The City Square

Since it looks like the California Water Fix - or two tunnels - will be built in two phases, it makes sense that we present our podcast on the California Water Fix in two parts.  In the second part of our two-parter you'll hear from MET Director Larry Dick, MWDOC Director Megan Yoo Schneider, Huntington Beach Councilwoman Barbara Delgleize and IRWD Director and Association of California Water Agencies Vice President Steve LaMar.  Is the California Water Fix worth $4 or $5 per month on your water bill?  Perhaps Benjamin Franklin put it best when he said, "We'll know the worth of water when the well runs dry."  Dive into today's podcast to learn more about water!

The Association of California Cities Orange County hosted a breakfast with water leaders from throughout the county and throughout the region and The City Square was there.  What is the California Water Fix?  Will it really provide more water reliability?  What other water solutions are Orange County water leaders looking at?  We answer those questions and more in Part One of our two-parter on water as we recorded live from Newport Beach at the ACC-OC California Water Fix Summit.

Take cover!  The pension tsunami is looming right off of Orange County's coast!  But it's not enough to go inland - every California city is at risk.  If we aren't careful, we'll soon be paying more for those who have retired from public agencies than we're paying for those working at public agencies.  Cities find their hands tied by the politics of Sacramento, but there are still options on the table for local leaders.  Tune in this week as we speak to Diane Dixon, City Councilwoman from Newport Beach, and Lyn Semeta, City Councilwoman from Huntington Beach as we tackle the critically important issue of public employee pension reform.

The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.  The second best time is today!  In our first podcast of 2018 we interview Scott Griffiths of Great Scott Tree Services about how important trees are to the health and beauty of our communities.  The challenges of keeping trees pruned and healthy.  When to trim.  How to trim.  The impact of a nasty little bug called the shot-hole borer.  The affect of drought and of too much rain.  And Scott talks about how his business has gone from one chainsaw and a pickup in the 70's to a high-tech, GPS-centered electronic-tracking tree maintenance business.

In our last podcast of the year we hear from ACC-OC's President and Garden Grove Mayor Steve Jones along with ACC-OC CEO Heather Stratman on the important issues the Association tackled in 2017 and the challenges that lie ahead in 2018.  Plus a rousing rendition of "Orange You Glad We Asked?" where we find out that Steve Jones may not be the most famous Steve to come from Garden Grove.  Who is?  You'll have to tune in this week to find out.  From all of us at The City Square, have a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

Both Nicole Suydam of the Second Harvest Food Bank www.feedoc.org and Mark Lowry of the Community Action Partnership www.ocfoodbank.org are there all year long to help those in need.  You might be surprised to hear that one out of six children in Orange County have food insecurities.  And these non-profit organizations help families in every zip code in the County - even wealthier areas like Newport Beach, Villa Park and San Clemente.  What are some of their biggest challenges?  And how can you help this holiday season?  Find out by tuning in to today's show.

What does the future of transportation look like?  The way technology is advancing, it will likely include automated vehicles.  So does that mean you can catch up on some shuteye while your car zips you around to work or back home?  Probably not in the near future, but then again who would've thought we'd have a computer we can make phone calls with in our pocket 25 years ago?  The tech moves fast, but the City Square moves faster.  Today we talk to two leading experts in the field about the short-term and long-term future of self-driving vehicles.

Sober Living Homes are springing up in residential communities throughout Orange County.  Yet our local elected leaders have legal limitations to regulate these businesses due to federal laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act.  Laguna Niguel Councilwoman and ACC-OC Sober Living Homes chairwoman Laurie Davies and Malibu Councilman Lou LaMotte come into the City Square to discuss not only challenges, but potential solutions.  

Today we take a peek behind the curtain at ACC-OC and see all the work the various committees doing in terms of research, analysis and collaboration to help develop the policies that improve Orange County's quality of life.  Today we speak with Tustin Councilman Al Murray who heads ACC-OC's Infrastructure and Technology Committee as well as La Habra Mayor Pro Tem Tim Shaw who leads the Legislative and Regulatory Committee.  What are some of the state laws we need to be aware of?  What is the next generation technology that we need to start planning for today?  Tune in this week to find out!

Public safety is always a top priority for Orange County voters, but they may not realize they're more vulnerable on their computer or smart phone in public than they are from a mugger on the street.  Criminals are lazy and if they can convince you to give them your personal information, they will take advantage.  Today we talk to The County of Orange's IT cybersecurity expert Jacob Margolis and former Mission Viejo Mayor and technology expert Frank Ury about cybersecurity.  How can we protect ourselves?  And what emerging threats do we face?  Tune in to to find out!

The Association of California Cities just got back from Washington DC and was able to meet with several Congressional Representatives and senior staff members of Senate offices and of the President's administration.  Our local elected offiicals were able to discuss important community issues inluding transportation, homelessness, affordable housing and Community Development Block Grants.  Also discussed was the federal roles in targeted areas like cannibas, sober living homes and drone regulations.  ACC-OC continues to be at the forefront on many of these issues and working collaboratively with our federal representatives, we look forward to bringing more resources to bear to solve some of these problems.  Tune in this week to hear from Aliso Viejo Mayor Dave Harrington, La Habra Mayor Pro Tem Tim Shaw and Buena Park City Manager Jim Vanderpool as they return from our nation's capital to give us a report.

The bell has rung and everyone is back in school.  But sometimes the best educational experiences occur outside the classroom.  Today we talk about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) with the leaders in outdoor education, Inside the Outdoors.  A terrific public-private partnership, Inside the Outdoors receives donation funding and grant funding from private Orange County companies to get kids out of the classrooms and into places like Modjeska Canyon and the Bolsa Chica Wetlands.  An Orange County Department of Education program, Inside the Outdoors collaborates with the public and private sector to give Orange County schoolchildren unforgettable educational experiences.

Whether you're listening to this podcast on your commute to work, or on your treadmill, or while you're doing chores, there is probably a small cell site out there that helped you download it to your personal mobile device.  Mobilitie helps make that happen, but it is a team effort to get it done.  Ever look up and wonder what that "suitcase" is doing on a light pole or traffic signal?  It's probably a small cell site that is becoming more and more important as we transmit more and more data over our phones.  We'll chat today about the technological advances and the work that Mobilitie does with our cities to make their needed service as invisible as possible to their customers.

Would you know what to do if an earthquake or wildfire hit NOW?  Do you have an escape plan?  An emergency kit?  Do you know where all your important papers are?  Do you have a little cash on hand and - more importantly - some extra water and food?  This week we speak with Red Cross CEO of the Western Region Linda Voss and the Director of Emergency Management at the County of Orange, Donna Boston.  It may take many hours or even days for emergency responders to arrive in a mega-disaster so we need to be self-reliant and well-prepared.  Today's show can give you that road map!

The United States' only California native President was from Orange County.  This week we visit the Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library and Birthplace and talk about the amazing renovations and revitalization that has gone on in Yorba Linda over the past few years.  Our 37th President founded the EPA, created Title IX to give women athletes an opportunity at scholarships and navigated our nation through one of our most turbulent times in the late 60's and early 70's.  Brian Lochrie interviews Bill Baribault, the CEO of the Nixon Library Foundation and Joe Lopez, the Communications Director of the Libarary and plays our new game show "Orange You Glad We Asked?" - the Presidential Version!

Hello, Newman!  Today we welcome Senator Josh Newman and Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk Silva into the City Square.  We discuss their mutual passion for ensuring opportunities for our military veterans and the Orange County veteran cemetary being planned at the Great Park in Irvine.  We also dive into SB1 - a.k.a. the Gas Tax - and talk to Senator Newman why he voted yes for this tax increase and we discuss the recall that is underway against Senator Newman and the reasons behind this effort.

It was a celebratory atmosphere in La Habra with the La Habra Highlanders Marching band playing as the City Council cut a red ribbon to officially open the city's new Civic Center!  The City Square recorded live from the event and we spoke with the Mayor and several councilmembers about how this beautiful facility was made possible thanks to a public-private partnership land swap that saved significant City taxpayer dollars.  Celebrate with us as we take the City Square on the road to La Habra! 

Whether it was writing your name in the air with a sparkler or watching your dad light the grand finale Big Bang fireworks display in your cul-de-sac, TNT Fireworks are as much a part of Independence Day as hot dogs and American flags.  Now that the 4th of July is behind us, John Kelly of TNT Fireworks can finally relax, right?  Well, not quite.  Tune in to the City Square this week to learn about all TNT does to work with non-profits in our communities and the premium they put on safety.

OC Fair and Event Center CEO Kathy Kramer joins Brian on the City Square to talk about the upcoming annual Orange County Fair, which runs from July 14 to August 13.  But did you know there are events at the Fairgrounds year-round?  Heroes Hall, Centennial Farm, the Pacific Ampitheatre and so much more.  And did you know the Fairgrounds used to be a military air base?  Tune in to this week's show to learn more about Farm Fresh Fun at their year's fair.

Patrick Munoz, a partner at Rutan & Tucker, the oldest law firm in Orange County, joins the City Square to discuss various legal issues affecting Orange County today.  We touch on homelessness, sober living homes, short-term rentals and the new public smoking ban in Laguna Beach.  And how will one of the top attorneys in Orange County fare with our "Is It A Law" segment?  Tune in to find out!

On this week's show, Orange County Auditor-Controller Eric Woolery joins us to tell us about how he protects taxpayer dollars at the County, why he values an educated citizenry and who "Jameson" is.  Tune in to learn more about what the County's outlook is from a financial perspective.

Lita Mercado from CSP and Christine Smith and Elizabeth DenBleyker from the County of Orange Social Services discuss Human Trafficking in Orange County.  What it is and what we can do to help identify victims.  And could we have another "5-0" perfect score on "Is It A Law"?  Tune in and find out!

Even as the new administration rolls back the climate change laws instituted by the Obama administration, California continues to strengthen its environmental rules.  Tune in to this week's show to find out how local communities can be more environmentally sustainable in a way that still creates economic growth.

UCI Professors David Snow and Rachel Goldberg join United Way's Carla Vargas to discuss homelessness in Orange County.  Did you know that the vast majority of the homeless in Orange County are FROM Orange County? How are our community leaders working collaboratively toward a solution?  And does San Francisco really have a law that states you cannot sit or lie on city sidewalks from 7 am to 11 pm?  Tune into this week's show to find out! 

Laguna Niguel Councilwoman Laurie Davies and Laguna Hills Mayor Barbara Kogerman talk about everything going on in their cities.  Laguna Hills is looking forward to the "Five Lagunas" to take the place of the Laguna Hills Mall and serve as the new hub for that city.  Meanwhile, the Agora Arts District will be the new downtown hub in Laguna Niguel.  We also talk transportation, regional planning agencies with funny acronyms (SCAG and OCCOG) and the public health importance of preventing West Nile Virus.

Scott Larsen of HomeAid Orange County and Max Gardner of the United Way join Brian Lochrie to discuss homelessness and what we can do to help address one of Orange County's growing challenges.

The South Orange County Economic Coalition, in collaboration with Saddleback College, has released its third annual "South Orange County Economic Report," which analyzes the data and market analysis of 11 South Orange County cities.  The economy continues to grow and annually creates about $27 billion in economic activity.  But there are some needs: Transportation infrastructure is needed to support the economic growth.  The population is aging in place and young adults can't afford to live in South OC.  We discuss these issues and so much more on this "on the road" episode of the City Square at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo at the luncheon for the third annual South Orange County Economic Report.

Garden Grove Mayor Steve Jones and Laguna Niguel Mayor Jerry Slusiewicz stop by to update us about what is going on in their cities.  Both cities are burgeoning with economic development, great new parks and exciting new projects on the horizon.  We'll talk about the new "downtown" planned for Laguna Niguel and discuss the new hotels planned in Garden Grove.  Both cities are improving and expanding their beautiful park space and both Mayors are dedicated to improving the quality of life for their residents.

You probably knew someone that got a drone for Christmas last year.  But do you know the implications of drone use in our Orange County cities?  If they crash into someone or something, who is responsible?  On this week's episode we'll discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the growing use of drones in our communities.

People in Orange County may not be aware of the human trafficking that happens in our communities. This tragedy is all too real and unfortunately is taking place in our very cities. This week Brian explores the problem with Jim Carson, Program Manager of the Rising Tide Transitional Housing Program at the Orangewood Foundation, Sgt. Juan Reveles, Anaheim Police Department & Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, and Bradley Schoenleben, Orange County Deputy District Attorney. Learn how this serious issue is affecting our communities and what we can do to stop it.

This week we have Kaiser Permanente and the Hospital Association of Southern California to delve into the healthcare issues of our region, state, and even country. How is Kaiser working with cities to meet the needs of our residents, and how can HASC bring hospitals together to find solutions to healthcare issues? Learn all this and more on this week's episode.

It's the final segment of our 100th Episode celebration! We had on great guests towards the end of the night that included Maureen Hayes from HNTB, Fred Whitaker from the City of Orange, Dustin Reilich for the HERO Program, the ACC-OC's newest staff members, and more! We thank everyone who came out to celebrate our big milestone and look forward to many more great episodes in 2017.

It's the last episode of the year! Stop by The City Square and join our final guest of 2016, Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors Lisa Bartlett. Chairwoman Bartlett discusses some forward looking issues in Orange County that will be a focus for 2017, including the I-405 Improvement Project, the future of the SR-241 after the settlement agreement, the Dana Point Harbor, and reducing homelessness. Stop by and join us to round out the year, and thanks for listening in 2016!  

In this segment of our 100th episode we're joined by Mayor Beth Swift from the City of Buena Park, as well as the Gift of History's Gail Eastman. They're joined by Jim Leach from the Santa Margarita Water District as Brian explores educational opportunities for young kids in the first part of this segment. Then, special guest Jim Leach takes over for the second half of the evening to interview The TCA's Mike Kraman and TNT Firework's John Kelly. It's an explosive second part of our 100th episode, be sure to tune in!

While you may not be going hungry this holiday season, countless others are. We explored this serious issue with Second Harvest Food Bank and Solutions for Urban Agriculture, and learned about their partnership to end hunger in Orange County. Do you know how many families in Orange County go hungry each night? The surprising answer is why we need the great work of these two organizations as they address needs in our communities.

Today Brian sits down with Youth Advisory councils from Santa Ana and Huntington Beach as we explore the impact that our communities' young people have in their local governments. The kids growing up today will eventually be in charge of our cities in the future. Cheryl Eberly and Chris Cole give us an idea of what we can expect from these future leaders, and if their current work is any indication, then our future looks bright. Jump into The City Square to learn more!

In this two part episode we are joined by Scott Kitcher with Sustain OC who discusses the name change from CleanTech OC. Scott also shares with Brian news about the work Sustain OC is doing in our county, and how cities and agencies can take advantage of available grants to lower costs. Then, Joone Lopez joins The City Square, general manager at the Moulton Niguel Water District. MNWD has taken a different approach to the drought with their intensive data collaborative. This project is allowing them, and fellow partners, to better understand water usage and identify opportunities for increased efficiency.

Take a listen to the first installment of our 100th episode special celebration broadcast! When The City Square hit this great milestone we invited all our past guests to join us for an evening reception where they could jump on and update Brian about initiatives across Orange County. In this episode you'll hear from Heather Stratman, ACC-OC CEO, Council Members Al Murray and Steve Jones, ACC-OC President and past-President, Steven LaMotte from the BIA and Dr. Glenn Roquemore from IVC, Patrick Mahoney from Waste Management and Council Member Mike Posey from Huntington Beach. 

Christa Dietzen, silver medalist in the 2012 Olympics, and Jay Burress with Visit Anaheim join Brian to talk about the benefits of USA Volleyball in Anaheim, and the greater effect of sports teams in Orange County. Having top teams housed in our community does a lot more than provide great entertainment. Brian dives into the economic and social benefits it brings as well. Be sure to catch this great episode!

This week looks at one of the most important issues from the 2016 election in California, Prop 64, or the legalization of marijuana. This ballot measure passed on November 8th, and Rutan and Tucker is on The City Square to talk with Brian about what this means, what's now legal and what's still illegal, and what control cities still have on marijuana. After a whirlwind of news, join The City Square to start looking ahead and what this election will mean for our future.

This week we hear from Darrell Johnson, CEO at OCTA, and Council Member Lori Donchak, chair of the OCTA Board. They delve into the issue that can affect your life most: transportation! Tune in to learn about the new bus routes that went into effect last month, improving traffic congestion, active transportation and more!

On today's episode we hear from Waste Management's Tom Koutroulis and Chip Monaco and learn how they do their part to help manage a portion of the 13.3 million pounds of trash that Orange County produces every day. Also, get a preview of the Bowerman Landfill, the subject of an upcoming ACC-OC infrastructure tour on November 18. Finally, Tom and Chip discuss the importance of recycling and how this helps with a city's waste.

This week is a great episode devoted to exploring ways of encouraging the youngs girls of Orange County to become our future leaders. Did you know that 1 out of every 2 adult women was a Girl Scout growing up? Brian hears from Orange County Girl Scouts CEO Nancy Nygren on what effect this has on our communities. Also, Nancy discusses STEM and how the Girl Scouts are involved in education with the business community to broaden the scope of work young girls can aspire to.

For the first week of October Kate Klimow and Chris Reese join Brian to talk about the start to a new school year. UCI and CSUF are both welcoming one of their largest and most diverse classes and have been making a number of expansions to their educational programs to offer new and innovative ways to learn. Also, Brian discusses the schools' partnerships with cities, and the impact they have on their respective communities outside the classroom. Back-to-school season is well underway, get caught up on education this year in The City Square.

Heather Stratman is in The City Square this week joined by ACC-OC's newest team members, Katie Frisz and Kelsey Brewer. Katie and Kelsey tell Bryan about their positions with ACC-OC and how they're working to bring greater services to members. Also, Heather talks with Brian about all the events coming up and how members can get involved with the great policy offerings from the organization. Don't forget, October 26th is The City Square's recording of its 100th episode! Join us for an evening reception at ACC-OC's office and hop on the square! Think you've got what it takes for Is it a Law? See if you can go 5 rounds and earn your spot in City Square fame.

This week we learn all about diversity and its role in Orange County. But with diversity comes issues that our county must deal with. We hear from Rusty Kennedy, CEO at OC Human Relations, and Aliso Viejo Councilman Ross Chun on how these issues manifest themselves in our local governments. OC Human Relations is focused on growing a collaborative attitude between people of all races and religions so that we can work together to solve problems. Councilman Chun is also on hand to discuss how city leaders face issues related to diversity everyday, and how he is working to turn it into a positive aspect of Orange County.

What are Orange County's cities doing to bring kids the best opportunities to succeed? This week we hear from Kim Goll, Executive Director at the Children & Families Commission of Orange County, and Dennis Wilberg, City Manager at Mission Viejo. The City and the Commission have both been strong partners in developing the Early Development Index. This data is available for cities to identify needs and implement policy solutions to better serve Orange County's children. Listen in this week to learn how your city can take advantage of this great resource. 

This week Pipeline Digital Media and Tripepi Smith & Associates are in The City Square to talk about digital communications, and how cities can be communicating with their residents for public outreach. The digital world has a lot of promise, but mistakes can be costly. That's why the media experts are here to explain the dos and don'ts on today's show.

This week we bring you the most in-depth look available for desalination, covering the two big projects in Orange County. Scott Maloni, Vice President of Project Development with Poseidon, discusses the ongoing work of Poseidon's desal plant in Huntington Beach. Scott is joined by Andrew Brunhart, General Manager of the South Coast Water District, who compares the Doheny desal project in Dana Point. This show is all about looking at Orange County's water through the year 2050, and how we can guarantee water reliability for residents.

Don Barnes, Undersheriff with the Orange County Sheriff's Department, and Dave Harrington, Mayor Pro Tem of Aliso Viejo, let Brian know about the ins and outs of public safety in Orange County, how the Sheriffs are protecting OC cities, and how statewide legislation and propositions affect the public safety of our communities. Do you know how Prop 64 may affect the efforts of our law enforcement? Or the threat of fentanyl and how SB 1323 would have addressed the issue? You have the right to remain informed with the City Square this week!

This week we learn how Mercy House is caring for the homeless and providing a pathway for success for those less fortunate. Joined by Orange Mayor Tita Smith, Larry Haynes talks with Brian about the problems of homelessness and how his organization is turning lives around. Homelessness is one of the top issues facing Orange County today. Listen to the show to find out how we as a community can put an end to this crisis!