This week, all parties involved in the Orange County Catholic Worker v. County of Orange and Ramirez v. County of Orange homelessness litigation met with Judge David O. Carter to finalize and sign the agreed upon settlement documents, making this settlement final. 

Last week, the Board of Supervisors voted to approve the settlement agreement for this specific litigation.

There have been many false reports in the media regarding what this 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 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 settlement agreement, there is NO stipulation specifically affecting South County cities.
• The 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 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 video.

This week, I was pleased to appear on Village Television in Laguna Woods with Michelle Anderson, Deputy Director of Emergency Management, and talk show host Ken Goldenberg to discuss Disaster Preparedness in Orange County.

The County of Orange is always looking for ways to engage our residents with options and suggestions of how to best be prepared for any emergency. Using innovative technology and data, the County of Orange has created two products for our residents to use in disaster situations, ReadyOC and AlertOC.

ReadyOC is an online resource for information on how to prepare for a disaster, what to expect when disaster strikes, and information related to the risks facing Orange County. On the site you can create and order your own emergency kit, make a thorough plan following a step by step guide, and even sign up to volunteer as a member of the Citizen Corps where you will learn training skills, and local emergency planning measures to help in any possible situation.

AlertOC is a countywide mass notification system designed to keep Orange County residents and businesses informed of emergencies as they develop. During an emergency AlertOC will have the most up to date information on safe locations, hazards to avoid, and emergency responses. Sign up online to receive these up to date notifications.

If the recent quakes are not enough of a reminder, we are now entering into another CA wildfire season. The difference between life and death in a disaster can come down to minutes, and both ReadyOC and AlertOC aim to lessen the possible negative outcomes of an emergency situation.

We always need to be prepared and focused on a plan for ourselves, as well as our families, and community, so we can minimize the devastation and impact to our day-to-day lives and the community. To view the Village Television interview, please click here.

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 last 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.

As a Governing Board member of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), I have the privilege of selecting some of the brightest young minds to join the ranks of AQMD for a summer internship.

AQMD is the pollution control agency for all of Orange County, as well as urban portions of LA, Riverside, and San Bernardino, and tasked with controlling emissions from stationary sources, essentially everything that isn’t a motor vehicle. 

Over the course of summer, these interns will be working along side South Coast AQMD staff to improve the air quality for the 16.8 million people within our air basin.

L-R: Intern Jacy Sera with my Senior Policy Advisor, James Dinwiddie, and Intern Emily Condon.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District, for which I am a Governing Board member, will be continuing their year-round Electric Lawn Mower Rebate Program. Through this program, residents can turn in their old gas-powered lawn mower to an approved dismantler and receive a rebate up to $250 for a new clean, cordless, battery powered electric lawn mower.

Actual rebate amounts will depend on the purchase price of the new lawn mower, but will range from at least $150 to $250. To learn more about the program and apply for a rebate, 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.

The San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce earlier this month hosted its Annual Installation and Awards Banquet to celebrate the work of local businesses and citizens, recognizing them for their work and efforts to help the community.

Scott and Diana Schmitt, who run Accent Portraits by Diana and San Juan Photo & Digital, have lived in San Juan for more 30 years and have become staples of the community, being regularly seen at events with their cameras.

Scott Schmitt thanks the City and Chamber after he and his wife, Diana (right), were named Man & Woman of the Year.

The awards portion started with Scott and Diana being recognized with the Man & Woman of the Year award, and ended with Chamber CEO George Peppas III surprising the couple again with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The couple was brought to tears after getting caught off guard with winning both awards.

Scott & Diana Schmitt were also presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Chamber CEO George Peppas (left) with Fiesta Association President Jim Taylor as emcee.
(Photo courtesy of Shawn Raymundo / The Capistrano Dispatch)

The award for Business of the Year was also given out during the annual event. This year it went to Sweet Home Capistrano Bakery Café, which is owned by James Parris.

Below is the complete list of awards and recipients from this year’s Installation and Awards Banquet:

• Man & Woman of the Year - Scott and Diana Schmitt
• Business of the Year: Sweet Home Capistrano Bakery Café
• Sister City, Ensenada, Mexico Award - Mares Foundation
• Sister City, Capestrano, Italy Award - Regency Theatre
• Lifetime Achievement Award - Scott and Diana Schmitt
• Ambassador of the Year - Randi Peshkin
• New Volunteer of the Year - Kelly Kaban, DDS & Larry Kaban, DDS
• Cornerstone Award - Mission San Juan Capistrano

Congratulations to Scott & Diana Schmitt and all the award winners for their outstanding contributions to the City of San Juan Capistrano and Chamber of Commerce! 

This August, John Wayne Airport is partnering with Make-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire to help grant wishes for local children battling critical illnesses through the Trips that Transform campaign encouraging travelers to donate their unused, low balance or soon-to-expire airline miles for American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, or United Airlines.

Every donated mile helps Wish kids and their families travel to destinations across the Country. Help the local chapter accumulate the more than 44 million air miles needed each year to grant a life-changing wish. Once donated, airline miles never expire.

Click the image above to enlarge.

OC Public Libraries (OCPL) has introduced a new feature that makes manually renewing library materials a thing of the past. As such, all eligible items checked out from a library branch, including print books, magazines, CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays, will now be automatically renewed the day they are due for a maximum of up to five times.

Automatic renewal is the next step to making it easier for patrons to keep library items they enjoy. Patrons no longer need to access their account or call the library when wanting to renew a borrowed item, with some exceptions. Materials not eligible for automatic renewal are those with holds, already renewed five times, checked out to home-bound patrons, Interlibrary Loan items and Lucky Day books.

OCPL is aiming to make life easier for their patrons by automatically renewing items and helping avoid late fees. Automatic renewal should significantly cut down on overdue fines when patrons inadvertently forget or are unable to renew items themselves, resulting in saving patrons’ time and giving them peace of mind.

This new service does not require sign-up and is active at all 33 library branches. For more information, visit the OCPL website.

Click the image above to enlarge.

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 28 concert at Sea Terrace Park features two bands, The Queen of Soul Aretha at 3 PM, and AbbaFab 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.

7/28:  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)

The popular South County band "Family Style" will perform Friday, August 9 from 6 PM to 8 PM in Mission Viejo on the Village Green at Oso Viejo Park. With a dynamic stage show and music from Stevie Wonder, Prince, and James Brown, plus a healthy dose of David Bowie, Steve Ray Vaughn and Santana, Family Style will get you on your feet for a funky good time! Click here for more info.

Head over to Lake Forest Sports Park on Saturday, August 17 from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM for a Classic Rock Concert and Car Show featuring The Long Run (Eagles tribute) and Creedenced (CCR tribute). 

• Presented to the California Metal Coalition at their quarterly round-table meeting.
• Toured the Alloy Die Casting Co. die casting facility in Orange County, which produces die cast parts for consumer, medical, and aerospace needs.
• Participated in the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors meeting.
• Appeared on Village Television in Laguna Woods to discuss Disaster Preparedness on Orange County.
• Toured Laguna Food Pantry in Laguna Beach.
• Participated in the TCA Joint Finance & Investment Committee meeting and Joint Vision Planning Ad Hoc meeting.
• Participated in the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Board of Directors meeting.

With Alloy Die Casting Co. President Rick Simpson at their OC facility. 

Presenting to the CA Metals Coalition.

On Village Television in Laguna Woods with Michelle Anderson, Deputy Director of Emergency Management, and talk show host Ken Goldenberg.

• Presented a certificate of recognition in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for Le Peep Restaurant in Laguna Hills.
• Presented a certificate of recognition in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for Pet Wants in Lake Forest.
• Presented a certificate of recognition in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for GOLFTEC in Rancho Santa Margarita.

At the ribbon cutting for Le Peep Restaurant in Laguna Hills.
(Photo courtesy of Takata Photo & Design)

At the ribbon cutting for Pet Wants in Lake Forest.
(Photo courtesy of Takata Photo & Design)

At the ribbon cutting for GOLFTEC in RSM.
(Photo courtesy of Takata Photo & Design)