SA PulseSanta Ana Council Record
3February
2026
Regular City Council Meeting · One key issue

The council voted four to three to buy a drone system that sends a drone to emergency calls before officers arrive.

Check this moment · 6:31:16
7.6 hours 23 agenda items 19 located in video 44% attributed to a named speaker
Public meeting recording7.6 hoursOpen on YouTube ↗
Public recording

Watch the meeting

Choose any timestamp in the meeting record to play that moment here. When opened directly from disk, timestamps open on YouTube instead.

Open the full recording on YouTube
Brief

What happened

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

  1. 01

    Councilmember Hernandez first tried to send the whole item to the Police Oversight Commission, and that failed two votes to five.

    6:30:40
    Police oversightImmigration
    Explore this issue
    Related agenda item 15

    Agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the Implementation of the Drone as a First Responder System and Patrol Drone Purchase for…

    Open agenda item →

    Member positions

    Benjamin Vazquez
    Benjamin VazquezVoted no

    Wanted new police technology to go through the oversight commission as a matter of course, so the public can see it has been through a process.

    5:19:17
    Johnathan Ryan Hernandez
    Johnathan Ryan HernandezVoted no

    Moved to send the whole item to the Police Oversight Commission, and said the policy remained vague and residents did not yet trust it would protect them.

    5:35:20
    Valerie Amezcua
    Valerie AmezcuaVoted yes

    Said the city's own drone let a commander verify and refuse seven federal requests for support during last summer's protests, and that she would rather not borrow equipment from a neighbouring department.

    6:24:15
    David Penaloza
    David PenalozaVoted yes

    Moved approval after questioning how the drone would be dispatched and how it would interact with federal immigration enforcement.

    5:27:11
  2. 02

    He said the policy in the staff report was still vague and that residents do not yet trust it will protect them.

    6:36:04
    Police oversightImmigration
    Explore this issue
    Related agenda item 15

    Agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the Implementation of the Drone as a First Responder System and Patrol Drone Purchase for…

    Open agenda item →

    Member positions

    Benjamin Vazquez
    Benjamin VazquezVoted no

    Wanted new police technology to go through the oversight commission as a matter of course, so the public can see it has been through a process.

    5:19:17
    Johnathan Ryan Hernandez
    Johnathan Ryan HernandezVoted no

    Moved to send the whole item to the Police Oversight Commission, and said the policy remained vague and residents did not yet trust it would protect them.

    5:35:20
    Valerie Amezcua
    Valerie AmezcuaVoted yes

    Said the city's own drone let a commander verify and refuse seven federal requests for support during last summer's protests, and that she would rather not borrow equipment from a neighbouring department.

    6:24:15
    David Penaloza
    David PenalozaVoted yes

    Moved approval after questioning how the drone would be dispatched and how it would interact with federal immigration enforcement.

    5:27:11
  3. 03

    Mayor Amezcua argued the opposite, that having the city's own drones let Santa Ana refuse seven federal requests for support during last summer's protests.

    6:24:15
    Police oversightImmigration
    Explore this issue
    Related agenda item 15

    Agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the Implementation of the Drone as a First Responder System and Patrol Drone Purchase for…

    Open agenda item →

    Member positions

    Benjamin Vazquez
    Benjamin VazquezVoted no

    Wanted new police technology to go through the oversight commission as a matter of course, so the public can see it has been through a process.

    5:19:17
    Johnathan Ryan Hernandez
    Johnathan Ryan HernandezVoted no

    Moved to send the whole item to the Police Oversight Commission, and said the policy remained vague and residents did not yet trust it would protect them.

    5:35:20
    Valerie Amezcua
    Valerie AmezcuaVoted yes

    Said the city's own drone let a commander verify and refuse seven federal requests for support during last summer's protests, and that she would rather not borrow equipment from a neighbouring department.

    6:24:15
    David Penaloza
    David PenalozaVoted yes

    Moved approval after questioning how the drone would be dispatched and how it would interact with federal immigration enforcement.

    5:27:11
  4. 04

    Councilmember Vazquez separately won agreement to have the oversight commission examine how police responded to a demonstration at the Civic Center.

    6:32:12
    Police oversightPublic safety
    Explore this issue
    Related agenda item 19

    Discuss and Consider Providing Direction to the City Manager to Prepare a Public Report and Direct the Police Oversight Commission…

    Open agenda item →

    No named councilmember contribution could be reliably linked to this item.

  5. 05

    Twenty-nine people spoke, several of them against spending $683,000 on drones.

    4:34:36
    Police oversight
    Explore this issue
    Related agenda item 8

    In-Car Cameras at the Santa Ana Police Department

    Open agenda item →

    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

Split voteon “Agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the Implementation of the Drone as a First Responder System and Patrol Drone Purchase for…”6:31:16

The council divided four to three on buying a police drone system, after an attempt to send it to the oversight commission first was defeated.

Benjamin Vazquez
Benjamin VazquezVoted no5:19:17

Wanted new police technology to go through the oversight commission as a matter of course, so the public can see it has been through a process.

Jessie Lopez
Jessie LopezVoted no6:31:16
Johnathan Ryan Hernandez
Johnathan Ryan HernandezVoted no5:35:20

Moved to send the whole item to the Police Oversight Commission, and said the policy remained vague and residents did not yet trust it would protect them.

Valerie Amezcua
Valerie AmezcuaVoted yes6:24:15

Said the city's own drone let a commander verify and refuse seven federal requests for support during last summer's protests, and that she would rather not borrow equipment from a neighbouring department.

Thai Viet Phan
Thai Viet PhanVoted yes6:31:16
Phil Bacerra
Phil BacerraVoted yes6:31:16
David Penaloza
David PenalozaVoted yes5:27:11

Moved approval after questioning how the drone would be dispatched and how it would interact with federal immigration enforcement.

Agenda

Every item

23 items in agenda order

1
Closed Session Items

Closed-session labor negotiations with city employee organizations

Not located
Labor & workforce
  • The council met privately about pay talks with a city employee union.35:09
Official agendaSupplied summaryNot located
Full official agenda title

CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6(a): Agency Negotiator: Peter Brown Employee Organizations: 1. Service Employees International Union, Full-Time Employees Unit (SEIU-FT) 2. Service Employees International Union, Part-Time Non-Civil Service Employees Unit (SEIU-PTNCS) 3. Service Employees International Union, Part-Time Civil Service Employees Unit (SEIU-PTCS) 4. Santa Ana Police Officers Association (POA)

2
Closed Session Items

Closed-session labor negotiations with city employee organizations

Not located
Labor & workforce
  • The council met privately about pay talks with a second employee group.35:09
Official agendaSupplied summaryNot located
Full official agenda title

CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6(a): Agency Negotiator: Lori Schnaider Employee Organizations: 1. Confidential Association of Santa Ana (CASA) 2. Santa Ana Middle Management Association (SAMA) 3. Santa Ana Police Management Association (PMA) 4. Unrepresented Seasonal Employees

3
Closed Session Items

Closed-session conference with legal counsel

Not located
  • The council met privately about a matter where the city faces significant exposure to litigation.35:09
Official agendaSupplied summaryNot located
Full official agenda title

CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION pursuant to Section 54956.9(d)(2) of the Government Code: Three (3) Matters [Personnel Complaints]

4
Closed Session Items

Closed-session conference with legal counsel

Not located
  • The council met privately about legal action the city might start itself.35:09
Official agendaSupplied summaryNot located
Full official agenda title

CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – POTENTIAL INITIATION OF LITIGATION pursuant to Paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9: * One (1) case – Union Pacific

1
Ceremonial Presentations

Certificate of Recognition presented by Mayor Amezcua to Templo Calvario for Outstanding Contributions to the Community

3:11:32
  • Mayor Amezcua presented a certificate to Templo Calvario for its contributions to the community.3:12:00
Official agendaSupplied summaryClerk timestamp
2
Ceremonial Presentations

Certificates of Recognition presented by Councilmember Lopez to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) for Outstanding Contributions…

3:18:13
  • Councilmember Lopez presented certificates to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.3:18:44
Official agendaSupplied summaryClerk timestamp
Full official agenda title

Certificates of Recognition presented by Councilmember Lopez to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) for Outstanding Contributions to the Community

3
Ceremonial Presentations

Certificates of Recognition presented by Councilmember Hernandez to students of the Suavecito Foundation for Exemplary Leadership in…

3:25:59
  • Councilmember Hernandez presented certificates to a group of local students.3:26:12
Official agendaSupplied summaryClerk timestamp
Full official agenda title

Certificates of Recognition presented by Councilmember Hernandez to students of the Suavecito Foundation for Exemplary Leadership in Youth Government

4
Consent Calendar

Excused Absences

4:50:39
  • A routine item excusing members who missed earlier meetings, approved with the consent calendar.4:52:50
Official agendaSupplied summaryMatched to recordingCity Clerk’s Office
Official recommendation
  1. Excuse the absent members
5
Consent Calendar

Minutes from the Regular Meeting of January 20, 2026

4:50:45
  • The council approved the written record of its 20 January 2026 meeting, with a correction noted for an appeal reference.4:50:20
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockCity Clerk’s Office
Official recommendation
  1. Approve minutes
6
Consent Calendar

Appoint Emilio Ramirez Nominated by Councilmember Penaloza as the Ward 6 Representative to the Rental Housing Board for a Partial…

4:50:45
Housing
  • Emilio Ramirez was appointed as the Ward 6 representative to a city commission, on Mayor Pro Tem Penaloza's nomination.4:52:50
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockCity Clerk’s Office
Full official agenda title

Appoint Emilio Ramirez Nominated by Councilmember Penaloza as the Ward 6 Representative to the Rental Housing Board for a Partial Term Expiring in 2027

Official recommendation
  1. Appoint Emilio Ramirez to the Rental Housing Board as the Ward 6 representative and administer the Oath of Office (Pursuant to SAMC Sec. 2-326(a), requires five affirmative votes)
7
Consent Calendar

2025 Update on the East First Street Quality of Life Initiative

4:50:45
  • The council received the 2025 update on the East First Street quality of life initiative.4:52:50
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockPolice Department
Official recommendation
  1. Receive and file
8
Consent Calendar

In-Car Cameras at the Santa Ana Police Department

4:54:47
Police oversight
  • The council heard a report on in-car cameras at the police department.4:56:57
  • A member noted that by 2016 about sixty-nine percent of police agencies were already using them.4:56:57
Official agendaSupplied summaryClerk timestampPolice Department
Official recommendation
  1. Receive and file information presented in this report regarding the feasibility of deploying in-car camera systems at the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD)
9
Consent Calendar

Agreement with Manatt Government Strategies, LLC for Federal Legislative Advocacy Services (Specification No. 25-143) (General Fund)

4:50:45
  • A firm was engaged to lobby the federal government on the city's behalf.4:52:50
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockCity Manager’s Office
Official recommendation
  1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Manatt Government Strategies LLC for Federal Legislative Advocacy Services for a three-year term in an amount not to exceed $352,800, from March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2029 with the option for two (2) one-year extensions for a total not to exceed amount of $588,000 (Agreement No. A-2026-XXX)
10
Consent Calendar

Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs for State Legislative Advocacy Services (Specification No. 25-142) (General Fund)

4:50:45
  • A second firm was engaged to lobby the state government on the city's behalf.4:52:50
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockCity Manager’s Office
Official recommendation
  1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Townsend Public Affairs for State Legislative Advocacy Services for a three-year term, from March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2029 with the option for two (2) one- year extensions for a total not to exceed amount of $375,000 (Agreement No. A-2026-XXX)
11
Consent Calendar

Agreement with Midwest Tape for Hoopla Digital Book, Video, and Music Content (Cannabis Public Benefit Fund)

4:50:45
Budget
  • The council renewed the library's digital lending service for books, film and music, paid for from cannabis revenue.4:52:50
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockLibrary
Official recommendation
  1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an Agreement with Midwest Tape, LLC to provide Hoopla Digital Content in an amount not to exceed $75,000 for a term expiring February 9, 2028 (Agreement No. A-2026-XXX)
12
Consent Calendar

Agreement for Payment In-Lieu of Taxes for Properties located at 3601, 3611, 3621, and 3631 S. Harbor Boulevard (APN: 414-261-07)

4:50:45
  • The council approved an agreement for payments in lieu of taxes on a group of properties.4:52:50
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockPlanning and Building Agency
Official recommendation
  1. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the attached Payment In-Lieu of Taxes Agreement with SOCO Harbor, Inc. (Agreement No. 2026-XXX)
13
Consent Calendar

Agreement with Trimble Inc. for Public Works Asset Management Software (Specification No. 26-001) (Non-General Fund)

4:50:45
  • The council approved software for public works to track the city's physical assets.4:52:50
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockPublic Works Agency
Official recommendation
  1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Trimble Inc. to provide public works asset management software, in an amount not to exceed $87,777, for a term beginning January 31, 2026 and expiring January 30, 2027 (Agreement No. A-2026-XXX)
14
Consent Calendar

American Red Cross Facility Use Agreement for Evacuation Shelters at Specified City Facilities [Santa Ana Senior Center…

4:50:45
Parks & libraries
  • The council agreed to let the American Red Cross use named city buildings as evacuation shelters in an emergency.4:52:50
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockPolice Department
Full official agenda title

American Red Cross Facility Use Agreement for Evacuation Shelters at Specified City Facilities [Santa Ana Senior Center, Roosevelt/Walker Community Center, Garfield Community Center, Salgado Recreation Center, El Salvador Community Center, Jerome Center, Southwest Senior Center]

Official recommendation
  1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with the American National Red Cross, commencing upon signing through December 31, 2035, to allow the Red Cross, upon request and if feasible, to use and occupy specified City facilities to operate evacuation shelters during natural disasters or other large-scale emergencies (Agreement No. A-2026-XXX)
15
Consent Calendar

Agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the Implementation of the Drone as a First Responder System and Patrol Drone Purchase for…

5:01:56
Police oversightImmigration
Split voteSee member positions →
  • The police chief presented a proposal to buy a drone as first responder system, where a drone is sent to a call before officers reach the scene.5:02:00
  • Councilmember Vazquez asked whether the Police Oversight Commission had helped write the policy, and said new technology should routinely go through it so the public can see it has been through a process.5:19:17
  • Mayor Pro Tem Penaloza asked how the drone would be dispatched in practice and pressed on how it would interact with federal immigration enforcement operating in the city.5:24:26
  • The city attorney said the policy would be written to comply with the state law limiting local cooperation with immigration enforcement.5:34:22
  • Mayor Pro Tem Penaloza then moved to approve it.5:27:11
  • Councilmember Hernandez asked how long the drones can stay airborne and said the disagreement was really about trust, with a policy he considered still vague.5:35:20
  • Mayor Amezcua said the department was called seven times by federal officials claiming to be under attack during last summer's protests, and that having its own drone let a commander verify the claim and decline to deploy officers.6:24:15
  • She said she would rather rely on the city's own equipment than borrow from a neighbouring department, and wanted the policy to go to the oversight commission afterwards.6:30:48
  • Councilmember Hernandez moved to send the entire item to the Police Oversight Commission first, and that failed two votes to five.6:30:40
  • The purchase then carried four votes to three, with Councilmembers Hernandez, Lopez and Vazquez against.6:31:16
Official agendaSupplied summaryClerk timestampPolice Department
Full official agenda title

Agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the Implementation of the Drone as a First Responder System and Patrol Drone Purchase for the Police Department (Non-General Fund - SLESA)

Official recommendation
  1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. to provide the Drone as a First Responder system, patrol drones, and all required software licenses to the Police Department, in an amount not to exceed $682,900 for a term beginning February 3, 2026 and expiring February 2, 2029 (Agreement No. A-2026-XXX)
16
Consent Calendar

Resolution for Police Oversight Commission Bylaws

6:57:55
Police oversight
  • The council adopted the bylaws for the Police Oversight Commission by resolution.4:50:50
Official agendaSupplied summaryMatched to recordingCity Manager’s Office
Official recommendation
  1. Adopt a Resolution for the Police Oversight Commission Bylaws. RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XXX entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA APPROVING INITIAL BYLAWS FOR THE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION
17
Consent Calendar

Final adoption: an Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code as to Section 2-748 Specifying the Procurement and…

4:50:45
  • The council gave final adoption to an ordinance amending the municipal code, with a grammatical correction found and fixed before the vote.4:50:50
Official agendaSupplied summaryConsent blockPublic Works Agency
Full official agenda title

Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code as to Section 2-748 Specifying the Procurement and Contracting Procedure for Vehicle and Vehicle Related Equipment Purchases First reading January 20, 2026 City Council meeting and approved by a vote of (7-0). Legal notice published in OC Reporter on January 23, 2026

Official recommendation
  1. Conduct a second reading and adopt an ordinance amending Section 2-748 of Article VII, of Chapter 2 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC) specifying the procurement and contracting procedure for vehicle and vehicle related equipment purchases. ORDINANCE NO. NS-3089 entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AMENDING CHAPTER 2 OF THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE AS TO SECTION 2-748 SPECIFYING THE PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTING PROCEDURE FOR VEHICLE AND VEHICLE RELATED EQUIPMENT PURCHASES
18
Public Hearing Public Comments

Appeal Application No. 2025-02 Appealing the Planning Commission Approval of Conditional Use Permit No. 1982-18-MOD-1 to Allow the…

6:31:38
Land useYouth & education
  • An appeal against the Planning Commission's approval of a conditional use permit came before the council.4:50:20
Official agendaSupplied summaryMatched to recordingPlanning and Building Agency
Full official agenda title

Appeal Application No. 2025-02 Appealing the Planning Commission Approval of Conditional Use Permit No. 1982-18-MOD-1 to Allow the Expansion of a Private School at 5311 W. McFadden Avenue Legal notice published in the OC Reporter on January 23, 2026 and notices mailed on same date

Official recommendation
  1. Adopt a resolution denying Appeal Application No. 2025-02, thereby upholding the Planning Commission’s approval of a resolution to approve Conditional Use Permit No. 1982-18-MOD-1 allowing the expansion of a private school at 5311 W. McFadden Avenue (APN 108-073-13). RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XXX entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA DENYING APPEAL APPLICATION NO. 2025-02 AND UPHOLDING THE DETERMINATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO APPROVE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 1982-18-MOD-1 AS CONDITIONED TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW PRIVATE SCHOOL BUILDING WITHIN AN EXISTING CHURCH CAMPUS LOCATED AT 5311 WEST MCFADDEN AVENUE (APN: 108-073-13)
19
Councilmember Requested Items

Discuss and Consider Providing Direction to the City Manager to Prepare a Public Report and Direct the Police Oversight Commission…

6:31:49
Police oversightPublic safety
  • Councilmember Vazquez asked the council to have a public report prepared and the Police Oversight Commission hold a hearing on how police responded to a demonstration at the Civic Center.6:32:12
  • He said reporting by independent local media had raised serious questions about the department's use of force that evening.6:32:12
  • Mayor Pro Tem Penaloza said he would always support additional transparency and oversight of how the department responds in the community.6:35:33
  • Vazquez asked that the commission hold a hearing, report back on what happened and recommend any policy changes.6:36:04
  • Penaloza agreed the council should look into what happened, whether through a public hearing or a report.6:36:13
  • Vazquez asked that the material come back with only the legally required redactions.6:39:57
Official agendaSupplied summaryClerk timestamp
Full official agenda title

Discuss and Consider Providing Direction to the City Manager to Prepare a Public Report and Direct the Police Oversight Commission to Hold a Public Hearing Regarding Law Enforcement Response to a Demonstration at the Santa Ana Civic Center – Councilmember Vazquez

Full transcript

Read or search the complete meeting

1,226 merged speaker turns are available in a dedicated reading view. It opens with unidentified speech hidden.

Open transcript

Agenda location