COSTA MESA, CA--(Marketwire - April 9, 2010) - More than 150 of Orange County's most influential business leaders and elected officials gathered for the Orange County Leadership Symposium's (OCLS) unveiling of the 2010 Orange County Infrastructure Report Card yesterday at the Costa Mesa Hilton Hotel. The Report Card, produced by a partnership of UC Irvine's Civil & Environmental Engineering Affiliates, the Orange County Business Council (OCBC), and the Orange County Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), constitutes the third time that Orange County's engineering, business and environmental leaders have come together to conduct an honest, fact-based self-appraisal of the county's public infrastructure.
"Last year, we began a process of reviewing and updating the work that was done on the 2005 Orange County Infrastructure Report Card," said Cindy Miller, the President of UC Irvine's Civil & Environmental Engineering Affiliates. "We were fortunate to be able to gather many of the same dedicated individuals, as well as some new and energetic industry professionals, to work together to complete the 2010 report card. The result of their dedication and hard work is the updated 2010 edition."
The ten categories examined by the Report Card are aviation, energy, flood control, ground transportation, parks and the environment, school facilities, solid waste, surface water quality, wastewater treatment, and water supply.
Featured speakers at the OCLS unveiling included Tustin Mayor Jerry Amante, the President of the OC Division of the League of California Cities and Chair of OCTA; Blake Anderson, the Co-Chair of the 2010 Infrastructure Report Card Committee; and Lucy Dunn, the President and CEO of the Orange County Business Council. With an average grade of C+ for Orange County's infrastructure, these leaders addressed the work that needs to be done across the county to lay the foundation for the county's future prosperity and quality of life.
"Infrastructure is the foundation of the economic and social fabric of all communities. The importance of this issue makes the Orange County Leadership Symposium the ideal venue in which to unveil this Report Card," said Jerry Amante. "These findings should be used as the basis for planning Orange County's future."
"A clear message of the Report Card is that our infrastructure does best when it is locally controlled with technically based long-term decision-making," said Blake Anderson. "Funding for infrastructure operation, maintenance and construction must be adequate, predictable and locally funded."
The report Card concludes that Orange County continues to improve in many areas and stands well in comparison to the nation at large, but concerns remain about the water supply and quality, flood control, and electrical supply.
"We are most concerned about the long-term reliability of Orange County's water supply because of competition for water in California and because of the vulnerability of the water conveyance system through the San Francisco Bay Delta," added Anderson.
The total cost to adequately fund these 10 infrastructure categories is estimated to be more than $5.3 billion annually.
Copies of the 2010 Orange County Infrastructure Report Card and additional information are available at www.occities.org and www.ocbc.org.
About the Orange County Leadership Symposium
Orange County Leadership Symposium is a collaboration of public, private and academic leaders dedicated to solving regional problems affecting the quality of life of Orange County's residents, workforce and visitors. The Orange County Leadership Symposium is led by the Orange County Division, League of California Cities, The Orange County Business Council and the Building Industry Association of Orange County in partnership with leading public and private agencies and organizations.
Contact Information:
Contact: Robb Korinke, 714-464-6439