An Important Weekly Update from Supervisor Foley

County of Orange, California sent this bulletin at 05/26/2023 05:48 PM PDT

View as a webpage / Share

Volume 3 | Issue 21

May 26, 2023

Supervisor’s Message

Dear neighbor:

Let’s start with some breaking news before Memorial Day weekend! Today passenger rail service to and from Oceanside is cleared to safely resume.

Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink are expected fully resume service tomorrow. This is great news for Orange County residents and those who plan to visit our beautiful coastal communities over the holiday weekend, especially San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente.

Please check metrolinktrains.com/service-update and pacificsurfliner.com/alerts for the latest information. Electronic updates are being sent in multiple languages to keep passengers informed.

Bringing it back to last weekend, I went to the Pacific Chorale VIP Reception and Annual Gala Honoring Richard Stein. Richard served Orange County for over 40 years as a leading advocate for arts fundings and master plans for the arts in several cities. I commend Richard for his leadership as CEO of Arts Orange County and his career of fostering a greater appreciation for the arts among our community.

On Monday morning, the OC Transportation Authority Board of Directors held our meeting where we discussed coordination with the City of Irvine on transportation projects and received a progress report on the I-5 Improvement Project between SR-73 and El Toro Road.

Then I embarked on an afternoon full of productive meetings! I met with the Christina Setler, an advocate for senior housing, parents from Ladera Ranch who are concerned about Gun violence in schools, Community Legal Aid SoCal, Teamsters Local 911, the OC Chapter of the National Audubon Society, the interim CEO of the Orange County Power Authority, and many more. I look forward to future meeting days like this where I can meet with community groups, partners, and organizations.

Later that evening, I attended Irvine’s Pride Event on Harvey Milk Day! The first openly gay politician, Harvey Milk advocated for gay rights until his assassination in 1978. Ahead of June, the City of Irvine hoisted up their pride flag in his memory, a powerful gesture to show support for our LGBTQ+ Community.

On Tuesday, I started my day with the Board of Supervisors Meeting. The Board proclaimed May as Older Americans Month. During my presentation, I announced renewed efforts to collect public input for the County Master Plan for Aging.

Orange County includes over 650,000 older Americans living in our communities with projections to double by 2060. A recent report in the Orange County Register discussed the lack of collected, systemic data needed by the County to work with our partners to better serve residents as they grow older into the future. We remain committed to our Master Plan for Aging Process to collect this data and plan for future housing, healthcare, transportation, recreation and other needs.

To that end, I plan to host a Senior Summit on October 27, 2023 at Soka University. We invite everyone who wants to participate as a vendor for our resource fair or as a speaker for our program.

We will also host numerous public stakeholder events in the district every month at our senior centers and other community organizations to collect information through our county’s survey for the Master Plan for Aging. We hope you will all participate in our efforts, and share your ideas, thoughts, and concerns to help us plan for the future.

Wednesday began with a Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA) meeting on joint capital programs and projects. I then attended the TCA Joint Operations and Finance Committee.

On Wednesday afternoon, I met with the County Legislative Affairs Team to receive updates on state and federal legislation and advocacy efforts.

We then met with the Director of John Wayne Airport (JWA), Orange County Public Works, and our County CEO Frank Kim, to discuss JWA’s plan to implement $700 million in much needed capital improvements over the next 5-7 years.

I held a meeting with my JWA Advisory Group first thing on Thursday morning. We discussed the Fly Friendly program, our noise accountability program for general aviation pilots. We will reach the one-year mark for this program soon, and I look forward to providing an update on our progress on our efforts to quiet the skies above our neighborhoods.

Then I met with my Veterans and Homelessness/Housing Advisory Group to continue our work to address homelessness among our Orange County veterans.

After my morning of meetings, I made my way to Health Care Agency Director Clayton Chau’s retirement party. I am grateful for Dr. Chau’s years of service to our county and his decades long career in public health. He is a true public servant who led Orange County through the worst public health crisis in our lifetime. He will leave a legacy as a fierce advocate for equity, addressing the mental health crisis, and fighting the horrific impacts of fentanyl and other illicit substances in the community.

On Thursday afternoon, I toured the Newport Sea Base operated by the Boy Scouts of America. Since 1937, they have provided fun and valuable educational maritime-based programs to all youth. We discussed future improvements and how we can collaborate so that more children from across Orange County can benefit from their wonderful programs in Newport Harbor.

I then attended the OC Public Library Advisory Board meeting where we received a presentation on this year’s proposed budget as well as sustainability efforts, the Lunch at the Library series, and overall programming to meet people where they are. Check out some of their accomplishments below!

I ended the day at the OC Fire Authority (OCFA) Board Meeting where we approved our 2023-2024 budget. This budget is $575 million dollars, and I am pleased to report that OCFA has a balanced budget with strong reserves and the ability to maintain critical services for our communities. This marked my fourth month as a Director of OCFA and I am proud that we approved substantial raises for firefighters, dispatchers, and other essential workers who keep us all safe. I was also appointed Chair of the Legislation and Communications Committee this year. I look forward to doing more in the coming year with so many challenges ahead.

Today, I began my morning at the ribbon cutting for the County Clerk-Recorder’s Grand Opening of a Passports Services office in Laguna Hills. I fully support opportunities to connect our South County residents to efficient and accessible government services.

Then, I celebrated the re-opening of Casa Romantica! This cherished historical landmark closed to the public due to a landslide beneath the patio last month.

Casa Romantica serves as a symbol of perseverance and how the local community comes together in a crisis. My office remains committed to working with local businesses impacted by the closure and the City of San Clemente to find resources and ensure reimbursements for expenses incurred from the landslide.

Finally, I attended the Freedom Shrine dedication ceremony in Laguna Hills. The Freedom Shrine originates from the Freedom Train, which famously toured the nation in 1947 carrying an exhibit of “documents of liberty” such as the Constitution and the Gettysburg Address. While this train no longer runs, its legacy lives on in the thousands of Freedom Shrines across the country in universities, libraries, schools, and state capitals, city halls (fun fact: San Juan Capistrano dedicated a freedom shrine in their City Hall back in 2013).

I am happy to have this valuable educational opportunity right here in Laguna Hills. I look forward to seeing students, teachers, and all Orange County residents visit the Freedom Shrine and learn all about American history and significant turning points. Check it out at The Meridian at Laguna Hills.

I look forward to honoring those who lost their lives in service to our great nation this Memorial Day Weekend at events across the Fabulous Fifth District. Click here to find an event near you.

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 June 6, 2023

Attend our 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 6, 2023 Board of Supervisors Meeting
View the Agenda: Here
See a list of our upcoming 2023 Board meetings: Here

The Foley Report: Harbor Oversight Committee to Shine a Light on Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plans

Memorial Day Events Across Orange County to Honor Fallen Military Personnel

Landslide concerns persist in Southern California after record-wet winter

Balancing Community Concerns: Orange County Urges Reevaluation Of Santa Ana Needle Exchange

OC officials doubting safety of needle-exchange program

OC Supervisors ask state to reconsider Santa Ana needle exchange

Irvine hoists pride flag at City Hall

Will OC’s Homeless Prevention Workers Need Homeless Services Themselves?

Cindy Tran-Chang

Policy Advisor / Community Events Manager

This Thursday, I attended the 10-year anniversary of Otra Mas and presented them a certificate on behalf of Supervisor Foley. Otra Mas saves retired horses and provides the San Juan Capistrano community with programs that empower and enhance the mental health of those they serve. They announced a new partnership with the Boys and Girls club of SJC so more children can reap the benefits of equine assisted therapy! Check out their organization here https://www.otramas.net/.

Finally, I’m working on the preplanning stages of Supervisor Foley’s Senior Summit scheduled for Friday, October 27, 2023, at Soka University. The summit will incorporate elements of the County’s Master Plan on Aging and provide our elderly and their caretakers useful workshops, tools and resources to enhance their lives. It’s an event you don’t want to miss. Stay tuned!!

Jonathan Davis

Policy Advisor

This week, we made great progress on meeting the infrastructure needs of the Fifth District. On Monday, I attended the Board of Directors Meeting for the Orange County Transportation Authority with Supervisor Foley, where we received a progress update on I-5 improvement project between SR-73 and El Toro Road. The project is mostly on schedule and is expected to be finished in the latter half of 2024. For more information, visit the projects webpage by clicking here.

I also attended several meetings on John Wayne Airport (JWA) this week, including our monthly JWA Advisory Group meeting which discussed the progress being made by the Fly Friendly Program to reduce airplane noise in Fifth District communities. Our team also met with JWA’s Airport Director, Charlene Reynolds, and our OC Public Works staff to review the Capital Improvement Program for JWA, which outlines the major infrastructure upgrades at the airport that will be pursued over the next three years.

I ended my week by reviewing the Orange County’s Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget, which was released this week and will be voted on by the board in June. I look forward to working with Supervisor Foley to ensure that the needs of our community are fully represented in the upcoming budget.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend everyone!

Lorenzo Rubalcava

Senior Policy Advisor

Last weekend I attended Veterans Night at Angels Stadium on behalf of District 5. May is Mental Health Awareness Month I met and talked with combat veterans and learned about how the County is working to better reintegrate our service members through grassroots outreach at the community college level. I spoke with Dr. Veronica Kelley, Chief Officer for Mental Health & Recovery Services at OC Health Care Agency, about how current County contracts work to ensure our veterans are informed of services and mental wellness opportunities. Additionally, I witnessed first-hand the outreach of the OC Navigators program and how they collaborate with the Angels to spread the word to OC residents about available health care services.

I also attended a county wide briefing on the budgetary process for our upcoming budget hearings and will be educating myself on the proposed items for fiscal year 2023-24.

Board Meeting Updates

On Tuesday, May 23, 2023, the Board of Supervisors voted on the following agenda items. Read more on our website.

Warmline Services for Non-Crisis Behavioral Health Support (Item 13): Contract with NAMI Orange County for the provision of a toll free 24-hour, seven days a week peer-based crisis communication system. Through this decision, residents access behavioral health support by phone call, live chat, and text message.

Wrap Around Service for Youth Offenders (Item 20): Contract with Waymakers for wraparound services and individualized service plans for youth offenders to improve their wellbeing.

Housing Support Program Services with Mercy House Living Centers (Item 47): Contract with Mercy House Living Centers to provide families housing-related wraparound supportive services and financial assistance to secure permanent housing or prevent homelessness.

Funding for the Friendship Shelter of Laguna Beach (Item 53): Agreement with Laguna Beach to provide Community Development Block Grant funding. This grant will fund the Friendship Shelter’s Alternative Sleeping Location and expand the hours of the City’s mobile crisis units to 12 hours per day 7 days a week.

Request for Safeguards on Needle Exchange Program Application (Item S59C): Support recommendation by Orange County’s Chief of Public Health Services, Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), regarding the negative impacts of State Needle Exchange Programs in Orange County.

Commission Updates

Sue Dvorak, John Wayne Airport Commissioner

Airport Commission Meeting: May 17, 2023

The Airport Commission had an unusually large number of Agenda Items to consider at the May 17, 2023 meeting. Read more about all the Items which the Commission voted unanimously to pass here. Here are some meeting highlights and topics of interest:

Agenda Item #4: Approve 2023 Capital Improvement Programs and Senate Bill 1 Project List:

OC Public Works led a multi-agency effort to develop and compile Capital Improvement Programs (CIP) for Board of Supervisors approval. The current CIP includes a $700 million, three-year program to update and upgrade JWA’s aging facilities and infrastructure. JWA has not undertaken a program of this magnitude in over a decade and many systems need attention.

JWA projects will touch almost every segment of the airport. Access information about all of the JWA projects here.

Commission Meetings Live Streamed for the First Time!

Thanks to Airport Director, Charlene Reynolds, residents can view Airport Commission meetings via live event video streaming. Residents who want to learn more about Airport Commission activities can join the meetings live by clicking the link included on the Airport Commission Meeting Agenda page. A link for the archived meeting videos will be available soon on the Airport Commission page…stay tuned!

FAA Seeks Public Input on Noise

The FAA is currently reviewing their noise policy and they are requesting public comments on noise metrics and thresholds. Notably, the FAA will be:

Looking at their current use of DNL or Day-Night Average Sound Level as the primary noise metric for assessing cumulative aircraft noise exposure.
Reviewing whether to continue to use the DNL 65 dB level as the metric and threshold for determining significant noise impacts.
Considering if and how alternative noise metrics may be used in lieu of or in addition to DNL.

View webinars on the subject and learn more details by visiting the FAA website here.

Dana Point Harbor News

From Supervisor Katrina Foley

My Dana Point Harbor Advisory oversight committee will inform my office’s approach to this project and will ensure that businesses, county staff, and the community have a voice in the process. Our selection process begins this week with the oversight committee members announced in June. One of the first tasks of the new Dana Point Harbor Oversight Committee, which starts in July, is to review a few options related to fees and storage and provide me with recommendations. I expect a report back by September.

The committee will meet monthly and prepare public reports each month describing the status of the incoming revenue of DPH, the funding for the project, construction schedule and phasing status, as well as notice about any anticipated closures or impacts. Read more about our work in this month’s Foley Report!

Missed my town hall on the Dana Point Harbor? Click here to watch the whole town hall or specific presentations. 

Health News

From OC Health Care Agency

COVID-19 Data

As of May 22, 2023, the good news is that the COVID-19 cases are trending downward. There are 2,371,742 Orange County residents are fully vaccinated. The  7-day average positivity rate (May 25, 2023) in our County is 4.3%. This equals out to 1.9 daily positive COVID cases per 100k residents.      

#OnePillCanKill: Fentanyl Awareness Campaign

I recently joined Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris' press conference to highlight the #OnePillCanKill awareness campaign.

Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can kill you, whether swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through skin. Fentanyl is unlike any substance we have seen, and dealers are intentionally making this poison look like candy. As County Supervisor, you have my word that I will continue to support efforts to address the fentanyl epidemic in our community and hold criminals accountable for murdering our kids. Watch the press conference to learn more.

E-Bike Safety

Community

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

Meet Pet of the Week, Baby Doll!

Meet 4-year-old Baby Doll! Behind her initial shyness, Baby Doll is a cat with a rich personality waiting to be discovered. She may even surprise you with her hidden talents or playfulness, once she feels safe! Upon arrival, our medical staff noticed that her coat was quite thin. Although regrowth of her hair can be seen, she may need additional follow-up care.

With some extra TLC, we are hopeful this beautiful girl can continue to grow and blossom in her new home!

If you're looking for a perfect loving and loyal feline friend for life, please call (714) 935-6848, and mention Animal ID#A1812128.

BenefitsCal

Last month, Orange County officially switched over to a new benefits enrollment portal called BenefitsCal. This new website replaces the former portal, MyBenefitsCalWIN, as a new simple way for our residents to apply for, view and renew benefits for health coverage, food and cash assistance. Households interested in applying for benefits assistance can now create an account at www.BenefitsCal.com and submit their application or link their old MyBenefitsCalWIN case to their account. For more information about BenefitsCal, including new features and capabilities, click here.

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.

May is Small Business Month!

May is “Small Business Month" in the state of California, but let’s support small businesses everyday. Did you know that 95% of businesses in Orange County are family owned? The many incredible small businesses here not only make our economy flourish, but contribute to the great sense of community in OC.

To read more about our Orange County small businesses, check out the following link: https://ocsmallbusiness.com

Caltrans Update

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) owns or controls 350,000 acres of Right of Way and maintains 15,133 centerline miles of highway and 13,063 state highway bridges. Caltrans also inspects over 12,200 local bridges. You can request customer service from Caltrans through this link!

OC Parks is Hiring!

OCTA Public Hearing - June 12

The Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors will conduct a Public Hearing concerning the Orange County Transportation Authority’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget as follows:

Monday, June 12, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.

Orange County Transportation Authority Headquarters

550 S. Main St, Orange, CA 92863

Board Room – Conference Room 07-08

Orange, California 92863

All persons having interest in these matters are encouraged to submit public comments to the Board of Directors by Sunday, June 11, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

Please submit them to clerkoffice@octa.net or:

Orange County Transportation Authority

Clerk of the Board

550 South Main Street

P.O. Box 14184

Orange, CA 92863-1584

Please contact the Clerk of the Board with any questions regarding this hearing or any requests for special accommodations no less than two business days prior to the hearing at clerkoffice@octa.net or 714.560.5676.

Mesmerica - OC Planetarium Show

A local production company based out of Orange County, Mesmerica, is currently hosting a show at the OCC Planetarium! Stop by for a chance to view the extremely relaxing 3D art and family show. Check out the following link to get 15% off tickets to the show!  

Tickets

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