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| Volume 3 | Issue 15 |
April 14, 2023 |
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Dear neighbor:
After a restful Easter weekend with my family, we started this week in full force! Monday began with our OCTA Board Meeting where we awarded more than $37 million for 10 projects to improve streets throughout Orange County. More than $33 million toward projects focused on improving and widening busy streets and intersections, while the remaining $4 million to synchronize traffic signals to ensure drivers hit the greatest number of green lights during peak traffic hours.
Right after OCTA, I zoomed over to OC Fire Authority to welcome our newest squad member, PAX, our OCFA therapy dog. Firefighters are often the first ones on the scene of traumatic events, and most years more firefighters die from suicide than the line of duty. Pax is our new resource for our firefighter’s mental health. Welcome aboard, Pax!
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 That afternoon I hosted our mayors from nearly every city in District 5 on a tour of the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter. The Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter is a model shelter for our communities to use. When I was Mayor of Costa Mesa, we collaborated with Newport Beach to build the shelter for both cities that was safe, invisible to the general public with no local impacts, and helpful with full wraparound services for residents. So far, we’ve housed more than 275 people from shelter into permanent housing. Plus, because of our good neighbor policies, the shelter location is unknown except to those who know. Sharing this collaborative model with our cities is so important because the City of Los Angeles is clearing out their homeless encampments, causing an increase in people travelling down to Orange County where anti encampment enforcement is not legally allowed due to a lack of local shelters. If South Orange County does not create a regional navigation center, our Deputy Sheriffs will continue being blocked from enforcing anti-camping ordinances and people will continue living on our streets, at the beach, in front of businesses, and in parks. It’s time for cities to act, and I’m happy to be a resource for the region as they decide what next step needs to be taken.
 Tuesday was another productive meeting of the Board of Supervisors. The County was awarded millions of dollars in State grants in the areas of homelessness & housing assistance, domestic violence, coordinated re-entry services, and other Continuum of Care Programs. Our Office of Care and Coordination and Orange County Community Resources Department have done an excellent job to seek and apply for every grant possible, which has put us ahead of the curve compared to most counties in our state.
 That evening I joined Congressman Mike Levin, OC Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen, Deputy District Attorney Susie Price, Mayor Kelly Jennings, Councilmembers Sandy Rains, Ray Gennawey, and Stephanie Oddo in celebration of the Laguna Niguel Junior Civic Workshop Graduates. These 6th – 8th graders completed 7 weeks of classes on civic engagement and participation. It’s great to see so many young people involved in civics and answer their questions about a day in the life of an OC Supervisor!
 Wednesday kicked off our inaugural Wellness Wednesday Walk in the Park. Every Wednesday my team and I plan on walking throughout the district to hear from constituents, explore our new District 5, and get moving! We walked nearly 10,000 steps after learning about Aliso & Wood Canyon Wilderness Park.
 I hope you can join us at our future walks with OC Parks, we’re scheduled through the remainder of the year:
 After our 2.5 mile hike, I joined my colleagues at OCFA for our Capital Improvement Plan Ad-Hoc Committee where we approved the capital improvement plan for the next 5 years which includes updating our technology, new trucks and equipment, and electrification infrastructure. We followed with the world’s quickest special meeting of the Board of Directors to appoint an interim auditor for the agency.
 I ended the day with one more hike, touring Fairview Park Habitat Restoration with Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens, City Councilmember Arlis Reynolds, their City Manager, city staff, OCTA staff, and OC Parks staff to identify habitat restoration and mitigation projects in Fairview and Talbert Parks.
 On Thursday, I spent the morning with the Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Amit Bose, Congressman Mike Levin, State Senator Catherine Blakespear, and Mayor Chris Duncan in a press conference addressing the coastal erosion happening in San Clemente. While I’m pleased to announce the reopening of the passenger rail service from Laguna Niguel through Oceanside will happen on Monday, April 17, 2023, we all must come to terms that this is only a temporary fix. That’s why I joined the OCTA Board of Directors in supporting two studies, one to stabilize our rail corridor, the other to evaluate whether moving it inland is the best option to save this critical route. I’m grateful for the collaborative partnership with Congressman Levin and Senator Blakespear to prioritize funding for sand replenishment and long-range planning for our coastal rail corridor.
You can read more about the press conference here: LINK
Or watch the live stream at this link.
  This morning I helped send off students from OC Access as they joined Captain Dave’s Dolphin Safari Adventure to whale watch and see the pods of dolphins swimming along our coast. Did you know, Dana Point is the whale watching capitol of the world? So cool!
 Afterwards, I hosted my second Coffee & Conversation at Laguna Niguel’s own High Tide Coffee with Councilwoman Stephanie Oddo, OCFA Education Specialist Brandy, and Orange County’s Procurement Officer Maria Agrusa. We were able to answer resident questions about safety, small business engagement, our Health Care Agency, and even Pickleball.
 In the upcoming weeks I plan on hosting and participating in four town hall meetings, the first of which is on Monday, April 17th with the Ladera Ranch Civic Council to discuss everything from E-Bikes to the tax rebates I approved at the Board meeting two weeks ago. If you’re a Ladera Ranch Resident, I hope to see you there.
 Next Friday I'll be joining a student led Town Hall at Cal State Fullerton, and a Town Hall with seniors in Rancho Mission Viejo's Senior Living Community. Finally, save the date: On Tuesday, April 25th I’m hosting a Town Hall meeting with the Dana Point Harbor Partners to present updates on the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization plan. RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/KFDPHP
I ended my week completing interviews for summer law clerks to join our district office. I love mentoring law students and in this new role I’m excited to share about the career opportunities shaping policies for Orange County.
For those attending, I look forward to seeing you at the annual Crime Survivors Super Hero Run/Walk.
Be Well,
 Katrina Foley
Supervisor
County of Orange
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In This Edition
Read more about local events, community and health news, District and County initiatives, and other important updates!
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Upcoming Board of Supervisors Meeting On April 25, 2023
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Cindy Tran-Chang
Policy Advisor / Community Events Manager
This week, the Board of Supervisors presented Resolutions on three categories for the month of April that all resonated with me. One was DMV/Donate Life Month in which we heard heartfelt stories on lives saved because of organ donations. When I volunteered on the Donate Life Rose Parade Float a few years ago, I also heard similar stories that were so moving and compelling. Having a child with one functioning kidney, it’s important to me to think about the role I can play in saving lives when I register with the DMV to donate my organs.
The second Resolution was National Therapy Animal Day. It’s so wonderful that animals are not only our companions, but they can also play an important role in therapy for humans. From dogs who help walk those with impaired vision or horses who help children on the spectrum, we are thankful for them.
Finally, the last Resolution presented was Child Abuse Prevention where we wear blue in April to raise awareness about child abuse with the goal to prevent and reduce the alarming statistics. As a public agency, we are mandated reporters. It is important to recognize the signs and if we see something that looks unusual, to report it.
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Adam Tallabas
Policy Analyst / District Representative
Good Afternoon District 5! Earlier this week, I attended & observed the Costa Mesa City Council Study Session which was focused on the City’s Capital Improvement Projects. There are so many great projects in the pipeline and I am thrilled to see our community’s parks, recreational and general facilities receive funding. On Wednesday, we began the morning by attending the Wellness Walk at Aliso Creek Wilderness Park. It was great to get out in nature & learn about the history of the area. Try to check it out when you can – and remember to pick up anything you brought into the park! Later in the day, I attended the San Juan Capistrano Legislative Committee Meeting where we heard from San Juan Capistrano City Manager Ben Siegel about Capital Improvement Projects that are underway in the City. Following wonderful updates from the Offices of Congressman Levin, Senator Blakespear, and Assemblywoman Davies, I gave an update on our office’s initiatives as well as a summary of our recent work in the Fifth District. Today, I attended the Dedication for the Groundwater Replenishment System in my hometown of Fountain Valley! There, we learned about the world-class capabilities of the new GWRS expansion & its ability to create enough clean water for 1 million residents daily. Tomorrow, I will be running a booth at the Crime Survivors 5K Run.
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Michele Mullen
District Representative
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I attended the Laguna Beach State of the City, and a lot is happening. In Public Safety, the city assumed ownership of all South Laguna coastal beach areas from the county and are transitioning to City Lifeguards. On the infrastructure investments front, Laguna Beach completed the Village Entrance Project, improved downtown drainage after the storm channel upgrades by the county, secured a new site for Fire Station 4, purchased the County Library Building for continued library services and purchased a new community and recreation center. The city also reported in the economic report to have received $1.4 million of local aid during the pandemic, created outdoor dining opportunities and helped promote local businesses. Laguna Beach also reported the lowest number of residents who contacted Covid and were hospitalized.
The city is discussing undergrounding utility lines which Supervisor Foley has assisted in and continues to advocate for at the state level, and gearing up with projects with the OCFA in preparing the residents for the upcoming fire season.
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Dana Point Harbor News
From Supervisor Katrina Foley
Save the Date: On Tuesday, April 25th I’m hosting a Town Hall meeting with the Dana Point Harbor Partners to present updates on the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization plan. RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/KFDPHP
 The Marina at Dana Point Harbor
We are excited to share that docks 09 and 10 of Phase 1 are officially open with vessels occupying new slips starting today!
In a historic moment today at approximately 9:45 AM, a 28’ Maxum owned by Sheila and Alex arrived at their new slip at dock 09 making them the very first boat to occupy a new slip in Phase 1. Congratulations, Sheila and Alex…looking good!
Fun Fact: The last time a boat pulled into a new slip in Dana Point Harbor was in 1975…48 years ago!
Vessels will continue to arrive throughout the weekend and in the coming days…Very exciting!
A big THANK YOU to Tom Spragg and the team at Bellingham Marine for all their hard work and dedication to this project. It has been a fun journey so far!
Dock 08 of Phase 1 along with docks 11 and 12 of Phase 2 are anticipated for occupancy toward the end of this month. Keep an eye on your inbox for updates and information!
Health News
COVID-19 Data
As of April 14, 2023, the good news is that the COVID-19 cases are trending downward. There are 2,370,622 Orange County residents are fully vaccinated. The 7-day average positivity rate in our County is 2.8 %. This equals out to 4.9% daily positive COVID cases per 100k residents.
Business Support
New Grant Funding for Restaurants in April 2023
$5,000 grants available for independent restaurants April 15 – May 7. Please sign up below to receive alerts and updates about this fund. Funding for grants made possible by SoCalGas, PG&E, and SDG&E
 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
Spring Events in the Fabulous Fifth District
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 live and registration open. Remember, sign up by May 4 and receive a 10% or more discount on most camps!
 
 
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
Team Foley is NOW HIRING!
Supervisor Katrina Foley seeks an experienced Executive Scheduler & Special Assistant
to manage the daily schedule for the Supervisor, including creating and maintaining systems to effectively manage a complex and active schedule.
Under the direct supervision of the Supervisor and in coordination with the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff, the Executive Scheduler will be responsible for working closely with senior staff to understand the priorities of the office and determine the appropriate level of participation by Supervisor Foley and/or staff at meetings, events, and tours.
Essential Job Duties and Requirements:
- Possess a very high level of organization, time management and confidentiality
- Address all scheduling requests in a timely manner and coordinate complex
scheduling arrangements for meetings.
- Have demonstrated ability to work well under pressure and handle stress.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule including night and weekends.
- Provide administrative support as necessary for the office.
- Coordinate and arrange meetings for the Supervisor and prepare materials as
required.
- Represent the office of the Supervisor in a professional manner in all interactions
with the public, city staff, dignitaries and others.
Learn more & Apply
Submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to Chief of Staff Nick Anas at nick.anas@ocgov.com with the subject “Executive Scheduler Application."
Committee Appointments
If you have questions or comments that you'd like to share, in relation to the committees below, please email me at Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com
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Thank you for being an active member of our County.
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