This Week's Civic Agenda

With civic leaders across Orange County getting back to work after the holiday season, a host of issues are back on the table.

County supervisors will once again address the location of the county’s Social Services Agency while Orange County Transportation Authority board members will grapple with a failed bike share program.

In local municipal action, Garden Grove leaders are exploring expanding citywide internet access and Newport Beach officials are back on beach fire rings.

County to Extend SSA Lease for One Year

The county Board of Supervisors is likely to approve a 1-year lease extension for the Social Services Administration headquarters at 888 N. Main Street, as it prepares to relocate the agency to a location in Orange.

The county will pay $1,169,119 in rent to remain in the building until Dec. 31, 2015, which will give the county more time to relocate to a new building in Orange, according to a staff report.

Supervisors voted in December to move the agency out of the Main Street building after more than 17 years on a fixed-rent lease with owner Mike Harrah. Agency staff complained for years about mold and unsafe conditions in the building, which was first constructed in the 1960s and needs major structural and safety upgrades.

According to county spokeswoman Jean Pasco, the lessor for the new building in Orange is expected to complete tenant improvements by mid-March 2015. Installation of new voice, data and IT systems will take through May 2015.

The $1.2 million paid by the lessor to the County is anticipated to cover the moving costs, Pasco said.

View the full agenda online. Tuesday’s meeting starts at 9:30 a.m.

OCTA To Reassess Bike Share Project

Orange County Transportation Authority Officials are likely to cancel a bike share pilot project in Fullerton, which is set to expire Jan. 21.

According to a report on the project’s first year, “the OCTA BikeShare Pilot Project has been operating for nearly one year with substandard results,” with just 45 annual members signed up for the point-to-point bicycle sharing program.

Usage in the pilot BikeShare program has continued to decline, according to the OCTA report.

The project costs $134,000 annually and has so far, since the project was launched last year, collected just $5,370 in revenue from usage fees and memberships.

The report cites a number of challenges, including the lack of large employers in proximity to Fullerton’s Metrolink station, operational problems with bike stations at the start of the program, and a lack of familiarity with the idea of point-to-point bike rentals.

Monday’s meeting begins at 9 a.m. Read the full agenda here.

Newport Beach to Reintroduce Wood-Burning Fire Rings

Newport Beach city council members will discuss adoption of an interim plan Tuesday that would allow wood burning fire rings on city beaches.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) issued new air quality guidelines in July 2013 regulating beach fires, after concerns about the effect of smoke from wood-fueled fires.

In Jan. 2014, the city adopted a temporary ordinance to comply with those regulations, which only allows beachgoers to use charcoal. Staff are seeking up to 30 wood-burning rings, subject to AQMD approval.

Councilmembers will also discuss a permanent plan to eventually place 60 wood-burning rings.

Tuesday’s regular council meeting begins at 7 p.m. View the full agenda online.

Garden Grove to Consider Broadband Internet Initiative

Garden Grove city council members Tuesday will discuss participation in the Next Century City Initiative, a nationwide initiative focused on increasing affordable internet access.

50 cities in 25 states are currently participating in the initiative, which asks cities to adopt six major principles of digital equity.

The council will also discuss the amending of two sections of municipal code, as requested by Mayor Bao Nguyen, which address the evaluation and removal of the city attorney.

The current city attorney is Thomas Nixon of the firm Woodruff, Spradlin and Smart.

Tuesday’s meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Read the full agenda online.

Public meetings this week include:

Monday, Jan. 12

Cypress city council (7:00 pm)

Laguna Niguel City Council (special meeting at 3:00 pm)

Orange County Transportation Authority (9:00 am)

San Juan Capistrano city council and manager retreat (9:00 am)

Seal Beach city council (6:00 pm)

Tuesday, Jan. 13
Buena Park city council (special meeting at 3:00 pm)

Garden Grove city council (regular meeting at 6:30 pm)

Irvine city council (4:00 pm)