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| Volume 5 | Issue 31 |
August 1, 2025 |
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Weekly Update from Supervisor Foley
Dear neighbor:
While the County of Orange commemorates its 136th birthday this week, my office experienced historic firsts and celebrated Fifth District summer traditions. We collaborated with local leadership on protecting our coastal communities from the impact of a potential tsunami, advocated for the more than 2,800 Orange County seniors dependent on the SNAP-Ed program, assessed the health of our local wildlife at Laguna Niguel Park Lake, worked on addressing permitting concerns to move the Dana Point Harbor hotels forward, and prepared to host our State of the County Luncheon next week. All the while, my office championed what makes Orange County special: our neighbors.
Keeping Our Community Safe
On Tuesday night, the National Tsunami Warning Center placed the entire West Coast under tsunami watch – including Orange County – following a reported 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia. Our county and coastal city partners implemented our tsunami action plans. In the end, the tsunami waves made minimal impact with the only damage reported being the dislodging of the Dana Point Harbor bait barge. Luckily, our OCSD Harbor Patrol acted swiftly to capture and control the barge and the harbor remained pristine.
In the event of a future tsunami, we encourage residents to review their coastal city evacuation plans found here. Enter your address for your local evacuation route, then build personalized emergency plans by following our OCSD Ready, Set, Go preparedness model:
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Ready: Know your zone and plan your evacuation route in advance.
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Set: Have essential supplies ready and stay informed through official sources.
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Go: If instructed by public safety officials, evacuate immediately and follow all guidance.
Sign up for AlertOC, the county’s mass notification system, for real-time updates about emergencies and guidance from local agencies. Follow me @supervisorfoley on all social media platforms, as well as @readyoc for in-real time updates on local emergencies.
Supporting a Healthier Orange County
This week, my office received word that funding for the CalFresh Healthy Living SNAP-Ed ends for Orange County residents on September 30, 2025. More than 2,800 seniors in Orange County will go hungry because of this reckless elimination of SNAP-Ed funding by the Trump Administration and Congress. These seniors rely on CalFresh Healthy Living for nutrition education and support as they work on living active, self-sufficient lifestyles.
The County continues working with our Office on Aging on identifying alternative resources in lieu of this devastating loss of funding. We must protect and advocate at every level for the restoration of essential services to support our aging community.
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Last week, local angler fishermen notified my office that more than 600 fish died at Laguna Niguel Regional Park Lake. I directed our OC Parks staff to launch a full investigation into the root cause. Our dedicated rangers collected water samples, sent fish to a lab for testing, and hydro-mapped where in the lake fish died or still thrive. Map analysis tells us most fish died near the creek, where the water temperature is warmer, so I tasked staff with investigating water quality there. Experts determined that fish in cooler parts of the lake survived.
This lake is a beloved fishing spot in our community, and I remain dedicated to providing our community with updates on this matter. Please join Team Foley, Laguna Niguel Councilmember Stephanie Oddo, and OC Parks at a town hall with lake management experts to provide updates on the root cause of the fish die-off and their survey findings. We look forward to your feedback on improvements to the lake and the concessions building at Laguna Niguel Regional Park on Saturday, August 9 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
RSVP for the town hall here, or send your suggestions. I hope to see you there.
Advocating for Our Thriving Economy & Investing in Our Community
Recently, I stopped by Flowers by the Sea, a small, woman-owned business right on Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. The owner, Ginna, shared with me she reads my newsletter to keep up with county and local business news. Aside from the beautiful display of beautiful floral arrangements, Ginna’s shop is perfectly positioned between Laguna Beach Trolley and OCTA Buses routes, making the florist easily accessible for community members. Ginna asked for Trolley and Bus pamphlets for her store because so many people pop in to ask questions. Stop by Flowers by the Sea the next time you need florals and support our local economy!
Engaging with Our Community
It’s a great week to be a Bruin. The Fabulous Fifth welcomes my alma mater to Costa Mesa for the kickoff of the UCLA Football summer training camp! I’m glad to know that the team will also take time out of their busy training schedule to host two open practice sessions and a football camp for Costa Mesa youth ages 6-14 at Jack Hammett Sports Complex. This is such a special way for these experienced players to connect with and inspire our future athletes. Go Bruins!
 Picture 1729448759, PictureTop left: Here I am with UCLA Football Head Coach DeShaun Foster; Top Right: Athletic Director Martin Jarmond and Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens, Bottom: City of Costa Mesa staff welcoming UCLA to their new training grounds!
This week, I joined fellow elected officials and local Chambers of Commerce at the OC Fair’s OC Government and Elected Officials night. Congratulations to Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Rounaghi and Laguna Beach Police Chief Jeff Calvert on winning Motorhome Madness, a demolition derby fundraiser pitting police and fire chiefs against each other in old RVs for Children’s Hospital of Orange County. I enjoyed catching up with my colleagues and discussing how we can best continue serving this safe, healthy, economically thriving county we call home.
 Top Left: Anaheim Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava, Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens, Irvine Councilmembers Melinda Liu and William Go, and Chief of Staff to Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua Claudia Perez, and La Palma City Councilmember Janet Keo Conklin; Top Right: With Laguna Beach Fire Chief Niko King and Costa Mesa Fire Chief Dan Stefano; Left Middle: With Laguna Beach Police Department Chief Jeff Calvert and Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Rounaghi; Bottom Middle: Sharing my favorite OC Fair treat – cinnamon rolls – with Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Rounaghi; Bottom Right: With second place champion, Costa Mesa Police Chief Joyce LaPointe.
On National Intern Day, we celebrated our nine summer interns by hosting our annual end-of-summer pizza party, followed by an evening at the OC Fair! Our incredible team of interns, past and present, add invaluable insight to the issues that matter most to the Fabulous Fifth, including housing, sand and beaches, transportation, small business, and so much more. They come into our office each day with positive attitudes, intentional questions, and a commitment to their professional growth. If you see our Team Foley interns at one of our upcoming booths, be sure to stop over and learn more about what they’ve been working on this summer. Stay tuned for more episodes of “The Fifth” on my Instagram!
 Celebrating with this summer’s interns - Jake, Rachel, Christine, Grace, Jessica, Jordan, and Gagan - and past staff!
Just three more weeks left of the OC Fair! If you attend on a weekend, I encourage you to utilize the OC Fair Express for traveling to-and-from the fairgrounds. When we utilize our public transit, we reduce traffic congestion around the fairgrounds while eliminating the hassle of finding and paying for parking. With direct service from locations around the county, including from Laguna Hills in the Fabulous Fifth, we're glad to offer this smart and sustainable way to connect our communities to ‘find their happy’ this summer!
 Here I am at the grand opening of the OC Fair Express with OCTA COO Johnny Dunning, Board Members Mark Tettemer and Carlos Leon, and Irvine Councilmember William Go.
Happy August, District 5! As I head up to Ojai for my 40th high school reunion this weekend, I reflect on the community resources which changed my life. Thanks to early educational supports like free school lunches, Head Start, and excellent teachers, I pursued higher education and now enjoy giving back to our community every day as your County Supervisor. Investing in the safety, health, and future of our community leads to a lifetime of positive return.
 Happy summer and be well,
 Katrina Foley
Vice Chair
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 August 12, 2025
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Staff Updates
Anthony Nguyen
Policy Advisor
Happy Friday, District 5! This week, Abby and I toured Orange County Health Care Agency’s (HCA) new campus in Irvine, where we learned more about HCA’s Agency Operations Center (AOC), Public Health Laboratory, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). EMS oversees the delivery and quality assurance of pre-hospital care, including Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and paramedic training, trauma system operations, emergency medical policy, and more. The AOC acts as the EMS command and coordination hub during significant incidents and disasters. For the first time, multiple divisions of the HCA operate under one roof! For Vice Chair Foley, this means greater efficiency, faster communication, and stronger collaboration for the health of our county.
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 Left to right: HCA Director of Specialized Medical Services Mindy Winterswyk, EMS Assistant Director Michael Noone, me, and Abby Paulson.
Adam Tallabas
District Director
Hello D5! This weekend, I thoroughly enjoyed touring the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary with the Sea and Sage Audubon Society of Orange County. The Audubon Society does incredible work preserving Orange County’s diverse wildlife and plant life. As they showed me around the property, I enjoyed spotting several native bird species who call the sanctuary home. Protecting our open spaces and native species is a critical priority for our office, and I appreciate the Audubon’s work in this field.
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Morgan Goldstein
District Representative
OCFC thrives thanks to passionate child advocates and volunteers who organize enriching activities like art, music, prom nights, and field trips.
To support Orangewood’s efforts through volunteering, call 714-935-7584.
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 With our Policy Intern Jessica, Policy Advisor Anthony Nguyen, and District Representative Abby Paulson.
Abby Paulson
District Representative
Happy Friday, D5! This week, I attended a legislative briefing with Children’s Hospital of Orange County and the Friendly Center. I learned about the County’s Wellness on Wheels (WoW) program, a mobile pediatric clinic traveling to local communities, schools, and clinics in need. The WoW care team provides a holistic approach to health, wellness, and asthma care, targeting underserved communities and free to anybody with Medi-Cal. In the Fifth District, WoW has locations in Costa Mesa, Laguna Hills, San Juan Capistrano, and pop-up community events across the district. Check out WoW’s website to learn more about how they keep our community healthy!
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 Pictured on the left at the Wellness on Wheels van with representatives from across Orange County. I then joined the City of Dana Point at the unveiling of the Walter and “Flippy” Hoffman Statue at Watermans Plaza. On the right, here I am with Mayor Pro Tem John Gabbard, celebrating the pioneers of surf culture in Dana Point.
Robbie LaBounty
District Representative
Hi District County
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 Here I am at a ribbon cutting I attended this week for Capstone Partners with several of the financial advisors at the firm.
Join the Orange County Ethics Commission
District 5 seeks 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. Submit your CV or resume, a short bio, and the linked application to Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com.
For regular updates from my Dana Point Harbor Advisory Committee on all things Revitalization, click here.
Health News
Orange County beaches showed continued improvement by topping the “Honor Roll” in the Beach Report Card from Heal the Bay for the second consecutive year. Learn more here.
Marine Flare Collection Event, August 16, 2025
Transportation News
Metrolink Summer Campaign
Avoid traffic and enjoy summer with Metrolink! Metrolink Weekends offers $10 round-trip fares, and youth 17 and under ride free. Enter our weekly drawings for a chance to win a pair of Metrolink tickets or for the monthly grand prize: a $100 gift card plus two Metrolink tickets. For more information and to enter, visit metrolinkdaycations.com.
OC Bus – 862 Survey
Starting in Spring 2026, the OC Streetcar will replace Route 862, providing improved service along the same corridor. We value your opinion and want to hear about your experience with Route 862. For more information and to take the survey, visit ocbus.com/682
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.
Fall Prevention with the OC Office on Aging
Buy Your OC Fair Tickets Today!
Walk for Independence
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Join Project Independence for a fun-filled morning that celebrates community, movement, and the power of independence. This year’s Walk for Independence features the usual walk around Twekinkle Park in Costa Mesa along with some exciting new experiences! Registration opens July 1, 2025.
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Summer Concerts & Cinema in the Park
Throughout the Fabulous Fifth
Crystal Cove Art Classes
Our Great Plein Air Art Experience art classes invite you to take part in Crystal Cove's living history by spending a relaxing day capturing the beauty of the Cove on canvas with the help of Crystal Cove plein air artist, Debbie Morines. These five-hour classes from 9am – 2pm will take you through the process of creating your first plein air painting from beginning to end. For a full list of upcoming events, visit CrystalCove.org/Events.
Kerckhoff Marine Laboratory in Corona del Mar
 Resources at OC Public Libraries
 
Pet of the Week
Meet Pet of the Week, Wally!
Did you know that senior cats make some of the best companions? With their mellow demeanors and relaxed attitudes, they’re perfect for anyone looking for a calm, loving friend.
That's where Wally comes in! This 10-year-old gentleman knows exactly what he wants: 15 minutes of affection followed by some well-earned alone time in his cozy bed. He’s the purr-fect mix of friendly and independent.
Are you ready to let Wally (A1915737) retire in comfort by your side? Call OC Animal Care at (714) 935-6848 to meet him today!
Support Our Local Museums
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 and Dana Point! Visit www.newportwhales.com, www.danawharf.com, and Captain Dave's to make your reservations.
Metrolink Summer Campaign
Avoid traffic and enjoy summer with Metrolink! Metrolink Weekends offers $10 round-trip fares, and youth 17 and under ride free. Enter our weekly drawings for a chance to win a pair of Metrolink tickets or for the monthly grand prize: a $100 gift card plus two Metrolink tickets. For more information and to enter, visit metrolinkdaycations.com.
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
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!
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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@SupervisorFoley
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