On Tuesday this week, the Board of Supervisors voted to approve a settlement agreement in the Orange County Catholic Worker v. County of Orange and Ramirez v. County of Orange litigation.

There have been many false reports in the media regarding what this proposed settlement entails and,  specifically, what it means for South County. To clarify any misinformation you may have heard, below are the factual details of the settlement agreement:

• This proposed settlement does not alter or reverse any ruling in the Martin v. City of Boise case, which had been upheld in Federal Appeals Court and is established precedent.
• In the proposed settlement agreement, there is NO stipulation specifically affecting South County cities.
• The proposed settlement allows the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) to enforce anti-camping ordinances on ALL County properties, including those in South County, specifically but not limited to, flood control channels, libraries, parks, contracted right-of-way railroad areas, and more.
• The South County Service Planning Area (SPA) is not included in this settlement because it is in separate litigation and no longer under the jurisdiction of Federal Judge David O. Carter.
• OCSD contract cities, as well as all other Orange County cities, will still be required to follow the same guidelines of the Martin v. City of Boise ruling, i.e., in order to enforce anti-camping laws, an adequate alternative location needs to be available and offered.

This proposed settlement is a good solution for the County, including South County cities, to ensure we can now enforce anti-camping and loitering ordinances within all County controlled and leased properties, e.g., Laguna and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, as well as Dana Point Harbor.

I look forward to continuing to work with our local elected officials and the community to find adequate alternatives, including permanent supportive housing, to help our cities enforce their anti-camping ordinances.

Click the image above to view the presentation by Donna Boston to the Board of Supervisors. 

While we are always on the alert for disasters, the recent earthquakes were a wake-up call for many of us. At this week’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Donna Boston, our County Director for Emergency Management, gave an excellent presentation on the County’s response plans and resources available for residents to help everyone be prepared for the next possible disaster. To view the video of Donna Boston's presentation to our Board, click here or on the image above.

Please visit ReadyOC.org to create a plan, get informed on emergency escape routes near you, and even build your own emergency kit. Also, be sure to sign up for AlertOC, our County emergency alert and notification system, which provides timely information and instructions in the event of an emergency. For more information, please see the article titled "Emergency Management Preparedness Summit" in my in my June 14, 2019 newsletter.

I was pleased to participate on an expert panel last week for the Orange County Business Council (OCBC) to discuss the release of its 2019-20 Workforce Housing Scorecard. In addition to myself, the panel included Anaheim Councilman Trevor O’Neil, Buena Park City Manager Jim Vanderpool, Dave Bartlett (Vice President of Land Entitlement for Brookfield Residential) and Dr. Wallace Walrod (Chief Economic Advisor for OCBC).

Speaking at the OCBC Workforce Housing Forum.

Our panel had a robust discussion on the need for more housing in Orange County and what local governments and businesses could do to streamline certain housing projects. In their report, OCBC estimated job growth to increase by 15.8% in the next 15 years, but housing is only expected to grow by 11.5%, leaving a likely shortfall of about 114,031 units. Consistently high housing demand makes living in Orange County even more expensive, pricing out younger residents and decreasing our future workforce talent pool.

The panel, representing both City and County leaders and a home-builder, remained optimistic about the County’s ability to address these issues through public/private partnerships and increased opportunities for millennials to stay in the County. When we are educating our young people here, we want them to stay here. It’s important for government and the private sector to work together to address workforce housing and career pathways to keep young people in the County.

With the panelists of the Orange County Workforce Housing Forum.

Each panelist also agreed that mixed use projects - which include a combination of retail, restaurants, entertainment and housing - are excellent options to utilize properties to their greatest potential while addressing the community’s needs. I encourage you to read the full report and send me your ideas to attract more business and housing options for current and future residents of Orange County. For more information, click here.

The new Laguna Beach Parking Mobile App is intended to reduce circling, gridlock and congestion in the downtown area. It was developed by a partnership of the City and Frogparking, a leading mobile app system developer of parking and transit. 

Not only does the app help find parking, it can be used to pay for the space and keep track of the remaining time on the meter and even remotely extend the time.

The app is now free to download through the app store and Google Play store. It also can be downloaded here. 

Lauren Conrad, star of "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County" and "The Hills" reality shows, fashion designer and author, is helping promote the City’s new parking app. “Late for Parking” is a lighthearted PSA on the parking woes in Laguna Beach. It shows Conrad on her way to the video shoot and late because she can’t find a parking space.

Click the image above to view the “Late for Parking” video starring Lauren Conrad and Stephen Colletti.

Actor Stephen Colletti, a former Laguna Beach High School student who co-starred with Conrad on the teenage reality show "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County" plays himself on the PSA, riding a trolley and telling her she should have used the app! For more information, click here.

I'm pleased to report the official launch of the San Clemente Trolley's highly anticipated newest route - the Blue Line. On Monday, July 8, the Blue Line North San Clemente Trolley Route began operating daily with free rides through September 29.

This summer, the new Blue Line North SC Route will run from the Outlets at San Clemente north along North El Camino Real, Camino San Clemente, Camino Mira Costa, and connect to the Dana Point Trolley on Camino De Estrella at Calle Verano.

The SC Trolley then returns south via Camino Capistrano and North El Camino Real, with stops at Camino Capistrano & Avenida Vaquero, Camino Capistrano & Camino Mira Costa, Camino Mira Costa & Camino De Estrella, and Camino De Estrella & Calle Verano.

Hop on the San Clemete Trolley this summer!

Riders can expect a trolley at each stop about every 15 minutes, and riders can transfer between the two routes at the Outlets at San Clemente (Trolley Stop #9). Trolley stops are clearly marked with signs that have the San Clemente Trolley logo.

For more information about the San Clemente Trolley, including schedules and a detailed map of stops for the whole system, FAQs, and Real-Time Trolley Tracking, please click here.

The Cox Conserves Heroes program honors environmental volunteers who create, preserve or enhance shared outdoor spaces in their local communities. One California Cox Conserve Hero will designate a $10,000 grant to the environmental nonprofit of their choice, given by the James M. Cox Foundation, the Cox-affiliated foundation. The James M. Cox Foundation will also award $50,000 to the national winner’s nonprofit of choice.

Nominate a volunteer today at coxconservesheroes.com through July 31. Nominees must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Their activity creates, protects and/or beautifies an outdoor community space. 
• Their activity is done on a volunteer basis and is not part of paid employment.Their activity inspires others to engage in community conservation.

In California, the Cox Conserves Heroes program is presented by Cox Communications in partnership with The Trust for Public Land. Over the past 11 years, the Cox Conserves Heroes program has contributed nearly $1M to environmental nonprofits and honored more than 200 volunteers across the country.

Drive-Thru service, believed to have originated in 1947 along Route 66, sure has changed since the days of roller skates and meal trays. Drive-thrus are now used at many businesses like pharmacies, banks, coffee shops, and even waste and recycling facilities. This iconic measure of convenience is observed annually on July 24, National Drive-Thru Day.

You’re probably wondering what drive-thru service has to do with waste and recycling. OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) is trying to make it easy to dispose of hazardous waste, so it is recycled properly. This year, in honor of National Drive-Thru Day, OCWR invites you to “drive thru” one of their four Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers (HHWCC) to drop off any household hazardous waste products. In exchange, you will receive a free battery bucket for recycling, while supplies last!

Can’t make it on National Drive-Thru Day? Don’t worry! The four centers are open all year long to make it easy for OC residents to dispose of their hazardous waste. 

Not only do their centers help you rid of unwanted household hazardous waste, they also operate Materials Exchange Programs (MEP). These allow county residents to select five items per week, per household, of partially used household, yard and car care products, for free!

Before visiting, please visit OCWR's website to view a complete list of what is accepted at their centers. Visit a County HHWCC, located in Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Irvine and San Juan Capistrano, open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (except holidays and rainy days).

Follow @OCWaste all week for posts about their HHWCCs. I hope you'll participate in National Drive-Thru Day on July 24!

Applications flooded in after the Board of Supervisors announced the first round of adoptions for the 140 Shih Tzu puppies recently rescued from a home in the City of Orange.

With my Board colleagues and the Shih Tzu puppies.

OC Animal Care staff and volunteers have been working diligently to create a seamless process and ensure a positive experience for each adopter that walks through their door. This includes reviewing applications and scheduling visits with potential adopters to best match each dog with a loving, forever home. Click here for more information.

It is our goal to place every dog into a loving home. We are incredibly proud of our team at OC Animal Care, which pulled together to provide care for these dogs on such short notice, and we’re greatly touched by the generosity and support from our community.

Presented by Doheny Blues Festival and the City of Dana Point, the Sunday, July 21 concert features two bands, The Reflexx (80s Tribute) at 3 PM, and Freedom (Tribute to George Michael and Wham) at 4:30 PM. Refreshments and food available for purchase. For more info, click here.

Enjoy the Music in the Park summer concerts every Sunday in Laguna Beach from 5 PM to 7 PM at Bluebird Park (Bluebird Canyon Dr./Cress St.) Free trolley service is available to the park.

7/21:  Cubensis (Grateful Dead Tribute)

7/28:  Hollywood Blondie (Blondie Tribute)

8/4:  Bill Magee (Blues)

8/11:  Upstream (Reggae/Calypso)

8/18:  Boys of Summer (Eagles Tribute)

8/25:  LA Sound Machine (Gloria Estefan Tribute)

• Participated in the National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference and Exposition.
• Was a keynote speaker with Senator John Moorlach at the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon.
• Toured the MicroVention Terumo headquarters in Aliso Viejo and presented a crystal award to their Senior Executives in appreciation of their generous sponsorship of my 12th annual South County Senior Summit.
• Attended the Tri-Chamber Mixer at Rancho Santa Margarita Honda, hosted by the RSM, Mission Viejo and Lake Forest Chambers of Commerce.

Introducing the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2nd Vice President Candidates at the California Caucus meeting at the NACo Annual Conference.

In the Large Urban Counties Caucus (LUCC) meeting at the NACo Annual Conference.

The County of Orange was recognized for numerous Excellence Awards from NACo. Here I'm at the NACo Conference with our County Department heads who received an award for their outstanding work. For more information, click here.

Speaking at the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon.
(Photo courtesy of Takata Photo & Design)

With Senator John Moorlach at the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon.
(Photo courtesy of Takata Photo & Design)

With former Mission Viejo Mayor Sherri Butterfield, Lake Forest Councilman Scott Voigts, and Senator John Moorlach at the Lake Forest Chamber Legislative Luncheon.
(Photo courtesy of Takata Photo & Design)

L-R: With Lake Forest Chamber President-Elect Brian Cawley, El Toro Water District President Jose Vergara, Chamber Presdent Jeremy Olson, and Senator John Moorlach.
(Photo courtesy of Takata Photo & Design)

With Lake Forest City Manager Debra Rose (center) at the Legislative Luncheon.
(Photo courtesy of Takata Photo & Design)

L-R: With RSM Mayor Pro Tem Brad McGirr, Councilwoman Anne Figueroa, former Mayor Mike VaugHn, and Councilwoman Carol Gamble at the Tri-Chamber of Commerce Mixer.
(Photo courtesy of Takata Photo & Design)

At the MicroVention Terumo tour in Aliso Viejo.

Presenting a crystal award to Senior Executives of MicroVention Terumo in appreciation of their generous sponsorship of the 12th annual South County Senior Summit.

• Presented a certificate of recognition in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for Killer Beauty in Dana Point.
• Participated in the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee meeting.
• Attended the National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference and Exposition.
• Presented a a crystal award to Belmont Village Senior Living in Aliso Viejo in appreciation of the generous sponsorship of the 12th annual South County Senior Summit.
• Attended the Tri-Chamber Mixer in RSM.

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, with Lake Forest Chamber President-Elect Brian Cawley at the Tri-Chamber Mixer in RSM.
(Photo Courtesy of Takata Photo & Design)

Presenting a a crystal award to Belmont Village Senior Living in Aliso Viejo.

At the ribbon cutting for Killer Beauty in Dana Point with Mayor Pro Tem Paul Wyatt (left) and Mayor Joe Muller (right).