Brief
What happened Tuesday, November 4, 2025
01 Councilmember Bacerra pressed staff repeatedly on whether the change would still let a project bypass city zoning using state housing law.
▶ 3:48:51Copy link
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Member positions
Phil Bacerra Raised concerns Said he would not support the motion as put, and established that the change would still allow a pre-commitment letter for a project bypassing city zoning under state law.
3:48:51 Johnathan Ryan Hernandez Supported Thanked residents who wrote in and credited Habitat for Humanity's work in the city.
3:46:24
02 The council also held a public hearing on drinking water quality, which drew no comment.
▶ 4:36:53Copy link
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No named councilmember contribution could be reliably linked to this item.
03 Most other business — appointments, contracts and grant paperwork — was approved together.
▶ 3:38:00Copy link
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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. 5 uncited sentences were withheld from this page.
Focus
Where they differed Splits in votes or reasoning
Different reasoning on “Adopt an Amendment to the Affordable Housing Funds Policies and Procedures” ▶ 3:47:29
Councilmember Bacerra broke with colleagues on the affordable housing funding rules, saying he would not support the motion and pressing staff on a loophole he believed remained open.
Said he would not support the motion as put, and established that the change would still allow a pre-commitment letter for a project bypassing city zoning under state law.
Johnathan Ryan Hernandez Supported 3:46:24 Thanked residents who wrote in and credited Habitat for Humanity's work in the city.
Agenda
Every item 29 items in agenda order
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Highlights
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Recorded differences
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Official agenda Supplied summary Not located Full official agenda title CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION pursuant to Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9 of the Government Code: A. Elizabeth Aracely Serrano v. City of Santa Ana, et al , OCSC Case No.: 30-2025-01453185-CU-PA-CJC B. Orange County Apartment House Association, Inc. v City of Santa Ana , Orange County Superior Court, Case No. 30-2023-01308094-CU-JR-CXC
1
Ceremonial Presentations
Proclamation presented by Councilmember Lopez to California Association of Nurse Practitioners declaring November 9-15, 2025, as…
▶ 2:55:04
Councilmember Lopez presented a proclamation. 2:56:40
Routine business, approved together with the rest of the consent calendar without separate discussion. 3:37:35 Official agenda Supplied summary Matched to recording City Clerk’s Office Official recommendation Excuse the absent members
The council approved the written record of its 21 October meeting. 3:38:00 Official agenda Supplied summary Consent block City Clerk’s Office Official recommendation Approve minutes
A commission appointment nominated by Councilmember Phan. 3:38:00
A second appointment nominated by Councilmember Phan. 3:38:00
An appointment nominated by Councilmember Hernandez. 3:38:00
The council reviewed and approved its meeting schedule for the year ahead. 3:40:00 Official agenda Supplied summary Clerk timestamp City Clerk’s Office Official recommendation Review calendar of regularly scheduled City Council meetings in 2026 Cancel the regularly scheduled City Council meetings of January 6, 2026, August 18, 2026, and November 3, 2026 Direct staff to post Notice(s) of Cancellation and waive notice to the City Council of said meetings as required by the Government Code
Routine business, approved together with the rest of the consent calendar without separate discussion. 3:36:20
A purchase contract for asphalt used in street repairs. 3:37:00
10
Consent Calendar
Aggregate Purchase Order Contracts with All-Phase Electric Supply, B&K Electric Wholesale, USMILCOM, Inc., and Royal Wholesale…
▶ 3:36:20
Bulk purchase contracts for electrical supplies. 3:38:00
An agreement for scientific polling, used to test public opinion before putting questions to voters. 3:33:00
Routine business, approved together with the rest of the consent calendar without separate discussion. 3:36:20
13
Consent Calendar
Historic Property Preservation Agreements for the Properties Located at 1412 N. Louise Street, 2402 N. Riverside Drive, 2556 N.…
▶ 3:36:20
⌖ 1412 N. Louise Street Ward 5 · View map
⌖ 2402 N. Riverside Drive Ward 3 · View map
⌖ 2556 N. Valencia Street Ward 3 · View map
⌖ 433 W. Santa Clara Avenue Ward 3 · View map
⌖ 2520 N. Valencia Street Ward 3 · View map
Agreements giving owners of historic homes a property tax reduction in exchange for maintaining them. 3:38:00
The council accepted an outside grant of $702,000 and adjusted the budget to receive it. 3:38:00
An amendment to an agreement with a county schools body. 3:38:00 Official agenda Supplied summary Consent block Police Department Official recommendation Authorize the City Manager to execute the first amendment to the agreement with the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) for School Resource Officer (SRO) services to provide OCSA the opportunity to collaborate in the interview and approval process of the assigned officer, and increase the annual contingency amount by $50,000 for Year 2 and 3 totaling $100,000, for a total aggregate amount not to exceed $906,127, during the term of the agreement (Agreement No. A-2025-XXX)
An agreement to carry out the Vision Zero plan, an approach aimed at eliminating deaths on city streets. 3:38:00 Official agenda Supplied summary Consent block Public Works Agency Official recommendation Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with KTU&A, LLC dba KTUA to provide traffic engineering and transportation planning services for the Santa Ana Vision Zero Plan Update in an amount not-to-exceed $180,832, for the term beginning November 4, 2025 and expiring November 3, 2026, with provisions for one, one-year extension (Agreement No. A-2025-XXX)
17
Consent Calendar
Agreement with Landscape West Management Services, Inc. to Perform Litter, Debris, and Encampment Removal Services Related to…
▶ 3:36:20
A landscaping maintenance contract. 3:38:00
A construction contract for electrical work. 4:55:00
A resolution allowing unspent grant money to roll into the next year. 3:38:00
Resolutions authorising the city to apply for grants. 3:38:00
Different reasoning See member positions → The council considered changing the rules on when the city commits money to affordable housing projects, so that funding decisions follow the city's zoning and general plan. 3:44:10 Councilmember Hernandez thanked residents who wrote in and credited Habitat for Humanity's work in the city. 3:46:24 Councilmember Bacerra said he would not support the motion as put, and questioned staff closely. 3:47:29 He asked whether, if a project used state housing law to bypass city zoning, the planning director could still issue a pre-commitment loan letter. 3:48:51 Staff confirmed the change would not prevent that. 3:49:29 Official agenda Supplied summary Clerk timestamp Community Development Agency Official recommendation Approve recommended changes to the Affordable Housing Funds Policies and Procedures
⌖ 3130 South Fairview Street Ward 1 · View map
The council approved a resolution allowing a state authority to issue bonds financing manufacturing facilities for a local pharmaceutical company. 4:31:30
The council held a public hearing on the annual drinking water quality report. 4:36:53 No members of the public spoke, and the council asked no questions before closing the hearing. 4:37:10
Routine business, approved together with the rest of the consent calendar without separate discussion. 4:39:08 Official agenda Supplied summary Consent block City Clerk’s Office Official recommendation Excuse the absent members
Routine business, approved together with the rest of the consent calendar without separate discussion. 3:37:35 Official agenda Supplied summary Matched to recording City Clerk’s Office Official recommendation Approve minutes
Routine business, approved together with the rest of the consent calendar without separate discussion. 4:39:08
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