration of these great destinations before you actually hop on a Metrolink train!

OC Public Libraries (OCPL) is pleased to announce its 2019 Lunch at the Library program. Beginning June 3 (or June 17 in South County), any child 18 years of age and under will receive a free lunch at participating OCPL branches for the duration of the program.

Last summer, approximately 14,000 free lunches were served in Orange County. For 2019, the program will include the El Toro Branch Library (June 17 - July 26) and San Juan Capistrano Branch Library (June 17 - August 2). As such, OC Public Libraries will be partnering with Capistrano Unified School District and Saddleback Valley Unified School District to help feed children in their
communities.

For many families in Orange County, the stability, nutrition, and education provided by the school lunch program, school day, and after-school programs, ends when school lets out for summer. The summer months can mean reduced or limited access to healthy food, learning and enrichment programs, as well as safe places to gather and be active.

Lunch at the Library helps ensure all children are nourished and engaged during the summer months. All lunches will be served from noon to 1 PM at participating sites. Please note: All branches will be closed July 4 and lunches will not be served on that day. For more information, please click here. To view the promotional video, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to view the video.

Explore Orange County museums and attractions with Discover & Go, an exciting partnership between OC Public Libraries (OCPL) and local cultural institutions, including Casa Romantica (San Clemente), Mission San Juan Capistrano, Pretend City (Irvine Spectrum), Sawdust Festival (Laguna Beach), and Zoomars Petting Zoo (San Juan Capistrano).

This program is available to Orange County residents 18 and over with an OCPL card in good standing. For more information, please click here.

Last month, I was pleased to host the 12th annual South County Senior Summit in partnership with the Orange County Office on Aging, Age Well Senior Services, and Soka University of America. To view a 60-second recap video of the Senior Summit, please click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to view the 60-second video.

Our Senior Summit expert panel of speakers included:

• Dr. Joshua Grill - Director, UC Irvine, Institute of
  Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders
• Judi Bonilla - Director, Brain Fit Now®
• Linda Zimmer - Project Director, IrisOC
• Dr. Kerry Burnight - Chief Gerontologist, GrandPad

For detailed information on their respective PowerPoint presentations, please click here. To watch the full video of their presentations, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to watch the full video of the presentations.

To read the official 2019 South County Senior Summit event program, click here. To view the Senior Summit photo album, click here.

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the Dana Point State of the City, presented by Mayor Joe Muller during a reception held at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in the City of Dana Point, as the City is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year!

With Dana Point Mayor Joe Muller at the State of the City.

Hosted by the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce, this outstanding event highlighted the City's economic, cultural and community development initiatives, including key infrastructure projects and funding priorities, as well as the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Project.

L-R: Dana Point Councilman Rick Viczorek, Mayor Joe Muller, and Ocean Institute CEO Dan Pingaro at the State of the City. 
(Photo courtesy on Montgomery Photography)

To view the excellent video produced by city staff and presented at the the Dana Point State of the City Reception, please click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to view video presented at the Dana Point State of the City Reception.

As reported in my newsletter last week, the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Project is featured as the cover-story in this month's Marina World Magazine, an international publication based in the UK, devoted to all aspects of the marina industry.

Dana Point Harbor Revitalization featured in Marina World.

Marina World is targeted at marina owners and operators, suppliers and manufacturers to the industry, and boating advocacy groups. To read Marina World's excellent cover-story on the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan, please click here.

It's time to sign-up for Ocean Institute's Summer Camps for kids! Ocean Institute ACA Accredited Summer Camps are immersive educational journeys that take place in their unique coastal setting.

Engaging learning experiences and explorations in their learning labs, along shore, and aboard their vessels enable campers to expand their horizons and see the world in a new way! Ocean Institute's 2019 camp offerings include NEW programs that will be the highlight of summer for campers of all ages! For more info, click here.

This week, my office was proud to present commendations to Head Coach Keith Chambers and standout members of the Dana Hills High School track and field team. At the recent CIF State Championship Finals, the Dana Hills girls 4×400-meter relay team stood as the crown jewel of the Dolphins' team.

The Dana Hills foursome of senior Hailey Ray, juniors Anisa Rind and Mia Lawrence, and sophomore Camryn Toole qualified the Dolphins 4×400-meter relay team to the CIF State Championship Finals for a third consecutive season and earned bronze with a third-place finish May 25 at Buchanan High School in Clovis.

L-R: Anisa Rind, Mia Lawrence, Camryn Toole, and Hailey Ray display their medals.

Carrick Denker was the lone Dolphin boys entry to qualify for State, as the junior qualified in the 1,600 meters with a six-place finish at Masters.

The Dana Hills High School track and field team has a long history of success and, as the former Mayor of Dana Point and a longtime resident of the city, I am very proud of them. Congratulation Dolphins! Keep up the great work!

L-R: My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, presents commendations to Head Coach Keith Chambers and track stars Camryn Toole, Carrick Denker, Anisa Rind, and Mia Lawrence.

This week, I and representatives from Orange County agencies participated in Governor Gavin Newsom's "California for All" Emergency Management Preparedness Summit in Sacramento.

The Summit, hosted by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), was a call to action for emergency managers and first responders across all jurisdictions and disciplines to collectively plan and prepare for large-scale disasters, including new ways to integrate a whole-community approach to emergency management. 

At Governor Newsom's "California for All" Summit.

In Orange County, collaboration already exists at a strong and very high level with the County agencies joining forces with cities, special districts, school districts, non-profit/volunteer organizations, and even the private sector.  This inclusive approach serves our Orange County community members well during the most difficult of times, but we know there are always improvements that can be made. 

Orange County agencies and jurisdictions are continually working to build emergency capabilities on various topics, such as Alert and Warning, Evacuation, and Emergency Sheltering. While we know our governmental agencies work hard everyday to be prepared, we also know that a catastrophic disaster will truly test these capabilities. 

It is important our community members prepare for emergencies by:

• Making a Kit
• Making an Emergency Plan
• Registering with AlertOC.org to receive emergency alerts 

More information on all of these topics can be found at ReadyOC.org and AlertOC.org.

"Uncontrollable" is the word now being used among fire chiefs in California to describe the kind of wildfires we could experience this year. Last year was a crushing year for California, as wildfires in burned more than 2,800 square miles, destroyed 17,000 homes, and killed 100 people. Despite record rainfall earlier this year, and recent cool weather, Southern California firefighters are bracing for another busy fire season.

NBC4 was recently invited to fly with the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA). Seated inside a water-dropping Huey helicopter, we are able to get a bird's-eye view and a firefighter's perspective on the landscape. On a scale of 1 to 10, OCFA Fire Chief Brian Fennessy said last year was a 10, and this year "we are expecting the same." To view the NBC4 video with Chief Fennessy, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to view the video.

The County of Orange FY 2019-20 Recommended Budget has been released for review by the Board of Supervisors and the public.

The Budget is divided into the following seven sections or programs:

• Public Protection
• Community Services
• Infrastructure and Environmental Resources
• General Government Services
• Capital Improvements
• Debt Service
• Insurance, Reserves and Miscellaneous

Public budget hearings will begin at 9:30 AM Tuesday, June 11; and, if not completed June 11, will carry over to 9:30 AM Wednesday, June 12, in the Hall of Administration
Board Hearing Room, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana.

During the public hearings, budget staff will provide highlights of the County’s spending plan, discuss specific budget requests and answer questions from Board members and the public.

The final budget vote is scheduled for the June 25 Board of Supervisors meeting. For more information, click here. To view the FY 2019-20 Recommended Budget, click here.

This week, my Board colleagues joined me in declaring June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) in the County of Orange to help raise awareness about the millions of older adults who experience elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.

To that end, we presented a Board resolution to leaders of our Social Services Agency (SSA), Health Care Agency (HCA), District Attorney’s Office, Office on Aging, and other Orange County community partners to recognize their commitment to helping seniors live longer, safer and healthier lives.

Presenting a Board resolution in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Every year an estimated one in ten older Americans become victims of elder abuse, neglect or exploitation. Last year in Orange County, there were more than 13,500 reports of elder abuse. This year, an average of over 1,200 reports each month have been made to date.

Statistics clearly demonstrate that elder abuse is a widespread issue across our nation and in Orange County. As a community, we must come together to prevent elder abuse from happening to our vulnerable older residents.

If you suspect abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable senior, please call the SSA Adult Protective Services 24-hour hotline at (800) 451-5155.

Click the image above for more info.

Rancho Family Fest is a fun-filled weekend for the entire family featuring live music and entertainment, a kids fun zone, beer & wine garden, a variety of food booths, local business vendors, and performances by local school groups and organizations. This much-anticipated community event June 8 & 9 in Rancho Santa Margarita is a great way to kick-off the summer!

Click the image above for more information.

Join Laguna Canyon Foundation (LCF) June 15 for a fun night under the stars! Enjoy free tacos, local drinks, live music, and a silent auction hosted by Troy Lee Designs, sponsored by Specialized, and benefiting LCF. This event is free to attend and open to all, no tickets or RSVPs necessary. Parking is available throughout downtown Laguna Beach and is free after 7 PM.

• Participated in Governor Newsom's "California for All" Emergency Management Preparedness Summit in Sacramento.
• Chaired the Regular Meeting of the Orange County Board of Supervisors and presented a Board Resolution in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
• Hosted a Laguna Woods Food Pantry and Benefit Enrollment event in partnership with our County of Orange Social Services Agency.
• Participated in the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Staion (SONGS) Community Engagement Panel (CEP) meeting in Oceanside.
• Participated in the OCTA and CalTrans groundbreaking ceremony for the I-5 South County Improvements Project.
• Presented a certificate of recognition on behalf of myself and Vice Chair Michelle Steel in honor of the 1-year anniversary celebration for Lido House in Newport Beach.

At Governor Newsom's "California for All" Emergency Management Preparedness Summit in Sacramento.

Presenting a Board Resolution in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

At our Food Pantry and Benefit Enrollment event in Laguna Woods.
 

At the groundbreaking ceremony for the I-5 South County Improvements Project.

Presenting a certificate of recognition to proprietor Bob Olson in honor of the 1-year anniversary of Lido House in Newport Beach.

• Attended the Laguna Niguel State of the City luncheon.
• Participated in the Laguna Woods Food Pantry and Benefit Enrollment event.
• Presented commendations in honor of Head Coach Keith Chambers and standout members of the Dana Hills High School track and field team.
• Presented a certificate of recognition in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for Faith Episcopal Church in Laguna Niguel.
• Attended the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee meeting featuring Congressman Harley Rouda as keynote speaker.

L-R: My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, presenting commendations to Head Coach Keith Chambers and Dana Hills High School track stars Camryn Toole, Carrick Denker, Anisa Rind, and Mia Lawrence.

At the Laguna Niguel State of the City luncheon.
(Photo courtesy of Mark Montgomery Photography)

At the ribbon cutting for Faith Episcopal Church in Laguna Niguel.