Happy Earth Month! In March, my team advanced efforts to keep our community safe, support healthy aging and invest in communities across South Orange County. We continue working with state and local partners to improve e-bike safety, crack down on illegal nitrous oxide sales and expand protections for our seniors.
Advocating for E-Bike Safety
Unsafe e-bike riders remain a growing concern. Our 2024 Electric Bike Safety County Ordinance established grouping restrictions, sidewalk speed limits, helmet requirements for minors, pedestrian protections, audible alarms and penalties for unlicensed operation in unincorporated Orange County. Cities across the county continue adopting similar ordinances. At OCTA, we collect data to help advance solutions, including safe routes to schools, protected lanes and regional collaboration for uniform ordinances aligned with this framework.
At our OCTA Regional Planning meeting, we discussed safety education, rider safety and infrastructure reflective of street and trail usage. I recommended adding California Highway Patrol as a partner, given their role enforcing traffic laws in South Orange County.
My office will host an E-Bike Town Hall in partnership with the OC Sheriff’s Department and Providence Health on Monday, April 6, from 3-5 p.m. at Ladera Ranch Middle School. We look forward to giving away nearly 200 free bike helmets for kids ages 3-17, ensuring they remain safe while riding e-bikes. I remain committed to reducing youth injuries, improving e-bike safety coordination and ensuring safer streets.
Addressing Nitrous Oxide
We continue pushing to close enforcement gaps on illegal nitrous oxide sales following our countywide ban earlier this year. In March, a neighbor stopped by a local store on his way to the 55 Freeway. To his surprise, he saw a rack next to the cashier stocked full of nitrous oxide canisters for purchase. This demonstrates a clear issue with enforcement, including open retail sales. At the same time, if you walk outside with one of these canisters after purchasing, a police officer could arrest you for possession. We sent notices to local retailers informing them that sale of NOX for recreational use remains illegal. As statewide legislation advances, along with enforcement by cities in Orange County, we look forward to closing these dangerous loopholes soon.
Building Healthy Communities for Seniors
Orange County seniors deserve the freedom to age on their own terms. At last week’s Senior Supports Town Hall, community members connected with my office and partners including Rancho Mission Viejo, Senator Catherine Blakespear, the Contractor State License Board, Alzheimer’s OC, CalOptima and the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Attendees explored booths, learned scam prevention tips and engaged with experts on health, hospice and caregiving, as well as aging independently.
More than 650,000 older adults call Orange County home — a number set to double by 2060. We must act now to expand resources, strengthen protections and plan for a future where seniors are supported at every stage.
Infrastructure Improvements
In March, we broke ground on Dana Point Harbor’s revitalized marina storefronts and commercial core, preparing to welcome new shops, local favorites and fine dining. Phase 11 of 15 planned marina phases remains underway, replacing aging infrastructure with new docks, upgraded utilities and improved boater access.
I hosted this week’s Dana Point Harbor Town Hall alongside partners from OC Parks, CEO Real Estate, our Dana Point Harbor Oversight Advisory Committee and Dana Point Harbor Partners. Held at Coffee Importers at the Ocean Institute, we shared key revitalization updates.
At our town hall, I shared that the current rate for boat slips was found to sit in the median of the recent independent boat slip rate appraisals. Despite the county’s appraiser finding that Dana Point Harbor Partners could lift the rates significantly higher, the Harbor Partners agreed to limit their increases for the next two years as the marina construction is completed. Both the county- and boater-funded appraisals can be found on my website.
The county also continues efforts to improve public spaces, including improving coastal access by rebuilding the staircase to the beach near Ocean Institute, while crews continue interim upgrades of other facilities. The reimagining of OC Sailing & Events Center through community input is set to begin in the summer.
Throughout our town hall, I reinforced my commitment to strengthening our local economy, protecting our coastal environment and keeping the harbor accessible to residents while encouraging the community to stay engaged.
Stay tuned each month for updates on our work by following my social media @supervisorfoley and signing up for my newsletter: d5.ocgov.com/newsletter.
Elected in 2022, Katrina Foley represents the Fifth Supervisorial District and is Vice Chair on the Orange County Board of Supervisors. She was previously elected to serve the Second District from 2021-22.
