Orange County Public Works has re-opened a public records request concerning mountain lion mitigation efforts, apologizing for an oversight after initially stating such records did not exist. The agency subsequently provided 108 pages of documents, following revelations from a separate request to the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).
A Public Records Act request submitted on July 21 sought communications between OC Public Works and Caltrans regarding wildlife mitigation for mountain lions. After an extension, OC Public Works formally responded three weeks later, stating the requested dialogue "did not exist."
However, an identical request to OCTA inadvertently revealed direct communication between OC Public Works employees and a Caltrans biologist. OCTA immediately complied, providing detailed conversations among officials. These records showed consistent email exchanges between an OC Public Works regulatory permitting manager and a Caltrans District 12 biologist.
Thirteen emails exchanged between the OC Public Works official and the biologist, dating from December 2025 to February 2026, covered topics including wildlife fencing, protective measures, and a mountain lion death. Subject lines included "Los Patrones Parkway Extension – Wildlife Movement Study Catchup" and "Re: Mountain lion killed on Santiago Canyon Road 1/19/26."
Upon questioning, OC Public Works quickly apologized for the oversight, re-opened the request, and provided 108 pages of records focusing on county efforts to save mountain lions. Spokeswoman Jamie Cargo stated the agency will continue searching for responsive records, with a potential next installment around September 18.
This is not the department's first instance of scrutiny regarding Public Records Act compliance. Brent Linas, founder of the Creek Team, reported difficulties with the agency, citing delays and unresponsive records. Robert Beard, a scientist with the Creek Team, noted records provided were often unrelated. Linas believes the agency systematically aims to make records acquisition difficult, partly due to the absence of legal penalties for Public Records Act violations.
Jamie Cargo stated assembling and reviewing records, including redactions, takes time. She noted that for large volumes, OC Public Works generally releases "responsive, non-exempt records available on a rolling basis." Cargo emphasized that OC Public Works "takes its obligations under the California Public Records Act (CPRA) seriously."
While litigation is the primary legal recourse, David Loy, Legal Director for California’s First Amendment Coalition, suggested informal negotiation can be productive. Nevertheless, Creek Team activists are exploring a lawsuit against OC Public Works, with Linas stating, "We will drag them before a judge" if the agency fails to produce the documents.
