Pacific Progressive

First Look at OCTA Route Restructuring and 150,000 Hr Service Cut Scenario

Thanks to the efforts of the Transit Advocates of Orange County (TAOC), OCTA is now considering making only a 150,000 hour cut in service beginning March 2010 instead of a 300,000 hour cut.  The consideration of the reduced cut comes with the condition that transit funds or other money must be found to prevent another 150,000 hour cut later.  If the increased funding does not come thru, service will have to be cut again.

Thru their research and outreach efforts, TAOC was able to identify that the Commuter Rail Endowment Fund (CURE) money could be used to backfill other accounts which could have monies transferred to the bus operations account.  At the November 10, 2009 Board meeting, OCTA directors gave direction to staff to proceed with the plan for a 150,000 hour service reduction.  

However, the reduced service hour cuts will also include a restructuring of routes 24, 29, 43, 47, 53, 57, 59, and 70.  The new routes being considered and a draft of the new map is available here. Download 150rec The public who use these routes needs to look at the proposed changes carefully and let OCTA staff know how the changes will impact them.  OCTA staff has demonstrated a track record of listening to public input, so please let them know if the route restructurings will have serious impacts on your ability to get to work, school, or family obligations.

Why Does the Orange County Fair Board-Foundation Want to Operate In Secret?

Blackwater like secrecy is starting to surround the Orange County Fair Foundation.  The Foundation, which is made up of six members of the OC Fair Board plus others**, should be discussing their business in public under the Bagley-Keene Act.  Instead, the Fair Board-Foundation is acting out of view of the public to conduct their business. 

• In an LA Times article about the November 9, 2009, informational hearing, OC Fair Board Chair and OC Fair Foundation Chair Kristina Dodge said that the Foundation wants to act in private because, "It's not a matter of hiding anything or not being transparent; it's about not having those shackles on you that prevent you from being nimble as a business entity."  
• An article in the Daily Pilot detailed a request from the City of Costa Mesa made on October 20, 2009, for copies of the bylaws, articles of incorporation, plans surrounding financial planning for acquiring the Fairgrounds, plans for any changes to the site's proposed operations, and copies of agreements and contracts entered into.  As of November 10, 2009. the Foundation had not replied to the request for information according to the Costa Mesa City Clerk.

Members of the Fair Board-Foundation have stated that they can operate in private because the Board part of the Foundation has nothing to do with work of the Foundation, which was established to buy the Fairgrounds, which is under control of the Board.  Thus, the Foundation side of the Fair Board-Foundation can be private while the Board side can remain public.  

This defies common sense because the Board side has financial control over the Fairgrounds - they sign the contracts for construction, exhibits, services, and employees. They are also the authority to discuss zoning and land use issues with the State, which currently has zoning authority.  The Foundation side exists solely to buy the Fairgrounds and operate the Fairgrounds once they own the property.

What is the Fair Board-Foundation really doing that they don't want the public to know?  

** This is reported based on reliable sources and has not been confirmed with source documents because the Fair Board-Foundation has not fully disclosed a membership list with names, affiliations, and titles.

What Not to Throw in the Garbage (and How to Get Rid of It)

There are many things that really shouldn't go into the garbage can anymore (no, don't sneak them in!)  They are:

1. Batteries for household use (car batteries must be delivered to a certified hazardous waste center)
2. Thermostats
3. Fluorescent tubes including those spiral fluorescent bulbs
4. TV's and computer monitors with cathode ray tubes (CRT)
5. High intensity discharge lamps such as heat lamps
6. Sodium vapor lamps
7. Aerosol cans which are not completely empty
8. Mercury containing items such as light switches, pressure gauges, thermometers and musical greeting cards
9. Computers, cell phones, other home electronics
10. Prescription and non-prescription medicine
11. Sharps and lancets in a one-way protection container

These items need to be either taken to a household waste center or picked up by a curbside recycling service.  There are four Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers in Orange County.

• Anaheim - 1071 N Blue Gum St, Anaheim, CA 92806
• Huntington Beach - 17121 Nichols St, Gate 6, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
• Irvine - 6411 Oak Canyon, Irvine, CA 92618
• San Juan Capistrano - 32250 La Pata Ave, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Some cities have also arranged with waste haulers to allow household hazardous waste and used motor oil to be picked up curbside.  Call your city to find out if this service is available at your home.

22% Increase in Food Stamp Claims, 30,000 More People on Medi-Cal in OC

Orange County has a dramatic growth in the number of residents seeking Medi-Cal, Food Stamps, and CalWORKs. Some fast facts on how bad the problem is.

1. 30,000 people now must use Medi-Cal to obtain health care because they have lost their jobs and their employer paid for health insurance.  This is the equivalent of the population of Seal Beach (24,127) and Villa Park (5,967) combined.  Effectively, it's as if everyone in Seal Beach and Villa Park signed up for Medi-Cal in the last twelve months.
2. 39,000 more people signed up for food stamps.  This is a 22% increase over last year.  39,000 more food stamp recipients is Seal Beach plus almost three more Villa Parks.
3. 9,700 more people, a 13% increase, signed up for CalWORKs.   This is a little less than twice the population of Villa Park.

(2008 population estimates from www.census.gov.)

Because of the increase in caseloads, Orange County is receiving $9 million in additional State and Federal SSA funds. 99 staff including 20 social workers for CalWORKs, 55 eligibility technicians and employment and eligibility technicians, and support staff, will receive their jobs back.  

To date, Orange County Supervisors have placed a high priority on cutting their way out of the budget crisis and have not placed a high enough priority on job creation and workforce development.  In a recent days, they have taken actions against  workforce development which would create solid middle class jobs.  This short term strategy of cutting without considering the consequences is starting to have impact, the wrong impact.

This report will be discussed at the Board of Supervisors meeting on November 10, 2009.

Last Chance to Save OCTA Bus Service - Nov 9

Make your voice heard to save bus service in Orange County by attending the OCTA meeting on Monday, November 9 at 9 AM at OCTA Headquarters, 500 S Main St, Orange, CA. This is the last chance to push the OCTA Board to find ways to prevent 300,000 revenue service hours from being cut in March 2010.

Transit Advocates of Orange County (TAOC) has researched potential ways to reduce the cuts to a little as 150,000 revenue service hours.  The goal is to prevent cuts long enough to allow transportation funds to be returned to OCTA.  Recently, the California Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of a lower court ruling instructing the State to stop using transit funds for non-transit uses.  The court has the authority to stop the future taking of transit money, but the Legislature needs to tell the State to return money already taken back to the transit agencies.  Reliable sources have stated the State has made motions to open discussions on returning at least some of the money.

Two potential sources of money exist to bridge the gap for OCTA bus service:  CURE funds and Bristol Street Widening funds.  CURE (Commuter Rail Endowment Fund) are Metrolink funds which can be transferred to other accounts, opening up a series of intra-OCTA fund transfers which frees up money for OCTA bus service and backfills the CURE account. This is a one-time pool of money which can be used.

Bristol Street Widening funds could be used to maintain bus service because transit funds were used for part of the project.  Bristol Street was originally designed with a bus rapid transit (BRT) lane, which was dropped from the final design.  However, the BRT funds remained committed to the project. OCTA staff has explored options for using the Bristol Street widening funds including the option of allowing committed construction contracts to be completed while not opening new construction contracts until more funds are available. The cooperation of the City of Santa Ana, which has some of the heaviest bus transit usage in the County,  is required for this transfer of money. 

The meeting is at 9 AM on Monday, November 9, 2009.  Contact info for the OCTA Board members is available here.  The OCTA Board is comprised of the five Orange County Supervisors and a number of city council members.  Each resident of Orange County should have at least one member of the OCTA Board representing their home or work area.  Comments can also be sent to the Clerk of the Board, Wendy Knowles at [email protected] or 714-560-5676.  

OC Supervisors Make PLA's Illegal on County Projects

On Tuesday, November 3, 2009, Orange County Supervisors voted against the already strained middle class when they made it illegal to agree to a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) on any County project.  Lead by Supervisor John Moorlach who placed the ordinance on the agenda, the Supervisors voted 5-0 to enact the ordinance. Court action can be taken against any Orange County agency or entity which engages in a PLA.  

PLA's are commonly used in both private industry and government as a tool for managing large projects.  Before construction work starts, project management and the craft trades agree to work schedules, extending contracts if necessary, and work out potential problems which can cause a project to slip schedule and come in over budget. Recently, the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) voted to use a PLA for the construction of a $432 million power plant in Lodi.  In Anaheim, Kaiser Permanente is using a PLA to construct a new 262 bed, 6 story, 434,000 square foot medical center.  

Twenty three members of the public including members of craft trades, Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development (OCCORD), and the West Contra Costa County School Board reminded the Supervisors that this ordinance was unnecessary legislation, would reduce oversight of contractors,  and would cause long term harm to the already struggling Orange County economy.  There was also a shocking admission from Jackie Nutting, Government Affairs Director for Associated Building Contractors (ABC.)

OCTA Giving $1.5 Million to Long Beach to Ease Traffic Flow

As part of the 22 West County Corridor project, OCTA will give Long Beach $1.5 million. See all the details in the Long Beach Post.  Thanks to the Transit Coalition for finding this!

150,000 Hour Service Cut Being Considered by OCTA, Down from 300,000

OCTA is now considering cutting only 150,000 revenue vehicle hours instead of 300,000 revenue vehicle hours. At the Finance and Administration meeting on October 28, 2009, the Committee discussed ways to use up to $68 million from the Commuter and Urban Rail Endowment Fund (CURE Fund) to temporarily fund the Bus Operations Fund.  

The revised plan coming from the Finance and Administration Committee has a service reduction plan to eliminate 150,000 hours of service starting March 2010.  A second plan to reduce another 150,000 revenue vehicle hours would be implemented as early as March 2010 but no later than March 2012 if a state funding source, such as the State Transit Assistance Program, is not restored or identified.  This plan is an alternative to the March 2010 300,000 service hour reduction currently on the table. The new plan reduces less service in March 2010 to buy time to find money to prevent a second round of reductions.

The potential changes to service reductions come after the California Supreme Court allowed a lower court ruling to stand which found the State's taking of transportation funds was unconstitutional.  Even though the taking of funds has been ruled unconstitutional, the State only has to stop taking future funds, they have not been told to give back the funds which have already been taken.  The California Supreme Court can tell the State to stop doing something, but the Legislature needs to act to tell the State to release previously taken monies back to transit agencies. There are rumors of ongoing talks between the State and transit agencies which may allow the money to eventually flow back.  

The other source of the potential change in service reductions is the recent identification of funds which can be "recolored" or legally transferred between types of projects.  Most transportation funding comes with "strings attached" where a particular pool of money can only be used for rail operations or buying buses or building roads. However, in many of those money pools, there are limited circumstances in which money can be transferred to other uses. OCTA staff in conjunction with Transit Advocates of Orange County (TAOC) has identified and researched pools of money which can be moved around to allow additional operating funds to be transferred to the bus system.

The OCTA Board will discuss the proposed funding solutions and 150,000 hour service reductions at their meeting on Monday, November 9, 2009 at 9 AM at OCTA Headquarters.

OC Supervisors Direct Staff to Explore Ways to Buy Fairgrounds

In closed session on October 27, 2009, Orange County Supervisors voted unanimously to authorize county staff to find ways to buy the Fairgrounds in order to maintain the use as a Fairgrounds.  Supervisors Bill Campbell and John Moorlach have been appointed to be an ad-hoc committee to work with staff on the effort.  Staff is directed to return with recommendations no later than December 2009.

This looks like Moorlach and Campbell are members of the Fair Foundation and the County is putting up at least part of the money to buy the Fairgrounds.  How much money will be put up and where is it coming from?  Where is the public participation in the public purchase of the Fairgrounds?  It's good that the Supervisors want to buy the Fairgrounds, but at a time when people are being laid off and services are being cut to the bone, there needs to be a public discussion of the action the County is taking.  Afterall, it's the taxpayers paying for the Fairgrounds. 

And, to date, the newly formed Fairground Foundation has not made their meetings or dealings public.  

OC Supes Mash Middle Class

The Orange County Board of Supervisors showed the middle class that they are not a priority during the October 27, 2009 meeting.  At the meeting, Supervisors stated they liked proposed changes to the tax structure that shifts the tax burden to the middle class and passed an ordinance banning Project Labor Agreements on County projects.

Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle presented the findings of the Commission on the 21st Century Economy of which he was a member. The Commission was set up to recommend ways to "fix" California's tax system.  One of the recommendations is to reduce the tax burden on high income residents and make middle class residents pay more.  The story is high income residents are leaving the State, and reducing their taxes will bring them back.  Supervisors John Moorlach and Bill Campbell expressed support for this provision of the plan and were concerned that high income people were being hit with higher tax bills than middle class residents.  The higher tax bills for the middle class were not discussed and did not appear to be a concern of the Supervisors.

Later in the meeting, the Supervisors voted 5-0 to forbid the County from using Project Labor Agreements (PLA's ) on County projects.  Supervisor John Moorlach placed the item on the agenda.    PLA's are job site constitutions that allow cooperation between crafts and  ensure workers receive their full paycheck and benefits.  Research has shown the PLA's allow large construction projects to completed on time and on budget time, with high quality results.  Public works jobs funded by County money provide middle class jobs and a way out of poverty for many Orange County residents.  The Supervisors sided with the Associated Builders and Contractors, which supports non-union job sites. 

60 Speakers at OCTA Meeting Tell Board About Problems Coming from March 2010 Cuts

On October 26, 2009, the OCTA heard from 60 speakers about the problems that will be caused by the March 2010 cuts to bus service.  Speakers pointed out potential problems getting to work, school, medical care, and supportive services.  Public members speaking represented the Mission Viejo City Council, Rancho Santa Margarita, Kaiser Permanente, Capistrano Unified Adult Transitional Services, Dayle McIntosh Center, the Futures Program, Southwest Community Center, Vocational Visions, United Cerebral Palsy, OC Labor Federation, Teamsters, and others who just need to get to work or school.

OCTA Board Members Curt Pringle and Jerry Amante want to use the bus service cuts as a way to improve the "operating efficiency" of the system.  Improving "operating efficiency" can include dropping routes used by only a few people in favor of heavily used routes, cutting service to peak hours only, and contracting out more bus service to transportation companies.  Board Member Pat Bates pointed out that there needs to be a balance between quality and quantity because some people don't have alternatives.  Bates represents south Orange County, which has four bus routes targeted for possible elimination.  

Trish Kelly from Mission Viejo City Council pointed out her Council sent a letter to OCTA detailing potential problems coming from proposed service cuts to routes 82, 85, 86, and 87.  The routes service high schools, Saddleback College and several large apartment complexes.  Cuts on these routes would impact the ability of high school and college students to get to school, senior citizens to get to medical appointments, employees to get to work, and the mobility of disabled residents.

Could Project Labor Agreements (PLA's) Be Banned from Orange County Projects?

Supervisor John Moorlach has put prohibiting Project Labor Agreements (PLA's) on the agenda for the Orange County Supervisors to consider at the Tuesday, October 27, 2009 meeting.  The PLA is the "job site constitution" which sets uniform terms and conditions, for all the crafts on the project.  Work schedules, dispute resolution, and cooperation between crafts are typically included in a PLA.

 Supervisor Moorlach's proposed ordinance would ban the use of PLA's on County funded projects including work for the Orange County Flood Control District, Orange County Housing Authority, and the Orange County Development Agency.  PLA's would only be allowed if required by State or Federal law.  The staff report concludes, "With an Ordinance (banning PLA's) in place, it would be far more difficult for a future Board of Supervisors to require such a contract, as had been done in the past. Such a Board would have to publish a proposal to repeal the Ordinance, and would have to explain to taxpayers why it was in their best interest to do so."

The ordinance is a blow to local building trades, which are already suffering high unemployment because of the recession.  Construction work on public projects requires skilled workers to complete the work 

OCTA March 2010 Cuts - Public Hearing, Oct 26 - How to Get There and TAOC Needs Volunteers

The Public Hearing on the March 2010 service cuts is Monday, October 26, 2009 beginning at 9 AM.  OCTA headquarters is located at 600 S Main St, just south of La Veta and north of Main Place Mall in the City of Orange on the west (southbound) side of the street.  The building you want to go to is the second large tower south of the intersection.

To get to the meeting, use routes 53, 56, 83, 147 or 453.  

If you can't be there right at 9 AM, that's not a problem. The hearing will go for a while.  You can also hand written comments to the clerk if you don't want to speak or are late. 

If you want to make your voice heard, fill out a speaker card with your name, contact info and "Item 2" before you enter the meeting room.  Give the card to the clerk at the front of the room.  Your name will be called, and you will have three minutes to address the OCTA Board.

Transit Advocates of Orange County (TAOC) need four volunteers to hand out flyers and sign up people for the mailing list.  They also need some one who can help translate their materials into Spanish.  Contact Transit Advocates of Orange County at [email protected] or call 714-607-0012.  

Voter registration will also be available at the meeting, outside the building.  To register to vote, you need to be 18 at the time of the next election, a citizen and resident of California, not in prison, and not judged by a court to be mentally incompetent.  When you register, you will be asked to provide the last four digits of your driver's license or ID card number.  If you don't have a driver's license, you can provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number.  (If you don't have one of these numbers, the state will assign you an ID number.)  If you have moved and need to change your address, you re-register to vote and check the box that you were previously registered.

Upcoming OCTA meetings

Oct 28 - Wed - 10:30 AM - Bus System  Funding Solutions Discussion - OCTA Headquarters

Nov 9 - Mon - 9 AM - Bus System Funding Solutions Board Vote - OCTA Headquarters

Nov 23 - Mon - 9 AM - March 2010 Service Cuts - Board Vote - OCTA Headquarters

Finding Ways to Reduce Freeway Congestion in Central Orange County

OCTA is studying alternatives for reducing the congestion on 5, 55, 22 and 57 going thru central Orange County.  Many strategies have been considered, and a few are moving forward in the process.  

• Strategy A - Transportation system management and improved demand management
• Strategy B -  Includes Strategy A and completion of the Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH), widen the 55 by one lane, invest in Go Local and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
• Strategy C - Includes Strategies A and B and and extending the 55, reconstructing the interchange between the 5 and 55, major widening of the 55, use of the Pacific Electric right of way for high capacity fixed guideway transit (light rail is one type of use.)
• Strategy D - Includes Strategies A and B and extends the 57 using the Santa Ana River and has high capacity fixed guideway transit along the Pacific Electric right of way.
• Strategy E - Includes Strategies A,B, C, D and includes arterial widening, arterial grade separation, connecting the 22 to the Pacific Electric right of way, bus rapid transit (BRT) in dedicated lanes, grade separation for transit corridors, and toll lanes for high occupancy transit

Strategies A and B are moving forward.  In Strategy C, the extension of the 55 has been dropped because of costs associated with right of way acquisition.  The extension of the 57 using tunnels under the Santa Ana River has been dropped due to cost considerations.  Much of Strategy E was eliminated due to high cost of acquiring right of way and significant environmental impacts.  

Staff presented new alternatives to move forward with. Included in the recommendations are HOV connectors of the 22, 405 and 650, high frequency Metrolink service, express bus routes, bus rapid transit, local bus service improvements on north/south routes, Park and Ride improvements, optimization and synchronization of arterial intersections, Go Local projects, and improvements to local roads including build out of the Master Plan of Arterial highways.

Staff will come back to the Board of Directors in April 2010 with an update.

OC Fair Sale - What Are Your Ideas for a Non-Profit?

Costa Mesa City Council is looking for your input on the idea of a non-profit running the Orange County Fair and Events Center (OCFEC).  Should the OC Fair stay the way it is?  Who should be on the non-profit board?  Should there be a botanical garden on the grounds?  

Send your ideas, concerns and questions to [email protected].