Weekly Update from Supervisor Foley
I hope you all enjoyed safe, restful, loving holidays with friends and family. Thanks for all the nice holiday cards, social media comments, and letters. I loved catching up and reading. We truly enjoy a compassionate community. Thanks for caring so much about your neighbors.
In 2025, we prioritized safer neighborhoods, strengthening public health and wellness, expanding access to healthcare, building housing solutions, adopting a $10.8 billion county budget with a AAA credit rating, improving infrastructure, protecting our coast, ethics reforms, and more.
We protected your taxpayer dollars by fighting public corruption, holding officials accountable, and adopting an updated code of ethics to rebuild your trust in our county leadership. Every policy, investment, and community partnership stemmed from listening to residents and responding with practical solutions. Together, we made real progress.
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 Check out some of our most notable highlights from 2025 below.
Making Neighborhoods Safer
Across the Fifth District, we implemented meaningful steps to strengthen public safety across the Fifth District, with a focus on safer streets, wildfire prevention, encampment clearing, and substance abuse prevention. At my request, the Board adopted California’s first countywide ban on nitrous oxide, and also banned kratom. Many cities followed our NOX model for reducing dangerous sales and protecting public health.
Public safety investments helped Orange County maintain seven of the 10 safest cities in California, including three in the Fifth District. Coordinated enforcement, education, and treatment drove a five-year low in fentanyl deaths.
We improved emergency readiness by welcoming a new California Office of Emergency Services campus in Costa Mesa. We also prioritized fire safety this year. OCFA improved response times using Firehawks to respond to the Laguna Beach fire, carrying up to 3,500 gallons and the Tivoli HeloPod in Aliso Viejo, which delivered more than 42,000 gallons--both from District 5 investments. In 2026, my office is investing in building a third helopod location in San Clemente.
We strengthened long-term safety by modernizing the Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol fleet, introducing a safety ordinance which successfully opposed the unsafe BESS facility proposal, and passing a new anti-encampment ordinance to keep parks and flood channels clear while connecting unhoused neighbors with coordinated services.
In 2025, we listened to resident concerns at town halls and reduced speed limits and implemented traffic calming. We prioritized traffic safety improvements in unincorporated residential neighborhoods. The Board approved new stop controls at 21 high-risk intersections and lowered speed limits near schools, delivering smart, affordable improvements that protect pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers every day.
Together, these efforts made our communities safer, more resilient, and better prepared for the future.
Building Healthy and Sustainable Communities
This year marked major progress in our County healthcare system expansion with the opening of the new Marine Way Orange County Health Care Agency Campus. For the first time, multiple divisions of the Health Care Agency will operate under one roof, improving efficiency, communication, and collaboration in both emergencies and daily operations. We also neared completion of our Irvine Be Well campus. I look forward to our providers treating patients, especially families, for mental health and residential substance use disorder in 2026.
Our 18th Annual Orange County Senior Summit offered more than 500 seniors and caregivers with flu and other vaccinations, preventative screenings, and assistance with Medi-Cal and CalFresh enrollment.
We prioritized community support and nourishment this year. At our annual Holiday Resource Fair this year, we partnered with CalOptima, OC Social Services Agency, and UNIDOS to send 600 families home with fresh groceries, diapers, and toys. Our office also supported Fresh Beginnings Ministries with a $47,000 grant to help feed families in Costa Mesa this holiday season. Neighbors continuously showing up for each other reminds us why we’re fortunate to call the Fifth District home.
We made important long-term steps by adopting Orange County’s first Master Plan for Aging and securing funding to support mental health services, local nonprofits, skin cancer research, and other critical health initiatives.
At the same time, we continued investing in environmental sustainability. We celebrated the third year of our Fly Friendly program, which recognizes aviation partners who commit to quieter flight paths and greener technology, and increased the Max 8 quieter cleaner airplanes at JWA by more than 30%.
Our work to reduce emissions also continued as the County transitioned gas-powered shuttles and buses to electric models. We also transitioned our county fleet with 54 electric vehicles now in operation and a path toward a fully electric light-duty fleet by 2027, these efforts improve air quality, cut emissions and costs, and deliver long-term savings for taxpayers.
The CEQA analysis of the County’s Climate Action Plan approaches completion, with approval and adoption coming early 2026. This plan highlights the County’s efforts to reach net zero emissions by 2045, saving costs for taxpayers and cleaning the air for neighboring communities.
Health and wellness for Fifth District residents of all ages, whether in the air or in community, remains at the top of my priority list for 2026 and beyond.
Supporting a Thriving Economy
This year, the Board of Supervisors maintained its AAA credit rating and approved a Fiscal Year 2025-26 $10.8 billion budget that supports into parks, libraries, roads, harbor improvements, airport infrastructure, and essential health and support services. At the same time, Fifth District residents enjoy abundant job opportunities, with the lowest unemployment rate countywide.
Our team celebrated more than 1,500 businesses and awardees across the district. We ensured businesses avoided displacement during the Dana Point Harbor revitalization and made space for new and creative business ideas to prosper.
To keep our region competitive, we reduced barriers to business growth by launching a new construction guide to streamline approvals and remodeling processes through education, technical assistance, and community engagement. Our new automated application process cuts permit timelines from six months to 19 days.
I stand more confident in our business community and local leaders than ever before. Orange County remains open for business.
Protecting Our Beautiful Coast
This year, OC Transportation Authority secured emergency development permits for hotspot areas along San Clemente’s coast. We delivered the first quarter mile of sand this fall with a commitment to bring a total of 540,000 cubic yards to restore San Clemente beaches and our coastal rail. Work continues at Mariposa Point, constructing a 1,400-foot catchment wall and repairing the beach trail, with completion expected summer 2026.
To tackle coastal resilience challenges, we launched the South County Beach Coalition, connecting government agencies, community organizations, and local stakeholders. In 2026, this team will address bureaucratic logjams slowing sand delivery, coordinate beach protection, and ensure tax dollars reach farther to preserve our iconic coast.
My office also funded a $25,000 grant for the Pacific Marine Mammal Center to use drones and thermal mapping to study sea lion habitat at Dana Point Harbor and identify a home base for the sea lions.
We understand that protecting our coastline preserves our way of life. That’s why we plan on continuing our work to renourish our beaches, protect our rail, and keep our marine life safe and thriving.
Building Opportunities to Call Orange County Home
Despite a year of significant federal financial uncertainty, we directed $216 million toward affordable housing vouchers for seniors, veterans, and families, steadily advancing toward our goal of more than 3,300 permanent supportive housing units. Additionally, as Chair of the OC Housing Finance Trust, I oversaw the delivery of 806 new affordable and supportive housing units this year. By streamlining funding, construction, and openings, we continue providing the stable, permanent housing our residents deserve. More to come in 2026!
Investing in Infrastructure & Transportation
John Wayne Airport earned North America’s top customer satisfaction ranking for the second year in a row, adding family-friendly amenities such as a child play area, a new mamava lactation pod, new concessions for families to share a meal – all while reducing noise, protecting flight curfews, and preserving passenger limits. We also added a new rescue crane for the runway, and partnered with JSX and Clay Lacy for improved general aviation services and a new home for our OC Sheriff helicopters.
We invested in community infrastructure ahead of the 2028 Olympics. This year we reached major milestones in our Dana Point Harbor Revitalization, including a new parking structure, completing nine of 15 phases of the new marina, approval of new hotels with a $6 million community benefits package, and we began upgrades to the OC Sailing and Events Center.
We expanded trails, improved major freeways, and remain on track to improve pedestrian and biking routes. We remain committed to keeping your commute and recreation in Orange County accessible, more affordable, and efficient.
This year the fully modernized Dana Point Library reopened after its first major renovation since 1976, providing a vibrant hub for learning, connection, and community engagement for residents of all ages. Aliso Viejo library refresh approaches completion in Spring 2026.
Supporting Our Veterans
This year, our office continued supporting veterans and their families across Orange County. We hosted a Women Veterans Mental Health Symposium to connect servicewomen and veterans with critical mental health resources and partnered with the Orange County Health Care Agency to convene a Veterans Mental Health Focus Group, which helped make improvements to mental health and substance abuse prevention services. We also convened the District 5 Veterans Advisory Team to identify gaps in county services, with a focus on mental health, suicide prevention, housing, childcare, and more.
After years of advocacy, we advanced the Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon onto the federal priority list, moving construction and peace of mind for veteran families closer to reality. Finally, through grants, the Board of Supervisors invested in Veteran Supportive Housing Programming, reinforcing our commitment to stable housing and long-term support for those who served. Our veterans deserve a safe, healthy and affordable place to call home here in Orange County, as well as an official resting place when the time comes. We remain committed to expressing our thanks for all they contributed to our nation.
We also saw our investment help American Legion 291 with their restroom project to provide wheelchair and other disabled access and accommodations for veterans and others visiting the Legion.
Engaging With Our Community
My office enjoyed engaging with neighbors all year. We connected with you at our quarterly wellness walks, town halls, job fairs, our annual New Coats for Kids drive, parades, roundtables, art walks, concerts and movies in the park, and so much more. I was thrilled to support our seniors, educators, veterans, healthcare professionals, local radio, artists, county staff, business owners, boaters, and more. We remain committed to working with you to improve and enhance what makes the Fabulous Fifth and Orange County the best place to call home.
 A Look Ahead
So much promise remains for the Fabulous Fifth. In the days ahead, I look forward to finalizing our official priorities for 2026, including how we can continue building a safer, healthier, economically thriving place for everyone to call home. May the year ahead be guided by bold energy, inspiring us to embrace change, seize new opportunities, and turn challenges into progress.
Wishing you and your loved ones a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.
In service,
 Katrina Foley
Vice Chair
County of Orange
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