November 2009
In This Issue:
The Power of Collaboration
In recent weeks, two important examples of the power of collaboration have resulted in significant savings for the County’s strained financial resources.
On October 20th, the Board of Supervisors approved a contract extension and cost reduction agreement with the Orange County Managers Association (OCMA) that will result in almost $12 million in savings through Fiscal Year 2010-11. The leadership and membership of OCMA should be commended for their recognition of the difficult financial realities facing the County and their willingness to eliminate or defer increases negotiated when the County’s economic circumstances were certainly much different than they are today.
The second example was provided October 11th when Governor Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 752 allowing the County to fully implement a new optional pension tier combined with a defined contribution plan. This achievement was made possible by the efforts of many parties, including the Board of Supervisors, State Senator Lou Correa, the leadership of OCEA and County staff.
Over the long term, it is hoped that this innovative approach will help reduce the County’s pension liabilities and it is already viewed by other jurisdictions as a model for dealing with mounting pension finance issues. It truly represents the type of achievement possible when the County and labor organizations work cooperatively to find solutions to the significant and pressing problems facing government today and I extend my thanks to everyone involved for their hard work on this important legislation.
Unfortunately, recovery from these tough economic times will be slow and there are many hard decisions ahead as the County enters the next phase of its financial planning cycle. The State’s revenues continue to be lower than anticipated and there is a very real possibility of mid-year state budget reductions or deferral of payments due to local governments. Continued collaboration will be needed to get us through these financial challenges. Fortunately, we have these two examples to show us how much is possible when we work together toward a common goal.
Thomas G. Mauk
County Executive Officer
Public Works Staff Ready for Bad Weather
If you’ve lived in Southern California very long, you know that a few drops of rain are enough to motivate the media to go on “storm watch.” But the media aren’t the only ones closely watching the weather when a storm approaches. That’s when Operations and Maintenance employees from OC Public Works (OCPW) staff the posts in their Department Operations Center (DOC), formerly known as the County’s Storm Center.
Our recent October rains provided an excellent dress rehearsal for the 2009-10 rainy season, when the OC Public Works DOC will get a workout if predictions of an “El Nino” prove to be correct. Located at OCPW’s Glassell Yard, the center has all of the resources necessary for OC Public Works to monitor storm conditions, check the status of available resources and dispatch crews for emergency response tasks necessary to protect the public.
John Harris, Manager of City Contracts for OCPW’s Operations & Maintenance Division, serves as Operations Manager for the center, which may be staffed by 5-10 people at a time, depending on the nature of the event. Serving as Support Managers of the DOC are Karen Gaipo and Eileen Dupuy. From answering calls from the public and other agencies to tracking storms on one of the four large video screens in the room, the center relies on a constant flow of information to do its job. OCPW inspectors carefully monitor known “hot spots” or locations that traditionally have flooding issues during major storms. However, every storm is unique and the impact may depend on where the heavy rains strike first. Even wind storms can wreak havoc by downing tree limbs that damage power lines and buildings. “It doesn’t matter to us, we are prepared,” according to Harris.
While the department’s vehicles are loaded with the tools and equipment needed to do the job, Harris knows it is the people who are the key. “Without them, we couldn’t make this work.” Employees assigned to the center standby until they are notified to report to the center or their field assignments, with additional staff called in to meet ongoing needs. Up to three shifts of employees may be needed to cover a 24 hour period, but most emergency responses are measured in hours and not days. Of special concern this year are the areas ravaged by the Freeway Complex Fire and the previous canyon fires, since a recovery period of three to five years is needed before the land returns to a more stable condition.
So the next time it rains, or the winds begin to howl, and your favorite weather person announces they are on storm watch, you’ll know that staff from OC Public Works are watching, too, and are ready to respond as needed until blue skies make their return.
County Wins Challenge Award and Two Merit Awards from CSAC
The California State Association of Counties (CSAC) presented awards to three County of Orange agencies and departments at the Oct. 27th Board meeting. The winning programs were selected out of hundreds of entries throughout the state as part of CSAC’s annual Challenge Award competition.
“I am very proud of the innovation and creative spirit of these programs,” said Board Chair Patricia C. Bates. “County departments and agencies are continuing to find new and creative ways to better serve our community, in the face of difficult budget times.”
OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) won a prestigious Challenge Award for its AB 939 Surcharge Program, which implements a surcharge on self-hauled waste to landfills to reduce the disposal of recyclable materials. As a direct result of the program, OCW&R has experienced an increase in diverted waste from landfills to recycling facilities. Self-hauled waste has decreased 70 percent since the inception of the surcharge. Almost $14 million was generated from the surcharge for use in regional recycling education programs, including public education, outreach and a partnership with a local science center.
The Sheriff’s Department was awarded a Merit Award for its Tracking Automated Graffiti Reporting System (TAGRS), a clearinghouse that enables law enforcement and public works agencies to capture, share and investigate graffiti incidents. TAGRS maximizes staff time to the tune of a 90 percent reduction in administrative project time to document the necessary information on graffiti reports. The Orange County Transportation Authority Transit Police Services reports a 20 percent increase in cases of cleared graffiti and a cost reduction of $50,000.
The County also garnered a second merit award for the Health Care Agency’s Mobile Clinics for the Homeless program, which is a partnership between Public Health Community Nursing and private organizations to bring medical care to the homeless. In response to the challenges associated with serving homeless individuals, the public health officer worked with public and private entities to find solutions. With this partnership model, Public Health Nursing was able to promote the goals of the mobile clinics, which link clients to medical homes and pay for care.
All three awards were selected based on their innovative and resourceful solution to a problem, as well as each program’s ability to be replicated and use of cost-effective practices.
Click here to see the CSAC slideshow. (If a security window appears, select “allow.”)
Coastal Commission Approves Dana Point Harbor Land Use Plan
The California Coastal Commission (CCC) unanimously approved the Dana Point Harbor Land Use Plan on October 8th, allowing the County to pursue project specific permits to revitalize the landside of Dana Point Harbor as well as the marinas.
“OC Dana Point Harbor is pleased with the Coastal Commission’s approval of this Land Use Plan,” said Director Brad Gross. “Much effort has gone into this process, and this milestone approval sets the framework for fully developing and implementing the Harbor Revitalization Plan.”
The CCC partners with cities and counties to plan and regulate the use of land and water along the coastline in addition to issuing permits for development activities. Moving forward, the City of Dana Point will issue a Coastal Development Permit that includes the agreed upon modifications approved by the Coastal Commission and further details of the project area.
The County will also be able to prepare Coastal Development Permit applications for waterside projects that could include new docks, infrastructure, water quality improvements, and additional boater opportunities. These applications will be considered by the Coastal Commission as they retain all planning authority over any waterside projects throughout California.
To learn more about the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan, please visit www.DPHplan.com.
Operation Santa Claus Gift Collection Begins Nov. 12th
With everything going on in our busy and stressful days we may ask ourselves “what difference does a gift make?”
The answer is hope. Operation Santa Claus is in the business of gift wrapping hope and delivering it to thousands of needy children in Orange County each year.
Operation Santa Claus has grown tremendously since its inception in 1962. Last year, over 43,000 gifts were distributed to needy children and teens, and more than 2,272 elderly and disabled adults received gifts through Senior Santa and Friends.
This year’s holiday gift collection will begin
November 12th and continue through December 23rd. Look for the Angel Tags and collection boxes in your building and OC Public Libraries.
Telephone contact numbers are noted on the Operation Santa Claus/Senior Santa and Friends flyer. Please bring your new, unwrapped gift to a collection box located in your building, or call (714) 679-2438 to find out more about these programs.
Operation Santa Claus is a collaborative effort of the Social Services Agency, Orange County Foster Care Auxiliary, Health Care Agency, Probation Department, Child Support Services, and OC Community Resources. In addition, the Orange County Fire Fighters Spark of Love and the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots programs, as well as the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, support and contribute to the efforts of both Operation Santa Claus and Senior Santa and Friends.
For the many supporters who make Operation Santa Claus possible year after year, thank you! Please help us make a difference!
Stand Up and Be Counted
Something 220 years old will be visiting your home next year, and while it does have something to do with the Federal Government, it’s not from the Smithsonian Museum.
The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States, regardless of immigration status, and Census forms should arrive at your home in March 2010. The actual Census Day for the 2010 Census will be April 1st, with all responses on your census form representing your household as it exists on April 1st. A big change this year will be the length of the census questionnaire. In previous years, some households received a “long form” asking a number of additional questions. In 2010, the census form will be one of the shortest ever, just ten questions in length and will take 10 minutes or less to complete.
Information gathered by the Census is far more valuable than just knowing interesting demographics about our population. Census data determine how many seats each State will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Federal Government also distributes more than $400 billion a year to state and local governments based on the results of the Census. Locally, population figures from the Census will be used to make adjustments to the boundaries for Orange County’s five Supervisorial Districts.
So when the envelope from the U.S. Census arrives in your mailbox next March, take a few minutes to fill out the form, knowing that your responses are confidential and that your answers will have a big impact on your community for the next ten years.
Now is the Time in 2009 – United Way Update and Slideshow
The Civic Center Kick Off on Oct. 7 generated more than $16,000 to benefit this year’s United Way campaign. Booths sold everything from stuffed potatoes and root beer floats to gift baskets and used books. Special thanks to everyone who came out to support the campaign.
Special to the Connection – Golf Tourney Update from David Sundstrom
FORE! This year’s Golf Tournament for United Way was a huge success. I am so proud of our County Employees who stepped up to the challenge to raise $22,000 for Orange County’s United Way! We enjoyed a Putting Contest, Hole in One Prizes, Opportunity Drawings, Silent Auction, a BBQ Chicken & Tri-Tip luncheon as well as Celebrity Golfers. I hope to see you next year at the Tournament. Live United.
Click here to see United Way slideshow. (If a security window appears, select “allow.”)
2009 H1N1 Flu: 10 Ways You Can Stay Healthy at Work
With limited initial supplies of H1N1 influenza vaccine and an increase in influenza activity being reported, protecting your health is more important than ever. The Federal Government’s www.flu.gov website offers these ten recommendations for steps to protect yourself and others from the flu.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based
hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Be sure to wash your hands after
coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
- Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes. Germs spread this way.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your elbow.
Dispose of tissues in trash receptacles.
- Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, such as telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs, etc.
- Do not use other workers’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment. If you need to use a coworker’s phone, desk, or other equipment, clean it first.
- Don’t spread the flu! If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home. Symptoms of flu can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, tiredness, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people with flu-like illness stay home for at least 24 hours after they are free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
- Get vaccinated against seasonal flu. It can protect you against seasonal influenza viruses, but not against 2009 H1N1. Check with your health care provider or visit www.ochealthinfo.com/public/flu for more information about the availability of seasonal flu shots.
- Ask your doctor if you should get the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine. The H1N1 flu vaccine is expected to become more widely available during November. Those who are in the priority groups for 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine include pregnant women, children 6 months to 18 years of age, young adults from 18 to 24 years of age, health care workers, and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes). People living with or caring for infants under 6 months old should also be vaccinated to protect these children who are too young to be vaccinated. If you are in one of the priority groups, check with your health care provider or visit www.ochealthinfo.com/h1n1 for information about the availability of H1N1 flu vaccine. Public health officials expect that in time there will be H1N1 flu vaccine available for anyone who would like to receive it, but until supplies increase, they are asking for the public’s patience to allow those in the high-risk groups to receive the vaccine initially available.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle through rest, diet, and exercise.
- Learn more. Visit websites such as www.flu.gov or www.ochealthinfo.com or call the CDC information line (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) at 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636).
County Shakes Out with 6.9 Million Californians
At 10:15 a.m. on October 15, County employees dropped, covered, and held on for three minutes along with more than 6.9 million Californians during the largest public earthquake drill in history – The Great California ShakeOut.
Participation in these exercises helps to ensure that the workplace is prepared in the event of a disaster. To learn more about emergency preparedness and response, visit www.ReadyOC.org. The interactive site features live breaking news, information about emergency preparedness classes, training and events, videos and downloads, access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube channels, emergency kit checklists, family emergency planning tools, online games for kids, and more.
Click here to see ShakeOut slideshow. (If a security window appears, select “allow.”)
Get the 411 on the OC Waste & Recycling
- The Frank R. Bowerman Landfill is host to the world’s first commercial landfill gas-to-liquid natural gas (LNG) plant.
- Orange County residents produced an average of five pounds of waste per person per day in 2008—an amount that will continue to decrease with gains in recycling.
- OC Waste & Recycling is getting greener. New department-wide environmentally friendly practices include two-sided printing of documents, use of green office cleaning products and recycled batteries and battery chargers. In addition, the Bowerman Landfill operates in Orange County’s first green building and another LEEDS-certified building is currently under construction at the Prima Deshecha Landfill.
- Landfill gas from Orange County’s three-landfill system generates 18 megawatts of power—enough electricity to serve more than 10,000 homes.
- OC Waste & Recycling’s four regional Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers served 217,720 Orange County residents in the last two years. Visit oclandfills.com to find the center nearest you./li>
Service Awards
October Awards
35 Years
Susan Anderson
District Attorney
Lucille Cruz
OC Community Resources
Bob Wilson
Health Care Agency
Patricia Taylor
OC Public Works
Bobbie Howard
Social Services Agency
30 Years
Deborah Gray
Assessor
Michelle Lewis
Auditor-Controller
Laura Guzman
Health Care Agency
Armida Ocker
Health Care Agency
Stacy Kennedy
Human Resources
Bernie Nungaray
John Wayne Airport
Frieda Hampton-Ruple
OC Public Works
Stephen Snyder
Sheriff-Coroner
Jessica Ha
Social Services Agency
Laura Martinez
Social Services Agency
Barbara Robinson
Social Services Agency
Debora Rodriguez
Social Services Agency
25 Years
Karen Adams
Health Care Agency
Karen Jue
Health Care Agency
Anita Almazan
John Wayne Airport
Richard Hook
Probation Department
Richard Barrow
Sheriff-Coroner
Michael Hurst
Sheriff-Coroner
Scott Kennedy
Sheriff-Coroner
John Meyer
Sheriff-Coroner
Kimberly Morgan
Sheriff-Coroner
Gregory Schuch
Sheriff-Coroner
Joyce Thomas
Sheriff-Coroner
Charles Thurber
Sheriff-Coroner
Librado Trujillo
Sheriff-Coroner
Rori Aguilar
Social Services Agency
Margaret Jorth
Social Services Agency
Diana Mendez
Social Services Agency
David Miller
Social Services Agency
Elinor Stevenson
Social Services Agency
20 Years
Eric Gayden
Assessor
Carmen Morales
Assessor
John Gannaway
OC Community Resources
Loren Gibel
OC Community Resources
Craig Aguilera
Health Care Agency
Minoo Ghajar
Health Care Agency
Kathi Lozano
Health Care Agency
Molly Meza
Health Care Agency
Irma Olms
Health Care Agency
Melani Orr
Health Care Agency
Linda Pixley
Health Care Agency
Jonathan Schiesel
Health Care Agency
Wendy Young
Health Care Agency
Carol Christopher
Probation Department
Armond Nazaar
Probation Department
Sherry Nitchman
Probation Department
Christine Torres
Probation Department
Paul Dequattro
Public Defender
Beth Goss
Public Defender
Sonia Devolder Fernandez
OC Public Works
Vincent Fuentez
OC Public Works
Antonio Pascual
OC Public Works
Mary Bray
Sheriff-Coroner
James Carroll
Sheriff-Coroner
Michael Cataline
Sheriff-Coroner
Leslee Davis Salazar
Sheriff-Coroner
Roger Dawes
Sheriff-Coroner
Joseph Hoskins
Sheriff-Coroner
Catherine Irons
Sheriff-Coroner
Matthew Johnson
Sheriff-Coroner
Edward Kisow
Sheriff-Coroner
Lane Lagaret
Sheriff-Coroner
Christina Lozada
Sheriff-Coroner
Peter Mach
Sheriff-Coroner
Robert Mann
Sheriff-Coroner
Catherine Montgomery
Sheriff-Coroner
Rodney Morikawa
Sheriff-Coroner
Karen Mosley
Sheriff-Coroner
Spencer Muir
Sheriff-Coroner
Eric Nester
Sheriff-Coroner
Stewart Rawlings
Sheriff-Coroner
Robin Shirakawa
Sheriff-Coroner
Jack Songer
Sheriff-Coroner
Mary Stanford
Sheriff-Coroner
David Zindroski
Sheriff-Coroner
Lilia Abasto
Social Services Agency
Julie Akau
Social Services Agency
Margaret Angulo
Social Services Agency
Christina Ayala
Social Services Agency
Debra Chavarria
Social Services Agency
Regina Cortez
Social Services Agency
Mary Davidson-Painter
Social Services Agency
Trang Do
Social Services Agency
Ana Garcia
Social Services Agency
Rebecca Gathers
Social Services Agency
Tatiana Muresan
Social Services Agency
Denise Nguyen
Social Services Agency
Tuan Nguyen
Social Services Agency
Marty Pease
Social Services Agency
Angela Reyes
Social Services Agency
Martha Romero
Social Services Agency
Monique Ruelas
Social Services Agency
Monique Salas
Social Services Agency
Evette Sanchez
Social Services Agency
Teri Sathoff
Social Services Agency
Monique Stamas
Social Services Agency
Yenette Tham
Social Services Agency
Brian Timothy
Social Services Agency
Jesus Rodriguez
OC Waste & Recycling
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