An Important Weekly Update from Supervisor Foley

County of Orange, California sent this bulletin at 03/17/2023 07:26 PM PDT

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Volume 3 | Issue 11

March 17, 2023

Supervisor’s Message

Dear neighbor:

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! May your troubles be less than your blessings and may happiness come through your door. I wish you a happy celebration today, and make sure you celebrate responsibly!

I started off on Sunday at the Iranian American Chamber of Commerce's Nowruz Market. I enjoyed exploring all the booths and celebrating our vibrant Iranian community here In Orange County ahead of the New Year. Nowruz Mobarak to all!

On Sunday, I visited the homes in the Dover Shores community impacted by the hillside collapse. After surveying the damage on Sunday, I immediately worked with Board Chairman Donald Wagner, the County team, the Orange County Fire Authority, state partners, and local officials to assess weather related risks in Orange County and do everything in our power to use our resources to assist residents in need. Yesterday, one homeowner chose to demolish their home due to the severity of the damage. My hope is that there is no further sliding on the slope, but if these three homes fall, a cascading effect may happen to some of the 50 other homes on the bluff and we must be prepared in case that happens.

On Monday, I attended the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board meeting where the Board voted to approve the release of a request for proposals (RFP) for consultant services to conduct a feasibility study on the railroad corridor and beach erosion along Dana Point, San Clemente, and unincorporated areas. This comes on the heels of my numerous calls for further rail planning and sand replenishment in response to the recent emergency railroad stabilization efforts in San Clemente where coastal erosion impacted the railroad tracks. Orange County remains decades behind on our coastal rail and sand replenishment planning for our south county beaches. Read more here.

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors held presentations to celebrate Social Work Month, Women’s History Month, and Nowruz.

Here I am with the Board of Supervisors and some of our county's great social workers!

The Board of Supervisors and members of our local Iranian American community!

In particular, I presented a resolution to designate the month of March as Women’s History Month and recognize women public information officers from departments across the County for telling the stories of our County of Orange.

They tell the stories of our firefighters, deputy sheriffs, healthcare workers, and the thousands of dedicated County employees who work each and every day to maintain public safety and provide essential services in our communities. These stories are essential to retaining the history & experiences of our services and residents in Orange County. Thank you for all that you do.

Notably, the presentation coincided with National Equal Pay Day, which marks how much longer after the year women need to work to earn what men earned in the previous year. To raise awareness, my team and I are joining many across the nation in wearing red to highlight the gender wage gap between men and women.

This day is dedicated to highlighting the gender wage gap, where women on average earn 83 cents, Black women earn 67 cents, Latinas earn 57 cents, and Native women earn 57 cents to every dollar a man earns.

We’re breaking the glass ceiling here at the County with many women holding senior leadership positions at the county and local office. I look forward to continuing our efforts to empower women.

During the Board meeting, my proposal to Proclaim of Local State of Emergency to support storm response as a result of the hillside collapse in the Dover Shores community in Newport Beach and other weather-related events throughout Orange County was unanimously adopted by the Board of Supervisors.     

Following the County’s local declaration of emergency, Governor Newsom expanded the state of emergency to include Orange County.

Since the state of emergency was declared, there have been landslides leading to the closure of Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point and behind the four red-tagged apartment buildings in San Clemente.

On Wednesday evening, the Orange County Health Care Agency closed three thousand feet of Doheny State Beach because of a 4,000-gallon sewage spill.

We ask the community to do their part in protecting our public health and maintain a safe distance up to 1,500 ft. upcoast and 1,500 ft. downcoast from the mouth of San Juan Creek. I am closely monitoring this situation along with the other incidents occurring throughout Orange County.

On Thursday, I hosted a Women’s Lunch and Learn for elected officials and non profit leaders where I gave a tour of our Board Chambers followed by lunch and guest speaker related to procurement and doing business with the County.

Then on Thursday afternoon, I gave an update on the San Clemente landslide during a press conference. Four apartment buildings have been red tagged with officials deeming them unsafe for residents to enter. At the press conference, it was announced that President Biden expanded the federal state of emergency in California to include Orange County, allowing residents to potentially receive relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

At the San Clemente Landslide Press Conference with Congressman Mike Levin, State Senator Janet Nguyen, Assemblymember Laurie Davies, and San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan

After the state of emergency was declared, our County of Orange Unified command is now activated to coordinate all interagency efforts with our cities to provide the support to families. As we continue to monitor the incidents across the county, we want to make sure that tenants who have been displaced have the ability to find housing.

If you or someone you know is a resident impacted by the landslide, or another weather related disaster, you can contact my office at (714) 834-3550 or at Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com for support.  

Since Tuesday's proclamation of emergency, approximately $4 million dollars in damages have already been officially reported throughout the entire County to the County Emergency Operations Center, but we expect that number to significantly increase as much of the most significant damage takes more time to calculate. It is critical that residents who have personal damages to their property or businesses tell their local officials, so we can access critical state and federal resources and find solutions for anyone who needs help. https://www.fema.gov/locations

As a reminder, the IRS extended the tax filing deadline to October 16, 2023 for victims of severe winter storms, flooding, and mudslides in California. This extension applies to individuals and businesses in Orange County!

Today, I met over one hundred residents at my first Coffee & Conversations with Katrina of the year at the Coffee Chat hosted by Coffee Importers. I’m told we had the largest turn out at Coffee Chat ever. While I couldn’t answer every question that came my way, you have my commitment to find the answers you need. In the coming weeks I will announce our Town Hall with the Dana Point Harbor Partners, as well as create an action plan for my Harbor Advisory Team.

Between If you missed today, don’t fret – we have a slate of coffee chats scheduled for the year!

Afterwards, I toured The Marina at Dana Point to get a status report and update on the new docks. I’m excited to share that we’re expecting the new docks to open in approximately 4 weeks! They’re safer, more stable, and even come with Wi-Fi.

Spread out across my week, I met with Chris Wahl & Jessica Luternauer on the San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station, the OC Fire Authority Chief, and the OC Housing Finance Trust.

That’s it for this week – tomorrow is my Second Annual Women’s History Month Appreciation Brunch where we’ll hold the awards ceremony for our Women Making A Difference Awards. I look forward to seeing many of you there and celebrating Orange County’s women storytellers!

Be Well,

Katrina Foley
Supervisor
County of Orange

In This Edition

Read more about local events, community and health news, District and County initiatives, and other important updates!

Tweet of the Week

Upcoming Board of Supervisors Meeting On March 28, 2023

Attend our 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 28, 2023 Board of Supervisors Meeting
View the Agenda: Here
See a list of our upcoming 2023 Board meetings: Here

Federal assistance coming to Orange County following recent storms

California buildings still in peril from tumbling cliff

Help On The Way For OC Residents Impacted By Landslide

Officials Concerned with Safety, Caution in Responding to Landslide

As coastal train track is repaired, OCTA hopes $5 million study will help find longer term fixes

Supervisors, Newsom declare state of emergency in Orange County

O.C. Supervisors declare local state of emergency amid havoc wrought by winter storms

Orange County employees must remove TikTok from government devices under new ban

OC supervisors vote to ban TikTok from county government-issued devices

Orange County declares local state of emergency amid onslaught of storms

State Of Emergency Extended To OC As Rain Storms Pummel Beach Towns

OCTA Board Green-Lights First Step for South Coast Rail Study

Orange County beach closed after massive sewage spill

Multiple sewage spills lead to beach closures in Long Beach, Orange County

Sewage Spill Closes Outflow Area of Doheny State Beach

4,000-gallon sewage spill closes Doheny State Beach in Dana Point

Residents gather belongings as San Clemente apartment buildings face potential collapse

Officials Red-Tag Four Buildings and Call for Rail Relocation After San Clemente Landslide

San Clemente Apartment Buildings Remain Off-Limits Following Landslide

Cindy Tran-Chang

Policy Advisor / Community Events Manager

Be on the lookout for some fun and interesting events we are participating in like San Juan Capistrano’s Swallows Day Parade on March 25, 2023, where our team will be riding in a wagonette. Visit us at our booth in the Mercado! Crime Survivor’s Superhero Run and Walk-Health & Safety Expo is on April 15, 2023. Next will be the Council on Aging Southern CA’s Pickleball Slam on April 29, 2023. There’s also the Dana Point Film Festival from May 4 through May 7, 2023. And Share Our Selves Taco Night event on May 18, 2023. I’ll keep you posted weekly on what’s up next and hopefully we’ll catch you at one of our events!

Annie Mitchell

Policy Analyst / District Representative

The time has come! It is the week of our Women’s History Month Brunch – Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories! I am looking forward to meeting many of the wonderful Women who were nominated at our event this Saturday! As project lead for this event, I’m very proud of the work we did to honor these amazing women. Check back next week to learn who received the awards.

Adam Tallabas

Policy Analyst / District Representative

Good Afternoon, District 5! I started the week by preparing for & attending the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board Meeting on Monday followed by the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday. I also attended the Laguna Hills City Council meeting on Tuesday and presented Supervisor Foley’s Five Priorities for the Fifth District! On Wednesday, I attended the Newport Bay Watershed Executive Committee where updates were given on water quality standards in the Newport Bay Watershed as well as progress on the removal of invasive plant species in the Newport Bay. This weekend, I will be attending the Women Making a Difference event in Dana Point – I hope to see you there!

Michele Mullen

District Representative

The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce is very busy this week hosting a Business Luncheon Series at Bistango to meet many individuals in various businesses and professional offices. On Friday, the Newport Beach Police Appreciation breakfast hosted by Keith Morrison from NBC Dateline took place at the VEA Hotel. They recognized and honored many dedicated men and women in NBPD.

Newport Beach Chamber members

NBPD Officer of the year, Joseph De Julio at the Police Appreciation Breakfast

Commission Updates

Airport Commission Report from Chair Sue Dvorak

Airport Commission Meeting: March 15, 2023

Agenda Items Voted on by the Airport Commission:

Agenda Item #2: Renew Contract for Common-Use Passenger Processing System (CUPPS):

The Airport Commission voted unanimously to recommend the execution of Amendment Number One to renew the sole source contract with Materna IPS USA Corp for two years ending May 31, 2025 in an amount not to exceed $5,075,801.

The CUPPS system provides a common IT platform for the flexible and shared use of airport facilities. CUPPS was first installed at JWA in 2011 and is now reaching the end of its useful life so it must be replaced. Materna will provide hardware and software services until the CUPPs replacement project goes through the competitive bid process in preparation for the full replacement of the system. The RFP (Request For Proposal) will be posted this summer for parties to submit their proposals, and full system implementation is expected in 2025.

Agenda Item #4: Airport Noise Violation Committee for the 2023 Calendar Year:

The Airport Commission voted unanimously to select the Committee members (by lottery) at the next scheduled Airport Commission meeting when all of the newly-appointed Commissioners will be present.

Airport Commissioner Updates

I am pleased to announce that two new Airport Commission appointments have been approved by the Orange County Board of Supervisors:

Alberto Sandoval, appointed by Supervisor Andrew Do, representing District 1

Mr. Sandoval currently serves as the Senior Director of UC-Irvine’s Community and Government Relations and previously served as UCI’s Director of Advocacy and State Government Relations.

Prior to working at UCI, Alberto represented the Boeing Company before Congress and state and local governments. He previously served as the Deputy Director in Huntington Beach for former US Representative Dana Rohrabacher, and before that, he was the Senior Field Representative for then-Representative Robert Dornan.

Alberto serves on the Boards of Directors for the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and he is a trustee of the World Affairs Council of Orange County.

Sal Tinajero, appointed by Supervisor Vince Sarmiento, representing District 2

Mr. Tinajero is currently a Communication Program Specialist for the Santa Ana Unified School District, and he was formerly an instructor at Fullerton Union High School. He was named National Hispanic Teacher of the Year in 2005, and California Teacher of the Year in 2018.

Sal was a member of the Santa Ana City Council from 2006 to 2018, and he presently serves on the Board of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.

Apply to Join a Commission!

The County of Orange is looking for passionate individuals to serve on the variety of County Boards, Commissions, and Committees. I encourage anyone interested and meets the qualifications to apply for a position.

Specific qualifications listed below, but all applicants must be registered to vote in Orange County and reside in District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel.

Here are a list of Boards, Commissions, and Committees with openings in District 5:

Assessment Appeals Board
- Must be an Attorney, CPA or Public Accountant, Real Estate Broker, or Appraiser who is licensed/certified within the State of California for a period of at least 5 years. Must maintain qualifications through term of office.
Coto de Caza Planning Advisory Committee
- Must be a resident in the Coto de Caza specific plan area.
Development Processing Review Committee
Emergency Medical Care Committee
- The membership shall consist of one member within each of the following categories: O.C. City Managers Association, O.C. Medical Association, O.C. Fire Chiefs Association, O.C. Chapter of the American Red Cross, Hospital Association of Southern California, O.C. Police Chiefs' and Sheriff Association, City Selection, O.C. Business Council, Ambulance Association of Orange County, O.C. Senior Citizens Advisory Council, Society of O.C. Emergency Physicians, Orange Coast Emergency Nurses Association, District Appointments.
John Wayne Airport Arts Commission
- Must have a strong interest in art.
Orange County Historical Commission
Orange County Human Relations Commission
- Must have a sensitivity to human relations and believe in purpose and goals as set forth in bylaws.
Orange County In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Advisory Committee
- Must be a recipient who is a current or past user of personal assistance services.
Seniors Citizens Advisory Council
Orange County Waste Management Commission
- Shall not be a representative of the waste industry.
Public Financing Advisory Committee
- Shall not be serving or running for elective office.

Click here to apply for any of these Boards, Commissions, or Committees. For more information, click here to learn more.

I hope you consider filling out an application.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining one of the county's commissions, please consider applying through the link here.

Health News

COVID-19 Data

As of March 17, 2023, 2,369,209 Orange County residents are fully vaccinated. The 7-day average positivity rate (03/17/23) in our County is 6.2%. This equals out to 4.2 daily positive COVID cases per 100k residents.

OC Health Care Agency Updates

From the Orange County Health Care Agency:

The OC Health Care Agency, Environmental Health, has closed the ocean water area in Dana Point, 1,500 feet upcoast and 1,500 feet downcoast of the San Juan Creek interface at Doheny State Beach due to a sewage spill. The released spill of approximately 4,000 gallons was caused by an overflow in a main city sewer line in San Juan Capistrano. The affected ocean water area will remain closed to swimming, surfing, and diving until the results of follow-up water quality monitoring meet acceptable standards.

For information regarding Orange County ocean, bay or harbor postings and closures, please call (714) 433-6400 or visit our Web site at ocbeachinfo.com. To report a sewage spill, please call (714) 433-6419.

Update from Providence Mission Hospital

As of May 10, 2023, we will relocate inpatient and outpatient GI (gastrointestinal) services from Providence Mission Hospital Laguna Beach to our Mission Viejo campus. Our Mission Viejo GI lab is located at 27799 Medical Center Road in the Mission Health Center/Leonard Cancer Institute. This transition will allow us to enhance our GI program by centralizing our specialists and technology in a single location.

All impacted caregivers who work at the Laguna Beach location will be relocated to the Mission Viejo campus and will continue to provide GI services. Patients who receive care at the Laguna Beach location will also be transferred to our Mission Viejo campus.

We are confident that the relocation of our GI services will be a smooth transition that allows us to continue proudly serving as South Orange County’s safety-net hospital.

Community

OC Animal Care

In our ongoing efforts to keep the shelters clear, starting this year, OCAC will waive fees for adult dogs over 25 pounds adopted by residents across Orange County! The normal adoption fee for adult dogs ranges from $100 - $200. Help our furry friends at the shelter find loving homes.  

Pet of the Week

Meet Vincent, our Pet of the Week! Vincent loves spending his days going on long strolls, people watching from under a shady tree, then getting lots of belly rubs before drifting into a nice long nap before dinner. As a five-year-old German Shepherd, Vincent loves a good challenge. He has mastered the art of sitting for a treat and he's currently practicing his ability to shake hands! This friendly boy has been featured at Pooches on the Patio and participated in our Pack Walks, and he's been nothing but a gentleman around his furry mates. Although Vincent does well around other dogs, he has infinitely more fun if his human friends are with him! Vincent has been known, while on his walks, to take breaks to give a hug to whoever is walking him. If you're looking for a loyal companion, who has so much love to give, then Vincent is the boy for you! To adopt Vincent, call (714) 935-6848 and mention Animal ID# A1788687.

Dana Point Harbor News

The County of Orange Real Estate department shared a factsheet in response to many of the questions we received from concerned members of the Dana Point Harbor Boater Community. To view the FAQ please click on this link.

OC Public Works: Storm Resources

Projected Rainfall and Incoming Storm Systems

Real-Time Rainfall Data on the Orange County Public Works website
Cumulative rainfall data for past periods – Orange County Hydrology Data Portal. Users can select time periods varying from the last hour up to totals since July. Data for each individual rain gage can also be viewed on this site.

How Residents Can Prepare for Rain

Sandbags: Residents in unincorporated areas (outside of incorporated city areas) interested in obtaining sandbags to help protect their property during rainstorms can visit www.OCStormCenter.com or by calling OCPW at 714-955-0200. OCPW’s main website is www.OCPublicWorks.com.
Visit www.ReadyOC.com to learn simple steps you can take protect yourself, your family and your property.
Register at www.AlertOC.com to receive emergency notifications from the County via phone call, text or email for critical announcements about natural disasters such as flooding and associated road closures and evacuations.

Tax Filing Deadline Extended to October 16, 2023

The IRS announced an extension to change the filing and payment deadlines to October 16, 2023 for victims of severe winter storms, flooding, and mudslides in California. This extension applies to individuals and businesses in Orange County! Learn more here.

Register for Camp Newport

Welcome to Newport Beach where your child can enjoy the best Southern California has to offer. With hundreds of camps to choose from you’re invited to explore our shores in a sailing, surf, and bodyboarding camp, enjoy the breeze in a range of outdoor sports and active camps. Or embrace the shade in one of the many science, music, technology, and art camps awaiting you.

For more information, visit campnewport.com. The website is set to go live on March 8 with registration opening on Thursday, March 9 at 8am. Remember, sign up by May 4 and receive a 10% or more discount on most camps!

Ocean Institute's Jazz Fest - A "Sea"Cret Soirée on March 25

The Ocean Institute is thrilled to celebrate their 20^th Anniversary of the Ocean Institute's Jazz Fest with a nod to the roaring 20s! Join their speakeasy themed SEAcret Soiree!

Festivities include:

DUELING PIANOS!
Gumbo Brothers- New Orleans Jazz Band
Top-Notch Ethically and Sustainably Sourced Small Plates and Apps
Silent Auction
Bubbly Bar
Dancing, Games, and more

This will be a fun, feel-good, fundraiser that will leave you and your friends smiling as you help support Adopt-A-Class!

Please click here: https://e.givesmart.com/events/urY/ for more details.

OC Fair - "Happy Together"

The 2023 OC Fair is set to for July 14-August 13! The OC Fair invites everyone back for "Happy Together," and encourages people to purchase tickets in advance. Advance ticket purchase is required as we are limiting the number of admission tickets available for each day. Choose your days and plan your summer!

To buy tickets, check out the following link: https://ocfair.com/oc-fair/buy-tickets/admission/

Substance Abuse Resource

Detox.com’s mission is to provide the best free resources for people to find self-help with substance abuse through detox and other mental health strategies. Check out their website for more information!

OC Alert

Sign up for AlertOC to get notified in case of emergency in Orange County. The mass notification system is designed to keep Orange County residents and businesses informed in the event of a time-sensitive emergency. YOU MUST OPT IN TO RECEIVE ALERTS. Register today at AlertOC.org.

Appointments for Veterans Services

OC Workforce Solutions

Ready Set OC offers no-cost employment training for Orange County youth ages 14-24, including those with disabilities or IEP plans, former or current foster children, pregnant or parenting, offender/ex-offender, and those experiencing homelessness, including couch-surfing or at risk of homelessness.

To find out more information, call the OC Business and Economic Recovery Call Center at (714) 480-6500 or text (657) 210-1295. Email info@readysetoc.com

Equity in OC

Are you in charge of a grassroots organization? the Equity in OC initiative is releasing a POWER BUILDING FUND to provide smaller, grassroots organizations with the opportunity to build their infrastructure and/or capacity

Learn More: Here