Canyon View Elementary

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Child Care is Now Available for Essential Workers in Orange County!

Early Childhood OC is working with agencies across Orange County to compile a searchable database of currently open child care centers and family child care homes serving children aged birth – 12.

This database will be updated every Friday.

To find available child care, click here.

Governor Newsom’s executive order allows essential workers to access child care payment assistance, regardless of their income, while schools are closed because of COVID-19.

Children’s Home Society of California (CHS) has three Child Care Payment Programs that provide subsidized child care services to eligible families: Alternative Payment, CalWORKs, and Family Child Care Home Education Network programs.

Through these programs, in Fiscal Year 2018, CHS provided services to over 9,700 children and over 5,500 families. In all, more than 2,099,000 days of care were provided to children across California.

To find out more about child care payment assistance, click here.

If you operate a child care facility, are currently open, and would like it listed in the data base, click here.

The City of Irvine also has several hundred child care spots available for essential workers.  To find out more, click here.

COVID-19 Notes

I’ve added a new “COVID-19 Community Resources and Information Page to my blog, with links to up-to-date and reliable resources and information from federal, state, and county sources, as well as the cities and public schools in the 68th Assembly District.

I have also decided to use my Assembly campaign phone-banking and community outreach resources to call seniors and people in need of critical services in the cities of Assembly District 68 — Lake Forest, Tustin, Orange, Irvine, Anaheim Hills and Villa Park — to ask how they’re doing during this stressful time and to see whether they need any help, including food assistance and mental health assistance and other community resources.  Our volunteer callers will be able to provide information and connect seniors with any community assistance or resources they might need. Read the story in the O.C. Register.

If you would like to join our “Supporting Seniors” virtual phone-bank and be a volunteer caller, please contact Carson at carson@votemelissafox.com. See our event page on Facebook HERE.

If you need help yourself or have any questions, don’t hesitate to email me at melissa@melissafoxlaw.com or call me at 949-683-8855.

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Irvine Child Care Spots Available for Essential Workers!

I am pleased to announce that Irvine has several hundred spots now open for child care for essential workers.

I currently serve as the Irvine City Council’s representative on the board of directors of the Irvine Child Care Project, along with other representatives from the City of Irvine and Irvine Unified School District. 

Established in 1984, the Irvine Child Care Project (ICCP) is a Joint Powers Agreement between the Irvine Unified School District and the City of Irvine, overseen by the Irvine Child Care Project Board of Directors. It is a unique partnership in which the City of Irvine and the Irvine Unified School District collaborate to accommodate more affordable and quality child care in the City.

On Thursday, April 9, 2020, the ICCP Board had a virtual meeting to discuss some of the critical needs of the ICCP during the COVID-19 crisis.  We made several important decisions at this meeting to help facilitate and increase the availability of child care for essential workers during the COVID-19 crisis.

Crucially,  we voted to waive rental payments from ICC providers for April, May, and June.  Waiving the rent for these providers means that essential child care services will remain accessible to families in need of child care during this crisis. 

Currently, 10 out of the 28 ICCP programs are open to serve children of essential critical infrastructure workers. The sites that are open are located on the following campuses: Canyon View Elementary, Deerfield Elementary, Oak Creek Elementary, Plaza Vista Elementary, Springbrook Elementary, Stonegate Elementary, Turtle Rock Elementary, University Park Elementary, Vista Verde Elementary, and Woodbury Elementary.

These 10 sites currently have the space to enroll approximately 200 additional children. 

If you are an essential critical infrastructure worker and need child care, please click here to access a searchable database of currently open child care centers and family child care homes serving children aged birth –1 2 compiled by Early Childhood OC.  This database will be updated every Friday. The Countywide list linked above lists all open programs in Orange County including, ICCP locations.  In addition, each ICCP location below is identified as OPEN or CLOSED.

Kiddie Academy of Irvine, Prestige Preschool Academy and several family child care providers are open and able to serve school age children, including non-residents.  These programs would be able to serve at least 100 additional children (combined capacity), even with the new guidance from the state regarding decreased capacities for best health and safety practices.  Contact information for each of these programs is available in the searchable database of currently open child care centers and family child care homes compiled by Early Childhood OC. This database is updated weekly.  I anticipate the number of providers on this list to increase as programs re-open to provide emergency child care to essential workers.   Several providers have contacted child care coordination this week to discuss their plans to re-open.

ICCP sites (10 open operated by Child Development Incorporated) are only able to serve Irvine residents and/or children enrolled in the IUSD school district. This is based on the Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Irvine and the Irvine Unified School District.  The ICCP Board has the authority to waive this stipulation, if that is something that the Board would be interested in considering at the May meeting.

You can find more information about these sites and enrollment here. 

View a directory of ICCP sites here.

Please note: Essential workers include those who work in the following fields: healthcare and public health, emergency services, food and agriculture, energy, water and waste water, transportation and logistics, communications and information technology, government services, critical manufacturing, hazardous materials, financial services, chemicals, and defense/industrial base.  For more details, click here.

COVID-19 Notes

I’ve added a new “COVID-19 Community Resources and Information Page to my blog, with links to up-to-date and reliable resources and information from federal, state, and county sources, as well as the cities and public schools in the 68th Assembly District.

I have also decided to use my Assembly campaign phone-banking and community outreach resources to call seniors and people in need of critical services in the cities of Assembly District 68 — Lake Forest, Tustin, Orange, Irvine, Anaheim Hills and Villa Park — to ask how they’re doing during this stressful time and to see whether they need any help, including food assistance and mental health assistance and other community resources.  Our volunteer callers will be able to provide information and connect seniors with any community assistance or resources they might need. Read the story in the O.C. Register.

If you would like to join our “Supporting Seniors” virtual phone-bank and be a volunteer caller, please contact Carson at carson@votemelissafox.com. See our event page on Facebook HERE.

If you need help yourself or have any questions, don’t hesitate to email me at melissa@melissafoxlaw.com or call me at 949-683-8855.

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Use the Safest Route to School . . . and other Safety Tips for the New School Year!

Irvine is proud of its outstanding public schools and its long-standing reputation as America’s safest city — so we’re very pleased to help students get to school in the safest possible way along the safest route.

Take a look at the Suggested Routes to School put together by our Irvine Department of Transportation.

You’ll be able to find the best and safest route to your child’s school.

These routes are intended for children who walk or ride bicycles to school. We strongly encourage you to review the plan with your child and, if possible, walk the route to make sure he/she understands the route.

In addition, our Irvine Police Department has several tips to help you and your children get to and from school safely each day.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

  • Leave early. The first couple of weeks of school bring heavier traffic. You won’t have to rush if you plan for a little extra time.
  • Obey all traffic laws and signs in school zones.
  • Drop children off in the designated locations. Do not allow children to get out of the car in the middle of the street.
  • Remember that everyone has the same goal of getting their children to school safely, so be patient with other drivers and pedestrians.
  • Always obey crossing guards.
  • Always use crosswalks.
  • Do not engage in distracted driving. This is especially dangerous in school zones.
  • Our Traffic officers patrol the streets near school to ensure safety. Remember to slow down and make complete stops at stop signs.

Should you need assistance regarding traffic issues, please call the Irvine Police Department’s non-emergency line at 949-724-7000.

Have a wonderful school year!

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The City of Irvine’s Budget Will Not Include Cuts to Irvine Schools

Recently, City of Irvine staff proposed that, due to a projected budget shortfall, the City should consider cutting its support for Irvine’s public schools and reduce its spending on public safety.

I strongly opposed these cuts.

While I am concerned about the City’s fiscal health and our budget — a topic I will address soon in a future blog post — I do not believe that it is in the best interests of Irvine’s residents to curtail our support for education and public safety.

Due to my opposition and that of other City Council Members, as well as conversations between myself and Irvine Unified School District Board Members, and IUSD and City staff, reductions to school funding will no longer be proposed for the upcoming City budget.

Here is the official announcement:

“A special message about the City of Irvine’s $80 million in cash grants and program support for Irvine schools since 2008.

The City of Irvine has proudly provided cash grants to benefit Irvine schools and students for 13 years. The City uses vehicles such as the Educational Partnership Fund (EPF) program, established in 2006, and the Challenge Match Grant Program, created in 2008, to facilitate support.

From 2006 through June 2019, the City has provided $32 million in direct cash grants benefiting Irvine schools. The City is continuing to commit another $4 million annually for the next two fiscal years, for a total cash contribution of $40 million to benefit Irvine schools.

Beyond cash support, the City provides over $10 million annually in direct and indirect services to Irvine schools and students. The City of Irvine has provided over $80 million in direct and indirect support benefiting Irvine schools since 2008.

Indirect programs include school resource officers at middle and high schools; D.A.R.E. instruction so that elementary school students refrain from drug use and bullying and practice responsible internet use; crossing guards; middle school and high school youth action teams; and joint field and pool use. The two Partnership for Educational Excellence Programs grew from $1.5 million per year to $4 million per year in direct cash grants. The City Council established this funding because schools are a priority; voters affirmed it, and the Irvine City Council continued this unique funding tradition after the voter measures expired in 2016.

The City remains committed to supporting Irvine schools. The City is also committed to its long-term financial planning, transitioning to a two-year budget and a five-year financial plan. The City’s financial condition shows a structural deficit. The executive management team values transparent discussions early in the budget planning cycle. This includes open dialogue at community meetings, in order to facilitate a proposed balanced budget that meets many needs. City executive management proposed a host of changes and reductions to address the shortfall, including a possible reduction to some of the $10 million in annual support to Irvine schools in order to ensure adequate City and Police services.

While reductions to school funding will no longer be proposed for the upcoming budget, we need to work together to find constructive approaches. The City faces leaner times. We want to ensure our support for Public Safety, which is a top priority for the Council and the community, is not jeopardized. Mutual cooperation and productive communication is critical for effective long-term financial planning that balances community priorities and the City’s budget.”

Thank you to the many Irvine residents and IUSD Board Members who reached out to me and other members of the City Council opposing these cuts.

Our voices have been heard.

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Video: Councilmember Melissa Fox’s Irvine Traffic Safety Town Hall

On Saturday, January 26, 2019, I held a Town Hall meeting on Irvine Traffic Safety.

Irvine residents, Transportation Commissioners, Irvine Police Chief Mike Hamel, and Traffic Unit police officers discussed ways to make the streets of America’s Safest City even safer.

Here is a video of the meeting.

Thank you to Irvine Police Chief Mike Hamel, officers of the Irvine Police Department Traffic, Irvine Transportation Commissioners Ken Montgomery, Carrie O’Malley and Steven Greenberg, and IUSD Board Members Lauren Schenkman Brooks and Ira Glasky for attending.

It’s an honor to represent a city where so many residents care about each other!

 

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Join Councilmember Melissa Fox at an Irvine Traffic Safety Town Hall!

Join me on Saturday, January 26, 2019, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Woodbury Community Park, for a Town Hall Meeting on Traffic Safety.

Please Note: This is a new time — 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (but the same date)!

Irvine residents are very concerned about traffic safety, especially for their children.

Based on these concerns, I recently met with Irvine Police Department (IPD) Chief Mike Hamel to discuss ways to improve stop sign compliance and overall traffic safety in Irvine.

As a result of our meeting, the IPD is taking the following steps:

  • increasing educational outreach to the public about the importance of compliance with stop signs and overall traffic safety rules, including increased outreach in Mandarin.
  • Increasing traffic enforcement and IPD visibility at all Irvine schools during pick-up and drop-off.
  • Increasing traffic enforcement and IPD visibility at Cypress Village, Northpark, Woodbury, and other locations throughout Irvine.
  • Adding crossing guards at intersection of Arborwood and Canyonwood in Northwood Point (near Canyon View Elementary School).

In addition, the Irvine Police Department has created a new Facebook page specifically related to the traffic law enforcement and traffic safety.  IPD will post information and notices about traffic enforcement activity and residents are welcome to respond and comment about their concerns regarding traffic enforcement and safety.

As a result of IPD’s Heightened Visibility Enforcement operations, hundreds of citations — primarily for moving violations have been issued.

Just this week, more than 50 citations were issued as the result of a Heightened Visibility Enforcement operation in Northpark.

IPD explains that “the goal of any enforcement operation from IPD’s Traffic Bureau is to encourage safe driving, which means fewer accidents. We want everyone to get to their destination safely!”

To continue this important community discussion, I will be holding a Town Hall on Traffic Safety on Saturday, January 26, 2019, from 2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. at Woodbury Community Park, located at 130 Sanctuary, Irvine, CA 92620.

Traffic Commissioner Ken Montgomery and members of the Irvine Police Department will participate in the Town Hall on Traffic Safety.

Residents are encouraged to attend and participate in the Town Hall on Traffic Safety with their concerns, questions, and suggestions.

I am looking forward to a Town Hall meeting focused on traffic safety and making Irvine an even safer place to live and raise a family. In Irvine, we’re proud that community engagement is an essential element of our approach to law enforcement.

You can find a Facebook Event Page for the Town Hall here. Please invite your neighbors!

Important Parking Information: Please park in either Woodbury Community Park at the intersection of Sanctuary and Long Meadow or on Sanctuary adjacent to the park.

What: Councilmember Melissa Fox Town Hall on Irvine Traffic Safety

When: Saturday, January 26, 2019, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Where: Woodbury Community Park, 130 Sanctuary, Irvine, CA 92620.

See you there!

 

 

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Join Councilmember Melissa Fox at an Irvine Traffic Safety Town Hall!

Please join me on Saturday, January 26, 2019, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Woodbury Community Park, for a Town Hall Meeting on Traffic Safety.

Irvine residents are very concerned about traffic safety, especially for their children.

Based on these concerns, I recently met with Irvine Police Department (IPD) Chief Mike Hamel to discuss ways to improve stop sign compliance and overall traffic safety in Irvine.

As a result of the meeting, the IPD is taking the following steps:

  • increasing educational outreach to the public about the importance of compliance with stop signs and overall traffic safety rules, including increased outreach in Mandarin.
  • Increasing traffic enforcement and IPD visibility at all Irvine schools during pick-up and drop-off.
  • Increasing traffic enforcement and IPD visibility at Cypress Village, Woodbury, and other locations throughout Irvine.
  • Adding crossing guards at intersection of Arborwood and Canyonwood in Northwood Point (near Canyon View Elementary School).

In addition, the Irvine Police Department has created a new Facebook page specifically related to the traffic law enforcement and traffic safety.  IPD will post information and notices about traffic enforcement activity and residents are welcome to respond and comment about their concerns regarding traffic enforcement and safety.

To continue this important community discussion, I will be holding a Town Hall on Traffic Safety on Saturday, January 26, 2019, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Woodbury Community Park, located at 130 Sanctuary, Irvine, CA 92620.

Traffic Commissioner Ken Montgomery and members of the Irvine Police Department will participate in the Town Hall on Traffic Safety.

Residents are encouraged to attend and participate in the Town Hall on Traffic Safety with their concerns, questions, and suggestions.

I am looking forward to a Town Hall meeting focused on traffic safety and making Irvine an even safer place to live and raise a family. In Irvine, we’re proud that community engagement is an essential element of our approach to law enforcement.

You can find a Facebook Event Page for the Town Hall here. Please invite your neighbors!

What: Councilmember Melissa Fox Town Hall on Irvine Traffic Safety

When: Saturday, January 26, 2019, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Where: Woodbury Community Park, 130 Sanctuary, Irvine, CA 92620.

See you there!

 

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Councilmember Melissa Fox Details Results of Meeting on Traffic Safety with Irvine Police Chief Mike Hamel and Announces Traffic Safety Town Hall

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Allison Binder 949-724-6226

IRVINE CITY COUNCILMEMBER MELISSA FOX DETAILS RESULTS OF MEETING ON TRAFFIC SAFETY WITH IRVINE POLICE CHIEF MIKE HAMEL AND ANNOUNCES TRAFFIC SAFETY TOWN HALL 

Irvine, CA (December 12, 2019) – On Monday, December 10, 2018, Irvine City Councilmember Melissa Fox met with Irvine Police Department (IPD) Chief Mike Hamel to discuss ways to improve stop sign compliance and overall traffic safety in Irvine.  Councilmember Fox also announced a Town Hall Meeting on Traffic Safety to be held on Saturday, January 26, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at Woodbury Community Park.

“Chief Hamel and I take this issue very seriously,” Councilmember Fox said. “We hear residents’ concerns and are committed to improving traffic safety across the city.”

In addition to Councilmember Fox and Chief Hamel, IPD officers Lt. Kyle Turner and Sgt. Tom Goodbrand also participated in the meeting.

Lt. Turner heads the Traffic Unit, which is responsible for enforcing the traffic laws, investigating traffic collisions, and assisting the Public Works Department in finding solutions to traffic related challenges. The Traffic Unit also oversees the Parking Enforcement Unit, Commercial Enforcement and the Crossing Guards at or near the local schools.

Sgt. Goodbrand supervises IPD’s School Resource Officers, who work in partnership with the Irvine and Tustin Unified School Districts to provide safe school campuses throughout the Irvine community. Through enforcement of the law and education, the School Resource Officers are a direct link between the Irvine youth community and the Irvine Police Department.

As a result of the meeting, Councilmember Fox is pleased to announce that the IPD is taking the following steps:

  • Increase educational outreach to the public about the importance of compliance with stop signs and overall traffic safety rules, including increased outreach in Mandarin.
  • Increase traffic enforcement and IPD visibility at all Irvine schools during pick-up and drop-off.
  • Increase traffic enforcement and IPD visibility at Cypress Village and Woodbury.
  • Add crossing guard at intersection of Arborwood and Canyonwood in Northwood Point (near Canyon View Elementary School).

Councilmember Fox and Chief Hamel also invited residents to contact their representatives with concerns, questions, and suggestions regarding traffic safety:

Lt. Kyle Turner, IPD Traffic Unit, kturner@cityofirvine.org, 949-724-7217.

Allison Binder, Councilmember Fox’s Lead Executive Council Assistant, abinder@ci.irvine.ca.us., 949-724-6226.

Commissioner Ken Montgomery, Councilmember Fox’s appointee to the Irvine Traffic Commission, kenmontgomery@cityofirvine.org.

Councilmember Fox also announced that she will be holding a Town Hall on Traffic Safety on Saturday, January 26, 2019, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Woodbury Community Park, located at 130 Sanctuary, Irvine, CA 92620.

Councilmember Melissa Fox, Traffic Commissioner Ken Montgomery, and members of the Irvine Police Department will participate in the Town Hall on Traffic Safety.

Residents are encouraged to attend and participate in the Town Hall on Traffic Safety with their concerns, questions, and suggestions.

“I am looking forward to a Town Hall meeting focused on traffic safety and making Irvine an even safer place to live and raise a family,” Councilmember Fox said.  “In Irvine, we’re proud that community engagement is an essential element of our approach to law enforcement.”

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Note: A Facebook Event Page for the Irvine Town Hall on Traffic Safety has been posted here.  Please invite your friends and neighbors.  See you there!

UPDATE: Following up on the commitment made in my meeting on traffic safety with Chief Mike Hamel, the Irvine Police Traffic Bureau conducted a high visibility enforcement detail on the loop in Woodbridge. In 90 minutes, traffic personnel issued 50 citations for cell phone use, stop sign and other traffic violations. Thank you, Irvine Police Department! #DriveSafeIrvine

 

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Irvine Harvest Cup Tournament is a Great Success at the Great Park Soccer Stadium!

The Irvine Harvest Cup is an annual inter-school soccer tournament that gives kids the opportunity to represent their school, learn to play, have fun and complete against other Irvine schools as part of the Irvine Tournament of Champions.

The proceeds from the Tournament of Champions benefit the Irvine Public Schools Foundation.

A Stonegate player battles for possession during the 38th annual Harvest Cup Soccer Tournament at Great Park in Irvine on Sunday. (Photo by Bill Alkofer, O.C. Register).

This year on Sunday, October 21, the 38th annual Harvest Cup was held on our new Great Park Sports Complex soccer fields and in the beautiful new Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium.

Almost 1,500 Irvine boys and girls from 35 Irvine schools competed.

Harvest Cup winners were:

Girls (3rd/4th): Vista Verde Elementary School

Boys (3rd/4th): Canyon View Elementary School

Co-Ed (3rd/4th): Deerfield Elementary School

Girls (5th/6th): Woodbury Elementary School

Co-Ed (5th/6th): Oak Creek Elementary School

Girls (7th/8th): Venado Middle School

Boys (7th/8th) Vista Verde Middle School

Watching hundreds of young Irvine athletes smiling and enjoying the competition reminds me of why I love serving on the Irvine City Council and as Vice Chair of the Great Park — so our children have the very best places to learn and play.

For far too many years, the Great Park was a symbol of gross mismanagement and government gone very wrong, with allegations of corruption and massive waste, and with little to nothing to show for the expenditure of hundreds of millions of public dollars except a balloon, a carousel, and great expanses of dirt, dust, and debris.

Now the Great Park is home to thousands of smiles!