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Los Angeles County Provides New Radar Speed Trailers to the CHP

Supervisor Don Knabe announced today that the County of Los Angeles has purchased 10 new radar speed trailers for use by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) exclusively in the County’s unincorporated areas.

The radar speed trailers were purchased by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works with a $160,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The trailers will be utilized by the 10 CHP Southern Division offices servicing the unincorporated communities of Los Angeles County, and will be temporarily set up at locations where speeding problems persist. Under the California State Constitution, the CHP is charged with providing traffic enforcement in the unincorporated areas of California’s counties.

Within the Rowland Heights community, the CHP is planning to deploy the trailers on streets that have been previously identified as having problems with speeding drivers, such as Saleroso Drive, Fullerton Road, Colima Road, Pathfinder Road, and Victoria Avenue.

These radar trailers will help to ensure that motorists driving through our unincorporated communities are mindful of the speed limit in the area and follow it, said Supervisor Knabe.

Maintaining safe traffic flow throughout our communities is a priority with the Department of Public Works and I am very pleased to be able to provide the CHP with these trailers, explained Don Wolfe, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.

Santa Claus Returns to Whittier Parks

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe will join Mr. and Mrs. Claus and other special passengers on Monday, December 18 when they board the Here Comes Santa Holiday Train – an annual event that brings presents and fun in the snow to three locations in the Whittier area.

Every year this is a great occasion for families to come down and enjoy the spirit of the Holidays, said Supervisor Knabe. The kids have a great time visiting with Santa and playing in thousands of pounds of real snow.

The Holiday Train pulls into its first stop on December 18 at Amigo Park at 3:30 p.m., and then makes a stop at Parnell Park at 5 p.m.; finally it’s off to Adventure Park at 6:30 p.m. At each stop children will receive presents, get a chance to take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, plus play in real snow. Over 3,000 children, parents and community members are expected to attend throughout the night.

Holiday Train Locations

3:30 p.m. @ Amigo Park, 5700 Juarez Avenue, Whittier, 90606

5 p.m. @ Parnell Park, 10711 Scott Avenue, Whittier, 90604

6:30 p.m. @ Adventure Park, 10130 South Gunn, Whittier, 90605

Knabe Congratulates New Port Director

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe offered his support and congratulations this morning to Geraldine Knatz, the newly named Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles. Knatz comes to her new job after serving as Managing Director of Development for the Port of Long Beach.

Geraldine is a great choice and I have truly enjoyed working with her over the years, said Supervisor Knabe. She has a strong knowledge of the issues facing our two port complexes that comes with the 24 years she spent at the Port of Long Beach and her several years with Los Angeles Harbor Department before that. Geraldine also shares my support and interest in the future of the Alameda Corridor and I look forward to working with her in this new role.

Both the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach are located within the Fourth District, which Supervisor Knabe has represented since 1996.

There are many challenges ahead for whoever was ultimately selected to lead the Port, said Knabe. We must continue to find ways of keeping this complex competitive in an increasingly aggressive global market and, more importantly, we must work to constantly improve and upgrade the security of our ports from the ongoing threats of terrorism. I know Geraldine will do an excellent job in both areas.

26 Arts Groups from the Fourth District to Receive Grants from the Arts Commission

Five talent groups from the Fourth District will perform in the 47th Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration, a performance that is a gift to the community from Supervisor Don Knabe and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

The free performance is at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Friday, December 24 from 3:00-9:00 p.m. Inspirational Voices of Free! of San Pedro, Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers of Hermosa Beach, Golden State Pops Orchestra and Sheridan Singers of San Pedro, Grupo Folklorico Sabor de Mexico from Torrance and Khmer Arts Academy from Long Beach will be among 1,500 performers in choirs, music ensembles, and dance companies.

"This is such a wonderful opportunity for the public to see the talent that exists in our community," said Supervisor Knabe. "It is fantastic to see how everyone comes together to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season."

Holiday Celebration information is available online at
www.holidaycelebration.org or by calling 213-972-3099. The web site includes a complete program listing with selections to be performed by each group.

Doors open at 2:30 p.m. Patrons may come and go throughout the six-hour performance. Free parking is provided under the Music Center. Reservations for tickets to the show or parking are not necessary. Those who cannot attend the show in person can watch the live broadcast on KCET, Channel 28.

Long Beach Hospital Receives Safely Surrendered Newborn

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is happy to announce that a baby girl has been safely surrendered in the City of Long Beach. The newborn girl was surrendered at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and is reported to be in good health.

The surrender occurred on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, however it is normal for the initial report to take several days to be confirmed as meeting the legal criteria of the Safe Surrender Program. As is standard practice, the baby girl is in protective custody and has already been placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

I could not be more thrilled with this news, said Supervisor Knabe. This little girl has a healthy life ahead of her and she is truly a testament to the success and importance of the Safe Surrender Program.

This is the third Safe Surrender in the City of Long Beach in 2006. The previous surrenders occurred on February 24 at St. Mary’s Medical Center and on March 14 at Community Hospital. There have been a total of 11 Safe Surrenders throughout Los Angeles County in 2006 and 47 Safe Surrenders since the program began. The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001. It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.

Improving Traffic Congestion in Diamond Bar

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced plans today for a traffic signal synchronization project in the City of Diamond Bar. The total cost of the project is expected to be $700,600, with funding coming from several sources. Approximately $595,600 will come from the County, with $516,400 coming from the County’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority Grant Fund and $79,200 coming from other County funds. The remaining $105,000 will come from a contribution by the City of Diamond Bar.

The project involves equipment installations on Golden Springs Drive from Adel Avenue to Copley Drive and also along other portions of Copley Drive. Upgrades will also occur on Pathfinder Road from Brea Canyon Road to the State Route 57 southbound ramp, Brea Canyon Road from Golden Springs Drive to Washington Street, Diamond Bar Boulevard from Gentle Springs Drive/Palomino Drive to the State Route 60 eastbound ramp, and on Golden Springs Drive from Brea Canyon Road to the State Route 60 eastbound ramp.

This project is part of the County’s larger effort to install and administer Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) within various cities and unincorporated areas. Since its start in 1995, ITS projects added traffic control systems and signal synchronization systems in communities throughout the County

Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Implements New Property Document Recording System

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) Conny McCormack is pleased to announce the implementation this month of a new computer system for recording of property documents known as the Enterprise Recording Archive System (ERA).

The number of real estate purchases, re-financings and property transfers throughout the County has increased 75% over the past decade and all such transactions require recording with the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) Department. Currently up to 3.3 million property documents are filed annually with the Los Angeles County RR/CC. The new ERA System allows greater automation of the numerous steps in the property document recording process. "Duplicative processes have been replaced with a single point of data capture which, coupled with electronic scanning of documents, reduces the time spent by staff keying data. As a result of implementing the new system, the County anticipates operational cost savings of approximately $1 million annually," McCormack said.

The development of the ERA system began in 2004 and was finalized at the end of 2006. It was designed, written, tested and implemented by RR/CC technical staff with the assistance of contract programmers. The new, state-of-the-art ERA system was designed to be compatible with advancements in electronic recording of property documents and to interface more seamlessly with the County Assessor’s systems.

Persons requiring multilingual assistance in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, or Vietnamese regarding information in this press release, may call (800) 481-8683.

County Develops New Job Opportunities for Military Veterans

The County of Los Angeles plans to assist local military veterans with employment opportunities under a plan developed by Supervisors Don Knabe and Michael D. Antonovich.

The program, approved today by the Board of Supervisors, directs County departments to begin internship programs for Veterans including employment outreach, new hiring protocols and education opportunities.

As part of this effort to provide Veterans with employment opportunities within the County, the Chief Administrative Office and Director of Personnel will develop training classes appropriate for Veterans, modify job classifications where needed, and give work experience credit where appropriate for previous military service and training.

There is a disproportionate unemployment rate in our region for recently discharged Veterans, said Knabe.

It is my hope that this program will connect these men and women and their useful skills with employment opportunities within Los Angeles County.

South Coast Botanic Garden to be Renovated

The South Coast Botanic Garden on the Palos Verdes Peninsula will receive several refurbishments as part of a General Improvements Project that was approved by the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

The renovation project will include the installation of a new Japanese Garden trellis; replacement of a chain link fence with tubular black steel fencing; replacement of the termite-infested sections of the trellis at the main entry to the Francis Young Hall; installation of new lighting; installation of Americans with Disability Act (ADA) compliant sidewalk; installation of new turf in three meadow areas; and various other site improvements.

The total cost of the refurbishments at the South Coast Botanic Garden will be approximately $622,429, and funds for the project will come from the Safe Neighborhood Parks Proposition A of 1996.

The project is estimated to be completed within 210 working days, and the required construction should result in minimal disruption of services. Signs that inform the public of any upcoming work will be posted at each site 30 days prior to the start of construction.

Los Angeles County Waives Park Fees for Veterans and Military Personnel

In honor of Veterans Day, admission fees for the County Arboreta and Botanical Gardens are being waived as well as vehicle entrance fees to regional park facilities from November 10 through November 17, 2006. The motion, introduced by Supervisor Don Knabe, was unanimously approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

As Veterans Day approaches, it is important that we recognize the many contributions that Veterans have made for our great County over the years, said Knabe. We owe them many freedoms that we have today and they truly deserve the honor and respect of their fellow Americans.

All Veterans, military personnel and their immediate families are invited to visit the following Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation facilities from November 10 through November 17, 2006:

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park

120 Via Verde Drive

San Dimas

(909) 599-8411

Castaic Lake Recreation Area

32132 Castaic Lake Drive

Castaic

(661) 257-4050

Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area

4100 North La Cienega Boulevard

Los Angeles

(323) 298-3660

Santa Fe Dam Regional Park

15501 East Arrow Highway

Irwindale

(626) 334-1065

Schabarum Park

17250 East Colima Road

Rowland Heights

(626) 854-5560

Whittier Narrows Regional Recreation Area

750 South Santa Anita Avenue

South El Monte

(626) 575-5526

Arboretum of Los Angeles County

301 North Baldwin Avenue

Arcadia

(626) 821-3212

Descanso Gardens

1418 Descanso Drive

La Canada Flintridge

(818) 952-4400

South Coast Botanic Garden

26300 Crenshaw Boulevard

Palos Verdes Peninsula

(310) 544-6815

Virginia Robinson Gardens

(310) 276-5367

By appointment only