FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2025
Latisha Townsend – Communications Director, Supervisor Foley
(714) 559-8364 | Latisha.Townsend@ocgov.com
OC Supervisor Vice Chair Katrina Foley Releases Statement Following Board of Supervisors Meeting Where the Board Voted on Licensing for Highway Patrol, Grant Awards in the Fifth District, Legislative Initiatives, and more
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Katrina Foley released a statement following Board actions on items related to licensing for State Highway Patrol, Grant Awards impacting the Fifth District, Legislative Support, and more. The meeting opened with a lengthy discussion about former Supervisor Andrew Do and recent developments in his case. Read Vice Chair Foley’s statements here
Item #3 (Sheriff-Coroner) License for California Highway Patrol to use Signal Peak Communications Facility: Approval of the Signal Peak communications facility license with the State of California will allow the California Highway Patrol continued occupancy and operation of their equipment in the Sheriff-Coroner's communications facility at Signal Peak near Crystal Cove State Park for a 20-year term.
“This agreement ensures continued support for emergency communication services in Orange County by allowing the California Highway Patrol to operate critical radio equipment at Signal Peak for the next 20 years. Signal Peak is near the 73 freeway and Newport Coast Drive at the north end of Crystal Cove State Park. The agreement provides a fair financial return to the County and includes annual increases, helping offset administrative costs while aligning with fees charged by surrounding counties,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley.
Item #21 (CEO) Report on Grant Applications/Awards: $18,186,514 in grant funding to support the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program; Continuum of Care; Division of Apprenticeship Standards; Registered Apprenticeship Program; and Emergency Management Performance Grant. The county receives only 5 cents per dollar in general-purpose revenue.
- $17,016,568 since 2024 for both the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program and Continuum of Care, ensuring Orange County continues to protect our most vulnerable populations.
- $500,000 to OC Community Resources for the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship Grant, helping to recruit youth into apprenticeships and offer supportive services during the apprenticeship.
- $669,946 to Sheriff-Coroner for the 2024 Emergency Management Performance Grant. This grant will fund our efforts to prevent, prepare, respond, and recover from emergencies and disasters, whether natural or man-made.
Legislative Support
AB 226 (Calderon):
- “This act would allow the State, if requested by the Insurance Commissioner, to issue bonds that could be used to finance claims, enhance liquidity, and increase the claims-paying capacity of the FAIR Plan,” said Vice Chair Foley.
AB 349 (Dixon):
- “This bill, authored by my colleague and friend, provides a desperately needed adjustment to the infant supplement formula, requiring that it be indexed to the CNI (California Necessities Index) as one of only two foster care rates that are not automatically increased based on the CNI,” said Vice Chair Foley. “This bill is necessary to bring parity to payments for our parenting foster youth.”
AB462 (Lowenthal):
- “Under this legislation, the construction of an accessory dwelling unit located within the County of Los Angeles would be exempt from the need to obtain a coastal development permit,” said Vice Chair Foley. “This would also apply to any county that is subject to a proclamation of a state of emergency made by the Governor on or after February 1, 2025.”
SB 283 (Laird):
- “I support this bill because it is a step in the right direction to providing standards and requirements for BESS Facilities,” said Vice Chair Foley. “It would require the California Energy Commission and the Office of the State Fire Marshal to review and consider the most recently published edition of the National Fire Protection Association 855 for incorporation into the next update of the California Building Standards Code adopted after July 1, 2026.”
In addition, Vice Chair Foley released statements in recognition of the following resolutions presented during the Board of Supervisors meeting:
Resolution proclaiming April 7-13, 2025 as “National Public Health Week”:
“Orange County remains a world-class destination to work, live, and visit because of the way we prioritize public health in our institutions, open spaces, beaches, and our communities,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “In the Fabulous Fifth, we’ve taken strides to improve public health. Five of the cities in my district have gone organic – it starts here. I applaud the City of Irvine for becoming the first city to go non-toxic in 2016, followed by San Juan Capistrano. When I was Mayor of Costa Mesa in 2019, we followed their lead, declaring the city toxic-free and protecting residents by passing a weed abatement and pest management plan that prohibits the use of toxic pesticides.”
Resolution in recognition of “National Arab, Middle Eastern and North African Heritage" Month:
“Orange County has the fifth highest population of Arab Americans in the nation. My district welcomes Arab American, Middle Eastern, and North African residents as neighbors, colleagues, and friends,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “As a sign of progress, a category for Middle Eastern and North African citizens will be included in the 2030 U.S. Census. At the County of Orange, we are working to ensure people of all cultures and backgrounds are able to live, work, and grow here.”
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Vice Chair 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.
Vice Chair Foley’s 2025 Board appointments include:
Chair – Orange County Housing Finance Trust,
Orange County Audit Oversight Committee,
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA),
Vice Chair – OCTA Legislative and Communications Committee,
Regional Transportation Committee,
Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency,
Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA),
TCA Joint Capital Improvements and Projects Committee,
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Community Engagement Panel,
Co-Chair – Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition,
Orange County Public Libraries Advisory Board,
Coastal Greenbelt Authority, Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees,
Ocean Institute, Orange County Community Corrections
Partnership (OCCCP), Santa Ana River Flood Control Protection Agency,
and the Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council.
