
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Vice Chair of the OC Board of Supervisors Katrina Foley released a statement after the Board voted to support the expansion of affordable housing for seniors in San Clemente and for housing insecure Veterans through Project Homekey in Costa Mesa. The Board also approved protecting and maintaining open space surrounding the Ranch Plan Planning Community, a variety of grant applications and awards, received updates on the US Government funding freeze, and enacted an urgency ordinance to place a temporary moratorium on permitting for BESS facilities.
Item 29: (County Executive Office) FY 2024-25 Mid-Year Budget Report: The Board approved the recommended actions to the FY 2024-25 Mid-Year Budget Report. This Report provides the Board of Supervisors, members of the public, County departments and other interested parties with an overview of the current status of revenues, expenditures, Net County Cost, total budgeted positions and various departmental issues requiring recommended changes to the County’s budget. However, concerns were raised given the White House directive to freeze federal funding to state and local governments.
“Today we adopted a mid-year budget with a focus on balancing our budget and streamlining our contract and procurement policies to cut red tape and increase accountability. However, last night we learned that the White House ordered a sweeping federal funding freeze to state and local governments.” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “The unclear directive created massive confusion, with updates coming almost every hour attempting to clarify which programs were subject to funding delays. Ultimately a federal judge temporally blocked the White House directive. In these unprecedented times we must focus on delivering services directly to residents and work together to find common ground. While the freeze is decided in the courts – the County has the funds to continue our core functions expected by the residents, and we will work to restore all of our funding from the federal government.”
Programs subject to funding delays by the White House. paused by the Trump Administration include: Family Planning services; Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention; Cancer Detection, Research, and Treatment; Human Trafficking Victims Research; Adoption and Foster Care; Child Abuse prevention; Maternal and Infant health services; National Fire Academy; Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response; Community Disaster grants & loans; Port Security grants; Supportive Housing for the Elderly and People with Disabilities; Family Self Sufficiency Program; Office of Violence Against Women Special Projects; Veterans Treatment Court; Pensions to Veterans; Veteran Cemetary Grants; Small Business Development Centers; and more.
Later in the day, the Board learned that a federal court judge halted the freeze temporarily. County staff were directed to review all Federally funded programs and projects to determine the total financial impact.
Item S32A: (Vice Chair Foley) Urgency Ordinance Moratorium on Permitting of Large-Scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS): The Board approved Vice Chair Foley’s Urgency Ordinance Moratorium on Permitting of Large-Scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facilities in unincorporated Orange County.
“The County currently has no regulations for BESS facilities. These facilities are necessary to achieve our clean energy goals,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “In the last six months, the County has received two separate inquiries for BESS facilities from developers interested in building these facilities. Given the current fire prone conditions, the risks posed by BESS facilities, and the County’s lack of specific BESS facility regulations, it was imperative that the Board of Supervisors approve this temporary moratorium while County staff work with the utility companies and industry experts to identify where we want BESS facilities developed.”
“Since January 1, 2025, alone, there have been at least five separate fires in Orange County reported to OCFA which risked rapid spread in high wind conditions, along with numerous other, smaller fire ignitions throughout the County.” Vice Chair Foley added: “Much of unincorporated Orange County has been identified by the State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as a high, or very high, fire hazard severity zone. We cannot afford to let the state circumvent local control on this, and we need to develop and provide necessary guidelines, so BESS facilities are built responsibly.”
Item 6: (OC Public Works) Approve Final Tract Map 19227 and Cow Camp Road 2C-1 Maintenance Agreement: The Board of Supervisors approved the Final Tract Map 19227, to provide public and private streets, sewer, water, recycled water, public and private storm drain and monumentation for Tract 19227 of the Ranch Plan Planned Community and define maintenance responsibilities for Cow Camp Road Segment.
“20 years ago, the Ranch Plan PC was designed to preserve the environmental diversity and historical uniqueness of these 22,815 acres, while simultaneously acknowledging the need for development to accommodate projected increases in population, affordable housing and employment growth in southern Orange County,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “As your County Supervisor, I remain committed to protecting our precious open spaces.”
Item 11: (District Attorney) Approval of Amendment Number One for Forensic DNA Databasing Testing Services: The Board voted to approve and renew contract with Bode Cellmark Forensics Inc. for their Forensic DNA Databasing Testing Services.
“Our Orange County District Attorney’s Office is committed to utilizing the latest science and technology to solve crime, exonerate the innocent, and prevent future victimization,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “The OCDA Science & Technology Unit furthers these goals by harnessing and integrating cutting edge science and technology, such as our Forensic DNA Databasing Testing Services, to promote justice and enhance public safety. The OCDA is one of the only prosecutorial agencies in the country that maintains its own DNA database.”
Item 16: (OC Community Resources) Approve Estoppel and Partnership Interest Transfer for Vintage Shores: The Board approved of the Estoppel Certificate for the County of Orange’s HOME Regulatory Agreement and transfer in partnership interest to allow USA Properties Fund, Inc. to continue operation of the Vintage Shores Senior Apartments, an existing 122-unit senior affordable housing development in the City of San Clemente.
“Vintage Shores is at full capacity and is a source of stable and affordable housing for San Clemente Seniors,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley.“The Estoppel Certificate ensures that USA Property Funds, Inc. can continue providing essential housing to this most vulnerable population in San Clemente.”
Item 18: (OC Community Resources) Approve Assignment, Amended Loan Documents and Subordination for Mesa Vista: The Board approved County of Orange (County) loans for Mesa Vista, formerly Motel 6, to complete the financing of Phase II and begin construction to continue the State’s efforts to rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
“When I joined the Board of Supervisors, I spearheaded ‘Project Home Key in a Box’ to streamline the process of turning dilapidated motels into quality supportive housing,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “Our 2024 Point in Time proves that we must build more permanent supportive and affordable housing. As Orange County Housing Trust Chair, I look forward to working with community partners to further increase our affordable and supportive housing supply across Orange County.”
Resolution proclaiming January 2025 as “National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month”:
“Human trafficking remains a serious problem in Orange County,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “Orange County’s Human Trafficking Victim Advocacy Program supports a specialized team providing services to over 1,490 victims of human trafficking over the last decade, 43% of which were minors. We must take urgent action to educate our communities and ensure our neighborhoods remain a safe place to live.”
Vice Chair Katrina Foley continued, “Young victims are often groomed online through social media and gaming. Talk to your children early and often about the dangers of engaging with strangers online. Report a tip by calling the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or texting “help” to 233733.”
Resolution proclaiming Lunar New Year:
“Lunar New Year signifies a time of reflection, celebration, and renewal, as communities around the world join together to embrace the Year of the Snake – representing transformation, wisdom, and intuition,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “As your Vice Chair, representing the Fabulous Fifth District — where nearly 100,000 Asian American residents call home — I remain committed to bringing your voices to the table, celebrating your beautiful cultures and solving issues facing your community.”