ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley issued the following comments on agenda items from the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.
Supervisor Foley’s votes reflect her continued commitment to reducing homelessness among our most vulnerable populations, protecting our beaches, revitalizing the middle class, improving access to County services, and ensuring safe neighborhoods.
Item 7: The Board of Supervisors voted to approve a cost share agreement between County of Orange and the State to fund the periodic beach replenishment at Surfside-Sunset Beach. Supervisor Foley remains a long-time supporter of this project since 2021.
“Our beaches are at the center of our community and local economy. As we continue to grapple with the impacts of coastal erosion, it remains clear that Orange County is decades behind on coastal planning. This vote reflects the kind of action we need to take down the Orange County coastline, so I look forward to exploring sand replenishment efforts to bolster our South County beaches and protect our coastal communities, economy, and way of life,” said Supervisor Foley.
Item 13: The Board of Supervisors voted to approve a contract with Gravois Aluminum Boats for two additional 26-foot patrol boats for the Orange County Sheriff's Department Harbor Patrol Bureau’s public safety and national security efforts to conduct law enforcement patrols, search and rescue, and Homeland Security responses to drug and human smuggling events.
“Drug and human traffickers use harbors and ports across the country to bring crime and exacerbate the fentanyl epidemic. It’s important that we as a County support our law enforcement and our Harbor Patrol officers who assist the Department of Homeland Security in keeping Newport and Dana Point Harbors safe for families to enjoy,” said Supervisor Foley.
Item 17: The Board of Supervisors voted to renew their contract with Children’s Hospital of Orange County to continue providing inpatient mental health services.
“We must provide places for families to stay with their children as they receive mental health help. I’m happy to support this vital service at CHOC for Orange County children and their families, especially right now with the crisis increase in pediatric mental health issues,” said Supervisor Foley.
Item 25: The Board of Supervisors heard reports on the status of the County of Orange General Plan Progress Report and Housing Element Implementation. Supervisor Foley questioned staff on how the County goes uncredited for its involvement in Project Homekey.
“Orange County must be able to approach housing development in a comprehensive and holistic way to truly solve the housing and homelessness crises. Since 2018 the County has funded and completed or began construction on 36 projects totaling more than 2,200 permanent supportive and affordable housing units across the County’s 34 cities,” said Supervisor Foley. “Unfortunately, Sacramento’s rules don’t allow the County to count these investments towards our regional housing goals, and this progress report simply reports the 368 units completed in our unincorporated areas. While I agree much more needs to be done to combat the crises on our streets, a full picture of the County’s investments should be reported.”
Item 33: The Board of Supervisors approved the renewal of an agreement with Family Support Network to continue providing support and mentorship services for parents seeking to reunite with their children. Parent Mentor Services supports parents with a history of substance abuse, inadequate resources, and more through weekly contact, mentoring, and access to community services.
“The reunification of families becomes possible when parents recognize their need for help and seek the necessary resources. I support funding these transformative services, so we help our vulnerable populations and bring families together,” said Supervisor Foley.
Item 35: Supervisor Foley gave remarks in support of several bills related to holding fentanyl drug dealers accountable including Senator Tom Umberg’s SB 44: Alexandra’s Law, which requires individuals convicted of fentanyl-related offenses to receive a written advisory or admonishment notifying them if an individual dies as a result of their distribution of narcotics that they can be charged with voluntary manslaughter or murder.
“Dealing fentanyl and fentanyl poisoning is not the same as other types of drug-related offenses. Within the last two years, there have been more than 100 fentanyl-related deaths. This is unacceptable. Fentanyl is outpacing causes of death amongst our Orange County youth, with so many families in our community with stories of losing loved ones to fentanyl. While it’s necessary to invest in preventative tools, we must hold to account bad actors trying to poison our children. I urge the community to speak up on the issue so we can prevent further fentanyl deaths among our youth,” said Supervisor Foley.
Item 37: The Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to their agreement with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) to continue support and advocacy for children under the jurisdiction of the courts.
“I am glad to see us partnering with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), who do a great job of pairing children who have been victims of abuse, neglect, and abandonment with court-appointed, life-long mentors and role models. I am grateful for the work they do in supporting our vulnerable youth and welcome this contract to support their endeavors of giving every child a voice and a bright future,” said Supervisor Foley.
Items 38 & 41: For Item #38, the County estimates an approximate $36.3 million with an average annual savings of $560 in Mello Roos fees per parcel over the next eleven years, which equals a savings of approximately $6,160 per parcel. There are 1003 parcels in this CFD District.
For Item #41, the County estimates an approximate $45.6 million with annual savings projected at $325, for total eleven-year savings of $3,575 per parcel. There are approximately 2,569 parcels in the two CFD Districts in this item.
This follows Supervisor Foley’s vote to consider reducing Mello Roos taxes in October 2022.
“We must take urgent action to return taxpayer dollars to the taxpayers whenever we can. These Community Facility Bonds help us finance the development of essential community assets such as sheriff and fire stations, parks, street maintenance, and other essential infrastructure in unincorporated Orange County. I look forward to sending some extra funds back to the property owners of Ladera Ranch and fulfilling a promise I made to these residents to reduce taxes,” said Supervisor Foley.
Since Mello Roos is based on property type and size, smaller parcels savings will be a slightly below the average savings and larger parcels will be slightly above the average savings.
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Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.
Supervisor Foley’s Board appointments include the Orange County Fire Authority, Coastal Greenbelt Authority, Law Library Board of Trustees, Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees, OC Public Libraries Advisory Board, Orange County Housing Finance Trust, Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, Orange County Transportation Authority, and the Transportation Corridor Agency.
