18February
2025
Regular City Council Meeting · One key issue

An appointment to the Police Oversight Commission failed, getting four votes when five were needed.

Check this moment · 51:02
2.9 hours 19 agenda items 16 located in video 78% attributed to a named speaker
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Brief

What happened

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

  1. 01

    Councilmember Hernandez, who nominated her, said the commission needs members willing to be critical and that he feared she was being rejected for her opinions.

    45:44
    Explore this issue
    Related agenda item 7

    Appoint and Re-Appoint Various Boards and Commissions Members Nominated by Councilmember Hernandez as the Ward 5 Representative for…

    Open agenda item →

    Member positions

    Valerie Amezcua
    Valerie AmezcuaVoted no

    Said nobody had made personal attacks and that the council had previously gone against the advice of its own attorney and manager on serious questions.

    49:50
    Phil Bacerra
    Phil BacerraVoted no

    None

    51:02
    David Penaloza
    David PenalozaVoted no

    None

    51:02
    Jessie Lopez
    Jessie LopezVoted yes

    Seconded the nomination.

    50:39
    Johnathan Ryan Hernandez
    Johnathan Ryan HernandezVoted yes

    Nominated her and argued the commission needs members willing to be critical, saying he feared she was being rejected for her opinions.

    45:44
  2. 02

    Mayor Amezcua replied that the exchange had turned into finger-pointing and recalled other occasions when the council went against staff advice.

    49:50
    Explore this issue
    Related agenda item 7

    Appoint and Re-Appoint Various Boards and Commissions Members Nominated by Councilmember Hernandez as the Ward 5 Representative for…

    Open agenda item →

    Member positions

    Valerie Amezcua
    Valerie AmezcuaVoted no

    Said nobody had made personal attacks and that the council had previously gone against the advice of its own attorney and manager on serious questions.

    49:50
    Phil Bacerra
    Phil BacerraVoted no

    None

    51:02
    David Penaloza
    David PenalozaVoted no

    None

    51:02
    Jessie Lopez
    Jessie LopezVoted yes

    Seconded the nomination.

    50:39
    Johnathan Ryan Hernandez
    Johnathan Ryan HernandezVoted yes

    Nominated her and argued the commission needs members willing to be critical, saying he feared she was being rejected for her opinions.

    45:44
  3. 03

    Several residents asked the council not to oppose an air quality rule, and one item on the agenda proposed exactly that.

    28:51
    Explore this issue
    Related agenda item 18

    Discuss and consider directing the City Manager to direct city staff to bring back the attached Resolution for Council consideration…

    Open agenda item →

    What councilmembers said

    Representative transcript excerpts—not inferred positions.

    Valerie Amezcua
    Valerie AmezcuaMayor

    Thank you. So I know Mayor, Council Member Fanon, I'm just gonna say something really quick. So thank you for the study, Mr. Hercie. I really appreciate it. And I know you, I believe you met with each council member and shared with everybody and with myself.…

    1:49:22
    Thai Viet Phan
    Thai Viet PhanCouncilmember

    or I think the little parking station, the little pay stations can be a little annoying because you have to walk around looking for them, but I'll leave it to staff to figure out the best way to handle that. We should be digital, yes, exactly. QR codes…

    2:01:46
    Jessie Lopez
    Jessie LopezCouncilmember

    area that are around the downtown area. I was at Art Walk and I was really upset because I saw a car being towed right and part of that is because so many people come into our city during Art Walk and so when this is the experience that people from outside the…

    2:09:28
    Alvaro Nuñez
    Alvaro NuñezCity Manager

    traffic area. So we obviously need to pay attention to make sure it's clean and attractive, That's a minimum mandatory from our perspective, but I just want to clarify that that any Revenue from our parking is shared citywide also right in other words for…

    1:58:22
  4. 04

    The council held a work study on the parking fund that pays for downtown parking structures.

    20:01
    Explore this issue
    Related agenda item 19

    Work Study Session for Parking Enterprise Fund 27

    Open agenda item →

    What councilmembers said

    Representative transcript excerpts—not inferred positions.

    Valerie Amezcua
    Valerie AmezcuaMayor

    superintendent who already makes over four hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year let's talk about comparing his income to the families that live in our city they have lawyers many many many lawyers as they need them they need them because of all the…

    2:47:32
    Johnathan Ryan Hernandez
    Johnathan Ryan HernandezCouncilmember

    I am supportive of a parking meter fund committee. I saw that we had one of our businesses mention that today. I think that would be great for the downtown businesses and stakeholders to have a seat at the table. And in terms of the hours of operation, the…

    2:21:06
    Alvaro Nuñez
    Alvaro NuñezCity Manager

    key though right because again we'll provide the contract for example for the parking enforcement right and there is no easy way to make parking enforcement fun right that's that's what they we hired them and so the idea is to we want to cancel the contract…

    2:15:43
    David Penaloza
    David PenalozaCouncilmember

    parking meters, but I like to first take a look at why those parking meters were added in the first place, because I know there's a lot of businesses and schools and office buildings in the area, and I could, I wasn't here, but I could imagine that way back…

    2:25:53
  5. 05

    Everything else passed on the consent calendar, with one recorded no vote and two recusals.

    41:31
    Explore this issue
    Related agenda item 10

    Purchase Order Contract to Magnet Forensics, LLC for Digital Forensic Annual License Subscription (Specification No. 25-018)…

    Open agenda item →

    What councilmembers said

    Representative transcript excerpts—not inferred positions.

    Jennifer L. Hall
    Jennifer L. HallCity Clerk

    The vote is seven ayes, no nays with a noted nay vote on item number 10 by Councilmember Hernandez and recusals by Councilmember Fan on items 13 and a portion of item 14. Motion carries. Thank you.

    41:31
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

Split voteon “Appoint and Re-Appoint Various Boards and Commissions Members Nominated by Councilmember Hernandez as the Ward 5 Representative for…”51:02

A nominee to the Police Oversight Commission was blocked, getting four votes where five are required, in an exchange both sides said had become personal.

Valerie Amezcua
Valerie AmezcuaVoted no49:50

Said nobody had made personal attacks and that the council had previously gone against the advice of its own attorney and manager on serious questions.

Phil Bacerra
Phil BacerraVoted no51:02
David Penaloza
David PenalozaVoted no51:02
Jessie Lopez
Jessie LopezVoted yes50:39

Seconded the nomination.

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez
Johnathan Ryan HernandezVoted yes45:44

Nominated her and argued the commission needs members willing to be critical, saying he feared she was being rejected for her opinions.

Agenda

Every item

19 items in agenda order

1
Ceremonial Presentations

Certificates of Recognition presented by Mayor Amezcua to Santa Ana High School Boys and Girls Wrestling Teams for their Exceptional…

Not located
  • Mayor Amezcua presented certificates to Santa Ana High School students.28:24
Official agendaSupplied summaryNot located
Full official agenda title

Certificates of Recognition presented by Mayor Amezcua to Santa Ana High School Boys and Girls Wrestling Teams for their Exceptional Athletic Accomplishments

2
Ceremonial Presentations

Certificate of Recognition presented by Councilmember Hernandez to Tyrone Tripp and the Tripp Family in honor of Black History Month…

Not located
  • Councilmember Hernandez presented a certificate to Tyrone Tripp.28:24
Official agendaSupplied summaryNot located
Full official agenda title

Certificate of Recognition presented by Councilmember Hernandez to Tyrone Tripp and the Tripp Family in honor of Black History Month and for their Outstanding Contributions to the Community

3
Ceremonial Presentations

Proclamation presented by Councilmember Lopez to Santa Ana Unified School District declaring February 19, 2025, as “We Care Day”

48:28
  • Councilmember Lopez presented a proclamation to the Santa Ana Unified School District.28:24
Official agendaSupplied summaryClerk timestamp
4
Consent Calendar

Excused Absences

1:24:16
  • A routine item excusing members who missed earlier meetings, approved with the consent calendar.41:31
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockCity Clerk’s Office
Official recommendation
  1. Excuse the absent members
5
Consent Calendar

Minutes from the Regular Meeting of February 4, 2025

1:24:16
  • The council approved the written record of its 4 February 2025 meeting.41:31
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockCity Clerk’s Office
Official recommendation
  1. Approve minutes
6
Consent Calendar

Minutes of the Regular Meetings of Arts and Culture Commission on November 21, 2024, Workforce Development Board on July 18, 2024…

1:24:16
  • The council formally received minutes from the Arts and Culture Commission.41:31
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockCity Clerk’s Office
Full official agenda title

Minutes of the Regular Meetings of Arts and Culture Commission on November 21, 2024, Workforce Development Board on July 18, 2024, and Youth Commission on November 18, 2024

Official recommendation
  1. Receive and file
7
Consent Calendar

Appoint and Re-Appoint Various Boards and Commissions Members Nominated by Councilmember Hernandez as the Ward 5 Representative for…

1:28:24
Split voteSee member positions →
  • This item covered several appointments and reappointments to city boards and commissions.50:39
  • The appointment of Amalia Mejia to the Police Oversight Commission was taken separately and failed, drawing four votes where five are required.51:02
  • Councilmember Hernandez, who moved it, argued the commission needs members who are forthcoming about why it exists and who tell residents they can report civil rights concerns somewhere other than the police department.45:44
  • He said her opinion was welcome at the dais and that he feared she was being kept off the commission because of it.45:59
  • Mayor Amezcua said nobody had made personal attacks, that pointing a finger leaves three pointing back, and recalled the council going against the advice of its own attorney and manager on other significant questions.49:50
  • Mayor Amezcua and Councilmembers Penaloza and Bacerra were the three no votes, and the other oaths of office were then administered.51:02
Official agendaSupplied summaryClerk timestampCity Clerk’s Office
Full official agenda title

Appoint and Re-Appoint Various Boards and Commissions Members Nominated by Councilmember Hernandez as the Ward 5 Representative for a Full-Term Expiring December 12, 2028

Official recommendation
  1. Miguel Ochoa – Arts and Culture Commission (Pursuant to SAMC Sec. 2-326(a), requires five affirmative votes.)
  2. Dwayne Shipp – Community Development Commission (Pursuant to SAMC Sec. 2-326(a), requires five affirmative votes.)
  3. Ruby Woo – Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission (Pursuant to SAMC Sec. 2-326(a), requires five affirmative votes.)
  4. Nathaniel Greensides – Personnel Board
  5. Amalia Mejia – Police Oversight Commission (Pursuant to SAMC Sec. 2-326(a), requires five affirmative votes.)
  6. Adrian Ramirez – Youth Commission
  7. Michael Chu – Santa Ana 2018 Measure X Citizens’ Oversight Committee
8
Consent Calendar

Workforce Development Board Bylaws

1:24:16
  • The council approved the bylaws for the Workforce Development Board.41:31
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockCommunity Development Agency
Official recommendation
  1. Receive and file
9
Consent Calendar

Application to the California Workforce Development Board to Request Governor Approval to Continue as a Career Services Provider for…

1:24:16
  • The council approved applying to the state workforce board for the governor's approval of its local plan.41:31
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockCommunity Development Agency
Full official agenda title

Application to the California Workforce Development Board to Request Governor Approval to Continue as a Career Services Provider for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title I Grant

Official recommendation
  1. Authorize application submission requesting Governor approval to continue as a Career Services Provider and an Adult Dislocated Worker service provider within a Local Workforce Development Area under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
10
Consent Calendar

Purchase Order Contract to Magnet Forensics, LLC for Digital Forensic Annual License Subscription (Specification No. 25-018)…

41:31
  • The council renewed the annual licence for the software the police use to examine phones and computers as evidence.41:31
  • Councilmember Hernandez had a no vote recorded against this item.41:31
Official agendaSupplied summaryMatched to recordingPolice Department
Full official agenda title

Purchase Order Contract to Magnet Forensics, LLC for Digital Forensic Annual License Subscription (Specification No. 25-018) (Non-General Fund)

Official recommendation
  1. Authorize a purchase order to Magnet Forensics, LLC for digital forensic annual license subscription for a one-year term beginning February 18, 2025 and expiring February 17, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $57,110
11
Consent Calendar

Purchase Order Contracts with Action Plumbing Supply, LLC, Famcon Pipe & Supply, Inc., and Ferguson Enterprises, LLC for Copper…

1:24:16
  • Suppliers were put under contract to provide plumbing and pipe materials for the city's water system.41:31
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockPublic Works Agency
Full official agenda title

Purchase Order Contracts with Action Plumbing Supply, LLC, Famcon Pipe & Supply, Inc., and Ferguson Enterprises, LLC for Copper Tubing (Specification No. 24-095) (Non-General Fund)

Official recommendation
  1. Award aggregate Purchase Order Contracts to vendors listed below for copper tubing on an as-needed basis, in an annual aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000, for a term beginning February 18, 2025 and expiring February 17, 2026, with provisions for four, one-year renewal options for a not to exceed total of $500,000. Vendor Location Action Plumbing Supply, LLC Mira Loma, CA Famcon Pipe & Supply, Inc. Oxnard, CA Ferguson Enterprises, LLC Santa Ana, CA
12
Consent Calendar

Purchase Order Contracts with Fil-Trek Corporation, Pure Process Filtration Inc., and Vytal Filtration Technologies-West for…

1:24:16
  • Suppliers were put under contract to provide filtration equipment for the water system.41:31
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockPublic Works Agency
Full official agenda title

Purchase Order Contracts with Fil-Trek Corporation, Pure Process Filtration Inc., and Vytal Filtration Technologies-West for Cartridge Filters and Chlorine Filters (Specification No. 24-128) (Non-General Fund)

Official recommendation
  1. Award aggregate purchase order contracts to the vendors listed below for cartridge filters and chlorine filters on as-needed basis, for an aggregate amount not to exceed $3,000,000, for a term beginning February 18, 2025 and expiring February 17, 2026, with provisions for four, one-year renewal options. Vendor Location Fil-Trek Corporation Cambridge, Ontario (Canada) Pure Process Filtration Inc. Garden Grove, CA Vytal Filtration Technologies-West Visalia, CA
13
Consent Calendar

Agreement with IDS Group for Architectural Design Services for Santa Ana Downtown Parking Structures Improvements (Project No.…

41:36
  • An architectural firm was engaged to design improvements to the downtown parking structures.41:31
  • Councilmember Phan was recorded as recused from this item.41:31
Official agendaSupplied summaryMatched to recordingPublic Works Agency
Full official agenda title

Agreement with IDS Group for Architectural Design Services for Santa Ana Downtown Parking Structures Improvements (Project No. 25-9004) (Non-General Fund)

Official recommendation
  1. Approve an agreement with IDS Group for architectural design services for Santa Ana Downtown Parking Structures Improvements for an amount of $157,587 plus a 10% contingency of $15,759, for a total amount not to exceed $173,346, for a term beginning February 18, 2025 and expiring February 17, 2027, with a provision for a two-year extension without additional funds (Agreement No. A-2025-XXX)
14
Consent Calendar

Agreements with Akel Engineering Group, Inc., Cannon Corporation, EEC Environmental, Huitt-Zollars, Inc., JIG Consultants…

41:36
  • Several engineering firms were engaged to provide on-call environmental and water engineering services.41:31
  • Councilmember Phan was recorded as recused from part of this item.41:31
Official agendaSupplied summaryMatched to recordingPublic Works Agency
Full official agenda title

Agreements with Akel Engineering Group, Inc., Cannon Corporation, EEC Environmental, Huitt-Zollars, Inc., JIG Consultants, Kleinfelder, Inc., Psomas, Tetra Tech EC, Inc., and Water Works Engineers, LLC for On-Call Engineering Services (No. 24-083) (Non-General Fund)

Official recommendation
  1. Approve agreements with Akel Engineering Group, Inc., Cannon Corporation, EEC Environmental, Huitt-Zollars, Inc., JIG Consultants, Kleinfelder, Inc., Psomas, Tetra Tech EC, Inc., and Water Works Engineers, LLC to provide on-call engineering services, for a shared aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000, for a three-year term beginning February 18, 2025 and expiring February 17, 2028, with provisions for two one-year extensions (Core Agreement No. A-2025-XXX)
15
Consent Calendar

Cooperative Agreement with Orange County Transportation Authority for the First Street Multimodal Boulevard Study (Project No.…

1:24:16
  • The council entered a cooperative agreement with the county transport authority for the First Street corridor.41:31
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockPublic Works Agency
Full official agenda title

Cooperative Agreement with Orange County Transportation Authority for the First Street Multimodal Boulevard Study (Project No. 25-6042) (Non-General Fund)

Official recommendation
  1. Approve an appropriation adjustment recognizing Regional Early Action Planning 2.0 funding in the amount of $4,300,000 into the Public Services-Street Safety Projects, State Grant-Indirect revenue account and appropriate the same amount into the State Safety Projects, Improvements Other Than Building expenditure account (Requires five affirmative votes)
  2. Approve a Cooperative Agreement with Orange County Transportation Authority in an amount not to exceed $4,300,000, for the evaluation and preliminary design of the First Street Boulevard Study, effective upon full approval of the agreement through December 31, 2027 (Agreement No. A-2025-XXX)
  3. Approve an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Capital Improvement Program to include $4,300,000 in study and design funds for the First Street Boulevard Multimodal Study (Project No. 25-6042)
16
Consent Calendar

Final adoption: Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Santa Ana Amending Chapter 2 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code by Adding…

1:38:31
  • The council gave final adoption to an ordinance adding a section to the municipal code prohibiting certain awards.1:00:33
  • It passed seven votes to nothing.1:02:55
Official agendaSupplied summaryClerk timestampCity Manager’s Office
Full official agenda title

Second Reading of Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Santa Ana Amending Chapter 2 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code by Adding Section 2-112 Prohibiting the Award of Agreements, Contracts, or Grants to Immediate Family Members of the Mayor, City Council Members, or City Officials (Second Reading) First Reading at the February 4, 2025 City Council meeting and approved by an unanimous vote of 7-0. Legal notice was published in the OC Reporter on February 10, 2025

Official recommendation
  1. Conduct a second reading and adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 2 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code by adding Section 2-112, which prohibits awarding agreements, contracts, or grants to immediate family members of the Mayor, City Council Members, or City Officials. ORDINANCE NO. NS-3077 entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AMENDING CHAPTER 2 OF THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING A NEW SECTION 2-112 CONCERNING THE PROHIBITION AGAINST AWARDING OF AGREEMENTS, CONTRACTS OR GRANTS TO ANY IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER OF THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, OR CITY OFFICIALS
17
Public Hearing Public Comments

Public Hearing for Five-Year Economic Development Subsidy Reports for TACenergy and THRIVE Santa Ana, LLC

Not located
  • This was the public hearing on five-year reports about the economic subsidies given to two businesses, which state law requires the city to publish.41:31
Official agendaSupplied summaryNot locatedCommunity Development Agency
Full official agenda title

Public Hearing for Five-Year Economic Development Subsidy Reports for TACenergy and THRIVE Santa Ana, LLC Legal notice published in the OC Reporter on February 5, 2025

Official recommendation
  1. Conduct Public Hearing to consider any written or oral comments on the information contained in the Five-Year Economic Development Subsidy reports for TACenergy and THRIVE Santa Ana, LLC
  2. Receive and File Reports
18
Councilmember Requested Items

Discuss and consider directing the City Manager to direct city staff to bring back the attached Resolution for Council consideration…

1:47:59
  • A councilmember asked the council to bring back a resolution opposing a South Coast Air Quality Management District rule.1:48:03
  • Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez said he wanted an option that does not place the burden on downtown businesses and is more balanced.1:48:09
  • Several residents had asked the council during public comment not to adopt the opposition.28:51
Official agendaSupplied summaryClerk timestamp
Full official agenda title

Discuss and consider directing the City Manager to direct city staff to bring back the attached Resolution for Council consideration that would OPPOSE South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) proposed Amended Rules 1111 and 1121; Which will have a profound impact and impose significant costs on millions of Southern California homeowners, renters and businesses who are already struggling to make ends meet while providing minimal air quality benefit. – Councilmember David Penaloza

19
Work Study Session

Work Study Session for Parking Enterprise Fund 27

2:10:30
  • The council held a work study on the parking enterprise fund, the account that pays for downtown parking structures and enforcement.20:01
  • Discussion included meter end times and whether Sundays should stay free.20:01
Official agendaSupplied summaryClerk timestampCommunity Development Agency
Official recommendation
  1. Discuss and provide direction to staff for budget, rates, and hours of operation that relate to the Parking Enterprise Fund 27
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