Valerie AmezcuaVoted no
6:55:47Cast the only vote against; she ran the item but did not argue the substance from the dais.
5March
2024
2024
Regular City Council Meeting · One key issue
Almost three hours of this meeting went to a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, brought forward by Councilmember Vazquez.
▶ Check this moment · 4:25:00
7.1 hours
22 agenda items
18 located in video
40% attributed to a named speaker
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What happened
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
- 01
The city clerk reported 114 written comments on the item before the first speaker was called.
▶4:28:07Explore this issue
Related agenda item 18Open agenda item →Consideration of Ceasefire Resolution as Proposed Through Councilmember Requested Item
Member positions
Thai Viet PhanVoted yes6:51:21Voted for it only after reading in amendments naming the dead on both sides and calling for a bilateral ceasefire and a two-state solution.
Benjamin VazquezVoted yes4:25:00Brought the resolution forward and read it into the record, saying its purpose was to tell Congress that Santa Ana supports a ceasefire.
Jessie LopezVoted yes6:40:08Spoke about her family being separated by the civil war in El Salvador and what families lose to wars they had no part in.
Johnathan Ryan HernandezVoted yes6:36:05Seconded the motion and listed the other cities that had passed similar resolutions.
- 02
Mayor Pro Tem Phan read out amendments rewriting the resolution to name the dead on both sides, condemn hate in all its forms and call for a permanent bilateral ceasefire alongside a two-state solution.
▶6:51:21Explore this issue
Related agenda item 18Open agenda item →Consideration of Ceasefire Resolution as Proposed Through Councilmember Requested Item
Member positions
Valerie AmezcuaVoted no6:55:47Cast the only vote against; she ran the item but did not argue the substance from the dais.
Thai Viet PhanVoted yes6:51:21Voted for it only after reading in amendments naming the dead on both sides and calling for a bilateral ceasefire and a two-state solution.
Benjamin VazquezVoted yes4:25:00Brought the resolution forward and read it into the record, saying its purpose was to tell Congress that Santa Ana supports a ceasefire.
Jessie LopezVoted yes6:40:08Spoke about her family being separated by the civil war in El Salvador and what families lose to wars they had no part in.
Johnathan Ryan HernandezVoted yes6:36:05Seconded the motion and listed the other cities that had passed similar resolutions.
- 03
The amended resolution passed four votes to one, with Mayor Amezcua against and Councilmembers Bacerra and Penaloza recorded absent.
▶6:55:47Explore this issue
Related agenda item 18Open agenda item →Consideration of Ceasefire Resolution as Proposed Through Councilmember Requested Item
Member positions
Valerie AmezcuaVoted no6:55:47Cast the only vote against; she ran the item but did not argue the substance from the dais.
Thai Viet PhanVoted yes6:51:21Voted for it only after reading in amendments naming the dead on both sides and calling for a bilateral ceasefire and a two-state solution.
Benjamin VazquezVoted yes4:25:00Brought the resolution forward and read it into the record, saying its purpose was to tell Congress that Santa Ana supports a ceasefire.
Jessie LopezVoted yes6:40:08Spoke about her family being separated by the civil war in El Salvador and what families lose to wars they had no part in.
Johnathan Ryan HernandezVoted yes6:36:05Seconded the motion and listed the other cities that had passed similar resolutions.
- 04
Earlier, Councilmember Penaloza pulled a fountain maintenance contract from the consent calendar, asking why the city would spend more on Civic Center fountains it expects to demolish.
▶4:03:01Explore this issue
Related agenda item 11Open agenda item →Award a Purchase Order to Smartcover® Systems for Remote Alarm Monitoring and Management Services (Spec No. 24-025) (Non-General…
No named councilmember contribution could be reliably linked to this item.
- 05
His motion to hold the item back was displaced by a substitute motion to approve it as recommended, which carried six votes to one.
▶4:23:49Explore this issue
Related agenda item 15Open agenda item →Amend the Agreement with Service First to Increase the Contract Amount by $300,000 Annually for Fountain Maintenance and Repair…
Member positions
David PenalozaVoted no4:07:33Said it was not fiscally responsible to spend on fountains the city expects to demolish within five years, and moved to continue the item.
Thai Viet PhanVoted yes4:17:41Argued a working fountain at Sasser Park matters to making downtown feel safe and worth walking through.
Jessie LopezVoted yes4:10:04Said the redevelopment is an unfunded vision, and that families near Nova Academy had asked for Sasser Park to be fixed.
Phil BacerraVoted yes4:16:45Established that the contract is maintenance of existing fountains only and runs just to the end of 2025, then moved the substitute motion to approve.
Johnathan Ryan HernandezVoted yes4:13:55Backed it as an investment in the park outside a school in his ward.
- 06
Mayor Pro Tem Phan recused herself from a sewer alarm monitoring contract because the vendor is a client of her firm.
▶4:00:22Explore this issue
Related agenda item 9Open agenda item →Receive and File Quarterly Report of Contracts up to $50,000 for Non-Public Works and up to $500,000 for Public Works Authorized by…
No named councilmember contribution could be reliably linked to this item.
- 07
The rest of the consent calendar passed seven votes to nothing.
▶4:01:19Explore this issue
Related agenda item 11Open agenda item →Award a Purchase Order to Smartcover® Systems for Remote Alarm Monitoring and Management Services (Spec No. 24-025) (Non-General…
No named councilmember contribution could be reliably linked to this item.
How this brief was made
The current summaries were prepared during an in-session review of the transcripts. This prototype shows only sentences with a timestamp citation. 0 uncited sentences were withheld from this page.
Focus
Where they differed
Splits in votes or reasoning
Councilmember Penaloza wanted the fountain contract held back until the city knew what it was doing with the Civic Center. His colleagues treated the money as ordinary upkeep of things residents use now, and a substitute motion to approve it carried six to one.
Said it was not fiscally responsible to spend on fountains the city expects to demolish within five years, and moved to continue the item.
Argued a working fountain at Sasser Park matters to making downtown feel safe and worth walking through.
Said the redevelopment is an unfunded vision, and that families near Nova Academy had asked for Sasser Park to be fixed.
Established that the contract is maintenance of existing fountains only and runs just to the end of 2025, then moved the substitute motion to approve.
Backed it as an investment in the park outside a school in his ward.
The ceasefire resolution split the council and the room. Four members voted for it as amended from the dais, Mayor Amezcua voted against, and two members were absent when the vote was taken.
Cast the only vote against; she ran the item but did not argue the substance from the dais.
Voted for it only after reading in amendments naming the dead on both sides and calling for a bilateral ceasefire and a two-state solution.
Brought the resolution forward and read it into the record, saying its purpose was to tell Congress that Santa Ana supports a ceasefire.
Spoke about her family being separated by the civil war in El Salvador and what families lose to wars they had no part in.
Seconded the motion and listed the other cities that had passed similar resolutions.
Agenda
Every item
22 items in agenda order
Closed Session Items
Not located Closed-session conference with legal counsel
- The council met privately on two matters carrying a risk of litigation, a Public Records Act request and a personnel complaint.43:21
Closed Session Items
Not located LIABILITY CLAIM pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.95: Claimant: Antonio Ochoa [Workers’ Compensation Claim]
- The council met privately on a workers' compensation claim brought by Antonio Ochoa.43:21
Closed Session Items
Not located Closed-session labor negotiations with city employee organizations
- The council met privately with its labour negotiator about bargaining with the Santa Ana Police Officers Association.43:21
Closed Session Items
Not located Closed-session public employee appointment
- The council met privately about appointing a city manager, on an acting, interim or permanent basis.43:21
Ceremonial Presentations
▶2:51:53 Certificates of Recognition presented by Mayor Amezcua to the Santa Ana High School Girls Wrestling Team for Exceptional Athletic…
- Mayor Amezcua presented certificates of recognition to the Santa Ana High School girls wrestling team.2:51:53
Ceremonial Presentations
▶3:00:38 Certificates of Recognition presented by Councilmember Hernandez to Felipe Guerrero and Martha Calderon for Outstanding…
- Councilmember Hernandez presented certificates of recognition to Felipe Guerrero and Martha Calderon for their work in the community.3:00:59
Ceremonial Presentations
▶3:07:41 Certificate of Recognition presented by Councilmember Lopez to Orange County Community Housing Corporation SteppingUP for…
- Councilmember Lopez presented a certificate of recognition to the Orange County Community Housing Corporation for its SteppingUP programme.3:07:51
Ceremonial Presentations
▶3:16:08 Certificates of Recognition presented by Councilmember Penaloza and Councilmember Vazquez to Main Street Bus Artists for Outstanding…
- Councilmembers Penaloza and Vazquez presented certificates of recognition to the Main Street bus artists.3:16:08
Consent Calendar
▶4:00:52 Excused Absences
- A routine item excusing members who missed earlier meetings.4:00:52
Consent Calendar
▶4:00:00 Minutes from the Regular Meetings of December 19, 2023, January 16, 2024, and February 20, 2024
- The council approved the written record of its meetings of 19 December 2023, 16 January 2024 and 20 February 2024.4:01:19
Consent Calendar
▶4:00:00 Appoint Ernie Aguilar Nominated by Councilmember Hernandez as a Landlord Representative to the Rental Housing Board for a Full Term…
Consent Calendar
▶4:00:00 Receive and File Quarterly Report of Investments as of December 31, 2023
- The council received and filed the quarterly report on city investments as of 31 December 2023.4:01:19
Consent Calendar
▶4:00:00 Receive and File Quarterly Report of Contracts up to $50,000 for Non-Public Works and up to $500,000 for Public Works Authorized by…
- The council received and filed the quarterly report of contracts the city manager signed under his own authority between October and December 2023.4:01:19
Consent Calendar
▶4:00:00 Approve a Purchase Order to The Charles Machine Works Inc. for Sewer Lining Materials, Supplies, and Accessories (Spec No. XX-XXX)…
- A sole source purchase order of up to $1,750,000 for sewer lining materials, paid from funds outside the general budget.4:01:19
Consent Calendar
▶4:01:21 Award a Purchase Order to Smartcover® Systems for Remote Alarm Monitoring and Management Services (Spec No. 24-025) (Non-General…
Consent Calendar
▶4:00:00 Award a Blanket Order Contract to Hach Company for Water Quality Testing Supplies, Calibration, and Maintenance Services (Bid No.…
- A contract of up to $650,000 over three years for water quality testing supplies, calibration and maintenance.4:01:19
Consent Calendar
▶4:00:00 Amend Aggregate Blanket Order Contracts for Waterworks Fittings and Supplies with Core & Main LP, Ferguson Enterprises LLC, and…
- An increase to the city's standing contracts for waterworks fittings and supplies, raising the combined ceiling to $2,400,000.4:01:19
Consent Calendar
▶4:00:00 Amend the Agreement with Service First for Pool Equipment Repair Services on an as Needed Basis to Increase the Contract Amount by…
- An extra $300,000 a year for scheduled pool maintenance and repair, bringing the agreement to about $2,988,810.4:01:19
Consent Calendar
▶4:06:04 Amend the Agreement with Service First to Increase the Contract Amount by $300,000 Annually for Fountain Maintenance and Repair…
- Councilmember Penaloza pulled this item, an increase of $300,000 a year for fountain maintenance, questioning why the city would invest in Civic Center fountains it plans to demolish.4:03:01
- Public works director Nabil Saba said most of the money would go to bringing the fountain at Sasser Park back into service, after its chlorination system and controllers were stripped for copper.4:13:35
- He said abandoning the Civic Center fountains would create bigger maintenance problems than keeping them running, because they are holes in the ground that collect rainwater and debris.4:22:45
- Councilmember Lopez said the Civic Center redevelopment is still only a vision with no money allocated, and that families around Nova Academy had asked the city to reinvest in Sasser Park.4:10:04
- Councilmember Hernandez agreed, saying a working park in front of the school was a good investment for the students there.4:13:55
- Councilmember Penaloza moved to continue the item until the city had a plan for what happens to the fountains.4:07:33
- Councilmember Bacerra established with staff that the contract covers only maintenance and repair of existing fountains and runs to the end of 2025, then moved a substitute motion to approve it as recommended.4:16:45
- Mayor Pro Tem Phan supported the substitute, describing Sasser Park as somewhere people avoid and arguing a working fountain matters to reviving downtown.4:17:41
- The substitute motion carried six votes to one, with Councilmember Penaloza against.4:23:49
Consent Calendar
▶4:00:00 Agreements with Galls, LLC and L.N. Curtis & Sons for Police Uniforms, Accessories, and Miscellaneous Equipment (General Fund)
- One-year agreements with two suppliers for police uniforms and equipment, together not exceeding $600,000.4:01:19
Consent Calendar
▶4:00:00 Adopt a Resolution to Appoint a Voting Delegate and an Alternate to the Independent Cities Risk Management Authority (ICRMA) Board…
- A resolution naming the city's voting delegate and alternate to the board of the Independent Cities Risk Management Authority.4:01:19
Business Calendar
▶4:24:25 Consideration of Ceasefire Resolution as Proposed Through Councilmember Requested Item
- Councilmember Vazquez brought forward a resolution affirming support for the worldwide call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and read it into the record himself.4:25:00
- The clerk reported the city had received 114 written comments on the item by two o'clock that afternoon.4:28:07
- Public comment ran for more than two hours and was sharply divided.4:29:31
- Speakers against argued that foreign policy is not council business and that the resolution would divide the city and leave its Jewish residents less safe.4:36:01
- Other speakers, including Jewish residents, supported a ceasefire while asking that the text also demand the release of the hostages.4:45:15
- Mayor Pro Tem Phan asked that speaking time be cut to one minute rather than cutting the queue short, so that everyone who had waited would be heard.5:58:10
- Councilmember Lopez said her own family had been separated by the civil war in El Salvador, and that she supported a ceasefire resolution.6:40:08
- Councilmember Hernandez read out a long list of other cities and counties that had already passed one.6:36:05
- Mayor Pro Tem Phan then read out her amendments, which named the Israeli and Palestinian dead, condemned terrorism and hate in all its forms, and called for a permanent bilateral ceasefire recognising both Israel's right to exist and a free Palestinian state in a two-state solution.6:51:21
- City Attorney Carvalho said on the record that she could not find those amendments in the agenda packet, and that the council needed a text the public had seen before it could act.6:53:37
- Councilmember Vazquez accepted the amendments as read, and the motion was seconded by Councilmember Hernandez.6:55:20
- It passed four votes to one, with Mayor Amezcua against and Councilmembers Bacerra and Penaloza recorded absent.6:55:47
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