2016 Headline News Archive

Faced with an abundance of dogs, cats and rabbits filling cages, the OC Animal Shelter will begin waiving fees for pets being adopted by residents from across Orange County after the waivers were approved by the Board of Supervisors and the shelter's city partners. Regular adoption fees – with the exception of a $27 charge for rabies licenses – will be waived beginning Thursday, November 3, until capacity at the shelter drops below 60%.

The County of Orange has been approved through the state Department of Health Care Services for a five-year project to implement the Whole Person Care (WPC) pilot program, which is designed to ensure a more holistic approach to targeting the impacts of homelessness, and promoting mental and physical wellness. The Board of Supervisors approved the application for the funding in June, pledging to contribute local matching funds of $2.35 million dollars annually over five years from Mental Health Services Act dollars and tobacco-settlement funds. The County will receive a match in federal dollars, with total spending reaching $23.5 million over the course of the program.

An ongoing effort by the County of Orange to target suspected instances of workers' compensation fraud resulted in the arrest last week of a sheriff’s deputy charged with defrauding the County of more than $35,000 in unearned benefits. The arrest is the fourth of a County employee alleged to have falsely claimed on-the-job injuries in the past two years.

During a special study session to consider options for addressing the needs of those in Orange County without permanent housing, the Board of Supervisors evaluated how the system of care operates and recommendations for improvement. "An Assessment of Homeless Services in Orange County" was presented by Susan Price, the County's new director of care coordination, a position created to better coordinate the County’s response to homelessness.

A round-the-clock transitional center with emergency shelter beds and enhanced services for those without permanent housing who have congregated in the Orange County Civic Center has opened at the former Santa Ana Transit Terminal, which has been renamed "The Courtyard."

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari Freidenrich announces the reinstatement of the California Property Tax Postponement Program, with the application and accompanying information now available on the State Controller's website. The program, which was suspended in 2009, allows eligible homeowners who are blind, disabled or at least 62 years of age to defer Fiscal Year 2016-17 property taxes on their principal residence if they meet certain established criteria.

Two contracts for the operation of a round-the-clock transitional center with emergency shelter beds and enhanced services will be considered Tuesday by the Orange County Board of Supervisors for the former Santa Ana Transit Terminal, which has been renamed "The Courtyard." The plan to use the former terminal was proposed by Supervisor Andrew Do at a special Board meeting earlier this month, with a directive to open the center within 30 days providing access to showers, food programs, storage and comprehensive service referrals.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors has selected Mercy House Living Centers Inc. to operate a new 200-bed year-round emergency shelter and multi-service center in Anaheim to serve those without permanent housing, as well as operate seasonal cold-weather shelters at National Guard armories in Fullerton and Santa Ana. The new center will be located at 1000 N. Kraemer Place and is expected to be opened late next year.

Global software vendor Tata Consultancy Services and its U.S. affiliate have paid the County $26 million to settle litigation over a failed replacement to the County's automated property tax system that initially was to have been completed in 2010 but was never delivered.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors has settled a lawsuit alleging unsafe conditions at a Social Services Agency building in Orange. Details of the settlement are pending court approval.

Orange County supervisors formally dissolved eight special taxing districts in South Orange County on Tuesday and ordered $4.3 million in property owner tax credits, ranging from $49.84 to $3,664.01 per parcel. The districts were formed between 1986 and 1988 to cover the costs of building public facilities and improvements.

The State Department of Health Care Services has issued a formal ruling that counties can use Mental Health Services Act funding to provide crisis stabilization services to clients on a voluntary or involuntary basis. The move resulted from a bipartisan legislative push by Senator John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa), supported by the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

A new Board of Directors will meet next month to oversee CalOptima, Orange County's comprehensive health system for low-income residents, after being selected by the Orange County Board of Supervisors. CalOptima contracts with the State of California to administer the $3.3 billion health plan for nearly 800,000 people in Orange County, or nearly one in four of Orange County’s 3.1 million residents.

County officials mourned the passing of former Supervisor Marian Bergeson, who was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 1994 after a prestigious career in the state Legislature. Mrs. Bergeson left the Board in November 1996 after being appointed by then-Gov. Pete Wilson to serve as California's Secretary of Education.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the County's application to the State Department of Health Care Services for a pilot program to ensure a more holistic approach to targeting the impacts of homelessness, and promoting mental and physical wellness. If Orange County is selected, a total of $23.5 million would be spent over the course of the five-year program.

Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen is pleased to announce two exciting enhancements at the Orange County Archives: An extensive conservation project to repair, clean, de-acidify, encapsulate and re-bind property indexes from 1889-1953 and the launch of an online catalog to search Archives collections.

How did ancient sperm whale fossils wind up at an elevation of 1,272 feet? That's what paleontologists explained at the Frank R. Bowerman Landfill in Irvine, where a recent fossil find was unveiled with more than 20 sizable pieces, including teeth weighing at least one pound, a flipper bone and portions of jaw and skull bones from a sperm whale dating back 10-12 million years.

Brenda Diederichs, formerly with the City of Riverside, begins her new assignment today as the County's Chief Human Resources Officer. Diederichs brings a wealth of expertise, knowledge and experience to the County. An attorney specializing in employment and labor law, she served for the past two years as Human Resources Director for the city of Riverside.

Orange County supervisors have approved a seven-year plan to complete the 66-mile OC Loop, a recreational bikeway and trail system that will allow continuous access along the Coyote Creek-San Gabriel River Trails, the Pacific Coast Highway Corridor, the Santa Ana River Trail and the Union Pacific Right of Way Corridor.

The County of Orange Health Care Agency's Public Health Services division has been awarded five-year national accreditation status by the Public Health Accreditation Board following a rigorous peer-review assessment process. HCA’s Public Health Services now joins a handful of health departments in California to reach this milestone, which demonstrates its capacity to meet the highest standards in providing services to Orange County residents.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors will convene a special meeting on Friday, June 10, at 9 a.m. for a public workshop to discuss the County's strategic financial plan and evaluate County finances beyond the coming fiscal year. "As we look toward adopting a new Fiscal Year 2016-17 budget in June, it makes sense to discuss some additional forecasting so we have a better sense of what longer-range resources will be available," Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett, Fifth District, said.

Orange County's Fiscal Year 2016-17 Recommended Budget has been released for review by the Board of Supervisors and the public. Budget hearings will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 14, and if needed on Wednesday, June 15, at the Hall of Administration Board Hearing Room, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana. The final budget vote is scheduled for June 28, 2016.

Unanimous city approvals of agreements to allow continued acceptance of out-of-county trash through 2025 at local landfills will provide the revenue needed to fully repay the remaining creditors from the County's 1994 bankruptcy. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the pact on Tuesday.

The Board of Supervisors selected a designer-builder and took other actions Tuesday to fast-track construction beginning in July on a new $35 million Orange County Animal Shelter to be built on 10 acres of land at the former Tustin Marine base.

Waste Not OC, a coalition working to combat food insecurity in Orange County, has been selected as a model public health practice by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). The Orange County Health Care Agency’s Public Health Officer lead the creation of this public-private coalition of food banks, health care representatives, restaurants, food distributors, and community leaders with the goal of eliminating hunger and reducing food waste by facilitating surplus food donations.

Orange County 3rd District Supervisor Todd Spitzer joined today with government, business and project development officials to officially open the Bowerman Power Project renewable energy facility. The landfill gas-to-electricity plant at the Frank R. Bowerman landfill east of Irvine will power thousands of local homes and businesses, and provide other environmental and economic benefits.

The County of Orange has formally issued a request for real-estate development companies and/or teams to provide Statements of Qualification detailing their ability and interest in forming a partnership with the County to revitalize Dana Point Harbor.

A plan by the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) to allow revenues received for fire protection to be used for any purpose has been struck down by the state Court of Appeal, which upheld a County challenge to the proposal.

The County of Orange has been selected following a highly competitive process to participate in the National "Stepping Up" Summit aimed at reducing the prevalence of individuals with mental illnesses in jail, to be held in April in Washington DC.

An ambitious 20-year master plan that proposes to revamp and reorganize County government services within the Orange County Civic Center in Santa Ana will be presented for review on Tuesday, February 23, during a special study session before the Board of Supervisors.

For those looking to tie the knot on Valentine's Day, look no further. To accommodate couples, Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen will be opening the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana on this Valentine’s Day from 9 am to 2 pm to perform marriage ceremonies only, even though the special day falls on a Sunday.

The Orange County Auditor-Controller released the Comprehensive Financial Accounting Report (CAFR) for fiscal year 2014-15 and the OC Citizens' report, a companion piece written in non-technical language. According to Auditor-Controller Eric H. Woolery, "Orange County had a good fiscal year 2014-15, revenues were up, expenses were down, but the talk of the town is the new line item on the financial statements, the Net Pension Liability or NPL."

Eighty homeless individuals were housed Saturday evening at the Santa Ana Transit Terminal during Saturday evening rains, the first activation of the temporary shelter since its use was approved Friday by the Board of Supervisors.

Representatives of the Orange County Board of Supervisors joined Sheriff Sandra Hutchens today as the Sheriff's Department announced the capture of escaped inmates Hossein Nayeri and Jonathan Tieu by the San Francisco Police Department. With these arrests, all three inmates that escaped from the Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana are now in custody.

A plan to provide emergency shelter beds for the homeless during El Niño rainstorms at the unused Santa Ana Transit Terminal was approved Friday by the Board of Supervisors in a special meeting held so the beds could be prepared before expected weekend rain.

The County of Orange Health Care Agency has confirmed Orange County's first influenza-related death in a person under 65 this season. The Public Health laboratory confirmed that the 50 year-old male, who was a resident of Westminster, was infected with influenza B virus.

A plan to shelter the homeless during El Niño rainstorms at the unused Santa Ana Transit Terminal in the Orange County Civic Center has been approved on an interim basis through June by the Federal Transit Administration. The approval was delivered by letter today, two days after the Orange County Transportation Authority made the request on behalf of the County. The County opened escrow last month to buy the property from OCTA; a proposed lease for the interim use was sent last week to OCTA and required federal approval.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors approved increasing the reward for information leading to the apprehension of three escaped inmates from the Orange County Men's Central Jail to a total of $200,000. Board members unanimously approved adding up to $50,000 each for information leading to the capture of inmates Hossein Nayeri, 37; Jonathan Tieu, 20; and Bac Duong, 43, who escaped from the jail sometime on Friday, January 22, 2016.

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari L. Freidenrich encourages all new property owners to visit ocgov.com/octaxbill to take advantage of multiple online resources to ensure that all secured property taxes have been paid. Don't be in doubt—check online! It’s quick and simple.

The County of Orange formally asked a judge Friday to order former employee Carlos Bustamante to pay restitution as part of his sentencing for multiple crimes committed while he was an employee.

Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Fifth District, has been chosen unanimously by her colleagues to serve as chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors for 2016. She was the Board's vice chair in 2015. Supervisor Michelle Steel, Second District, will serve as the Board's new vice chair for 2016.

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari L. Freidenrich encourages all property taxpayers to visit ocgov.com/octaxbill to take advantage of multiple resources for current or previous owners of real property, boats, aircraft, or business property and equipment. The online information identifies property tax balances and provides copies of tax bills, a link to a GIS map, information on Mello-Roos assessments, penalty cancellation request forms, change of address forms and other services.

Orange County supervisors thanked Health Care Agency employees Tuesday for providing assistance to County of San Bernardino colleagues in the aftermath of the December 2, 2015, mass shooting at the Inland Regional Center that left 14 dead and 22 wounded. Nineteen County of Orange behavioral health professionals provided crisis counseling and training services between December 15 and 17.

Hon. Charles Margines, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, has extended the deadline to apply to be on the next Grand Jury to January 29, 2016. Judge Margines said, "The Court empanels a new 19-member Grand Jury each year to serve a one-year term that begins July 1. We are hopeful that by extending the application deadline, additional qualified individuals will apply, especially residents from the cities of Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, Santa Ana and Westminster."

As of 8 a.m., the County of Orange has deactivated the Orange County Emergency Operations Center following support of the series of winter storm events. All resources and support personnel have been identified and are on standby ready to mobilize all areas of the Emergency Operation Center if a reactivation is needed.

Residents are urged to monitor local media for the most up-to-date information, as well as follow @OrangeCountyEOC and @OCSD on Twitter.

The Orange County Emergency Operations Center will lift voluntary evacuations at 8 p.m. tonight for Silverado Canyon homes east of 30311 Silverado Canyon Road due to lighter rainfall forecasted overnight. A Flash Flood Watch issued by the National Weather Service earlier today is still in effect until Thursday. The County Emergency Operations Center will transition to Level 1 status at 8 p.m. tonight and is anticipated to remain at Level 1 status through Thursday afternoon.

The Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department experienced a 128% increase in the number of passport applications accepted by the department’s passport units between calendar years 2013 and 2015. In 2013, the department accepted 2,807 passport applications, 3,085 passport applications in 2014 and 6,391 passport applications in 2015.

Four Orange County Public Works (OCPW) infrastructure projects were honored as industry-best projects in 2015 by the Orange County Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) at the organization's annual awards celebration on February 18. OCPW’s Deputy Director of Operations and Maintenance was also selected among many to receive the Outstanding Civil Engineer in the Public Sector award.

Testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that an Orange County resident has tested positive for Zika virus. The individual, a Costa Mesa resident, is a male in his 40s who contracted the virus in late January during travel to Central America and presented symptoms in early February. He was not seriously ill and has recovered. The Health Care Agency has contacted the individual to provide counseling to prevent transmission.

The County of Orange Health Care Agency (HCA) has issued the 2016 Award of Excellence to 3,630 Orange County food facilities to recognize local businesses for their outstanding food safety and sanitation practices during 2015.

Today, Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen took the first step towards implementing software that will automatically index and redact real property documents submitted for recording to his offices. This will make real property records available to the public for review one day after being submitted and recorded.

Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen would like to announce that his office can now offer certified copies of birth and death certificates to the public 30 days after the life event. Certificates needed within the first 30 days of an event can be obtained from the Health Care Agency.

A 10-year County employee pleaded guilty today to four misdemeanor counts of insurance fraud and paid restitution of $30,271.80 in full today. He has been placed on three years of informal probation; required to complete 100 hours of community service and pay $100 to the Worker's Compensation Fraud Assessment Fund as well as the statutory fees.

An ongoing effort by the County of Orange to target suspected instances of worker's compensation fraud resulted in the arrest this week of a man who claimed to have been disabled after an on-the-job vehicle accident.

Ten County of Orange programs earned 2016 Achievement Awards by the National Association of Counties (NACo). "We are proud of our employees who strive to think with foresight, innovation and vision when creating solution-oriented County programs for delivering excellent quality services to Orange County residents," said Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett, Fifth District.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors made official its selection of Sharon Petrosino as Orange County's new Public Defender. "We are pleased to welcome Sharon in her new and essential role as a part of Orange County's criminal justice system," Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett, Fifth District, said. “Sharon has shown true commitment and resolve on behalf of her clients and all of the residents of Orange County.”

The Health Care Agency (HCA) is continuing to provide free meningococcal vaccinations to gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in Orange County venues serving that community. MSM have been disproportionately affected by the current outbreak impacting Southern California.

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari Freidenrich reminds those with unsecured property taxes due for Fiscal Year 2016-17 relating to business property, leased equipment, boats and aircraft to submit payment by Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, to avoid late charges.

Representatives from the County, Orange County cities and animal support groups gathered to celebrate the official groundbreaking for a new Orange County Animal Shelter in Tustin, an innovative facility that will replace the current shelter in Orange, which opened in 1941.

To celebrate the largest roadway project in its history, the County of Orange invites the public to a historic ribbon cutting event on Saturday, August 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the La Pata Connector Project, the new 2.27-mile, four-lane roadway extension that will provide a direct connection between San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, Ladera Ranch and other neighboring communities.

An Anaheim female in her 60s has tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) infection, becoming the first human WNV infection in Orange County this year. The woman was admitted to the hospital in July with symptoms of West Nile Virus, and is still in serious condition.

The Orange County Supervisors approved a $3 Million grant that offers up to $600,000 in each of the Supervisors' districts for programs that contribute solutions to reducing waste and increasing recycling.

The County of Orange Health Officer has lifted his Health Officer Order, in effect since September 15, 2016, and permitted the Children’s Dental Group of Anaheim to resume use of that facility’s on-site water system to perform patient dental procedures.

(Santa Ana, CA ) -If you are looking to get married before the end of 2016 and can’t make it to the Clerk-Recorder Department’s offices during normal operating hours, then you need to take advantage of the department’s last Saturday opening for 2016. Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen will be opening his offices in Fullerton, Laguna Hills and the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana on Saturday December 17, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In commemoration of World AIDS Day, the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) challenges the community to take the lead in reducing new HIV infections by knowing their status through getting tested at one of the locations offering free HIV testing on Thursday, December 1.

Veterans Day 2016 marked the first anniversary since the State of California began offering veterans the VETERAN designation on a California driver license or identification (ID) card, intended as a visible and official way of confirming military service. During the first year of the program, 2,361 veterans visited the Orange County Veterans Service Office (OCVSO) to obtain the Veteran Status Verification.

On behalf of the Orange County Health Improvement Partnership (HIP), the Health Care Agency announces the availability of the 2017-19 Orange County Health Improvement Plan for public review and comment at www.ochealthiertogether.org through December 16, 2016. The plan lays out assessments, goals, objectives and strategies for addressing the priority health areas and overall public health system over the next three years.

Musical groups from six Orange County high schools will welcome travelers at John Wayne Airport with the festive sounds of the season in the Baggage Claim areas of the Thomas F. Riley Terminal between December 16 and 20.

John Wayne Airport (JWA) anticipates a busier-than-normal travel period between December 16, 2016 and January 2, 2017. Last year, more than 500,000 passengers traveled through JWA during this period. JWA travelers can visit www.ocair.com for real-time flight status, parking availability, and road closures and construction activity near the Airport.

The County of Orange Health Officer today issued a Health Officer Order that closes the Children's Dental Group of Anaheim (CDG) due to positive laboratory results for Mycobacterium in CDG's internal water system.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors has authorized a program to allow those who are elderly, disabled and homeless who participate in the state's food-assistance program to purchase prepared meals at participating restaurants.

Airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport increased in September 2016 as compared with September 2015. In September 2016, the Airport served 867,073 passengers, an increase of 5.2% when compared with the September 2015 passenger traffic count of 824,125.

From December 14, 2016 - January 17, 2017, a series of mixed media prints by Newport Beach resident Michael Gallagher will be on display at John Wayne Airport (JWA) as part of JWA's Community Focus Space Program (CFS). These prints can be viewed on the Departure (upper) Level near security screening areas in Terminals A, B and C, and on the Arrival (lower) Level adjacent to Baggage Carousels 1 and 4.