I also met with the Mayor of San Clemente Chris Duncan to further discuss efforts to plan for sand replenishment to maintain our beaches, update me on San Clemente efforts to connect the 90 unhoused residents with services and housing, and introduced me to a few local Marines who are leaders for the local Veteran initiatives. I got to share about our Veteran workforce development and county procurement programs.  

I spoke at the Climate Action Campaign’s Inaugural Orange County Climate Action Plan Report Card Release Press Conference. Orange County is the largest county in California without a climate action plan. It’s a new day in Orange County where we prioritize climate action. Thank you to Climate Action Campaign for highlighting the need for local climate planning with your new report card. Review the full report card here.

Climate change threatens our coastal lifestyle. I am focused on making sure that we finally take action on climate. We must continue to work to make Orange County a greener and cleaner place. 

On Thursday and Friday, our team participated in leadership and skills training to better serve the Fifth District. We ended the week at Dana Point library hearing  from Jim Miller, local business owner of Coffee Importers in Dana Point, and touring Rancho Mission Viejo riding park.    

This weekend I’m attending the 41st Annual Tết Festival. After a week of heartbreak in lieu of celebration for our AAPI community, I’m looking forward to joining the Vietnamese community in a joyous celebration of the Year of the Cat. Chúc mừng năm mới! 

The Board of Supervisors voted on the following agenda items during this week’s Board meeting. Watch the most recent Board of Supervisors meeting here.  

Agenda Item S29D: In collaboration with the City of Fullerton, the Board approved a contract with People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) to provide Cold Weather Shelter Services to individuals experiencing homelessness. 

Agenda Item S29H: The Board unanimously approved sending a letter in support of Senator Umberg’s SB 44: Alexandra’s Law. This legislation requires individuals convicted of fentanyl-related offenses to receive a written advisory or admonishment notifying them if an individual dies as a result of their distribution of narcotics that they can be charged with voluntary manslaughter or murder. This action follows the Board’s resolution in January 2022 to advocate for tougher penalties for fentanyl dealers and distributors who kill our kids.  

Agenda Item S29C: The Board approved Supervisor Foley’s appointment of Hallie Jones to the Orange County Parks Commission. A resident of Laguna Beach, Hallie serves as Executive Director of the Laguna Canyon Foundation.  

Agenda Item S29G: The Board also approved Supervisor Foley’s appointment (S29G) of Laguna Niguel Councilmember Stephanie Oddo to Orange County Housing Authority.  

Agenda Item 18: The Board approved Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) funding for small cities, including to support Laguna Beach’s efforts to address homelessness and Laguna Wood’s pedestrian accessibility. 

• City of Laguna Beach - $500,000. This funding supports the Laguna Beach’s Alternative Sleeping Location (ASL) and the City’s efforts to address homelessness in response to COVID-19. 
• City of Laguna Woods - $200,000. This funding will support reconstructing sections of the sidewalk and adjusting any utility manhole and/or handholes along Moulton Parkway and El Toro Road. These improvements will promote pedestrian accessibility for seniors and meet Americans with Disability Act (ADA) requirements.    

Agenda Item 26: As part of the Mid-Year Budget Report, the Board approved up to $40 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to Mind OC for the pre-construction and construction of the Irvine Be Well campus. This project will enhance the County’s ability to serve the mental health needs of Orange County residents.  

Recently, the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a plan to provide credits and rebates to local restaurants whose business operations were curtailed by state and local health orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.   

The Board-approved plan is part of a $1.7 million litigation settlement reached with restaurants that sued the County over the payment of inspection fees collected by the Environmental Health Division of the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to $1.273 million of the settlement will be refunded/credited to local restaurants that paid permit fees to HCA.  

The refund/rebate is available only to those restaurant owners, who were in operation during the specific period between March 2020 and June 2021. Restaurants will also qualify for credits and rebates based on the following criteria:  

1. Restaurants that paid annual permit fees between March 17, 2020, to June 15, 2021, and are still in business, will receive a credit against future permit fees.  
2. Restaurants that paid annual permit fees between March 17, 2020, to June 15, 2021, but are no longer in business, will receive a reimbursement payment.  
3. Restaurants that did not pay annual permit fees (i.e., took advantage of the County’s fee deferral program) will receive a credit against fees owed. 

The HCA's Environmental Health Division will process the fee credits and rebates to restaurants over the next 12 months. For further details regarding the restaurant fee credit program, please contact Orange County Environmental Health at (714) 433-6000. 

OC Health – REMINDER: The CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has arrived in Orange County! NHANES is a unique survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) that collects data on the health of people living in the U.S. through interviews and physical exams. 

Participation in the NHANES is by invitation only – but if you are invited, we encourage you to participate! For more information visit https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/participant.htm or call 855-958-0631. 

Meet Gambit, Pet of the Week! While Gambit's previous life is a mystery, he came to OC Animal Care with a case of fly strike dermatitis. His ears are now healed, but Gambit is still a little self-conscious about them. But staff and volunteers all believe that his ears make him such a unique boy! Gambit is his happiest when he can run outdoors and chase birds. Around humans, he'll sit for treats and pets. Gambit will thrive in a home where he can be the only pet and with adults who can teach him more tricks! 

If you're looking for an resourceful, independent pup, then Gambit would make the perfect addition to your family! To adopt Gambit, call (714) 935-6848 and mention Animal ID# A1772849. 

The Office of Care Coordination would like to inform Orange County stakeholders of the following employment opportunity currently available to share with community members and local partners: 

On behalf of PATH: 

The Associate Director works in collaboration with the Director to oversee the Yale Navigation Center Program and its staff to promote and ensure a safe and stable environment and the delivery of high quality and effective services to guests participating in the program. 

Associate Director, Yale Navigation Center  PATH   Salary: $70,000 - $80,000 / year  

Classification: Full Time 

Location: Santa Ana CA 

For further information and to apply for this job click on this link: Associate Director 

Aliso Viejo 

Costa Mesa 

Dana Point 

Irvine 

Laguna Niguel 

Newport Beach 

San Clemente 

San Juan Capistrano