Bill Campbell's Third District Report

There was no regular Board meeting this week. The next Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 20.

OCTA Public Member Seat- In September, OCTA announced that it was seeking applications for one of the two public member seats on the OCTA Board of Directors. OCTA received 16 applications from parties interested in serving in that role. I was appointed to an ad hoc committee to review the applications and to make a recommendation for the Board’s consideration. The ad hoc committee included Chairman Paul Glaab, Director Don Hansen of Huntington Beach and me.

Last Friday, the Committee met to consider the applications and recommended to the Executive Committee that Greg Winterbottom be reappointed to the Public Member seat. On Monday, the OCTA Executive Committee voted unanimously to recommend to the Board of Directors that it reappoint Greg Winterbottom. At today’s OCTA Board meeting, the Board reappointed Director Winterbottom to the Public Member seat. Director Winterbottom has served as a public member on the Board since 1997.

OCCOG Transition Plan- In 2009, the Orange County Council of Governments (OCCOG) and OCTA entered into an administrative agreement whereby OCTA agreed to staff OCCOG through June 2013. At the Executive Committee meeting, the Committee received a report on the plan to transition OCCOG administration away from OCTA by June 2013. To that end, the OCCOG Board of Directors recently approved the recruitment of a part-time Executive Director. The appointment of that party is expected to occur in January, which would allow six months for a smooth transition in administration from OCTA to the new Executive Director. OCCOG will be accepting applications for the Executive Director position through November 16. For more information about OCCOG or the recruitment, click here.

Planning Division Performance Metrics- The Executive Committee also received a presentation from the OCTA Planning Division regarding metrics to evaluate the Division’s performance. To view the presentation, click here.

Security Working Group Update- I attended the OCTA Security Working Group this past Tuesday. The working group received an update on the security measures OCTA has taken on over the last several months. The Working Group also received an update on the OCTA Bomb Sniffing K-9 Program funded through a Transportation Security Administration grant. To view pictures of the handlers and their dogs, click here.

Traffic and Revenue Update- The Foothill Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA) reported toll revenues of $9,549,168 and transactions of 4,751,216 for the month of October. Revenues were up 6.1% and transactions were up 0.3% over the October 2011 figures. The San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency reported toll revenues of $8,550,127, a 10.2% increase from October 2011. The SJHTCA transactions were 2,123,621for the month of October which represented a 0.2% decrease.

Tesoro Extension Air Quality Conformity- The Clean Air Act requires that all projects of regional transportation significance must receive a positive air quality conformity finding before being constructed if the project is located in a federal air quality non-attainment area. Since South Orange County is located in a federal air quality non-attainment area, the SR-241 Tesoro Extension Project needed to receive a positive air quality conformity finding. Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Highway Administration and Caltrans agreed that the SR-241 Tesoro Extension Project is not a project of air quality concern. This determination demonstrates that the Tesoro Extension Project meets the Clean Air Act conformity requirement and supports federal, state and local air quality goals. The F/ETCA also received an update on the Tesoro Extension Project. To view the presentation given to the Board, click here.

Investment Underwriting Team- The F/ETCA has begun to explore refinancing options of the agency’s bonds given the current interest rate environment. As a result, the agency issued a request for qualifications seeking proposals from investment banking firm to serve on an underwriting team. On Thursday, the F/ETCA Board of Directors selected the underwriting team. Barclays and Goldman, Sachs & Co. were selected as the Joint Book Running Senior Managers. Citi and Wells Fargo Securities were selected as the Co-Senior Managers, and Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Cabrera Capital Markets, LLC, De La Rosa & Co., Jefferies & Company, Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC, and Piper Jaffray & Co. were selected as Co-Managers.

Outgoing Board Member Recognitions- The F/ETCA Boards of Directors honored three of the Board members who will not be returning to the Boards this year. The F/ETCA honored Director Jim Dahl of San Clemente, Director Jerry Amante of Tustin, and Director Carolyn Caveche of Orange. The SJHTCA Board of Directors honored two Board members who will not be returning to the Board this next year, Director Jim Dahl of San Clemente and Director Joe Lautenschleger of Laguna Hills. Director Lautenschleger had served for over 20 years on the TCA and Jim Dahl had served for 15 years. To view the pictures of the recognition, click here.

I attended this week’s meeting of the Children and Families Commission of Orange County. The Commission received a presentation from consultants Amy Fine and James McConnell on the development of the Commission’s Partnership for Children’s Health. To view a copy of their presentation, please click here. The Commission also received a presentation on its Long-term Financial Plan. To view a copy of this presentation, please click here. Director of Program Operations Kim Goll updated the Commission on its investments to help homeless children. Click here to view a copy of her presentation.

Last Friday, I attended the First Friday Friars luncheon. Commander Allen Stubblefield, USN (Ret.) was the keynote speaker. Commander Stubblefield served in the United States Navy for over twenty-one years and held commands both ashore and at sea. He served on NATO as Chief of Staff for Standing Naval Forces Atlantic and as the commander of the USS Zephyr, which is assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Command and supports SEAL special operations teams. Since retiring, Commander Stubblefield has been active with the high school ROTC programs at Lakewood and Troy High Schools. For pictures, please click here.

Mary and I attended the first “Magnificat Day of Faith” at the future Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove. There was a series of presentations by leading Catholic thinkers with a keynote address by Father Peter John Cameron, OP, Editor In-Chief of Magnificat magazine. We also heard a presentation by Clara Gaymard, Vice President of Government Strategy and Sales at GE International, and President and CEO of GE France. Gaymard is the mother of nine and the daughter of Dr. Jerome Lejeune, the doctor who discovered the cause of Down Syndrome. For pictures of the event, please click here.

On Tuesday, I attended the 22nd Annual Election Day luncheon in Anaheim which featured Lucy Dunn and Bryan Starr from the Orange County Business Council, Kate Klimow from UCI Government Affairs, Huntington Beach Mayor Don Hansen, former Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle and former Costa Mesa Mayor Peter Buffa. Each person brought a humorous perspective on the election. For pictures from the event, click here.

I also attended election night events in the Cities of Yorba Linda, Orange, and Tustin. I would like to congratulate all of the candidates and wish them future success in their governance. In addition, I stopped by the Orange County Registrar of Voters (ROV) to watch the ballots arrive. For pictures with the candidates, please click here. For pictures of the ROV, please click here.

I attended the Santa Ana Rotary North Club meeting and gave a presentation on member Dixon Trueblood’s and my trip to Africa last March. Click here for pictures.

On Thursday, I attended the Decision 2012: The Ultimate Analysis luncheon program sponsored by the Orange County Public Affairs Association and the Orange County Forum. The Director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC Dan Schnur was the featured speaker. For pictures, click here.

I met with Channary Leng, the Manager of Current & Environmental Planning for OC Public Works. Channary is leaving this position in pursuit of other professional opportunities and I would like to thank her for her years of exceptional service to the residents of the Third District and the County of Orange. For a picture, please click here.

I hosted a post-Election Day reception and panel discussion for the Pacifica Chapter of the World Presidents Organization. The panel featured Republican political consultant John Peschong, Democratic political consultant Roger Salazar, and Girard Miller, Chief Investment Officer of the Orange County Employees Retirement System. The panel discussed the results of both the national and state-wide elections, as well as what the results mean and how they will affect the economy. For pictures, please click here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

TSA Pre-Check Program- The Transportation Security Administration plans to implement a program in December that will expedite screening for those that are part of “Trusted Traveler” programs. The program’s benefits will include not having to remove shoes, light outerwear, or belts, and being able to keep laptops in their cases and compliant liquids and gels in a carry-on. Initially, the program will only be available at the Terminal A Checkpoint. For more information on the “Trusted Traveler” pre-check program, please click here. To view the press release, please click here .

Tustin Mayor’s Thanksgiving Breakfast- On Thursday, November 15, the Tustin Community Foundation will hold its annual Tustin Mayor’s Thanksgiving Breakfast from 7 to 9 am at the Salvation Army Tustin Ranch Church. The Honorable Ron Hoesterey will be the guest speaker. For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here.

Yorba Linda Fiesta Days- After a three year absence, the 41st Yorba Linda Fiesta Days Parade & Street Fair returns this Saturday, November 10, from 7 am – 10 pm. The day will start with the Heritage Day Parade and Festival followed by a full day street fair on Main Street. The event will close with a 9 pm concert featuring two bands. For more information, click here.

Richard Nixon Presidential Library Veterans Day Commemoration- On Sunday, November 11, from 1 to 4 pm the Richard Nixon Library will be holding a Veterans Day Commemoration. The event will feature a keynote address by former National Security Advisor Robert “Bud” McFarlane and a spectacular musical presentation by the 90-member Placentia Symphonic Band. For more information, click here.

Irvine Veterans Tribute- On Sunday, November 11, from 11 am to 12:30 pm, the City of Irvine will be hosting a tribute to Veterans at Colonel Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park. For more information, please click here.

Orange Veterans Day Tribute- On Sunday, November 11, at 2 pm, the City of Orange will be hosting a Veterans Day Tribute at Depot Park. This event is open to the general public and all veterans, current military, friends, and family are encouraged to attend. Click here for more details.

Free Parking for Veterans at OC Parks- Veterans and current service members and their families can enjoy nine County regional parks for free on Veteran’s Day, Sunday November 11. The parks available for free parking that day are: Carbon Canyon, Clark, Craig, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Mason, Mile Square, Santiago Oaks and Yorba regional parks. These OC Parks regional parks will offer free parking that day to support and honor those who have served our country and the armed forces. For more information, click here.

Anaheim Veterans Day Celebration- The City of Anaheim will be honoring our nation’s veterans at a special event on Saturday, November 10. The community event will take place at the Veterans Monument in Downtown Anaheim, adjacent to the Muzeo at 241 S. Anaheim Blvd. Public parking will be available on Center Street.

Irvine Lake Veterans Day Trout Derby- Irvine Lake will host its annual Veteran’s Day Trout Derby this Saturday and Sunday. In addition, on Monday, November 12, all active duty military personnel will receive a free fishing limit pass. The lake was recently stocked with over 20,000 pounds of trout. For more details, please click here .

Mary and I would like to honor and thank all of the men and women in Orange County who have served our country. Happy Veteran’s Day!

It is a pleasure to serve the constituents of the Third District.

Please pray for our armed forces and our foreign services personnel.