Weekly Update from Supervisor Foley
Dear neighbor:
My office works diligently every day building a safer, healthier, more economically thriving community for us all to call home. This week, we encouraged community safety on National Night Out, opened 85 units of affordable housing at the Miraflores Apartments, cut the ribbon at Coffee Importers’ new location at the Ocean Institute, met with our Dana Point Harbor Oversight Committee to review the beginning of planning for a new OC Sailing & Event Center and present the report from the boat slip appraiser, worked with our auditors on improving oversight procedures, toured a south county community clinic and learned about budget cut concerns as well as solutions, celebrated Bruin Football in Costa Mesa, and hosted our State of the County Luncheon today. Whew!
Keeping Our Community Safe
Orange County remains among the safest communities in the nation thanks to the tireless work of our Deputy Sheriffs and our local Costa Mesa, Irvine, Newport Beach, and Laguna Beach Police Departments. National Night Out offered our community a chance to meet local police officers, learn about neighborhood watch and youth explorer programs, and share a family friendly evening in the park. When we get to know our neighbors and those who keep us safe, we build a safer community for us all to call home.
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 Top left: Here I am with Newport Beach Police Department and Newport Beach City Council; Top right: With Newport Beach police and McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog; Bottom left: With the Newport Beach Mounted Horse Unit; Bottom middle: With Irvine Chief of Police, Michael Kent; Bottom right: with Captain Chamness of Costa Mesa Police Department.
Supporting a Healthier Orange County
When local angler fishermen notified my office of the death of more than 600 fish at Laguna Niguel Regional Park Lake, I directed our OC Parks staff to launch a full investigation into the root cause. I remain dedicated to providing our community with updates on this beloved fishing spot in our community.
That’s why I invite you to join Team Foley, Laguna Niguel Councilmember Stephanie Oddo, and OC Parks at our town hall tomorrow, August 9 from 10am—12pm. Also, I’d love your feedback on improvements to the lake and the concessions building. RSVP here, or send your suggestions. I hope to see you there.
Orange County enjoys 143 health centers providing quality care to our most vulnerable families. The team at Camino Health Center Campus serves the San Juan Capistrano community with affordable, quality primary medical and dental services. On my tour of their facility this week, I learned the center serves more than 100,600 individual visits annually through its medical clinic, family dentistry clinic and Women, Infants and Children program. Together, we’re ensuring a healthier community for us to call home.
 With Camino Health Center leadership including CEO Jeremy Elkins, and CalOptima Director Michael Hunn.
Yesterday, I met with my BHAB Commissioner and Army Veteran Chase Wickersham. We discussed his recommendations related to older adult services, caregiving and housing needs. He also shared his concerns about the loss of OC Vets funding for clinicians to partner with Veteran Service Office benefit specialists. I agree with him and continue advocating to maintain this important service for our veterans.
Advocating for Our Thriving Economy & Investing in Our Community
Since 2019, the OC Housing Finance Trust invested nearly $60 million in bringing 2,477 affordable and supportive housing units to Orange County. This week, we cut the ribbon for 85 new apartment units at the brand-new Miraflores Apartments, welcoming home families to the magical City of Anaheim. Through strong partnerships, we continue building safe, healthy, an economically attainable neighborhoods in every corner of Orange County.
 Top left: Here I am presenting a certificate for the Miraflores Apartments opening; Top right: With Mayor Aitken, Councilmember Campos Kurtz, the family who shared their moving story of struggle to stability and the muralist and Anaheim’s poet laureate; Bottom left: Celebrating the ribbon cutting; Bottom right: With Mike Ruane, President of National CORE, City of Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken, and OCHFT Board Member and City of Anaheim Councilmember Norma Campos Kurtz.
This week, I joined OC Employees Retirement System (OCERS) in celebrating a momentous milestone—their 80th anniversary. Since 1945, OCERS built a reputation for providing County of Orange employees with exceptional pension service and benefits. By 2033, OCERS will achieve full solvency. We no longer need to contribute as much money annually, so we increase our county coffers.
I enjoyed the honor of swearing in the new Board of the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce at their Installation and Awards Gala. Congratulations to the Chamber on 101 years of service to our outstanding business community. Welcome to the new board led by incoming Chairman Kyle Franson. Congrats to Citizen of the Year Joe Soto (my Waste and Recycling Committee appointee, former Mayor, and lifelong San Juan Capistrano resident). Thank you for your dedication to service for San Juan and Orange County. I look forward to continuing our work together on strengthening our local economy.
 Top: Congratulations to the incoming San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Bottom Left: With Citizen of the Year Joe Soto; Bottom Left: With outgoing Board member John Berney.
This week, we welcomed Coffee Importers, a pillar in our Dana Point community for 50 years, to their new home at the Ocean Institute. After inheriting this iconic coffee shop from his parents, my friend and owner Jim Miller now works beside his daughter Meredith, who helms the delicious Rubee June Bakery. I’m excited to continue collaborating with our residents, small business owners, and community partners as we revitalize our beloved Dana Point Harbor.
 Cutting the ribbon with Coffee Importers owner Jim Miller and his daughter Meredith, head baker at Rubee June Bakery and Mayor Pro Tem John Gabbard.
While we continue revitalizing Dana Point Harbor with a new marina, improved water quality and state of the art docks, new hotels, and commercial retail and restaurants, my office identified a gap on the county side. Our OC Sailing and Event Center (OCSEC) needs reimagining. Our oversight committee – including many of our non-profit and water recreation providers -- worked closely with my team and OC Parks on identifying short-term storage and classroom improvements, as well as long-term needs. We finalized our request for proposals for hiring a consultant to begin the community outreach and design process, which starts in Q1 of 2026. Let me know your ideas. OCSEC serves you!
We also provided updates on our audit of the boat slip waitlist and slip fee survey/appraisal. The committee asked a lot of questions and continued the item to next month pending independent research on a few items.
Engaging with Our Community
As a mom who nursed two babies, I know the stress of traveling when babies get hungry. Not everyone feels comfortable nursing in public. Additionally, layering in cover-up blankets gets hot for babies and moms. I’m excited that we now offer a private, clean, comfortable space for moms to nurse before flights at John Wayne Airport (JWA) and reduce the chaos of traveling with kids.
Are you exhausted, sweaty and stressed out after processing your kids, stroller, car seat and luggage through the security check point at the airport? Now, “Families on the Fly” enjoy less stress through California’s first family lane at JWA in Terminal B. True to our county values, these enhancements in airport security screening ensure we’re putting families first during the busy summer travel season and beyond.
 Right: Here I am at John Wayne Airport’s new family first lane at Terminal B; Center: Here I am with Jason Pantages, TSA federal security director for John Wayne Airport; Right: Here I am at the new Mamava pod at JWA.
Our dedicated OC Public Libraries team inspires our community with the power of storytelling with their "A Slice of Literary Orange" series. I enjoyed welcoming bestselling author, Laguna Beach local, and my friend, Kaira Rouda, to the Fabulous Fifth for a discussion about her latest thriller, Jill Is Not Happy. Learn about upcoming library events here.
 Top left: Here I am with local author Kaira Rouda celebrating the release of her new book Jill is Not Happy; Top right: I enjoyed introducing Kaira to the crowd at Norma Hertzog Community Center in Costa Mesa; Bottom: With our excellent OC Public Libraries team.
Go Bruins! The Fabulous Fifth welcomed my alma mater to Costa Mesa for UCLA Football summer training camp. Special thanks to the dedicated players for hosting two open practice sessions and a football camp for Costa Mesa youth ages 6-14 at Jack Hammett Sports Complex. I express my gratitude to Orange County native Coach Fisher and these young men for providing our aspiring District Five athletes with a model of lifelong commitment to community.
 Top: Me with Coach Foster and the other Bruin alumni of Costa Mesa Coast Community College Trustee Liz Dorn Parker, City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly, and City Attorney Kim Barlow; Bottom: Here I am with Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens; Right: Presenting UCLA Football Head Coach DeShaun Foster with a proclamation and gift bag! Go Bruins!
Today, I presented the State of the County address hosted by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. Together with other elected officials and our CEO, we shared exciting updates on Orange County’s safety, health, and thriving economy. Here are some of the updates I shared:
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Orange County’s fiscal health is strong. Our $10.8 Billion budget includes healthy reserves. Once again, the County received a AAA rating, placing us in the strongest position possible to fund our nearly $1 Billion in Capital Improvement Projects in the next seven years.
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The Fabulous Fifth leads Orange County’s job growth. As of June, unemployment in the Fifth District dropped by 3.3 percent and is now lower than the County of Orange’s unemployment percentage.
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Our economy thrives because we’re a safe county. Seven of California’s ten safest cities are in Orange County, and three are in District Five.
Stay tuned on my social media @supervisorfoley and next week’s newsletter for more State of the County updates detailing our work protecting and strengthening this community we call home.
 Here I am on a panel alongside Chair of the Board of Supervisors Doug Chaffee, County CEO Michelle Aguirre, Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes, and UCI School of Social Ecology Dean Jon Gould; Top right: Here I am with Newport Beach Fire Chief Jeff Boyles; Bottom left: Here I am with Representative Lou Correa; Bottom right: Here I am with Newport Beach Councilmember Erik Weigand, Newport Beach Mayor Joe Stapleton, and Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Rounaghi (left to right).
 With Sue Parks from United Way, Iranian Chamber of Commerce members, and Kelley Lee from Edison.
 With Orange County CEO Michelle Aguirre.
This week, I received the fantastic news that the Dana Point Library is officially re-opening on September 4! OC Public Libraries shared with us that books are being put back on shelves as construction wraps up. This re-opening has been long awaited by members of our South County community, and I join you all in celebration of this community hub being back open to the public very soon.
Join us at the grand re-opening event on Thursday, September 4 at 9:00 a.m. I hope to see you there.
My annual skin screening revealed a few precancerous skin conditions. I wear sunscreen daily. Remember to reapply and check your skin annually. That California sun can damage fair skin if not cared for well.
If you live or fish in Laguna Niguel, I hope to see you at our town hall on Saturday morning.
 Finally, as end of summer closes in, our first interns head back to school. Thank you, Rachel Carr, Jessica Zhang, and Grace McNeill for serving your community this summer. We appreciate your energy, positive attitude, and eagerness to learn. We know your futures are bright.
 Left: Here I am with Rachel Carr, one of our policy interns, before she travels to France for the rest of the summer; Right: Here is my District Director, Adam Tallabas, with Grace McNeill and Jessica Zhang, two of our summer interns on their last day.
Happy summer and be well,
 Katrina Foley
Vice Chair
County of Orange
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