Weekly Update from Supervisor Foley
Dear neighbor:
Orange County welcomes the 2028 Summer Olympics! This week, LA28 announced they selected the Honda Center in Anaheim to host indoor volleyball and chose Lower Trestles, south of San Clemente, to host Surfing. Thousands of spectators from around the world will ride the train into Anaheim and San Clemente to watch the games, dine at our restaurants, and shop our local businesses, which is why protecting and rebuilding our coastline remains essential. I hope this announcement motivates all of the involved government agencies to collaborate better, streamline and expedite permitting, and support our efforts to stabilize the coastal rail corridor for thousands of visitors, and build out the commercial core and hotels in Dana Point Harbor. I look forward to the boost this will give our local economy, the thrill of the Olympic Games, and the displays of patriotism as we support our American athletes.
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A glance at my week:
Coastal erosion and landslides halted passenger rail service five times in the last three years. Last week, the California Coastal Commission partially approved our request for an Emergency Coastal Development permit to stabilize the four most vulnerable areas identified by OCTA. We can now begin utilizing the $305 million we secured to place up to 240,000 cubic yards of sand, some preparation work for a new 1,400-foot catchment wall to protect against landslides, and riprap to stabilize embankments and prevent bluff failure. Our remaining requests to the Coastal Commission include an additional 300,000 cubic yards of sand, the full construction approval of a new 1,400-foot catchment wall, and the reconstruction of the public pedestrian trails near San Clemente State Beach. I hope the Coastal Commission does the right thing and approves all outstanding requests imminently.
With a narrow majority and despite my opposition, the OCTA Board of Directors voted ten to five to postpone removing the Garfield-Gisler Bridge Project from the Master Plan of Arterial Highways for 30 days. For three decades, Costa Mesa residents and leaders have fought this proposal, which would destroy Mesa Verde and fail to alleviate traffic congestion for Orange County commuters. At the eleventh hour, some Fountain Valley representatives intervened to keep the bridge on the Plan, which undermines two decades of collaboration and harms Orange County residents by placing approximately 55 homes, a school, and a cemetery at risk of destruction. Over the last decade, transportation agencies have implemented improvements and raised the level of service to the agreed-upon standards. Using Costa Mesa residents as a bargaining chip is inappropriate. I will continue advocating for the removal of the Garfield-Gisler Bridge Project from OCTA’s plans.
In health and safety news, we celebrated the grand opening of the Orange County Health Care Agency Marine Way Campus! For the first time, multiple divisions of the Health Care Agency operate under one roof. That means increased efficiency, faster communication, and stronger collaboration. OC Health Care Agency employees were clear, and the county heard them: they needed more space to better serve county residents. Located next to our future BeWell Health and Wellness campus, this facility strengthens our vision for a hub of integrated care and support and we built it on time and on budget in less than one year.
 The campus was built to California’s highest Risk Category IV standards, featuring redundant emergency power, reinforced infrastructure, and negative air pressure lab zones for safety during high-risk events. This is a transformative step in how we address public health now and in the future, offering 150 Health Care Agency employees a more modern and collaborative workspace to serve residents.
 Upper Left: Here I am with the Board of Supervisors and the PCL Construction team; Middle Left: OCHCA Board of Supervisors; Lower Left: Here I am with the fabulous women leaders of OCHCA and our County, including COO Jessica Witt, CFO Kim Engelby, Director of Specialized Medical Services Mindy Winterswyk, Interim CEO Michelle Aguirre, OCHCA Director Dr. Veronica Kelley and Director of Public Health and Nursing Jenna Sarin; Lower Right: Touring the facilities with HCA staff.
I also attended the Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 31st Estrella Awards, where we celebrated the success of Orange County’s 30,000 Hispanic-owned businesses and professional service providers since 1986. Thank you to this group of inspiring leaders for helping build and support an economically thriving Orange County for us all to call home.
 Upper left: With Congressman Lou Correa; Lower Left: With City of Costa Mesa Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Chavez and Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens; former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, San Clemente Councilmember Victor Cabral; Assistant Airport Director at John Wayne Airport, Komal Kumar; Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento & Santa Ana City Councilmember Jessie Lopez
Investing in the arts remains a top priority of mine. At the Laguna Playhouse Gala this weekend, I joined friends and fellow community leaders in celebrating the impact of this historic community theatre nestled in the heart of the Fabulous Fifth. In my time as County Supervisor, I have directed more than $500,000 the arts, after-school classes and educational field trips to Orange County Museum of Art, and community arts installments. Laguna Beach has long been home to a thriving arts community, from world-class museums like the Laguna Art Museum and the Orange County Museum of Art, to cutting-edge performances at Pageant of the Masters, and of course, here at the Laguna Playhouse. This community theatre contributes to the diversity and vibrancy of Orange County’s cultural landscape, creating spaces where tourists and locals of all ages and backgrounds can engage with the theatrical arts. Named "Best in OC" in Live Theatre by the OC Register for a decade, Laguna Playhouse was founded in 1920, making the Playhouse one of the oldest continuously operating, not-for-profit theatres on the West Coast. Let’s continue to support and celebrate the arts as a vital part of the Fabulous Fifth’s future. We hope that you visit soon and enjoy an inspiring performance at Laguna Playhouse.
 From Left to Right, Top to Bottom: With Joni Bott of OC Sound, Elizabeth Lange from Moulton Niguel Museum, and Heidi Miller of the Laguna Playhouse Board; Laguna Hills Councilmember Gerad Mathis; With Deb Engle, Laguna Beach Design Center CEO Bill Hutchinson, & Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Rounaghi; With CEO of PMMC Glen Gray, Laguna Playhouse Trustee Heather Anne Chalmers; Co Chair of Ladera Valley Pride Zeena Dhalla, Laguna Playhouse Trustee Jeff Winston, United Way Board Director Christine Scheuneman, Treasurer of Girl Scots of OC Azeem Dhalla; With Cindy Schwartz.
I met with Fifth District elected officials at the Providence Mission Hospital Leonard Cancer Institute to discuss city priorities and emergency preparedness for the county, and to provide state and federal legislative updates. All residents should sign up for AlertOC, the official emergency notification system for Orange County residents and businesses during natural disasters. Preparedness is essential when the next emergency comes. Visit ReadyOC for emergency preparedness resources to keep you and your family safe. We also heard from Providence Mission Hospital’s leadership about plans to expand in Rancho Mission Viejo and opportunities for collaboration.
 Top Left: District 5 Elected Officials and the team from Providence; Lower Right Presenting Gila Jones with her proclamation from my Fourth Annual Women Making a Difference Awards this year.
Niguel Shores Men’s Club, I shared updates on the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization and our plans to complete the work by the 2028 Olympics. I also spoke about our success in addressing coastal erosion and bringing sand to our beaches, and my Battery Energy Storage System facility moratorium the Board passed to address public safety. I updated the group about our research on the fence property ownership, and how my office can help facilitate identifying an improvement project.
During this meeting, a resident asked about the progress on Doheny Ocean Desalination Project, and I promised an update today. This project is progressing smoothly and is currently in the Design phase with the consultant team of Filanc, Acciona, and Hazen leading the effort. Additional geotechnical investigations are underway this month at Doheny State Beach and South Coast Water District’s facility site to help refine underground pipe alignments. OCFA Fire Chief Brian Fennessy recently voiced his support, calling the project “one of those innovations... that will undoubtedly enhance our region’s resilience in the face of emergencies that could strain local water supplies.”
 On Wednesday, we celebrated the completion of 1-5 freeway improvements between El Toro Road and SR 73. As your County Supervisor and Director on the OCTA Board, I remain committed to keeping Orange County moving safely. These improvements are meant to make life a little easier for South County commuters by adding a general-purpose lane, extending the second carpool lane in both directions, converting lanes to continuous access to make it safer to enter and exit, and improving on-ramps and off-ramps. The project also widened sidewalks and created protected bike lanes to build a corridor that works for everyone, whether you choose to drive, walk, or bike. Thank you to every dedicated team member who helped bring this project to life.
 Thank you to OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson, Supervisor Don Wagner, and local leaders for joining us in celebrating this stride toward creating a more accessible Orange County.
Upcoming Events:
Addressing Public Safety in
Rancho Mission Viejo
Join me, OC Public Works, and Captain Isaac Felter on April 29, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. for a discussion on public safety in the Rancho Mission Viejo community at the RMV Guest House facility (11 Brioso St., Rancho Mission Viejo, CA 92694). Email robert.labounty@ocgov.com to RSVP.
 Día del Niño in San Juan Capistrano
Join Team Foley on Saturday, April 26, 11 am - 3 pm at Stone Field (31422 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano) at Unidos's "Día del Niño." This event is a cross between a cultural festival and a resource fair. It is bilingual, open to everyone and all activities for children are FREE. Food sales benefit local Title 1 public schools. Team Foley hopes to see you there.
  Enjoy your weekend and wear your sunscreen.
Be well,
 Katrina Foley
Vice Chair
County of Orange
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