FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2026
Latisha Townsend – Communications Director, Supervisor Foley
(714) 559-8364 | Latisha.Townsend@bos5.oc.gov
OC Supervisor Vice Chair Katrina Foley Releases Statement Following Board of Supervisors Meeting Where Other Supervisors Delayed Dana Point Harbor Revitalization, Stalled Aliso Creek Pilot Program, and More
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley released the following statement following yesterday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, which included discussion on a new ground lease for Dana Point Harbor and an OC Public Works pilot program at Aliso Creeks, as well as expansion support for unhoused residents, and other key items.
Item #31 (County Executive Office) Ground Lease Agreements for Dana Point Harbor: The Board of Supervisors continued this item to the August 25 meeting to allow three Board members to negotiate additional terms. Supervisor Foley voted against the continuance, urging the Board members to communicate the terms on the dais so the Board could address, vote, and move forward. The item considers bifurcation of the leases with new 66-year ground leases for the hotels, commercial core and marina, and drystack facilities, and a revised timeline to advance construction.
“The Dana Point Harbor revitalization represents a major investment in the future of this important public asset and helps generate needed revenue for the County. I pushed hard for approval to advance construction of the hotels from 2030 to 2028 – the final major piece of the revitalization,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “Meanwhile, construction in the commercial core and marina continues as well as advancement of the redesign of the noncommercial County managed park, beach and community center facilities.”
Supervisor Foley continued, “I remain committed to protecting Dana Point Harbor as a welcoming public space for the community and thriving spot for local small businesses, while strengthening community benefits and public access.”
The Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Project includes more than $700 million in private investment across the marina, commercial core, hotels, and drystack facilities. COVID era delays in construction commencement caused rising costs in addition to permitting delays, and new financing requirements prompted updated lease structures which require separate hotel leases to help secure standalone financing for two new hotels.
Supervisor Foley joins OC Parks for a community workshop on Wednesday, August 19 at 6 PM at the OC Sailing and Events Center to gather public input and ideas for improvements to the park, parking, and facilities.
Item #S50G (Vice Chair Foley) Approve Pilot Project for Manual and Mechanical Vegetation Removal in Fifth District Portions of Aliso Creek Channel: The Board of Supervisors denied a request by the City of Laguna Beach to add portions of the Aliso Creek channel to the manual and mechanical vegetation removal methods pilot in the Fifth District, part of a broader effort to reduce chemical use in Orange County waterways. The motion failed 2-2-1 with Supervisors Wagner and Chaffee voting no and Nguyen abstaining.
“We launched this pilot in San Juan and Trabuco Creeks to explore alternatives to herbicide spraying while maintaining flood control capacity,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “At the request of the City of Laguna Beach, I proposed to expand that work into the small County-managed portions of Aliso Creek in the Fifth District. This area connects directly to a channel maintained by Laguna Beach without pesticides. While the Board did not approve the expansion yesterday, I continue advocating for safer vegetation management methods, greater transparency, and practical alternatives to herbicide use in our communities.”
Item 51: Chair Chaffee and Supervisor Sarmiento - Public Hearing to consider second reading and adoption of “An Ordinance of the County of Orange, California” regarding full-cost recovery for lobbyist registration and renewal fees: The Board approved changes to the County’s lobbyist registration and renewal fee structure to recover the full cost of administering the County’s lobbyist registration and reporting program.
“Lobbyists who get paid to influence County decisions should cover the cost of the system we use to register them and provide transparency to the public, not burden Orange County taxpayers,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “This ordinance strengthens accountability, protects General Fund dollars for public services, and makes sure the cost of administering our lobbyist disclosure program falls where it belongs.”
Item #19 (County Executive Office) Approve the Adaptation of a County-created Tool by Rutgers: The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve Rutgers University’s adaptation of Orange County’s Coordinated Entry System Moving On Assessment tool, which helps individuals successfully transition from permanent supportive housing to more independent housing.
“Rutgers University built on our work to develop the Life After Supportive Housing Readiness Self-Assessment Tool & Action Plan, which already generates interest from communities across the country,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “Orange County continues to set the standard, serving as a model for improving homeless service delivery. Proving once again, the OC way is the best way.”
Item #39 Approve grant applications/awards: The Board accepted $756,000 in INVEST CLEAN funding for OC Waste & Recycling to help install electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The award marks the County’s first funding through the federal INVEST CLEAN program and will help OCWR prepare to transition at least six medium and heavy-duty fleet vehicles to zero emission vehicles in the next five years.
“Two years ago, my office worked with our Director of Sustainability and the South Coast Air Quality Management District to bring home $500 million from Washington, D.C. to clean the air of Southern California. I commend Deputy Director Tara Tisopulos and our Office of Sustainability team for securing the County’s first INVEST CLEAN award and bringing $756,000 back to Orange County,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “This funding helps us modernize our landfill fleet and charging infrastructure while reducing the local cost burden of meeting California’s clean fleet requirements.”
The Board also authorized the Orange County District Attorney’s Office to accept $9,726,523 from the California Department of Insurance for the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud Program. The funding will continue supporting a dedicated vertical prosecution unit of prosecutors, investigators, and support staff focused on investigating and prosecuting workers’ compensation insurance fraud.
“I commend Ms. Young, who manages the District Attorney’s workers compensation fraud team, for securing nearly $9.7 million to investigate and prosecute workers’ compensation insurance fraud in Orange County,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “Fraud drives up costs for employers, workers, and taxpayers. This funding gives our prosecutors and investigators the resources to hold offenders accountable without shifting those costs onto the County General Fund.”
Item #42 (Health Care Agency) Renewal of Contract for Multi-Drug Resistant Organism Data Exchange Software: The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to renew a two-year contract with Altarum Institute to continue Orange County’s Multi-Drug-Resistant Organism (MDRO) Data Exchange Software through September 2028. The system allows the Health Care Agency and 20 participating healthcare facilities to quickly share information about patients with drug-resistant infections during transfers, helping prevent unintended exposures and control the spread of infectious diseases.
“When a patient moves from one healthcare facility to another, timely information can help prevent the spread of dangerous drug-resistant infections,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “Orange County’s data exchange gives healthcare providers critical information when they need it, helping protect patients, strengthen infection-control efforts, and safeguard public health across our community.”
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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 2026 Board appointments include:
Orange County Housing Finance Trust,
Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA),
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA),
Orange County Audit Oversight Committee,
OC Public Libraries Advisory Board,
Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees,
Transportation Corridor Agency - Foothill/Eastern,
Transportation Corridor Agency - San Joaquin Hills,
Coastal Greenbelt Authority
National Association of Counties (NACO),
Olympics 28 Ad Hoc Committee
Urban Counties Caucus
