FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2025
Latisha Townsend – Communications Director
(714) 559-8364 | Latisha.Townsend@ocgov.com
Vice Chair Katrina Foley Releases Statement Following Board of Supervisors Meeting Where the Board Voted to Extend Moratorium on Battery Storage Energy Facilities, Enhance Access at John Wayne Airport, Increase Safety in Newport Harbor, and Improve Access at OC Animal Care
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Katrina Foley released an update following Board actions on items related to battery energy storage facilities, John Wayne Airport, OC Animal Care, older adult needs, crisis intervention for Orange County’s homeless population, and more.
Item #S33E - (Vice Chair Foley) Extend Urgency Ordinance Moratorium on Large-Scale BESS facilities:
“Following the action from the January Board Meeting, County staff are working with the utility companies and industry experts to identify where we support the development of BESS facilities. These facilities are necessary to achieve our clean energy goals, but not at the expense of public safety,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “Extending this moratorium for 10 months and 15 days provides more time for our experts and staff to create guidelines for BESS development."
Item #18 - (John Wayne Airport) - Approve License Agreement with JSX Air: Approval of an Operating License with Delux Public Charter, LLC dba JSX Air to enable the company to provide regularly scheduled air service from Jay’s Air Center, LLC’s leasehold at the Southwest Limited-Service Fixed Base Operator.
“This partnership allows JSX to continue operating at John Wayne Airport and demonstrates our commitment to supporting operators who follow the County’s curfew and passenger limits, and fly the newest generation of cleaner, quieter, and environmentally friendly aircraft,” said Vice Chair Foley. “As the County embarks on its $700 million in capital improvements, we remain committed to offering the best options for our millions of customers while protecting what we love about our airport, including our local pilots who call John Wayne Airport home.”
Item #33H - (Orange County Animal Care) Directive to Orange County Animal Care: Directive to OC Animal Care to prepare a plan to add additional operating hours for unscheduled appointments, assigning a community liaison, increased online reporting, and an analysis of Trap, Neuter, and Release practices of neighboring jurisdictions.
“I wholeheartedly support all efforts to thoughtfully increase long term adoption rates and protect the animals in our care," said Vice Chair Foley. “Our measured approach to analyze the feasibility of expanded hours and explore best practices will ultimately benefit all the residents of Orange County.”
Item #10 - (Sheriff-Coroner) Approved Amendment to Gravois Aluminum Boats DBA Metal Shark Contract: Part of a multi-year approved plan to update Orange County Harbor Patrol’s Police and Fire boat fleet. The Board of Supervisors voted in 2022 to approve a contract with Gravois Aluminum Boats to update the 31 total boats managed by the Orange County Sheriff's Department Harbor Patrol Bureau. Harbor Patrol is responsible for conducting law enforcement patrols, search and rescue, boat fire response, and Homeland Security responses to drug and human trafficking events.
“This contract is part of a larger effort to update our harbor patrol boats in the coming years. The County must support our law enforcement and our Harbor Patrol officers who assist the Department of Homeland Security in keeping Newport, Sunset Huntington, and Dana Point Harbors safe for families to enjoy. Updating the fleet of Harbor Patrol boats with these Metal Sharks will create continuity among the vessels, and help our Deputies make quick, strategic decisions in highly stressful situations,” said Supervisor Foley.
Item #15 - (Health Care Agency) Approved Renewal of Master Contract for Year-Round Shelter Services: The Board approved Vice Chair Foley’s motion to renew Friendship Shelter in Laguna Beach.
“Friendship Shelter operates a full spectrum of services to end homelessness, including outreach, shelter, housing navigation, financial assistance, and permanent housing with supportive services. Their housing-first and harm reduction approach values the unique experience of each client they serve, contributing to our collective efforts to end homelessness in South Orange County,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley.
Item #27 - (County Executive Office) Approved Grant Awards Including $3.2 million grant to Office of Care Coordination: The Board approved and awarded two grants for the Office of Care Coordination’s comprehensive strategy to address homelessness in Orange County.
- $1,481,239 Grant Award and $1,500,000 Grant Award to support the Office of Care Coordination with developing and implementing a Coordinated Entry System for the homeless population, along with a comprehensive strategy to address homelessness in Orange County.
- “I am happy to support our Office of Care Coordination with developing and implementing a Coordinated Entry System for our homeless population along with a comprehensive strategy to address homelessness in Orange County,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley.
- $250,000 Grant Award for the Santa Ana River Trail to connect the San Bernardino County National Forest to the Pacific Ocean in Huntington Beach. The Santa Ana River divides the cities of Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach.
- “Active transportation is critical to decrease our overreliance on fossil fuels. By continuing to support the Santa Ana River Trail, the County showcases our commitment to public access to our beaches through our trail network,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley.
Item #31 - (County Executive Office) Older Adults Needs Assessment Report: The Board of Supervisors accepted this collective feedback from residents and stakeholders to better understand the opinions, perspectives, and circumstances of older adults of Orange County, which serves as a resource in the preparation of the Orange County Master Plan for Aging.
Vice Chair Katrina Foley said, “As our county residents grow older, we know that means a third of Orange County will be over 55 by 2050. We must plan for their housing, caregiving, and quality of life needs. The needs assessment kick-starts our efforts to build a master plan for aging that allows future seniors of all backgrounds to live well in Orange County in their golden years.”
In addition, Vice Chair Foley released statements in recognition of the following resolutions presented during the Board of Supervisors meeting:
Resolution proclaiming March 2025 as “Social Work Month”: In the past year, in District 5, our County Social Workers: Supported 305 elders and dependent adults under Adult Protective Services, provided In-Home Supportive Services to 4,936 residents, provided CalWORKs assistance to 2,781 residents, and placed 161 youth into safe and nurturing homes.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the wonderful social workers at the Social Services Agency who work tirelessly to help our most vulnerable here in Orange County,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “We need great social workers, and we need to create paths for students to pursue this important service. In the cities of Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, and Dana Point, we have long had our social workers embedded into our local law enforcement and emergency outreach teams, as a great model for diffusing situations and providing care and assistance, while keeping our social workers safe.”
Resolution proclaiming March 2025 as “American Red Cross Month”:
“In moments of crisis, the American Red Cross consistently works to provide free assistance and relief. From wildfires to home fires, to a call for blood, to food and shelter needs, or a call from a service member or military family in need, the Red Cross is there. In the face of hardship, you display professionalism, courage, and phenomenal teamwork to save lives. I commend these volunteers for exhibiting heroism and for their commitment to providing relief in times of need,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley.
“Four years ago, I joined the Board of Supervisors with an unwavering commitment to championing a thriving economy, supporting and revitalizing our middle class, and increasing government efficiency,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “Following hours of evaluation to decrease the cost of affordable housing development, our procurement staff created a program so developers using county funds can piggyback on the county’s materials contracts. Now, the cost of steel and lumber is 5% lower, decreasing the cost to develop critically needed affordable housing.”
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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.
