County Administration North Topping Off Ceremony

In late June, a milestone was reached in the construction of the new County Administration North building. After months of work, one final beam remained to be raised and placed, signifying the completion of the building’s structure. Construction workers, particularly steel workers, celebrate this accomplishment by holding a “topping out” ceremony.

The final beam is usually the highest point of a structure and is placed with a small evergreen tree on one end and a U.S. Flag on the other. The tree remains on the beam until it must be removed for ongoing construction and will be planted elsewhere afterward. The tradition dates back centuries to Scandinavian countries where builders would place a tree at the highest point of a new building. The tree was intended to appease the tree-dwelling spirits that had been displaced during the construction of the building.

County employees were invited to come and join in the festivities by signing the beam and watching it being raised into place that afternoon. Many took the opportunity to come out and participate, filling the beam with names, sketches, and words of wisdom for the ages. While the topping out signified the completion of the structure, work on the building continues. The County Administration North building is expected to be completed in August of 2022.

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1. The highest beam being raised into place of the County Administration North building

2. From L-R: Chairman Andrew Do, First District, Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee, Fourth District, Supervisor Katrina Foley, 2nd District, Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Fifth District, and Supervisor Donald A. Wagner, Third District. 3 & 4. County employees sign the beam before it is raised into position.

5. The American flag flies high on the beam after it has been secured in its place of the building's overhand section.

WHAT IS REDISTRICITING?

In the United States, redistricting describes the redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the Census to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population. The overall purpose of redistricting is to review districts and, where necessary, redraw districts to address any changes in population concentration. State, county, and city governments are responsible for redistricting. The state government redraws congressional and state legislative districts while county governments within states are responsible for drawing supervisorial districts. Finally, city governments are responsible for the redrawing of City Council districts.

WHAT DOES REDISTRICTING MEAN FOR ORANGE COUNTY?

Redistricting ensures that each Board of Supervisors member represents the same number of constituents. In Orange County, the Board of Supervisors is responsible for drawing supervisorial districts. The redistricting process will use adjusted 2020 Census data from the State of California. The 2020 Census data will be released by the end of September 2021, while Orange County must complete the redistricting process by December 15, 2021.

WHY DOES REDISTRICTING MATTER TO ME?

Redistricting and redrawing of boundaries rebalances district populations, enables constituents to vote for the Supervisor of their choice, and ensures elected board members reflect their district population.

Redistricting determines which neighborhoods and communities are grouped together into a district for purposes of electing a board member. Those who serve on the Board of Supervisors oversee public health, social services, and public safety. The Board of Supervisors also provide municipal services to unincorporated areas and contract cities.

The Board of Supervisors will seek input in selecting the next district map for our Supervisorial districts. Members of the public have an opportunity to share with the Board of Supervisors how they think district boundaries should be drawn.

More information on this process may be found at ocgov.com/redistricting.

Mark your calendar with some very important dates! The 2022 Open Enrollment period will begin on Wednesday October 20, 2021 and closes on Tuesday, November 9, 2021. This is the one time of the year you can make changes to your benefits and add or remove dependents from your coverage. Some benefits require you make a new election each year.

We want to help make sure you are prepared and ready to go once Open Enrollment kicks off. Now is a great time to make sure your communication preferences found on mybenefits.ocgov.com are set so you will not miss out on any important information sent to you from the Benefits Service Center.

Starting Wednesday, October 13, you can link directly from IntraOC or log on to My OC Benefits™ at mybenefits.ocgov.com to view the “Prepare to Make Your Benefits Choices” page:

• Check health plan rates, Summary of Benefits and Coverages (SBC’s), compare health plans, access online tools • Plan Information page – review helpful plan resources • What to Know Guide • Waiving Health Coverage • Review the 2022 Open Enrollment presentation • View short educational videos that make understanding your benefits easier

It is important to have the right coverage in place for you and your family. If you are planning on making changes, remember, we have online tools to help you find the information you need. These resources are all available on My OC Benefits™. Check them out, they may just come in handy! While on the website, if you have a question, you can initiate a live “Web Chat” with a Benefits Service Center representative by selecting “Contact Us” in the lower section of your screen.

If you want a more interactive experience, attend our Virtual Open Enrollment Benefits Fair on Wednesday, October 27 from 11 am to 1 pm from the comfort of your own home or office. You will have access to the current health plan vendors at their virtual booth and get the information you are looking for. You will also have the opportunity to ask your questions and get answers! There will be raffle prizes that will be awarded to the winners. You will need to register and will receive the registration link one week prior to this event. Watch for upcoming County global emails for the link.

Remember, you also have the option to call the Benefits Service Center and speak to a representative at 1-833-476-2347, Monday through Friday, starting at 8:00 a.m., except on holidays. During Open Enrollment, you can take advantage of extended hours until 8 p.m. through Friday, November 9, 2021. Remember you can also access the Employee Benefits website at its new address: hrs.ocgov.com.