A Weekly Update from Supervisor Foley

County of Orange, California sent this bulletin at 02/14/2025 04:49 PM PST

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Volume 5 | Issue 7

February 14, 2025

Weekly Update from Supervisor Foley

Supervisor’s Message

Dear neighbor:

Today, all evacuation orders have been lifted for Trabuco Canyon, Hot Springs Canyon, Bell Canyon, Long Canyon, and Modjeska Canyon. Until early next week, depending on further updates, Trabuco Creek Road will be closed starting next to the Trabuco Flyers RC facility and continuing north. Trabuco Creek Road will be open from Trabuco Canyon Road to the Trabuco Flyers RC facility. Please drive with caution. Stay up to date on all social media platforms by following: @SupervisorFoley, @OCGovCA, @OCSheriff, @OCPublicWorks, & @OCFireAuthority.

Happy Valentine's Day❣️

I’m fortunate to share my life with a beautiful human who respects and loves me, values our family first, and works as a teacher everyday with a servant heart. I’m so lucky he accepted my invite to visit the Getty Art Museum instead of the Notre Dame vs USC football national championship game so many years ago. We’ve loved and cared for each other with all our hearts ever since. Happy 35th Valentine’s Day Casey.

I’m truly privileged to enjoy this lifelong partnership with Casey, and work doing what I love: serving Orange County's Fabulous Fifth District.

Orange County’s vibrant cultural landscape benefits immeasurably from Laguna Dance Festival’s contributions. Last weekend, I enjoyed celebrating their 20th Anniversary before a sold-out house, inspired by the strength, discipline, and emotion of the performers. As your County Supervisor, I directed more than $550,000 for the arts, after-school arts classes, educational field trips and programs at Orange County Museum of Art, Laguna Art Museum, and the Chabad Center for Jewish Life’s Holocaust exhibit, musical instruments in our schools, live music and symphony concerts and dance performances in the park, and community arts, music and mural installments. The arts unite people, offer an escape, and teach us life lessons -- Let’s continue supporting the arts as a vital cultural necessity for the Fabulous Fifth District!

Left to right, top to bottom: former Mayor of Irvine Sally Anne Sheridan, Laguna Dance Founder & Artistic Director Jodie Gates and Executive Director Joy Dittberner, Attorney Annee DellaDonna, and my mom and me.

On Saturday, I enjoyed interacting with the colorful lion dancers alongside Irvine City Council Vice Mayor James Mai and Councilmembers William Go and Melinda Liu at the Irvine Spectrum’s Sixth Annual Lunar New Year event. Thank you to Irvine Spectrum Center and South Coast Chinese Cultural Center for hosting this beautiful event, and to Councilmember Liu for teaching us about the Chinese tradition of sharing oranges with the children. Kung hei fat choy, chúc mừng năm mới, xīnnián kuàilè, saehae bok mani badeusipsio, and Happy Year of the Wood Snake!

Back to the office on Monday, my week was full of board meetings, such as OCTA Board of Directors. We voted to advance Coastal Rail Stabilization Priority Project, including expediting a catchment wall at Mariposa Point to protect from landslides, riprap repair, engineered revetments, seawalls, and sand nourishment.

In 2023, after mine and the community’s consistent requests, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) initiated the Coastal Rail Resiliency Study we identified four critically endangered hotspots along our coastal rail, and I helped secure $305 million in federal and state funding for their protection. We continue work with state partners like Senator Blakespear to expedite permitting. A large sandy beach provides the best buffer for protecting our tracks. Read more about our short and long-term community engagement plans.

This week I also collaborated with Head Start on a project celebrating the program’s milestone 60th anniversary. As a girl, Head Start provided our family no cost childcare, but importantly, the foundations for excelling in education and building a lifelong career in public service. As a child growing up in poverty, the loving, joyful teachers and staff, family-style meals, lots of singing, and many art projects provided me with a sense of comfort and security. Plus, learning my ABC’s and numbers early helped as I entered Kindergarten. That little girl went on to serve on the board of Orange County Head Start, serving more than 4,000 children. I’ll always advocate to protect this important program. Head Start works at ensuring all income-eligible children can succeed in life.

At Tuesday's meeting of the Board of Supervisors, we unanimously approved the first reading of my proposed ordinance to ban the retail sale of Nitrous Oxide designed for inhalation in unincorporated Orange County. Inhaling Nitrous Oxide (a.k.a. NOX, laughing gas, whippets, or galaxy gas) suffocates the brain, causes serious brain damage, and can even lead to death. State law currently fails at adequately prohibiting sales in smoke shops and liquor stores for personal ingestion. Drug tests and breathalyzers can’t detect NOX, even though increasingly, we link DUI stops to this dangerous substance. Allowing Nitrous Oxide in local stores offers zero benefit to consumers-it only threatens public health and the community.

If you see Nitrous Oxide canisters for sale at stores across the County – whether at a smoke shop, a liquor store, a sex shop, or a costume closet – call my office at (714) 834-3550 or visit bit.ly/noxoc and report it. We will take action and protect public health and safety.

We also recognized February as Black History Month. This year’s theme for Black History Month is “Black Americans and Labor.” Thank you to my guests -- Founder & CEO of the Arts & Learning Conservatory Debora Wondercheck, NAACP-OC President Dierdre Harris, OC Black Chamber of Commerce President Bobby McDonald, and OC Labor Federation President Kenny Williams – for the impactful work you do in shaping Orange County into a more beautiful place where all of us can work, live, and thrive!

The Board also approved the adoption of the 6th Cycle Housing Element, which received a letter of “Substantial Compliance” from the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Improperly regulated recovery residences adversely impact neighborhoods, reduce access to real housing options for residents in need, and pose risks for those seeking care. This Amendment allows HCD certification of the County’s Housing Element and assures compliance with housing-related state mandates, such as my comprehensive Sober Living Home Action Plan, which seeks to close policy gaps and combat bad actors across Orange County.

Also on Tuesday, the Board unanimously took the first step toward transferring OC Treasurer-Tax Collector’s (TTC) investment authority to the County’s Chief Financial Officer as a result of reports of a lack of adequate staffing for senior positions, high turnover, mismanagement, and a lack of internal procedures that could put our finances at risk.

The Treasurer-Tax Collector serves as the County’s banker, responsible for billing, collecting, and safeguarding taxpayer dollars. Our Treasurer-Tax Collector must focus on the core functions of her job. There are $31,438,070 in liens not yet collected and $4,383,467 in property auctions that should have taken place by now. The Treasurer-Tax Collector has not held a property auction since 2021 for 671 parcels to recoup taxes that are essential to fund County services.

As a Board, we take tightening up all of our procedures and protocols very seriously. Changing the investment management will be better for staff and ultimately, better for taxpayers. We must listen to our department staff’s day-to-day experience and understand what’s working, what’s not working, and why.

Click here for highlights of important items from our Board meeting. Join us in person or watch our next Board of Supervisors Meeting on February 25, 2025, at: Live Board Meeting Broadcast.

The OC Fair & Event Center Board of Directors invites you to provide feedback on the organization’s five-year plan. Your ideas are critical for the roadmap for the future of the OC Fair. Click here to review the draft plan and provide your input.

Finally - our nominations are open for my Annual Women Making a Difference Awards! This year’s theme for Women’s History Month in March is “Moving Forward Together: Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” Join me in celebrating the women educators among us whose significant contributions inspire, educate, and unite our communities. Nominees must live in the Fifth District. Submit at https://bit.ly/42BLdm9 by March 8, 2025. All are welcome to join the celebration at my Fourth Annual Women Making a Difference Brunch on March 29, 2025. I hope to see you there!

Be well,

Katrina Foley
Vice Chair
County of Orange

In This Edition

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

Community Correspondence

Upcoming Board of Supervisors Meeting on February 25, 2025

Attend our 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 25, 2025 Board of Supervisors Meeting
View the Agenda: Here
See a list of our upcoming 2025 Board meetings: Here

Post of the Week

Internal audit of American Rescue Plan Act-funded contracts sample find Orange County in compliance

Orange County Bans Whippets

OC Board of Supervisors strip elected treasurer of investment duties

Orange County Enlists top talent as it forms a Climate Action Plan

Supervisor Katrina Foley Is Concerned

The Foley Report: Updates on public safety, protecting our beaches and more! - Stu News Laguna

THE FOLEY REPORT: Public Safety, Our Beaches, and More! - Picket Fence Media

Staff Updates

Adam Tallabas

District Director

Happy Friday! This week, I continued planning our upcoming Women Veterans Mental Health Symposium being held at Orange Coast College. RSVP here!

On Wednesday, I spent my afternoon in Newport Beach – starting in Corona del Mar for the grand opening of Bamboo Bistro’s expansion! Bamboo Bistro serves healthy Vietnamese cuisine with a cozy atmosphere and an unbeatable location.

Then, I made my way to American Legion Post 291, where I presented certificates to honor Judge Advocate Cindy Baker, Adjutant David Zamudio, Dock Master Tommy Wheeler, and Honor Guard Vice Commander & Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Mailman for their volunteer service to the veteran community.

Robbie Labounty

District Representative

Hello District 5! This week I joined the Newport Mesa Unified School District in welcoming their newest appointee, Trustee Kirstin Walsh to the NMUSD School Board. Vice Chair Foley looks forward to working with Trustee Walsh to support our D5 children, families, and educators.

I also helped a resident this week with a strange technical glitch that affected her Covered California insurance and caused her pharmacy to tell her that she lacked coverage in the system. Within one day, our Social Services Agency had her back on the program and they fixed her issue over the phone immediately! I love helping others. I hope you reach out if you ever need our assistance!

Abby Paulson

District Associate

Happy Friday District 5!

This week, I joined B.L.E.S.S.I.N, Laguna Niguel Councilmember Stephanie Oddo, Laguna Niguel Mayor Ray Gennawey, and San Juan Capistrano Mayor Pro Tem John Campell at a community meeting discussing the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in District 5. Keeping our community safe remains a top priority for Vice Chair Foley, including protecting residents from BESS facilities in fire prone areas. At her initiative, the Board voted unanimously to pause and adopted a 90 day moratorium to allow us to develop zoning and safety standards.

I also attended Laguna Niguel’s Government and Community Relations meeting, providing updates from the County as well as Vice Chair Foley.

Intern Update

Tuesday night, Noa attended the Laguna Hills City Council meeting to provide recent highlights and updates from the County. Noa also traveled to Los Angeles for UCLA Law’s Admitted Students Day, where he attended an entertaining mock torts class and connected with potential future law school peers.

County Updates:

Join the Orange County Ethics Commission

District 5 is seeking a qualified individual to serve on the Ethics Commission, which oversees the County's Campaign Reform, Lobbyist Registration, Gift Ban Ordinances, and Code of Ethics.

Requirements:

Must be a registered voter.

Cannot hold any elected or appointed public office.

Must not have been an elected official, lobbyist, candidate, public agency head, or Grand Juror in the last 10 years.

No felony or misdemeanor convictions involving dishonesty or election law violations.

To Apply: Submit your CV or resume, a short bio, and the linked application to Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com.

Make a difference in ensuring transparency and accountability in Orange County!

OCTA Recruiting for Accessible Transit Advisory Committee

Accessible Transit Advisory Committee (ATAC) advises OCTA about issues that relate to OCTA fixed-route transit and paratransit services for customers with special transportation needs. The Accessible Transit Advisory Committee was originally formed in 1992 in response to the Americans with Disabilities Act and formalized the predecessor “504 Committee.”

2024 Recruitment Period

Each year, as terms of various members expire, a recruitment process is conducted to fill vacant positions on the ATAC. Applications will be accepted for the 2024-2025 Accessible Transit Advisory Committee spring of 2024.

APPLY HERE.

Share Your Input on the County of Orange Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget by April 15

The County of Orange invites you to share your input on the CEO Recommended Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget. Your feedback is essential in shaping the budget process.

Share Your Comments by April 15
Now is the time to provide public feedback before the budget is finalized. You can share your feedback at regularly scheduled Board of Supervisor meetings or submit your comments online:

Provide Feedback Here

Attend Upcoming Budget Events

a group of people sitting in front of a presentation screen

Public Workshop | May

Meet our Budget & Finance Team for an overview of the recommended budget.
Ask questions and share your thoughts.
More details coming soon!

Board-of-Supervisors-Meeting-Chambers-Empty-1920x1080

FY 2025-26 Public Budget Hearing | June 10

The Board of Supervisors will review the budget.
You’ll have the opportunity to provide comments directly.
This takes place at the regularly scheduled Board meeting on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

You don’t have to wait! You can submit your questions or feedback anytime.

We appreciate your participation and look forward to hearing from you!

For more details, visit: cfo.ocgov.com

Public Safety Update

Multiple Agencies Collaborate on Santa Ana River Jetty Cleanup

Over several months, our office has met with the City of Newport Beach, our County departments, and multiple agencies to collaborate on clearing encampments. The work culminated in a clean up on February 4, 2025 withthe City of Newport Beach Public Works staff collaborating with theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, OC Public Works, OC Sheriff’s Department, and the OC Health Care Agency to address homeless encampment-related issues at the Lower Santa Ana River Salt Marsh.

The work focused on cleaning up the area, addressing camping and other unauthorized activity, and protecting wildlife habitats. The crews made efforts to minimize any negative impacts on habitats in advance of bird nesting season.

Our next phase is to include the Randall Preserve in the coalition so we prevent encampments from moving onto that property. I’m glad we are all working together on overlapping community issues.

Multiple Agencies Collaborate on Santa Ana River Jetty Cleanup

Dana Point Harbor News

Graffiti on the Jetty

This week, we received a complaint about graffiti on the Dana Point Jetty. The maintenance and operational responsibility for the breakwater surrounding Dana Point Harbor falls under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

While OC Parks does not inspect or patrol the breakwater area, if our excellent parks staff ever receive a maintenance concern in the harbor, they investigate and notify the appropriate party or try to clean it up themselves. We worked with Harbor Patrol and OC Parks to resolve and will continue working with the US Army Corp of Engineers on a plan to remove graffiti in a timelier fashion and keep our harbor clean and a welcoming place for the community.

Residents who see graffiti on the jetty can directly contact Mr. Carlos Camaco of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at carlos.m.camacho@usace.army.mil.

Dana Point Festival of Whales

Join us as we come together to celebrate the majesty of the sea and create lasting memories at the Dana Point Festival of Whales at Dana Point Harbor! Learn more here.

A Message From The Marina at Dana Point

The new year brings continued revitalization efforts in the harbor with the commercial core moving into the next phase of the landside project. This very exciting and much anticipated ongoing progress will implement a temporary detour for the harbor entrance at Golden Lantern. Effective Monday, January 13, 2025 and for the duration of the detour, Boater Lot 1 and the commercial areas of the harbor can be accessed by way of Casitas Pl. Please see map below for details of the detour:

The detour is expected to be in effect through May/June 2025. Please click here for more information.

All Dana Point Harbor shops, restaurants and excursions will remain fully open and operating.

Please contact the marina office with any questions, (949) 496-6137.

Health News

Winter Respiratory Season is Here

Click here to learn more from the County Health Officer.

OC Health Care Agency COVID-19 Update

Reduce transmission and protect vulnerable populations such as seniors, those younger than one-year-old, and those with severe medical conditions. For more information, please visit the OCHCA website at https://ochealthinfo.com/covid.

Order your for free at home test kits: Order your tests here.

Free Naloxone Deliveries in Orange County - FentanylSolution.org

In partnership with CalOptima, FentanylSolution.org is proud to offer free deliveries of Naloxone (8mg Kloxxado) -- an over-the-counter nasal spray that can reverse opioid overdoses -- at absolutely no-cost to all residents and businesses across Orange County.

To request your free delivery of Naloxone, please fill out our brief online form at https://tinyurl.com/FentSolOC

Transportation News

Youth Ride Free Bus Passes

The pass provides youth aged 6 to 18 with free travel on safe, clean and reliable buses. Youth Ride Free passes are available from your child's participating Orange County school. Parent signature is required. REQUEST A PASS

OCTA Free Hikes & Equestrian Rides

Lace up your hiking shoes or saddle up your horse, and sign up for a free hike or equestrian ride today. Come see Orange County as it was yesterday, and as it will be tomorrow.

State and Federal Resources Updates

A Message From Representative Lou Correa

Important news from Washington: The IRS has announced plans to issue a special payment for qualifying taxpayers who didn't receive a stimulus check or claim their Recovery Rebate Credit. Each taxpayer who didn't claim this credit when filing their 2021 tax return is eligible for up to $1,400 as a result of this special payment.

Most of the 1 million taxpayers who qualify won’t need to take any action to receive these payments. The IRS began issuing payments last month to eligible individuals who did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns, and expects all payments to be received by late January 2025. However, those who didn’t file a 2021 tax return may be eligible to claim the credit and receive a refund if they file by the April 15 deadline.

My office is always here to help—if you have any questions, we can lend a hand. You can give us a call at (714) 559-6190 or visit my webpage at www.correa.house.gov.

Community News

Hey Costa Mesa, ready to see your skate park vision come to life? 🛹
March 12, we’ll be showing off the designs YOU helped shape, and enjoy a free meal on us! Don’t miss it! 😎💯

costa mesa skate park expansion design review meeting march 12

Pet of the Week

Meet Pet of the Week, Zeus!

Meet Zeus, our longest resident at OC Animal Care. This mighty pup is ready to reign over your heart as your new best friend and lifelong adventure buddy. With energy like a lightning bolt, Zeus is looking for an active family who can keep up with his legendary zoomies.

Zeus loves going on walks so much that he's ready to take on a permanent role of being your forever walking partner! He’ll happily sit for treats and sometimes, unleash his silly siren sounds just to make you smile.

In true godly fashion, Zeus has made history; he’s our first pup to become Pet of the Week twice! Will you answer the call of the gods and give this pupreme ruler the throne (aka home) he deserves? Call OC Animal Care at (714) 935-6848 and mention his animal ID A1818909 to foster or adopt Zeus today!

Support CdM Middle & High Schools

Enjoy spectacular homes in our Corona del Mar and Newport Beach neighborhoods, all while supporting the students at CDM Middle and High School! Learn more here.

Support OCMA

Support Your Orange County Museum of Art, which makes art accessible to all through free admission! Click here to donate.

Foster Pets with OC Animal Care

Email ocacprograms@occr.ocogv.com today to be a foster hero!

Book Your Whale-Watching Tour & Watch Marine Life in the Wild!

See giant blue whales, finback whales, gray whales and many more in their natural habitat while whale watching in Newport Beach! Newport Whales offers some of the best whale watching California has to offer! Visit www.newportwhales.com & make your reservations.

Tickets

San Clemente Chamber of Commerce's Environmental Education Program:

Environmental Education san clemente chamber of commerce

Second Harvest Food Bank Walk To Feed OC

Second Harvest Food Bank invites the community to Walk to Feed OC and join our mission to provide dignified, equitable and consistent access to nutritious food for all in Orange County. This free, fun event opens at 8 a.m. and the walk begins at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Learn more here.

Westwind Sailing Spring and Summer Registration is Open!

Make the Holidays a Masterpiece with the Pageant of the Masters

OC Workforce One-Stop: OPEN NOW!

Ready Set OC offers no-cost employment training for Orange County youth ages 14-24. 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

Resources

OC Public Libraries: California State Parks Pass Program

OC Public Libraries is partnering with California State Parks and the California State Library to offer free State Parks vehicle-day use passes, available for circulation at all branches of public libraries in California. Click here to learn more about the program.

Bulky Item Disposal

Are you an Orange County resident trying to dispose of bulky items like old refrigerators and appliances but not sure how? For information on local haulers and recycling coordinators visit OCLandfills.com/quick-links.

BenefitsCal

Orange County officially switched over to a new benefits enrollment portal called BenefitsCal. 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.

Alert OC

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 this link!