Read the May 7 meeting.

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Jennifer L. Hall

audio test audio test i heard you john clerk mike test one i hear you you sound clear

council member vasquez mike testing one two sounds good

Jennifer L. Hall

testing one two sounds good podium mic one two one two sounds good mayor's mic sounds good

Can you hear the presentations, Mike, John? Yes, I can.

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No, I don't hear that one.

Tom's doing something.

Jennifer L. Hall

something. Tom, you might need to come look at that mic.

Try it again.

Jennifer L. Hall

Presentations, Mike, one, two, one, two. That seemed to work.

City attorney, Mike one, two. Sounds good. Thank you, Tom.

Jennifer L. Hall

Thank you. Alvaro's mic.

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Jennifer L. Hall

Staff mic one.

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so

Jennifer L. Hall

yes one moment mayor thank you recording in progress

Thank you.

Valerie Amezcua

meeting to order this meeting is taking place with in-person attendance and by teleconference via zoom the public may access the meeting via the san anna youtube channel or the city's website please bear with us as the technology may disrupt the flow of the meeting

Jennifer L. Hall

madam clerk please conduct the roll call council member becerra council member hernandez council Council Member Lopez. Council Member Penaloza. Present. Council Member Vasquez. Present. Mayor Pro Tem Phan. Here. Mayor Misca. Present. We have four members, that is a quorum.

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you. Madam Clerk, are there any additions or deletions to the closed session? There are none. Thank you. Do any council members need to announce their abstentions on closed session items?

Jennifer L. Hall

Hearing none, do we have any speakers for closed session? There is no one in the chamber on Zoom and we did not receive any e-comments related to closed session, so no comments.

Valerie Amezcua

Great. Thank you. At this time, we'll recess to the portion of the meeting to closed session. Thank you.

Valerie Amezcua

Recording stopped.

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© transcript Emily Beynon

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Okay.

Valerie Amezcua

Madam Clerk, please start the meeting. Yes, Mayor, go ahead. I hereby reconvene the Santa Ana City Council meeting to order. This meeting is taking place with in-person attendance and by teleconference via Zoom. The public may access the meeting via the Santa Ana YouTube channel or the city's website. site please bear with us as the technology may disrupt the flow of the meeting as a reminder this is a meeting to conduct the business of the city as mayor I'm afforded the opportunity to call for a recess or a break or to even clear the meeting room if a meeting becomes too disruptive to properly

Valerie Amezcua

conduct business warnings will be provided for everyone safety per the fire marshal please do not stand or place objects in the aisles in front of the dais along the back of the wall of the council chamber or in front of the entrances or exits to ensure that all members of the public may watch and participate in the meeting without disruption designated media areas for filming and photography are marked or please see our PIO guidelines for members of the news media anyone else again please see our PIO Paul sitting here in the front during City Council presentations and oaths of office guests

Valerie Amezcua

of individuals being recognized are invited to come to the front to take photos at this time madam clerk please conduct the roll call councilmember

Jennifer L. Hall

Becerra here councilmember Hernandez here councilmember Lopez here councilmember Penaloza present councilmember Vasquez present mayor Pro Tem Fan here mayor Meskwa present all seven members are present madam

Valerie Amezcua

clerk before you proceed to the Pledge of Allegiance make any comments please

Jennifer L. Hall

announcements excuse me thank you mayor for members of the public who may be joining us on zoom or teleconference to request to speak during public comments on any agenda item or non-agenda item within the city's jurisdiction you must dial star 9 from your phone or click the button labeled raise hand from zoom now in order to be in the speaker queue once public comments commence this does not apply to public hearing item 29 or the housing authority or public financing authority agendas for which comments will be heard and called for during those specified times please hold any comments on those items until called upon thank

Jennifer L. Hall

Thank you.

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you, Madam Clerk. For the Pledge of Allegiance, I'd like to ask our new Deputy City Manager, Sylvia Vasquez, to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. And congratulations on your promotion.

Place your right hand over your heart. Ready, begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all thank you very much at this time the words of

Valerie Amezcua

inspiration will be provided by master mayor Pro Tem you want to help me out please I believe it's master Thitong Hai you please come to the podium thank you

Dear Mayor and all the Santa Ana City Council, I want to introduce you to myself. with myself. I'm the most venerable Thông Hải, the Vietnamese Buddhist monks. I'm the ambassador of the Bảo Văn, Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Santa Ana. I'm very honored to be here. This is the second time I was invited by the mayor and city council to do a prayer.

So now I would like to ask you all to join with me to do a prayer for the meeting, everything moving smoothly and successful, and everybody peace and happiness in the meeting room so you can plan for all the projects for the city of Santa Ana. So please join with me that a prayer will be conducted in Vietnamese. Thank you.

Thank you.

Satsang with Mooji

Thank you.

Valerie Amezcua

This time, Madam Clerk, are there any additions or deletions to the City Council agenda?

Jennifer L. Hall

No, there are not.

Valerie Amezcua

Let's go to the very first presentation, and that would be mine. Today we are honoring Brandy Figueroa. Brandy, if you want to come up with your family, please.

David PenalozaItem 1

I took it off the bottle thinking I could have it, but it locked.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Well, today is a big deal, and it's an honor. Oh, I see Mr. Casper. Come on up, sir. Now you're going to come up with us. principal up here from Seegersham High School. So today we're going to honor Brandy Figueroa. She's a senior at Seegersham High School. She has been accepted to her dream school Columbia University. Let's give her a round of applause. applause, as well as 14 other esteemed universities including Harvard, Stanford, and Duke.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

So this is what comes from Santa Ana, you gotta love it. Randy Figueroa has achieved academic excellence holding the position of co-valley Victorian with a 4.94 GPA. Yeah, let's all say wow.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

She has been selected as one of the 750 Gates Scholars and is a recipient of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund for the 2023 cohort. She has also participated in the Youth Leadership Institute, been recognized as the QuestBridge College Prep Scholar, and was a finalist in the National College Match. match. She attributes her academic achievements to her community, acknowledging that everything from her family's guidance to the opportunities and programs provided by her community have gradually shaped her into the person she is today. Brandy, as the mayor, city council,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

and the city of Santa Ana, we commend you for your outstanding achievements, your unwavering dedication, your exemplary representation of Segerstrom High School, and the entire the entire city of Santa Ana. As you embark on this exciting new chapter of your academic journey, know that you have a community of supporters cheering you on every step of the way. We are immensely proud of you, cannot wait to see all the amazing things you will accomplish at Columbia University and beyond, and hopefully you'll come back and run for office and lead the way, all those great things. And let us know if you need a care box,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

because I'm sure we can all send you some really great things from here, from Santa Ana. So with that, I want to recognize you, I want to give you this, but before we do that, I'd like you to speak. I'd also like either your parents or Mr. Casper to say a few words. So please.

Thank you so much. Yeah, it's just, you know, I never expected this. I just always wanted to help my parents. I don't know if you saw the segment on ABC News today, but I was talking about how I started working hard for my parents. You know, I knew that every good grade that I got would save us money, save us, you know, a couple thousand, a couple hundred. And I never really thought it would save me all four years, you know, and, you know, four years and one of the best schools in the world. And I'm just really grateful. I never expected this.

And I just really hope I can do the most with it, with this position that I was given. in so thank you so much for your recognition and I don't consider this an achievement yet because I haven't done anything with hopefully my future degree so we'll see what's to come. So your Gates Scholarship, it pays for everything correct? Yeah so the Gates Scholarship is yeah it pays for all four years so yeah thank you.

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. I told her, yes, grab, I don't know, the system, grab on to your advisors, and just don't let them go, and here she is. Thank you. . Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Passport, come on. Absolutely. I think you can see what Santa Ana produces, correct? We compete with the best and we're gonna send Harvard, I think she chose Harvard. She chose Harvard. She chose Harvard to our best. So I told her, all I wanted is when you become a high level official, just invite me so I can sit in the front row and go, I know her. I know her.

But I was her principal for a year and a half at MacArthur and then I stalked her and I came to Sagerstrom and she was I don't know Casper again and but I've seen the growth for the last four years so she's an amazing young lady you can see great things from her but once again testament of Santa Ana and the kids that we have so thank you very much

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

so Brandi this is a proclamation for you from the city of Santa Ana there's a lot of whereases and I'm not going to read them because you'll be doing plenty of reading in college but please take this with you I'm sure your parents will be very proud I know they're proud of you to have this and it's from the entire council and again thank you and congratulations and we know that in four years you'll or three whatever how fast you do it you'll be graduating from Harvard and going off into the next chapter whatever that may be because the Gates scholarship pays for I believe all the way to your masters is that correct

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

just the four years but we'll work on them okay all right so let's take some pictures and again congratulations let's give her a round of applause

So I've been up there in person. Remember? Yes. So they don't have to.

I just thought I'd have a message to open up on. Let's love you still. I have a question. The girl in the back of the van with the doctor, right? She was so excited because she was his wife. She was tired by it. See if you could follow it in her direction. Thank you.

Thank you.

I LIKE YOUR GLASSES.

Phil BacerraItem 1

SO I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND INVITE ACTING CHIEF RODRIGUEZ TO COME UP ALONG WITH SAN ANA POA PRESIDENT JOHN KACZORYSKI AND SAN ANA PMA PRESIDENT CHUCK ELMS.

Phil BacerraItem 1

Thank you, gentlemen. So in 1961, Congress authorized President John F. Kennedy to designate May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the entire week in which May 15th falls to be recognized as National Police Week. Peace Officers Memorial Day stands as a solemn tribute to all fallen officers who served served our nation with unwavering courage and dedication, ultimately making the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. This occasion provides us with an opportunity to express our profound gratitude

Phil BacerraItem 1

to those currently serving on the front lines and bravely combating crime in our community. There are over 800,000 law enforcement officers diligently serving in various communities throughout the United States, states, including 346 dedicated sworn law enforcement officers of our Santa Ana Police Department who are represented by their respective unions.

Phil BacerraItem 1

John Kaczorowski with the Police Officers Association and Chuck Elms with the Police Management Association, or the PMA.

Phil BacerraItem 1

So reflecting on the 155-year history of the Santa Ana Police Department, we honor and remember the sacrifices of our four fallen officers who gave their lives in the line of duty. Officer Edwin Jensen, whose end of watch was March 3rd, 1931. Officer Nelson Sasser, whose end of watch was June 4th, 1969. Officer Dan Hale, whose end of watch was November 12th, 1977. And Sergeant John Aguilar, whose end of watch was june 30th 1998. we also extend our deepest appreciation to the officers of the santa ana

Phil BacerraItem 1

unified school district police the orange county sheriff's department and the california highway patrol who serve the santa ana area for their unwavering commitment and service to our community so it is my honor tonight on behalf of the santa ana city council to declare may 15 2024 as peace Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week of May 12th through 18th to be recognized as National Police Week here in the city of Santa Ana. And for flags at Santa Ana City Hall and other city facilities to be flown at Haas staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, May 15th. So I'd like to invite our chief up to say a few words.

Thank you, Council Member Becerra. Sharon, thank you, Mayor and the entire council for your unwavering support to our police department and public safety. I also want to acknowledge we were just up at the memorial. We honored four police officers that were killed in line of duty in 2023. Even though there were only four, one is too many. But it was a very somber event. I also want to thank all the current police officers that are currently working for all the work they do every day in, day out to protect our community. and then I also want to thank their families for their support in supporting

our police officers so thank you again and thank you to the community who supports us thank you

Phil BacerraItem 1

so our our two union presidents also happen to be current serving officers so I'd like to invite them up as well John would you like to come up

que cada día vamos a ir y damos el sacrificio para nuestra comunidad. Muchísimas gracias al consulado por hacer esta proclamación y muchas gracias.

Phil BacerraItem 1

And I'd like to have Chuck come up and do it in Vietnamese. Go ahead.

He's always trying to one-up me. I just want to echo the chief's comments along with John's comments. You know, our association is very small, but all of our employees are members of the Police Officers Association. And I just want to thank Council Member Becerra, the rest of the council, for their support of us day in and day out. and the community support, everybody's support for us. And I especially want to thank tonight, I want to thank our chief.

I want to thank City Manager Nunez. Without their support, you wouldn't see this tonight. You wouldn't see all of us up here together. They foster collaboration between our two associations. They foster cooperation, and I appreciate it. And thank you very much. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thai Viet PhanItem 1

Hello. Hi, everyone. May I please have the Regional Center of Orange County come on up?

Thai Viet PhanItem 1

And that is going to include Larry Landauer, Executive Director. Is it Jin or Jin? Jin.

Jin.

Thai Viet PhanItem 2

Jin Wing, board member, Sandy Martin, board member, and Kaitlyn Jung, community outreach manager.

Thank you. Welcome.

Thai Viet PhanItem 2

So in the city of Santa Ana, we are here to proclaim May as as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to celebrate the rich history, culture, and accomplishments of the AAPI community. Accepting this proclamation is the Regional Center of Orange County.

Thai Viet PhanItem 2

RO, R-C-O-C, has its main office in Santa Ana and is one of 21 private nonprofit organizations contracted by the state of California to coordinate lifelong services and support for people with developmental disabilities, including autism. RCOC provides assistance to over 25,000 residents of Orange County, with approximately 20% being of Asian descent. Each individual receiving assistance is matched with an RCOC service coordinator, proficient in their chosen language, to ensure optimal support.

Thai Viet PhanItem 2

and this includes Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Khmer. RCOC also operates the Comfort Connection Family Resource Center to facilitate connections between families and individuals with developmental disabilities and the resources available within the community. Before the onset of COVID-19, OCRC typically engaged in approximately 30 outreach events and community resource fairs exclusively in Santa Ana. But now that we're back in person, RCOC has taken part in already 12 such events just right here in this city.

Thai Viet PhanItem 2

So it is my honor, as the first Vietnamese American elected to the city council, the first Asian woman, but the third Asian person after Councilmember Phil Becerra, to present this proclamation declaring May as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and to encourage all of our residents, staffers, visitors, and businesses to learn more about the history and culture of AAPIs in the city. Thank you, RCOC.

Thank you very much. The Regional Center of Orange County takes great, great pride in serving individuals with developmental disabilities and their families like was mentioned we have hundreds and hundreds maybe a couple thousand here just in Santa Ana and the service coordinators are there for the families with the families we go to school meetings we are there to serve related to the developmental disability that's intellectual disabilities cerebral palsy epilepsy autism and conditions similar to intellectual disability we're there through the entire life from birth all the way

through the end to meet all the needs of the individuals we serve and it's all the staff have great passion and we really thrive at what we do and I would again is there anything sandy Martin our board chairperson Caitlin Caitlin Truong are just promoted she was our cultural specialist and Chin Nguyen our board member and that's just a small number of our board members who take great great pride in directing us and being our compasses thank you

thank you very much this is very appreciated my I'm not only a board board member but I'm a parent of a person with an intellectual disability. The Regional Center of Orange County has done a fabulous job supporting this community and the acknowledgement tonight by the city council is so appreciated. It takes a great community for all people to be successful and to have this acknowledgement is a tremendous honor. So thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Councilman Hernandez at this time, please.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 2

Let's give a big round of applause for my colleague and declaring May as Asian Pacific Islander Month.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 2

A lot of beautiful business to be discussed today. I have the pleasure of honoring one of our residents today. I want to bring him to the front. If we can bring Diego A. Sarmiento to the front. Thank you. Please give him a big round of applause. One of the sons of Santa Ana and a champion for his own community, Diego Sarmiento, welcome to your home, the Santa Ana City Council. It's a pleasure to see you here today.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

Let's give this young man a big round of applause, please.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

Today, May 7th, 2024, is a monumental day for our city. History is being made. I have the honor of acknowledging a young man who was born and raised in this community, Diego A. Sarmiento, a proud native of Santa Ana, and Godinez High School graduate. This Boliviano Chicano who was raised in our community has recently been honored as a Truman Scholar by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, one of the most prestigious scholarships that we have in this country. Please give him a big round of applause.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

Diego throughout his academic career has maintained a 4.0 GPA at UCLA where he studies political science and public affairs Diego has been honored with multiple prestigious scholarships and has consistently made the Dean's Honor list for six out of eight quarters. Over the past four years, Diego has mobilized numerous neighborhoods across our city. He has inspired them and has engaged his community to ensure that they participate in local politics and through community organizing efforts. During his internship at the Orange

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

County Board of Supervisors office, he played a key role in advancing an unprecedented homelessness prevention program Diego's commitment to empowering his community is evident in his Santa Nettie voter initiative as a young person in the city of Santa Ana he throughout the kovat pandemic fought to ensure that young people turned out their vote he inspired Latino youth to get out and use their voice for constructive change getting out and voting getting out and being educated about what is on the ballot and more importantly using your voice in your backyard. Following his graduation,

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

Diego plans to work in Washington DC through the Truman Summer Institute and pursue a Juris Doctorate, Masters in Public Policy. He is deeply dedicated to a life of public service with a focus on combating the influence of money in politics. He advocates for economic rights and dignity for all. He is one of us he is a santanero and we congratulate mr sarmiento for achieving this prestigious scholarship and we celebrate his exemplary academic accomplishments and his outstanding contributions to the community we can't wait to see you change the world

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

and on behalf of the mayor and the city council we present you with this proclamation

Thank you.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

If you can share some of that, that's a word for sure.

I wrote a little something on my phone, so I might look down on it a bit. Thank you, Councilmember Hernandez, and thank you for the entire council for this recognition. It truly means so much.

I also want to congratulate Brandy and Fernanda for their accomplishments. I'm so proud of y'all. That is awesome.

It's a good night for Santa Ana. It's a good night for the school district, for the city, and for the community. And I also want to thank Santa Ana as a community as a whole. This community is the reason why I got these awards and why I am who I am.

After I got the Truman Scholarship, former Mayor Michael Tubbs of Stockton reached out to me. He was one of the interviewers who selected me, and he told me that he chose me because he could sense the love and dedication I had for Santa Ana. So that is why I got this award. The teachers that believed in me at Godin is fundamental. The community that gave me so much love and support growing up, and when I'm out organizing, trying to make Santa Ana an even better place, that is what drives me. the the grit and heart and courage of the city that that is what I take to UCLA

and try to be a leader up there we're going through a really tough time up there and I'm trying my best to be what Santana has taught me up there so again I want to say thank you and I hope that me Fernanda and Brandy are good examples for other high schoolers who also want to achieve in the academic world and work hard and represent the city well thank you so Thank you so much.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

Well, Mr. Sarmiento is going to embark on a journey of academic excellence. And the only message I want to leave you here with today is please don't forget about your community. Please bring all of that education back to your backyard and help uplift your neighbors. That is the legacy of Santa Ana. and we know that with this Truman Scholarship, you just opened the doors for many more Santa Ana students to receive this scholarship, so I just want to thank you. And on behalf of my office, I want to share a token of my gratitude. As a student who grew up in the city, went through all of the same challenges

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

that you know exist in our campuses, when I became a council member, I was 27 years old, and with a lot going against us, we were in the middle of a pandemic, but when young people put their mind together and they focus on uplifting their neighbors we can accomplish extraordinary things and so as a token to that I want to give you my pin that I earned as a council member for your your efforts here

Thank you.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

I'm going to owe him a shirt. That made a hole.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

sir thank you for being with us

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

councilman panelist a Europe with the parks Recreation and Community Services aquatics division

Thank you, Jennifer.

David PenalozaItem 5

Good afternoon, everybody. While our lovely Parks and Rec staff make their way up here and our four or five live cards that we have here in attendance, I will begin.

David PenalozaItem 5

Welcome, Tim. How are you guys doing? Great, great, great. Come on down.

David PenalozaItem 5

So, how are you guys doing? Good? Great. Alright, so today I am honored to present this proclamation to the Parks and Recreation team who play a vital role in ensuring the safety of our children, teaching them safety awareness on drowning prevention techniques. I'd like to take the opportunity to highlight the outstanding efforts of our Parks and Recreation team in safeguarding the safety and welfare of our children during their pool activities. Santa Ana Aquatics is partnered with multiple organizations to provide water safety education and drowning prevention information.

David PenalozaItem 5

These organizations include the American Red Cross, Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Foundation, USA Swimming, the Jasper Ray Foundation, Swim Brave, and the Orange County Drowning Prevention Coalition. Last year, the Santa Ana Aquatics Team provided more than 3,000 learn-to-swim lessons to both youth and adults. And I'd just like to thank you, because I was one of those youths way back in 1995 or 6. I mean, before you guys were probably born. They all nodded their head in Memorial Park. I was able to, my mom would walk me across the street, literally, to the pool,

David PenalozaItem 5

and that's where I learned to swim for many, many years and summers as a little kid up until, and it inspired me to join the swim team and water polo team in my high school at Saddleback, so thank you for being out there. This summer, Santa Ana Aquatics will offer over 1,000 subsidized learn to swim lessons for Santa Ana residents reducing the cost from $58 to only 15 bucks per resident while fundings last of course aquatics programming is also broadening its offerings with the introduction of emerging lifeguard leaders like the ones behind me junior lifeguard camp

David PenalozaItem 5

aquatics fitness aqua Zumba as well I could have I could use some of that now because believe me this wasn't there as well as traditional recreational swim dates and times now therefore the city of Santa Ana proclaims May 2024 as water safety and drowning prevention month and reminds everyone to make water safety a priority as you engage in water activities with your family and friends especially as the summer season is approaching we're all gonna be out there They're in pools and being out in water activities. So, you know, exercise caution. Keep an eye on your little ones.

David PenalozaItem 5

And let's all help save lives together. So now, because we've heard multiple times from Hawk and Tim, unless you guys want to, I want to defer to Chris. Kristen, come on up. Help us. Give us some words on the program that you guys are.

Well, thank you. We're so thankful that this is the month that we're starting water safety. As you know, our pools are going to open June 3rd, and this summer we'll have 370 swim classes that will be able for everyone to swim all ages. And I can't do it without these guys in the blue behind us. Starting from ELL, we taught how to swim to now our leading guards, and we're so thankful for our grants and scholarships to provide all the aquatics programming we have to get everybody in the water. So you can join us this summer if you're iffy about getting in the water for safer summer pool party

July 20th It'll be a Saturday at 4 o'clock and we'll have all of our stations to go over the importance of water safety And just you said it as great Everyone keep an eye on everyone so we can start saving lives together. Thank you. I

David PenalozaItem 5

Had a question Chris how young can we start? these these swim classes and because I have a four month old and is that how is

that an appropriate age we do not do the survival training but we do start as young as six months so we do a big fish little fish so a parent and little one in the water and it's six months to three years old to get them comfortable around the water so they're in the water with you they see you interacting and the importance of water safety definitely I'd like to please have one of

David PenalozaItem 5

our lifeguards here whoever is interested if you guys want to you don't

have to but uh come and tell us about the experience at our robotics program and how it's been so far it's definitely not what I expected it's been a lot but I love teaching the kids especially like seeing them learn how to do different levels learning how to do different skills and it's honestly great being able to help the community and then like interact with the community and obviously they've shown us a lot of love throughout like the whole summer and i don't know it was a good experience and i'm glad to continue this experience this year and hopefully

next year and many more maybe thank you awesome thank you all very much and now on behalf of the

David PenalozaItem 5

city the mayor and the city council i'd like to join to present this to you guys in the parks and recs department uh if you guys want to take it and if my city council colleagues can join me down here for pictures or stand back there whatever's easy

There you go.

Thank you.

Congratulations. Congratulations for everything. Thank you for everything. Are we still hiring that person?

Jessie LopezItem 5

All right, we're almost done, promise. The Desperados Band, coming up.

Jessie LopezItem 6

I don't have their Instagram.

Acapella?

Jessie LopezItem 6

If you can play acapella, if you can sing acapella.

Yeah.

Jessie LopezItem 6

Okay, good evening, everyone. Tonight we're going to be recognizing the outstanding contributions to the local art scene and our economy by the Desperados Band. And the Desperados Band boasts a vibrant legacy that has flourished over 15 years. established in 2008 by hometown heroes Lou Ferns and Andro Iniguez, both proud santaneros and the band embodies the spirit and soul of their beloved city. Adding to their local flair is the talented drummer David Covarrubias, also hailing from the city of Santa Ana. However, the band's reach extends beyond city limits with the electrifying Adrian Contreras on lead guitar who may call

Jessie LopezItem 6

Bumona his home but finds himself deeply entrenched in the vibrant music scene here in the city of Santa Ana and together this dynamic ensemble weaves a tapestry of sound that captures the essence of their roots while resonating with audiences far and wide and they've toured extensively across the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, Mexico showcasing their music to diverse audiences worldwide. Their band gained recognition with an original track featured in the popular TV series from dust till down on Netflix and they are also prominently featured in the acclaimed documentary Los Wild Ones which has garnered awards. The

Jessie LopezItem 6

Desperado band enjoys sponsorships from Suavecito Palmeira, shout out to Suavecito they support a lot of community organizations and community members and

Jessie LopezItem 6

it's a testament to their influence and appeal within their genre and community. Venturing beyond performance, they've expanded into the promotional aspect of the industry, establishing Desperados Entertainment. So you know, if you're looking to hire a local band. They curate events in Santa Ana, bring global artists to perform alongside local talent, fostering a vibrant music scene in their hometown. With roots deeply embedded in Santa Ana, the band members are proud ambassadors of their city striving to positively impact their community through music and cultural

Jessie LopezItem 6

exchange and I'm really happy to make sure that you're finally getting recognized for all of your contributions and we look forward to hopefully seeing you be invited to some of our city sponsored events so thank you for sharing your musical talents with our community and here's to you and to future success Yeah, so we'd love to hear from all of you.

Hello, ladies and gentlemen, good evening. I'm Lou Ferns, and yeah, so we started in 2008. We came out from what some people call the hood. And yeah, we were pretty much troublemakers growing up, and I would say music saved our lives. I never thought that I would be seeing the Eiffel Tower in person, person. And through music we were able to do that and kept us out of trouble. I'm happy to accept this award. Thank you, Councilwoman Lopez. And then here we got Mr. Andrew Iniguez.

Hello. So I'm the bass player for the Desperados. My name is Andrew Iniguez. A lot of people might know me as Popeye. You know, when you're from Santa Ana, you get given an alias name, so Popeye's a name for me. We grew up in the hood of Santana, I mean Sulyvahn and Willits playing backyard parties and you know our police force probably raided those parties and all. But from backyards we've crossed borders, we've crossed over to Australia, Canada, Japan, Eastern Europe, you name it we've been there. And all over the world we've made friends, family and everyone Everyone knows us as the Desperados from Santa Ana, California.

Good evening. My name is David Covarrubias.

It's an honor and a privilege overall, but more importantly, doing it with my best friends overall. More importantly, we've all been friends for so long. It doesn't necessarily feel like a band when you're with your family. so yeah we're pretty much married together so no thank you to the city of Santa Ana thank you to everyone and for the continued support overall all right all right we actually have a new record coming out it's gonna be at our show this Saturday at La Santa so if you guys can make it out we'd really appreciate

it thank you guys they gotta say it's our quinceanera show there won't be birria but we'll have a good music out there so come out La Santa May 11th is Saturday

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

let's please make some noise these are Chicanos from the Santa Ana community products of SAUSD and they're touring the world playing their music and it's It's time that kids who live in this community see artists who reflect people who look like them. So it wouldn't be... Let's make some noise for that.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

And it's only fitting that if we got the Desperados in the house.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

We have to turn it up.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

Come on, man. There you go. We gotta have some new music running.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

Let's make some noise for the Zephrados.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

And we have our city manager here. Make sure they're on the Chicano Heritage Festival. Well, we need some santaneros on that lineup.

Congratulations. Congratulations.

Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

may the family of Fernanda Mason her family please join us

Benjamin VazquezItem 7

it's a beautiful day to be a santanero

Benjamin VazquezItem 7

Thank you.

Benjamin VazquezItem 7

All right.

Benjamin VazquezItem 7

Today, we gather to recognize and honor an exceptional individual whose dedication, talent, talent and commitment have not only brought pride to herself, but also uplifted her school and community. On April 14, 2024, at the prestigious California High School Speech Championship in Clovis, California, Fernanda Mesa showcased extraordinary talent and unwavering dedication. With unparalleled skill, Fernanda emerged as a state champion in dramatic interpretation, securing a coveted title and bringing immense honor to Santa Ana High School

Benjamin VazquezItem 7

and the city of Santa Ana. Fernanda's journey in speech and debate spans over 60 years during which he has consistently demonstrated remarkable abilities and relentless pursuit of excellence. Her recent achievement at the 50th Harvard National Tournament in Boston further exemplifies her proudness as she distinguished herself as the top 19 quarter finalist and dramatic interpretation, competing against thousands from across the nation. Beyond her accolades, Fernanda's accomplishment serves as a source of inspiration for the entire Santa Ana community. Her dedication, passion, and talent not only reflect her personal drive,

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but also embody the values we hold dear. As Fernanda prepares to graduate and embark on new endeavors, we do so with great confidence in her ability to continue making positive impact in the world, her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, determination, and unwavering commitment to excellence. Fernanda, as you continue to pursue excellence and inspire others with your remarkable talents, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes. May your future endeavors be filled with continued success, fulfillment, and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.

Wow. Thank you so much. I mean, it's an honor to be here and getting recognized for something that I hold a big passion in doing. And when I'm out here in the stage, everywhere, whether it's all around the nation and places like Boston, Chicago, all around California, I know that I'm not only representing myself, but I'm also representing my team, my school, but most importantly, I'm representing La Ciudad de Santana y mi gente. Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Okay, great presentations. Thank you all very much. Madam City Attorney, do you have anything to report out of closed session?

Yes, good evening, Your Honor. Your Honor, sorry, it's been a long day already. Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem. Your Honor, it would be very interesting to hear what the President has to say. Thank you so much. All right, let's start over.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Madam City Attorney, do you have anything to report out?

Thank you. Good evening, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, members of the City Council, and members of the public. We had three items on the closed session agenda tonight, and we have no reportable action.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Perfect. Thank you so very much. This is the time of the meeting for the City Council to receive comments from the public on agenda and non-agenda items. Madam City Clerk, please explain the public comment procedures. Call for speakers. We will have three minutes for each speaker, please.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Thank you, Mayor. PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 2023-047, SPEAKERS ARE REQUESTED TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL DIRECTLY AND TO REFRAIN FROM PROFANE LANGUAGE, RACIAL EFFECTS, AND LIBELOUS OR SLANDEROUS STATEMENTS THAT DISTURB THE DECORUM OF THE MEETING. PURSUANT TO THE BROWN ACT, THE CITY COUNCIL MAY NOT ENTER INTO DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME. SPEAKERS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR THEIR COMMENTS. BEFORE CALLING SPEAKERS, I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY OF EMAILS PROVIDED AS OF TODAY. As of today at 2 p.m., we received a total of 27 e-comments, one related to item 13,

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

one related to item 19, 21 related to item number 30, and four non-agenda comments. Those were distributed to the City Council and posted on the City's website for public review. We will now hear from the members of the public that are physically present in the Council Chamber followed by those on the conference call or Zoom to provide comments on agenda or non-agenda items. Please state your name and the ward or neighborhood that you reside in for the record. I'll be calling names three at a time. If you could please line up in the aisle way behind the podium when you hear your name called.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

The first three speakers, Jonathan Sanabria, Tomas Fernandez, and Pedro Mago-Young.

Do I start?

It's nice to see a couple of familiar faces, you know. Have Jonathan and his brother, Councilmember David. And at the time when I first approached my very first councilmember meeting, there was only one word why I came here was hope and where I live it's it's a rough neighborhood I'm not alive but for sure when I approached my very first council meeting I did have some hope and with that I made some like connections with

the cut some of the council members here and I've had a like a one-on-one like meetings with them and with that like I provided valuable information and put away a lot of like bad people you know dealing like narcotics you know sometimes I'll see kids you know and it's it's kind of saddening and hurting to like witness that in person when like I knew that like growing up was rough and like I've personally known people like that made some wrong choices and And, you know, me providing the right information to the right people, getting connections from the Santa Ana Police Department.

Because, you know, I know they're still good in our city. And, you know, especially hearing after, like, what our, like, children of this city have accomplished, there's still a lot of hope. And, you know, I truly believe that, like, I want to make a difference again. And that's why I came here. And I've been up since 3 in the morning. I'm really tired. I haven't slept. I'm hungry. and then I got some like trash debris in my eye but you know what I'm still here for a good cause and for a good reason I'm I gotta make sacrifices for not only for myself my family but the community around me and you know just you know

knowing people that like get a little hesitant speaking all that you know like I know people wouldn't not everybody in the community would go but you know I'm that one person that could make a difference I've made a difference already and you know like because we would have like people parking like and just dealing narcotics you know and the other day you know a couple weeks ago I actually helped out with one of the detectives you know she I provided her some valuable information I don't want to get into details because it's a little like it's a little personal case not me but you know I'm glad that

that I made a difference because I have a ring camera and it captures a lot of information and And truly, like, I know I can make a difference with the information I have. And on top of that, like, I just want to walk out today with, like, some business cards, you know, just call later. Because, I don't know, I've been up since 3 and I'm really tired. And just, you know, it's kind of it, really.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Thank you. Mr. City Manager, can we get the police chief to, can you please make sure you make contact with him? Thank you.

Will do, ma'am.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Tomas Fernandez.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Tomas Fernandez. I'm the president for United Club Soccer League. I'm here representing my league and 12 other leagues, youth and adult in the city of Santa Ana. I want to start by thanking Councilmember Hernandez and Councilmember Lopez for taking the time and showing you care for your community, listening to our concerns. And a friendly, a very respectful reminder for the rest of you, all of you have a responsibility and a duty with the residents of Santa Ana please very respectfully stop pretending this is not important it was such an honor for me seeing Fernanda

Diego and Brandi being recognized we produce the best I'm very glad to hear that and we also produce the best soccer players but unfortunately right now not only ten a hundred we have a lot of kids I can't play because somebody is taking the wrong decisions. I was also very happy to see the people from Parks and Rec's this meeting and the previous meeting passing out of words. Very nice. But please remember there's always two sides of the story. This department has problems with ethical practices, abuse of power, dishonesty, and lack of knowledge

that is costing the city a lot of money. I want to share something very briefly when we were stopped from playing seven on seven on natural grass because apparently was a recommendation from public works which was a lie and i approved last meeting on the very last month that we were playing seven on seven employees or volunteers from the city of santa ana were passing out flyers inviting all our coaches and players to be part of the new santa on a league. Is that illegal? Probably not. Is that ethical? Again, unethical practices,

abuse of power, dishonesty, lack of knowledge. Please pretend. Please stop pretending this is not important. I want to thank them again for taking the time, but the rest of you, please make some time. Talk to us. We have a lot of kids that are not playing, and this is going to hurt our city in this in this near future thank you for your time next three speakers

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

pedro magallan melissa aberto brian leos good evening again mayor city council thank you guys

for giving us the opportunity to a free mic um to express our concerns um however i do want to thank also public works because they met with us again somebody from park and recreations was there and we were able to clear the waters and what the responsibilities are and what we were able to do and i think we're moving on the right direction however uh we're still stuck on a lot of the the the policies that i know not all of you guys voted for you guys kind of inherited them but um we can make a difference with dialogues and everything if all you guys are willing to engage we also want to I thank Hernandez because he did.

I reached out to him and made it, again, it was a 30-minute meeting. It went to like almost an hour until we had to cut it off because he had to go and do other things. But we'll be contacting you, others. We're trying to do one by one so you guys can understand the culture of what we're doing. Okay? I brought speakers because my personal, as a personal level I've been attacked on different things, on fees and this and that. And I want you to hear from them. Because as much as you guys, I don't know if you guys do or not know, I've been up there.

And I will bring all the recognitions and proclamations they've done on my name and my organization for years and years. years. And if I would have been doing something wrong, I wouldn't be recognized all the way up to Congressman Luke Correa. So please take the time to really understand what these kids are doing. Because even though you guys are doing some programs and everything, I'm the one that's out there at 1 o'clock in the morning taking kids home, picking them up at early times of the morning, 6 o'clock in the morning to take them to tournaments to San Bernardino

know whether they have money or not. I don't drive my dream car because I don't, I can't afford it because I don't choose to. I don't drive it because I have a 15 passenger van because that's the only way I could get kids from Santa Ana to go to competitive important tournaments, not just in the state of California. I've gone the whole United States. And as I've seen modern day get recognitions, for you guys' knowledge, we had a soccer team here in 2008 that in the U.S. Lamar Hunt Cup, which is one of the most important, where amateur plays professional. Santa Ana kids were beating LA Galaxy in their home field with Bruce Arenas

being the head coach. And then yeah, we lost because obviously we're all not at that level, but we were able to go through the process and get all the way up there. The ESPN display of that game particular, the next day was WAS LIKE GALAXY HAD TO BE THE SUN DELEGTE TEAM BY FAIR PLAY, IGNORING FAIR PLAY TO BE ABLE TO ADVANCE. SO PLEASE KEEP LISTENING TO US. SO THANK YOU AND WE'RE GOING TO BE CALLING YOUR OFFICE. THANK YOU.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

MELISSA ABURTO, BRIAN LEOS, RAUL MATHA.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. AT THIS TIME I WANT TO ADDRESS YOU, MAYOR MUESCA. MY NAME IS MELISSA ABURTO. I AM A LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE FOR TEAM 90 LEAGUE. I have previously gone up here to speak about fields on fees going up and being taken away unfairly. Unfortunately, we have yet to hear an update to improve the situation and it feels like we're just being constantly ignored and dismissed. I am beginning to lose hope in the people representing us. It's disappointing to see how our Parks and Rec director continues to be untruthful with you. We hope to meet with you

personally so we have a better understanding of who we are and what we do. Thank you for your time.

Good morning, good afternoon, Mayor and City Council members. I'm Brian, my name is Brian Lels. I'm here on behalf of Team 90 League and also as a player from La Máquina. I have gone up and spoke here before to address the situation we are having regarding sports field fees going up. As of right now, it's been several months since any players have been able to train. We haven't heard of an update to fix this issue. We want to be able to show you mayor how soccer is not a mafia organization and better yet we want to show you how soccer is helping us the community from

staying away from gang violence and drugs. How could we get in contact with you especially you Mayor Emesqua. Thank you for listening.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Raul Mata, Miguel Chaluka, Leandro Chaluka.

Good afternoon council members and Mayor Mezcua. My name is Robo Mata and I'm here on behalf of Team 90 League as well. I just want to voice out the fact that I also did work for CalSouth previously and we came to you guys along with Team 90 League and presented an opportunity for all the girls here in Santa Ana to be part of the trial for a Mexican national team and I'm not sure if any of the other council members got word on that but we were

turned down by the Santa Ana Parks and Rec's they told us that they wanted to present the idea rather than support us to be able to provide that opportunity for all the girls here in Santa Ana. So that being said, I'm also here to talk about the fees because they've been going up and with parents and families making minimum wage it's very hard for them to be able to put their children into all these sports. You know some of these families have two or three kids that

want to be participated in competitive sports and they're not able to afford it. having to pay rent and everything with the cost of living going up. So it would be a very big help if the cost of the fields would go down or if we're able to work something along the lines of the fees for that just so it's more affordable for everyone in the community. Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor, City Council. My name is Miguel Chaluka. I'm just here to talk about my experience growing up here in Santa Ana and being part of the Santa Ana organizations and playing soccer. I was able and one of the fortunate ones to make it to the professional level. I was part of the 2018 that played the U17 national, Mexican national team here in the Santa Ana Stadium. and now I'm coaching for a team called La Machina and there I'm able to teach kids and give them

part of what I was able to do with soccer and give it out to the community. I am a volunteer coach, I coach my son and then my paycheck is seeing the kids grow up, be a better person, grow up, have discipline, respect other people and basically just make sure that they stay out of trouble. So we consider the fees on fields because the kids deserve to play. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Leandro Chaluka, Victor Baldaraz, Miguel Mata.

Good evening, Mayor, Mezcua, and City Council. My name is Leandro Chaluka. I am 12 years old, and I'm a citizen of Santa Ana. I have been with the club La Maquina for my whole life, and ever since I remember, I had a field to practice on, whether it was the stadium or Centennial. I started playing since I was four years old. When I joined La Maquina, it helped me a lot mentally and physically to be a better person and respect others. Maquina is like my family. If you don't know how to play, Maquina will be there and teach you. I went from practicing every day of the week and playing Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays

to practicing only two days a week and playing zero games at all. Due to this,

soccer is about hours of training, physical and mentally, preparation. It teaches teamwork, perseverance, and discipline, and my dream is to one day make it professional. So I ask that you, Hawk, please make the fields affordable and available so that I can continue my dream. Thank you for your time.

Good evening, Mayor and City Council. My name is Victor Valderas. Can you come closer to the mic? I'm so sorry.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Can you come closer to the mic? Clerk, can you start the time over, please? Thank you.

Good evening. Good evening, my name is Victor Valderas and I am here to represent the teams and the leagues that aren't being able to play or do anything because of the money raised of the fields.

And I'm a player in La Machina who wants to play professional as my goal and my dream. and I've been playing for La Machina for seven years.

When I started playing with La Machina, it changed my life on and off the field, and it showed me how to speak up, not to be shy, to be a leader, to show respect to others,

to be brave in stuff that you need to do to learn how to conquer your problems.

And I believe it could help other people like me or who has worse things in their life, but we can't do that because of the fields

or be able to practice because there's no fields to practice. And sometimes we have to practice in the streets or in basketballs or wherever, somewhere to play.

And thankfully, when I joined La Makina, there was clubs that had high fees, but thanks to La Makina, I get to play freely without paying, and them teaching me how to play better and to learn better how to play more smarter, more better with a lot of opponents with their strength too.

And I appreciate you guys hearing our speakers and thank you for your time.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Miguel Mata, Jose Antonio Pacheco, Jefferson Esquino.

Good evening, Council and Mayor. I'm here on behalf of Team 90 as well. I've been with Team 90 since I was 14, 15 years old.

And, well, we've had fields ever since I can remember, and right now that we don't, I can't even take my kid. I had my kid there. And for me, it's never been expensive. They've always helped. I didn't get turned away the day. I told them I couldn't afford nothing. They allowed me to stay on the team. They allowed my kid to go. My brothers, my sisters, all my family. I wish my family was here. That way they could let you know how it is, how much of a family they made us feel.

And well, we just need help on being able to bring those fees down. That way we can have a field where I can take my kid to go practice. That way I don't have to go all the way to Irvine to go look for a team for him. That's way more expensive than it would have been here.

And well, that's pretty much all I have to say. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Next speaker, Jose Antonio Pacheco.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Jefferson Esquino.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Sue Palak.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

After Sue will be Mark Lopez and Pilar Aguero-Cardosa.

Sue?

Good evening, Council. thank you mayor for the three minutes um i don't enjoy coming here tonight to talk about what i'm going to talk about i want to address councilman vasquez and i won't tell you i don't relish this i see he's not sitting there i want to say councilman vasquez in your march 19th city council closing comments you detailed how you taught little children to protest You taught them to make signs and protest, a protest song, and then you marched them through downtown Santa Ana to the art district where people were eating outside and you said

that they gave little brown faces dirty looks while clutching their pearls. I think people were throwing the dirty looks at you, not the children. Children are not capable at this age of understanding the consequences of protesting and probably thought they were having a parade. You know, I hate to say this, but Hamas indoctrinates children from the time they can turn a page in a picture book to hate Christians and Jews and kill them. The frontal lobe of the brain which controls impulse behavior is not fully developed until the age of 24, 25, but I think you knew that, right?

In my book, I do not feel you're the right kind of educator for Santa Ana, but more of of an indoctrinator of impressionable young children and susceptible teenagers to follow your ideology that I feel may harm their futures. You actually admitted the purpose was to produce the next generation of protestors. And you said the object of protesting is to make people feel uncomfortable because it works. Your alma mater is UCLA. How's protesting working out for you there? AI is identifying students and outside professional agitators who have caused so much damage to the future of our young adults. I want

to know, do you have anything to do with these anti-American subversive groups as being reported in the news, organized and funded by foreign governments and wealthy donors who are using these protests to bring brainwashing Trojan horses to our schools and communities and to our council meetings on the local level? I'd like to see some studies on the psychological impact on and indoctrinating social justice-raised children. In Luke, in the Bible, Luke 17, Jesus says that it is better that one have a millstone placed around the neck and cast into the sea if anyone offends any of these little children.

Everyone listening, see for yourselves. YouTube, Santa Ana Council Meeting, March 19 at 721 on the slider. In short, I want to know, what are you teaching our kids? I'm not comfortable with you sitting in this seat. I think I can feel why you don't like the PAL programs. Children matter to me, and I think someone needs to come along and replace you. I will tell you that I personally would like to have a sit down with Councilman Vasquez. MS. Sue, your time is up. MS. And that maybe we can come to a different conclusion. Thank you. MS. Time is up. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Mark Lopez, followed by Pilar Aguero-Cardosa and Alicia Rojas.

Good evening. I just want to get some information, stuff maybe the city could pass on. I just read today that Gavin Newsom proclaimed May 5th Jewish American Heritage Month, so maybe next time City Council for our Jewish residents out there let them know. I guess that's something new. It's pretty good to put out there as we celebrate Asian or different heritage months. Also, too, as a veteran, I was walking by the flag of over here on the down with the halt flags. I noticed we're missing the US Space Force one now, so I figured maybe City Manager would want to add that, too. This is part of our new branch of military service.

And also at 13, too, I read about that you guys looking maybe to form a commission on how to make money. Well, I don't think you have to do that at all because your answer's right here on 4th Street. And if anybody needs to be reminded what's First Street, you come after me and I'll show you what's going on. I think you need to promote the hell out of that big time right now because that could be a big paradigm shift for Santa Ana. We could be number one on the map right now, but unfortunately I don't see the drive out there, you know. Main Street needs to be cleaned up. First Street, I see it happening now.

I actually thought, I don't agree with a lot of stuff, but I actually thought the USC stuff, with the, you mentioned right there, with the clubs like that, that'd be a good dig. maybe acquiring the West Coast Theater, have that band play there. That could be a whole paradigm shift. There's things out there. You don't need to start a board. Like I said, if somebody don't know what's going on, hey, I'll be happy to inform you because obviously not on the right page here because that's to me the main thing right now because I never grew up like Polito, but I think that was the best thing he started.

But if it doesn't work, I said this before, that could be Polito's folly because there's no guarantee it's working right now because some of these areas need to be fixed for appearance sakes, perception and everything, but I don't see that happening right now. You got to push that, push that, because that's the map, you know what I mean? I don't see or understand why that's not being pushed right now. This could change us or break us, and I can guarantee you it will break us. You can see how the city's happy in the United States, what's going on. I live right by Myrtle Street, so I know the whole paradigm shift there.

It's a whole dynamic changing right now, but it has to be pushed. It has to be good. Actually, you had a good answer with the USC stuff. That's a big sport right now. We have the state of the location, the West Coast Theater. If we acquire that, hell, you know. And for the lowrider guys, I know they're unofficially signing that without the permits, but, hell, like the old days on Main Street, every Saturday had them for their guys. There's something there, though, but Main Street, 4th Street, 4th Street is the key. I think that's going to put us on the map, but the push has got to be that I don't see right now.

You know, we've got to focus, focus, because we're already delayed with the trolley already. So I'm excited about it. That's why I push for it. It's not about me. It's for everybody else, but I don't see the urgency of it right now. It's like, okay, we've got all the external events happening, but push that, push that. And sometimes it's going to be a tough decision. Not every business is going to fail. Business is business. Let's not pander to people. Let's give them the reality of them that things are changing just the way it is, but there's something there for everybody if you explain to them why. Thank you.

Very good afternoon.

Thank you very much, Ms. Mezcua. I'm going to turn it over to the next speaker. for welcoming us this afternoon, and also for all the people in the City Hall. My name is Pilar Agüero and I am a professional psychologist. In addition to having my business here in Santa Ana, my children also have a business in the city of Santa Ana. Therefore, the city of Santa Ana is of great importance to me and my family. I am very concerned about the situation in Santa Ana and I want to support this city

to make a positive change that improves the quality of life of the people who live and work here. On the shores of the South Coast, a few blocks from my house, there is a shopping center located south of Bristol Street. This street needs a remodeling. It is very important for the people who live in the area that this shopping center has the opportunity to have new jobs, new customers and new people in the area.

This part of the city has not been remodeled in the last 50 or 60 years. Therefore, I am here to ask all of you here today to help this remodeling be done. The worst thing is that this beautiful place, a place where when I came to live in Santa Ana, a long time ago, there were many businesses, many people who came to the center, they can no longer come because the situations in the center are different.

The spaces are empty and we need a change in the area to make this city what it was at one point.

Modernism prevails in this city and in our lives. Therefore, I think it is very important that all of you understand the need for this to change. The plan to replace this vital community is an interesting alternative to what exists today. Like many of my neighbors in the south of Santa Ana, and here Mr. Becerra is one of my neighbors,

we depend almost daily on the stores and services of this center. Your time is up. We would like to be able to go shopping and be more time in the center. There will be many more jobs and we need it.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Thank you for your time. Thank you very much. You are very kind.

I'd like to thank Mayor Amezcua for receiving us. Thank you also to the city council. My name is Pilar Acuña, and I'm a professional psychologist. I'm also a business owner in Santa Ana. My children also own businesses in Santa Ana. That's why Santa Ana is very important for me and for my family. and we are here in the south south of Santa Ana we want to improve the quality of life for Santana in the south area of Santa Ana south Bristol in Santana

there's a shopping center that needs to be remodeled we need to have this remodeled shopping center there's an opportunity to have new jobs new new customers, new people to come to this new center, to this center. And the city in that area has not been renovated in 50 or 60 years. And I'm here to ask you for your support in this renovation. This used to be a beautiful place. Santa Ana in this area, when I came to Santa Ana many years ago, lots of people were frequenting the area and the businesses. And that is not the case now.

Now we have empty spaces and that area needs to change so that it's a nice thriving area again. Modernism is necessary in our lives and we need to understand that there is a huge, great need for these changes to take place. the plan that is proposed to to bring to this community is a very interesting alternative and my neighbors there in the area in Santa Ana mr. Becerra is one

of my neighbors there we depend on these stores and these services so they can we can go shopping and spend time at the shopping center thank you

Buenas noches, good evening, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, City Council. My name is Alicia Rojas. I'm a local community artist. I reside on David Peñalosa's ward. I also have a very small business running out of Ward 5. Thank you for your time today. I'm here because I am concerned about the arts funding. As Measure X is ending, I understand the city is going to have to make some really tough choices and tighten their belt. But I'm here to continue to advocate for robust arts funding. The city has not funded our master plan that we put together in 2015 for over six years. Why is that? This arts funding goes directly

to local artists and grassroots organizations. They have created a really great positive impact on our city and our economic development also in downtown for the last three years we've had a little extra money thanks to the covet federal money that we call revive Santana thanks to some of the leadership in the council today that money was given to the Arts Commission three hundred thousand dollars a year that money has been funding art walk all kinds of really important also local events and artists for the last nine years the arts and and Culture Department has been able to award individual grants in the amount of $100,000.

But compared to other cities in Orange County that don't hold the same vibrant arts community, we really, really have a small budget. And I want to really bring into question the Bowers Museum subsidy, right? So for those of you who don't know, in our community, the Bowers Museum has been subsidized by taxpayers since 1987 amounting to over 34 million dollars over the years so why does our city prioritize funding and subsidizing the bowers museum for 37 years and not equally fund our arts

infrastructure fund our artist grant and master plan right the master plan that we were all part part of, 400 residents, leaders that we put together. How does the Bower Museum hold more power than over 400 community members and art leaders that participated in a master plan?

Also the Bower's Museum not only get subsidies, they get free rent, their building gets fixed by us, and they also petition for grants from that small $400,000. They were awarded $5,000 for their lunar events. Why are they triple dipping into our public tax funding when they have a huge million dollar endowment?

Isn't 37 years of subsidies enough?

Can we please end these inequities and focus on our master plan that included the vast community engagement?

The Bowers is supposed to meet with the city manager's office in February. Did they submit a budget? Can we know about it? Alicia, your time is up. Thank you so much for your support, support the arts directly and redirect this money from the bowers directly to the arts and culture

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

commission thank you next three speakers dr anna jimenez deborah russell amelia

good evening mayor amesqua city council members city manager yes nice to meet some of you I did not know. I have brought some packets for everyone.

Well, first of all, I'm here because I want to thank all of you for recommending our organization for two items on the agenda, number 20, workforce development, and also 29, CDBG funds. I founded this nonprofit organization 24 years here in the city of Santa Ana. I'm very proud of that. And I've been running this nonprofit organization with some amazing people for the past 24 years here in the city of Santa Ana. I'm very proud of that. And I know some of you have come to visit us, like Mayor Amesqua and Councilmember Jonathan

Hernandez, Councilmember Ty Phan, and Councilmember Jesse Lopez. I invite all of you to come and visit so you can learn a little bit more about our organization. since we've been here for a long time. Also, I wanted to share with all of you that our organizations open the doors to both children with disabilities and children without. So we serve all children, youth and adults. We didn't include all the brochures, but we've done, we have, our agency has grown a lot throughout the years, and one of the most outstanding programs that we have

is our youth employment program and that's one of the programs that I'm hoping that you will recommend tonight for workforce development we've been running this program for the past 10 years I'm very proud of it and we've helped a lot of youth get jobs and get into college higher education and also develop love for the arts but we do more than arts we do arts education and and therapeutic programs. So please come and visit us one day. Thank you. And last thing is we have our community partner celebration on May 23rd and all of you are invited to come,

come and visit and see some of our really talented youth perform and meet some of our teachers and staff. Thank you everyone. Good evening.

Hello. Good evening everyone. I am a lifelong Santa Ana resident, graduate of the Santa Ana Unified School District, current educator here in the city, and I'm here tonight to actually applaud you. When the pandemic had its strongest grip on us, the city of Santa and Anna, including many of you up here, did something very amazing. You dedicated almost half a million dollars to our local arts and arts-oriented organizations. Some of those are actually neighborhood associations who apply for arts funding. And because of this incredible investment that you made in our local artists,

our city blossomed with a panoply of events all across all the wards, the whole city. And you might have even enjoyed some of these, So please let me know if you did. Maybe you attended the Cambodian New Year Festival. Dia de los Muertos, Noche de Altares, the Vietnamese Film Festival at the Frida, the Tamal Fest in downtown, Boca del Oro Literary Festival, Delhi neighborhood, Reunion, the Madison Park Resource and Cultural Fair, Tatian Geese Market in downtown every Sunday, DJ lessons for free inside the Pizza Press in downtown. We have mural workshops and art classes for our seniors,

dramatic performances and writing classes, photography exhibits, arts festivals for our students with disabilities that I was able to attend just not that long ago with OCTEC, Bloom 24, open mic nights, musical performance, I could keep going, strolling mariachis in our downtown. Over 51 projects across all six wards you helped make possible. For an average of $4,000 a project or less, some people applied for less than $300. I know because I'm one of the arts and culture commissioners and I had the great privilege of reviewing every single project that was applied and

approving the ones that we were able to make possible. Some of these projects were new applicants they had never before considered applying for arts they are not even organized they are neighborhood associations moms and this because of this funding because we made it so accessible we sparked all kinds of new thinking new creativity among our residents here in Santa Ana and organizations. Another event you might have attended, if you haven't attended these, but please say so, is Art Walk, which is actually in jeopardy because it is funded through this very source of income, revenue. Art Walk is also a

powerful illustration of what it means to fund the arts locally at this local level in Santa Ana. It attracts thousands to our city every month, not just once a year. They come, they enjoy arts experiences, and they spend money. They go to restaurants they have beverages together they go to the shops they go to the galleries they buy wonderful things like earrings and shirts and they leave with the sense that san anna is a vibrant dynamic creative place despite what headlines sometimes say about a city that we call home and love so deeply i'm caught i've been calling this arts funding but really it's quality of life

funding deborah your time this is connection funding i hope you will consider as you make hard decisions about the budget please fund our local artists and arts

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

organizations the next three speakers Amelia Roque and Bonnie Pommish hello my

name is Amelia and I live here in downtown Santa Ana Ward 6 and I go to school here in Santa Ana and the arts make me a better person as well as a better more interesting student let me explain I experience a lot of arts at my my school things like musicals, creative writing, and dance. I've also taken a lot of classes outside of school like ceramics, choir, and piano. I have and like a lot more. But the arts I really like and benefit from come from here in Santa Ana, like Art Walk and other festivals like Cinco de Mayo. Now I know

this because my mom makes me go to all of the arts events. Like every weekend. and even though sometimes I complain and would rather stay home, the arts are important so please fund our artists and don't take this away from me or my fellow classmates. That's it.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Roque or rock, R-O-Q-U-E.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Bonnie Pomush followed by Carlos Oregon.

Good evening, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, Council members, our incredible city staff and community members. It's a delight to be with you tonight. I am here to make sure our community's citizens know about the incredible services that are provided at Working Wardrobes. And you have some slides in front of you. I'll tell you all the things, but they're pretty demonstrations of the things I'm going to tell you. I appreciate also those of you who have come to tour and know exactly what it is I am talking about. In Orange County, working wardrobes is a household name. There are many myths, though, about what it is we actually do.

Some of you know that we are helping people get upskilled, certified, ready to be self-sustaining through work. We provide these workforce development services with a signature service, which is our success suits. This is oftentimes the exterior representation of an interior update. What I mean by that is we first update the operating system, and then we make sure the packaging matches. These people that we have the absolute privilege and honor of being on their employment journeys are in a vulnerable place in life. It's hard sometimes to ask for help.

It is a true privilege to provide help. And we do this help through empowerment, employment with dignity. Our mission is to help people overcome all sorts of barriers to gainful employment. And you have been leading by example to make sure the youth of Santa Ana are part of those receiving these services. In fact, last year we hit a record. Post-pandemic, forget it. recovery it's in the rearview mirror we are now in the growth zone and able to help more people than ever thanks to your help we're really good at what we

do we have lots of endorsements to tell you that we have been a best place to work for two years in a row and it's operated Southern California workplace we have received a national award for our veteran employment services and for the last two years the readership of the Orange County Register has said we are our best charitable organization here in the county. In fact, since 1990, we have reached over 125,000 lives. That's men and women, youth and seniors, veterans and justice involved and impacted. The barriers we help people overcome are plentiful. They are everything from mental health crises

to the transition from military to civilian workforce. workforce, the ageism people experience being over age 55 and coming back to work. All of the workforce development addresses issues that we all care about and we've heard about tonight. We care about safety and education. We care about security, family issues, generational issues, and this is an upstream solution to those.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Bonnie, your time is up. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Carlos Oregon followed by Jack Bretto and Dale Helvig.

Good evening, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, Council Members. My name is Carlos Oregon. I am the CEO for ThinkBox Technology Group. We're an international consulting firm that specializes in project management. I'm also board members for the Greater Irvine Chamber, the Orange County Workforce Development Board, and Working Wardrobes. I'm the Vice Chair for the Public Affairs Committee and I'm here to continue the presentation that Bonnie was doing. Without gainful employment, a person is choosing between which bills to pay, rent, utilities, groceries or medical bills, and those choices impact our entire community.

Without gainful employment or with gainful employment, we have new choices. For under $10,000 per person, we create lifelong abilities and transformations because when we teach a person to fish, they become self-sustaining for change.

So how do we do it at Working Wardrobe? Working Wardrobes provides career training, job placement assistance, and professional wardrobe services through our Rebuilding Careers program. program. Our priority populations include unemployed, underemployed individuals, veterans, working-age youth, individuals who have been involved with the justice system, and seniors. Our goal is to assist under-resourced and marginalized individuals and populations in gaining the skills and confidence to find and maintain employment and build lasting economic stability for themselves and their families. Each job seeker gets an individualized

employment plan that include addressing barriers, preparing for interviews and job searches, and obtaining skills training to include how to express your own personal brand. The cherry on top of this preparedness is a personalized one-on-one styling appointment where the client receives a success suit.

We provide for their critical needs gas cards, food cards, temporary at housing assistance and work with over 185 other agencies to wrap services around our clients our secret sauce is how we treat people said another way this client shared how our services approach we are healing we're the healing bomb to his innermost hurts

have you if you haven't been to working wardrobe since july 2033 come out and check out our our facilities on a public tour. Third Thursdays of the month at 4 p.m. and on your handout there's a QR code you can RSVP or just reach out to us. And let's make sure that our services are not kept a secret. Thank you for your time.

Good evening, my name is Jack Brito and I'm a resident in Ward 2. and I brought up a problem that exists at the corner of Baker Street and Wilshire. I came last November and brought up that topic about all the accidents that occur at that corner. At that time, I had a petition with 70 signatures of people that were angry and were happy that we were doing this, the petition. And several of them told me that they came to the council and talked and nothing was ever done about it and they felt that they were ignored. Well, after my visit on November, the next day I got, I received two emails from the

engineers saying that they were going to look into it. One of the engineers came out, Ms. Ortiz came out and we talked a bit and I showed her the corner that was the red curve was, looked like somebody had taken the paint off. And so two days later they painted it and it was extended. And I thought, well, then maybe they were wrong. However, after that, nothing. No engineers. No. No, they told me they have warrants for a mechanism to put on the street to count the traffic on Woosier. And I thought, well, that's all fine and well. However, that machine is not going to capture the near misses that occur at that intersection.

That machine is not going to capture the pedestrians walking from the elementary school with their parents and the near misses that happen there. there. That machine is now going to capture the stop sign and the walkway or the lines there because the cars have to move out into the traffic lane because they can't see because all the cars that are parked on the street there, they can't see. So you have to pull into the oncoming traffic lane. The machine is in capture. The car is parking right next next to the food truck where their flasher's gone to get food, making all the cars having

to stop and go around or stop because it only becomes one lane. The machine doesn't pick up the trash that the people leave for the food truck. The machine didn't pick up what I saw on a Sunday, where a family thought that corner was a park. They had a van, they had chairs out there, they had TV trays, they were eating the food they bought at the food truck right at the corner. THE CAR COMING OUT TURNING LEFT, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SEE IT BECAUSE THAT BIG VAN WAS IN THE WAY. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. THERE HAVE BEEN TOO MANY ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED AT THAT INTERSECTION, INCLUDING A MAJOR ROLLOVER OF AN SUV.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER HIT AND RUN INCIDENTS. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER ACCIDENTS OR THERE WAS ONE THAT I SAW A LITTLE GIRL THAT WAS CRYING BECAUSE SHE WAS SHAKEN UP FROM THE ACCIDENT. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. I THINK IT'S TIME THAT THE COUNCIL STOP IGNORING US. And I think, and some of you may not have been on the council when those other people came to talk to you, but something really needs to be done before somebody gets killed and a major lawsuit gets the city. Thank you.

Phil BacerraItem 7

Sir, thank you for your comments on City Manager Nunez. Could you please have staff connect with him?

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

Yes, sir, we will.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Next three speakers, Dale Helvig, Victor Mendez, Enrique Gonzalez.

We still have quorum, good.

Dale Helvig, Ward 3. I thought I was going to be able to congratulate the new city manager based upon the agenda tonight, but I guess that will be another meeting. Anyway, I encourage you all to inquire as to why Related at Bristol project has been in essentially on freeze since February when they canceled the planning commission meeting. So I don't know what needs to be done to keep that project moving on. An earlier speaker, I think, was talking about that project, and I think it needs to have a little push to get it going again.

I don't know what's happening. I would also like to encourage all you guys out there that it's Mother's Day, coming up Monday don't forget it you know so very important day and I'd also like to thank council member Lopez for setting up the town hall meeting on the 14th look forward to open dialogue on the needle exchange program and the budget so that ought to be a good time lastly you know you hear about the the soccer players and I feel for them that they have to pay these high fees and I'm

thinking maybe we can redirect some of the funds that we have for all these special holidays that we celebrate at seventy five thousand dollars a pop reallocate some of that money to go to the soccer programs and help them out because I think it's sad that we have the kids suffering so we can have other people celebrating so let's do that and lastly May 17th is the 210th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution Day so let's celebrate that one too you know it's a big deal in Norway it's a big deal and I think Seattle has this the

largest Norwegian festival outside of Norway in the United in the world so I I actually think I'm going to go up there next year and enjoy that because I don't see us celebrating Norwegian Constitution Day here unless we maybe create an international day and celebrate all these days. And maybe we can consolidate those $75,000 funds for all these other holidays into an international day and have something special going on. So enjoy your Lutefisk and Lefse on the 17th.

Good evening. I'm not a big fan of hearing, so I don't know about this Norwegian day, but hey, diversity day might be a good idea. We're very diverse out here. Anyway, my comments today are really on a reconciliation. I've been down for the count again for several weeks, but like Muhammad Ali said, it doesn't matter how many times you get knocked down it's when you if you're able to get back up so um just want to catch up with you guys on a few things first on item 18 i just want to kind of clear the air on how this whole came to being four years about four years ago i did bring this to the

attention of the council about using local vendors particularly in the auto sales or auto purchases nothing really happened until i talked to phil and then phil talked to me and then phil finally raised it a couple of months later and from there it brings us to full circle but without phil's help this would have never happened i don't know where guaranteed auto would be at this point so i just want to be very clear it's all in the transcripts i started this november 2020 and this is where we are today uaw had nothing to do with this uh on budget guidance uh the city spends

about over a million dollars in base salaries for staff and that's money well spent okay let's assume that but i think they should come up with more options than just defund or not spend or whatever maybe they could start thinking a little more creatively and look at how do we deliver better with what we got and here's just a few examples workers compensation overtime vehicle management and police operating expenses and that's just top of my head I think there's a lot more that do where can we find the efficiencies and how can we deliver what we have today tomorrow with money they

may not be there I'm not seeing that right now along that lay on the revenue And on the revenue side, I looked at the Measure X revenues, and if we just kind of take that out now, like it will be the case in nine or ten, in about eight years or so, assuming it's not extended, it's going to take about ten times the transit occupancy tax we're getting today to cover that. It's going to take double our general sales tax to cover that. It's going to take twice our property tax to cover that. That's a big haul, and it's not going to happen overnight. It's not even going to happen through related development.

development, just two words, economic development, and maybe three, economic development today, tomorrow, and in the future. Along that way, this reallocation of funding for the SEPD to investigative resources, I just think it's a bad idea. It'll only exasperate our deficit because you're going to take those savings out of salary savings and put it somewhere else. Who's going to fund this over time? time. Lastly, I just want to thank Councilmember Pham for bringing forth the RCOC. My son was a client of RCOC for several years and still is. He continues to do great things and achieve many things.

And without RCOC, you know, I don't think he would have achieved what he wanted to do. He's going to get his AA this May and will go on to UC San Diego to get a medical coding certificate. So thank you, RCOC. And thank you, Pham.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Victor, your time is up.

Excuse me?

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Your time is up.

I'm sorry?

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Your time is up.

Yeah, I can read. Okay. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Enrique Gonzalez, Yenny Bernal del Tomo, and Cynthia Lujan.

Good evening. My name is Enrique Luis Gonzalez. I live on the corner of Wilshire and Baker. I've lived here for over 26 years. I'm here today because there's been plenty of crashes over the 26 years I've lived there. and I'm here to propose that we make it a four-way stop sign or probably a roundabout to prevent these crashes. I also have video evidence of all these crashes that have happened. Here, you guys want them? Yeah, okay. And yeah, that's basically all I came here for today.

Come on up.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Jenny Bernal Del Tomo?

Correct. Good evening, Council. My name is Jenny Bernal, and some of you might know me. I know I've been in downtown for the last 15 years. I was the Art Walk coordinator for six years, and unfortunately, because of COVID, that was kind of my transition out of it. Currently, I'm also an art teacher, I think it's extremely important to mention. I had the wonderful opportunity to work in the after school program via OCDAQ, which Dr. Anna just spoke, and I love their organization and I believe that it brings us all back to why we're here.

Currently, I have a small gallery and maker space at the Main Place Mall, and I also do lots of events for them when it comes to arts and culture. I brought our walk to them and we will begin celebrating it this Saturday. And we also do Day of the Dead in October. The makerspace side, it focuses on bringing low cost and fine art classes to increase the actual understanding that arts is not just beauty.

arts and culture actually make our children understand the world and be able to properly digest information and proclimate their own ideas. So to be fair, I am extremely saddened to be here, to have to say this, to see there is zero budget for us, for the artists. I mean, after so much dedication, it would be nice to see that there's just already in there, like, we should be fighting for more, but not for, like, a zero. So that's why I'm here. I thank you for listening to me.

I thank you for supporting the arts for all these last 15 years that I've been around. And in talking about all these children that we were celebrating today, let's keep that up for the next generation. All these kids have mentioned how important the arts and the vibrancy of their city has been to make them proud of being a santanero. I have so many children and high school students that come into my space and ask me, how do I tell my parents that I want to be an artist when everybody tells me that I'm not going to make it economically? Well here I am. We need equity. Equity is greater than division.

We should not be fighting against Bowers Museum. We should have all of this in an even and balanced and proper way. And so I thank you for your time and I hope that you reconsider and that you put that as a million dollar or more in your funding. Thank you very much for your time.

Cynthia Lujan.

Good evening, Council. My name is Cynthia Lujan. I'm an artist, arts educator, and arts administrator working regionally in Southern California. I was a resident of Ward 5 during 2021, 2022 pandemic years. I leased a space for my business in Ward 6 for five years from 2018 to 2023. I'm no longer in Santa Ana, but this wasn't by choice. My business along with 16 other artists were displaced in June 2023 when our landlord informed us they would be selling the property off of Santiago and Washington known as Logan Creative. allegedly selling it to developers. I'm here to point out contrary to what

American culture at large teaches us the strange idea that the arts are not a viable career path and that you can't make money in the arts. No, the arts are not only a hobby, quite the opposite, the arts and culture sector is a viable economic generator and it creates opportunities for generative communities to grow belonging as some of the musicians mentioned earlier this evening and students and youth mentioned as well. It fosters cultural exchange and increases the quality of life. I'm here at the request of my art colleagues and art aficionados from Santa Ana to ask for your support and demonstrate leadership

in setting an example for other cities in Orange County and regionally in Southern California by not only continuing to invest in grants for Santa Ana, but to increase the funding and support in the form of artist grants and event sponsorships, supporting the art walk creating percent for arts funding from new and private developments funding the arts cultural master master plan funding and providing more support to the arts and cultural department in writing grants for the city of Santa Ana and yeah I urge you to please don't rely on community leaders

and individual businesses to subsidize the arts in Santa Ana make the intention and follow through to make decisions that create dedicated funding for the arts. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Mayor and City Council, that concludes the public speakers that are present in the chamber. We'll now begin with Zoom speakers. There are three that were in the queue when we started. So Zoom callers, when unmuted, please announce your name and the ward or neighborhood that you reside in within the City of Santa Ana for the record.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Madam City Clerk, I'm so sorry to bother you. I think there's a gentleman here that raised their hand.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

The yellow cards are for the public hearing. Those cards will be heard later for item 29 related to the CDBG funding.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

If you're related to the CDBG, that is item 29. It's after the consent.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

That's also public hearing. So we'll get to you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

I had three cards that I called earlier that they did not come forward. Can you repeat them? Jose Antonio Pacheco, Jefferson Esquino, and Rock.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Go ahead, Madam Clerk. The other ones I'm sure will be at the other. We have a calendar, a business calendar, and so we'll probably be calling on you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

We have 16 cards submitted for the public hearing.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Great. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Zoom speaker, Nina, please unmute and make your comments.

Hi. Thank you so much. My name is Nina Jerick. I'm co-president of Washington Square Neighborhood Association, a six-year resident in Washington Square located in ward 5. On behalf of the 700-plus homes in Washington Square and the hundreds and hundreds of residents who signed a petition in favor of a walkable park in Washington Square, I thank you, Mayor Emezcua, Councilman Hernandez, and the rest of the members of City Council for your support in putting the feasibility study for this desired park in the 24-25 budget. budget. We look forward to working with the city and the Parks and Recreation Department

for making this park a reality for all of our residents. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Next speaker on Zoom, Beth Thomas. Please unmute to make your comment.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate

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debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate debate

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you mayor city council and specifically our councilman jonathan hernandez for your continued support to help us and all of our kids to get a walkable park that we can actually walk to in our neighborhood of washington square we are in an environmental justice area we are greatly looking forward to working with the city to take advantage of this unique opportunity for our ward our neighborhood and the city to increase the quality of life of thousands of our residents thank you so

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

much next zoom speaker zoom user please unmute make your comments hi could you hear me yes go Go ahead.

Okay, hi. My name is Angel Magana. I was raised in Santa Ana, and I just have to thank God for this day, thank God for letting everybody be there, everybody get there safely. And I just have a concern about why are the fields so expensive on the sports. I come from the organization Team 90. I am a player, was a player from La Machina, and it's sad to see that there's so much great talent in Santa Ana.

And due to the expenses of field, a lot of the people can't go and take out the kids. Or like my friends, I have a lot of friends that play soccer. and for that reason of the field being too expensive, they don't like going to try out for a team or going to play nearby. They'd rather play in Irvine or Garden Grove instead of playing there at their home in Santa Ana.

I participated as a coach, and I loved training the kids right there in La Machina. I loved seeing them grow. role. La Máquina has helped me out a lot. I am currently in Mexico, Baja California, in Tijuana. I am going for my goal in life, which is to be a professional box player, thanks to Team 90 League and La Máquina supporting me out here. I wish that my friends were there to speak about how they feel about the field and stuff. There's a lot of people there that know about la machina about team 90 and how both of those businesses have helped out a lot of kids

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

from santa ana and that's all i want to say tonight thank you thank you and mayor one final speaker

logan crowe thank you thank you good afternoon mayor city council uh good evening i should say my name is logan crowe and i'm the director of the freedom cinema in ward 6 and serve on the board of of directors for Arts Orange County. I live in Ward 3. First, I want to thank the City of Santa Ana for supporting the monthly DTSA Art Walk cultural events last year through the Investing in the Arts grant. I felt quite fortunate and proud to live and work in a city that illustrates its support of creative community with funding programs for artists and cultural institutions. Arts are a language and a culture that transcends

and includes every imaginable demographic, and I hope to see the city's support of this culture not only continue, but I hope to see the support increased. My friends, neighbors, and collaborators continue to communicate their endured frustration as to what community institutions they can and can't continue to rely on. COVID disrupted even the most expected of daily rituals, and as we all returned to work and struggled to reestablish normalcy, the O Street Streetcar construction debacle poured salt into a wound that was just starting to heal. For a community brimming with artists and galleries eager to share

and hopefully sell their works, and small businesses whose dedicated owners rely on those nights when the creative class assembles to shine a light on downtown Santa Ana and activate our streets, Art Walk and so many other free community events and cultural events like it have become increasingly vital. The arts are not just a cultural boon but also a significant economic engine. A study by American for the Arts reveals that nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and artists pump an estimated 166 billion dollars annually into the US economy supporting 4.6 million jobs and generating 27.5 billion in government revenue. Local

businesses in the vicinity of arts venues see direct benefits with the same study showing that every dollar invested in the arts leverages up to 12 in economic activity the synergy between the arts and local businesses catalyzes community vibrancy and economic growth providing that investing in the arts is not just culturally enriching it's economically wise i see my fellow artists and arts organizations out there doing the work day after day but i get concerned that this dynamic is being duly acknowledged when for example from a badging standpoint the arts and culture isn't listed as an option on the 24 25 community budget survey

Lastly, in Santa Ana's community of artists and creators, you have tremendous partners in telling, preserving, and amplifying the story of Santa Ana. The muralists of Santa Ana tell its story. The painters and zine makers and theater troops and dancers of this community are living, breathing culture bearers, not just in their respective art forms and personal histories, but in the overall legacy of what makes Santa Ana, Santa Ana. City leadership's investment in ensuring that its creators are provided with the funding and resources they need to tell and preserve their stories is an investment in their city's overall

economic growth its status as a vibrant place to live and work and again as a vibrant place sorry its ability to ensure that its story is told preserved and amplified please listen intently to the words of my fellow advocates today those who are here and those who sent e-comments and think of us not merely as artists but as your best partners in your continued efforts to ensure and and sustain Santa Ana's vibrancy, identity, resiliency, and success. Thank you so much for your time.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Mayor and city council, that concludes the public speakers.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Thank you, Madam City Clerk. At this time, we'll be going to the consent calendar. Consent calendar items number eight through 27 are before us. Council members, please announce any items that you'll be abstaining from. Mayor Pro Tem, I have you as item 29.

Thai Viet PhanItem 7

Yes, that's the public hearing.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

I just want to make sure that is what you have down here. Perfect. Okay. So any abstentions from 8 to 27?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 7

Madam Mayor?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Go ahead, Council Member.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 7

I just have comments on item 18 and then item 20.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Comments only?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 7

That's correct.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Okay. 18 and 20.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 7

I'll make a motion to move the calendar.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

I'm sorry. I'm going to finish this. Anybody else?

Phil BacerraItem 7

Yes, Madam Mayor. I'd like to go ahead and pull items 13 and 14.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

thank you anybody else just the comment on 27. comment on 27. perfect okay councilman hernandez

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 7

thank you madam mayor um i just wanted to share um my comments and i'm sorry you were going to make a motion to yes yes so i'll make a motion to move the items is there a second second

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Second. Let's prepare to vote.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Sorry, that wasn't working for that particular time. Hopefully we can get it ready for the next vote. If I could take a roll call, please. This is a motion by Councilmember Hernandez, seconded by Councilmember Becerra, to approve the consent calendar with the exceptions of items 13 and 14 pulled for separate discussion brief comments on items 18 20 and 27. council member becerra yes yes member hernandez yes council member lopez yes council member penaleza yes council member vasquez yes mayor pro tem fan yes mayor meswa yes and excuse me i did need to make an announcement as well pursuant to to government code section 54953,

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

an oral summary of salary and benefits shall be made prior to final action of the council on any local executive. Item number 24 on the consent calendar is the approval of performance evaluation and salary adjustment for the city clerk, increasing the annual salary from $172,000 to $182,320, effective April 16th, 2024. And the vote is seven ayes, no nays. Motion carries for the consent calendar.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Thank you very much, Madam Clerk. Go ahead.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

The first item pulled is item 13 by council member Becerra.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

I'm sorry, Madam clerk. I apologize. If we have the members that have been appointed, can we call them out so they can take their oath? Madam clerk, please.

Jennifer L. HallItem 10

Yes, mayor. Thank you for the reminder. We have agenda item 10 for the community development commission, Alfonso Sejavia and agenda item number 11 for the youth commission, Emily Parra-Diaz. Are either of them present?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

I see them. Please come forward.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

Thank you, Madam Secretary.

I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of California, against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of And the constitution of the state of California. I take this obligation freely. I take this obligation freely. Without any mental reservations. Without any mental reservations. Or purpose of evasion. Or purpose of evasion. But I will well and faithfully discharge. I will well and faithfully discharge. The duties upon which. The duties upon which. I'm about to enter.

I'm about to enter. Congratulations. Thank you, thank you. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jennifer L. HallItem 11

go ahead madam clerk yes mayor item 13 pulled by council member becerra

Phil BacerraItem 11

thank you mad mayor madame clerk actually this item 13 is the quarterly report for housing division projects and activities so really a lot of my comments are going to probably be directed towards director garcia and his team so in relation to the outreach by staff for the down payment assistance program I would like to see more outreach done actually at apartment communities I mean the idea is that we're trying to build up homeownership and these are folks especially with the high rents in Santa Ana that these are folks that not all but many can afford a mortgage but it's

Phil BacerraItem 11

that big hurdle to get over with down payments right and so that this program could definitely help a lot of folks a lot of folks here in Santa Ana our residents become homeowners and stabilize our community but I and I appreciate that your staff has been very proactive and being out at a lot of events it's great but we need to get them out to those apartment communities I mean hoping that our folks will make it to these events I think we need to be a little more proactive in going to them with that I wanted to ask so looking at TABLE 8 IN THE REPORT, IT SHOWS THAT 25 APPLICATIONS ARE SENT OUT AND ONLY FIVE APPLICATIONS ARE

Phil BacerraItem 11

RECEIVED. WHY IS THERE SUCH A STEEP DROP IN THOSE NUMBERS?

SO THE STEEP DROP ON THE DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE. I DO NOT HAVE THAT ANSWER. IS DAVID HERE? here judson drop is because most families when they receive the application they realize how difficult it is to to qualify and purchase a home because they have to qualify for a first loan and so that's one of the key requirements and so most families most families when they receive the application and read through it they realize that's a that's a key barrier to home ownership

Phil BacerraItem 13

So are they downloading the application from a website or are they receiving the application from staff?

They're receiving the application from staff.

Phil BacerraItem 13

And so is staff just kind of leaving a stack at the front door and saying, go get them? Or are we actually seeing staff give it to them, talk to them, maybe walk through it, maybe ask some of these preliminary questions, especially if you already know that there are some hurdles for them to qualify for the program? because I think if maybe there was at least just that preliminary conversation, maybe we wouldn't see as many applications not returned or, you know, approved.

Steph provides substantial outreach and engagement to the community regarding our down payment assistance program. Every applicant that applies for the program, we provide them with counseling, homeownership counseling, counseling, advice, guidance, and all kinds of efforts to provide families with support to purchase a home through our down payment assistance program. In fact, last year the program won an award, which you attended, through the Orange County Business Council for our efforts. MR.

Phil BacerraItem 13

Okay. But what I was asking, though, was so when you hand out an application, is there a preliminary discussion with the person that you're giving the application to? I understand you do outreach, and obviously you're doing an amazing job, and yes, the program has received an award. But what I'm asking very specifically is, person comes in, you give them an application, do you just send them on their way, or does someone sit down with them for five minutes, 10 minutes, a half hour, just to walk them through it so that they don't take the application with false hopes, only to not be able to return it?

Every applicant receives guidance and support to successfully apply for a down payment assistance program.

Phil BacerraItem 13

Well, I wouldn't say successfully, because they're not getting the applications back in, right?

Phil BacerraItem 13

Correct. They're not successfully applying because they're not being returned, correct?

So as we've reported and provided to City Council regarding the success of the Downpayment Assistance Program, we have provided many, many successful loans through this program.

Phil BacerraItem 13

Okay. I'll get the answer from Mike later then. Thank you. On page 9 of the report, it shows that $834,000 was received in fiscal year 23-24 for the in lieu fees. So is that the same amount that was on the previous quarters report?

It is. We've been representing that as a running total. Okay. And so in future reports, we will only show by quarter and we'll also keep the running total. But we will show what this quarter there were no in lieu fees received.

Phil BacerraItem 13

So there is zero received this time? That's correct.

Okay. And in speaking with David Flores, who oversees the down payment assistance program, most of the applications that go out are managed through brokers. And so our staff is not directly working with people. We are working through brokers and sales agents. And so we do not have control over the number of applications that go out and then ultimately come back in because they're going through residential brokers.

Phil BacerraItem 13

Okay, great. Thank you. Well, actually, real quick while you're up there, Mike. So just remind me again. So the $834,000 that we received in lieu fees, that was from what now? So in other words, that didn't come from the current version of the HIPAA?

It did not. And what did it come from? It came from 2012 from the project that we now know as the Legato Admet. And it was based on a development agreement in place at that time. and it was actually at three three thousand dollars per unit per that

Phil BacerraItem 13

development agreement in 2012 so so let me so 2012 here we are in 2024 so I was 2012 and it was through a development agreement so they did not pay $15 a foot even back in 2012 that's correct okay thank you so that was so that that's all Mike thank you so well actually no I'm just kidding I have one more actually so So looking at that chart, I say it every time this report comes up, ever since we've seen the change from the WHO to this current version, we haven't seen any NLU fees come in. And one thing, though, I want to also touch on when it comes to inclusionary units is

Phil BacerraItem 13

on Table 7 you have units built on site, and this is kind of similar to the way you reported the NLU fees. It shows 24 ownership, 10 rental, and a total of 34. So I'm left to assume that table seven reflects the total units that have been, total inclusionary units have been built on site since the beginning of any sort of inclusionary.

Benjamin VazquezItem 13

Okay.

Phil BacerraItem 13

And what I would like to see us do is show it by quarter. And the reason for that, and this probably would require an asterisk, just like the $834,000 fee. We did actually finally get a couple of inclusionary units, but it wasn't because of the policy. It was because a developer took advantage of the state law regarding density bonus. Is that correct with the Toll Brothers site on Maine?

That's correct.

Phil BacerraItem 13

So, how many inclusionary units did we get out of that one?

That was 11.

Phil BacerraItem 13

11 total. But that was, again, to exercise the state density bonus law,

that's correct anything to do with that was based on density right that couple of council members

Phil BacerraItem 13

approved okay um that's all i have i just want to uh the other thing i wanted to um mention on here was uh yeah just simply that oh no i know actually sorry i'm all over the place right now one last question that is so the report indicates that there are two affordable housing projects that are quote in pre-development so it's the habitat for humanity project on west washington and the richard lent intergenerational house on north beaulieu are either of those projects receiving city funds such as any of the in lieu funds they are okay so have they been notified of our

Phil BacerraItem 13

community workforce agreement and their obligation to use local skilled and trained union labor they

have been informed of that and um i believe we are working through uh with our friends at uh

Phil BacerraItem 13

on both of those projects so i wouldn't say working through i'm actually very happy to see that we're going to be employing local labor on projects that you know we're putting our money where our mouth is so i'm really happy to see that so thank you mike and with that i'll go ahead and

Valerie AmezcuaItem 13

move the item thank you i have a comment and mayor pro tem also has a comment so if you want to just sort of remind council three minutes three rounds and also our devices are not working so if you want to speak kind of like what we do at octa can you lift your mic all the way up and then i'll I'll call on you so you all don't have to raise or yell or wave at me. So I'll call on you. So thank you, and I appreciate your patience. So, Mike, can you come up really quick? I just have more of a comment. I really do want to thank your staff. We've had many meetings since I've been elected about the first-time homebuyers,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 13

and I think myself and some others up here have had first-time homebuyer events in different communities, and they've been very successful. And so we did talk about possibly working with other banks so that the city is not hands-on direct. And there's city employees that we are now hopefully getting to apply for this first-time home buyer program. I promised you that I wouldn't say anything from the diet, so I'll be nice to hold all my comments. Because when I first got here, I was like, wow, we have money, but we're not getting our people into homes. So I do want to go back to what Councilman Becerra said. 28 where

Valerie AmezcuaItem 13

applications were sent out, five were received. And what I found in my events in the city and with speaking with people, one, some city employees didn't know about the program. And so that would be really important for us to make sure all of our city employees, Mr. City Manager, all of the city employees know about this and how we can help them. And I agree with Councilman Becerra that we don't just hand them the application but that we help them or connect them with whoever give them the list of brokers so nobody says we're playing favorites i mean there's a way there's ways we can

Valerie AmezcuaItem 13

help them of course not being unethical illegal immoral nothing in that sense playing favorites with anybody i'm not asking for that i want to be really clear up here but what i am saying is that we can't just hand them an application and say good luck go with god and hopefully you qualify we need to do the warm handoff and I've stressed this many many times about working with our community because there is funding for this and if we've been sitting on it for this long it really should be something and and I know that housing is limited I hear that a lot about Santa Ana but there's condos to be

Valerie AmezcuaItem 13

purchased there's townhomes to be purchased there are areas that people can't purchase in and so I really want to thank you for all the work that you're doing but so what i hear you saying then is right now we have five that's correct out of

20 five that are in process right now we have two that are recently being uh being approved

Valerie AmezcuaItem 13

from our loan committee and how many staff do you have now working on this issue we have three

individuals that partner but one that is the full-time lead on this so we had talked about

Valerie AmezcuaItem 13

initially when I was first selected that it was they were they went through the process and then a city staff signed off on it this is why it takes a little long a city staff signed off on it and then it went to a committee to sign off on it again for approval for first-time homebuyers and then it went to you for the final signature that's a lot Mike so that committee has been dissolved I'M HAPPY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE.

I DO WANT TO BRING OUT ANOTHER OUR ACTING CITY MANAGER ASKED THAT WE REACH OUT AND I BELIEVE YOU HAD A GOOD SUGGESTION AND WE ARE NOW MEETING WITH EMPLOYEE GROUPS AT EVERY DEPARTMENT. WE HAD INITIALLY PUT UP IN OUR PUBLIC READER BOARDS AND THE PLANNING COUNTER AND THAT'S WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO EMPLOYEES WHO DID APPLY AND DID QUALIFY AND ACTUALLY DID OBTAIN A DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND it'll bear more fruit working with all the different groups so and I thank you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 13

very much for that thank you distracted city manager it's really important when I was on the school board we needed to bring students to Spurgeon which we now call Romero Cruz and we met about it and I think I shared with you that we asked staff to put up information and every apartment complex in the laundry mats because where do our families go they go to the laundry mats so there may be families that want to purchase homes have saved money meet the qualifications So it may take a little bit of sweat equity to walk and get staff into our laundry mats, our liquor stores, our 7-Elevens, wherever it may be.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 13

But we do need to get the information out. Same thing with our budget. Got to get it out. We can't just say, here you go, have a nice day. It doesn't work that way. So I just want to say thank you. I really do appreciate it. Thank you. Mayor Pro Tem?

Thai Viet PhanItem 13

Mike, you can stay up there. I just had a question about process. Just clarification for myself. So my husband and I bought our condo because we had a VA loan, so zero down, because we were one of those families who could afford a mortgage but couldn't afford the down payment. So I totally get that and we jumped through lots of hoops because that's what federal dollars are like. My question for you has to do with, you know, the applications that we send out, there's 25, so there obviously were a lot of inquiries. I assume not including the people who attend our presentations.

Thai Viet PhanItem 13

applications. You know, when someone receives an application or, you know, they receive an application from us because they asked for it in Q3, is it possible for them to just return it in Q4 or not within the same quarter? I'm just trying to understand because based on my knowledge of the process, you know, you might see what's required and then you have to take some steps to prepare to apply.

That's correct, because there could be upwards of $15,000 to $20,000 of down payment that they have to have on their own. So they might need to save up some more money to be able to put that down payment in.

Thai Viet PhanItem 13

Got it. Yeah, because I do, you know, I'm trying to save up to $20,000, right? And it's not easy. And so I can see that you know you might get an application in q3 and it might take you Six months or even a year just to have that kind of cash prepared to apply Or however long that might take so that's helpful to understand One other thing I would like to suggest is so I do these free legal clinics all the time in fact, we have one coming up on June 8th with some of our nonprofit partners legal aid

Thai Viet PhanItem 13

Public Law Center and AJ SoCal and those nonprofit attorneys as well as other nonprofit professionals are really in that exact kind of income bracket that we're trying to target so we have a lot of professionals that work in these nonprofit organizations that I think could really qualify and benefit from the benefit from this especially if they're already working here in the city So maybe we can collaborate with whoever the CDBG grantees are and maybe reach out to their staff too. Thank you. Thank you very much. Councilman Lopez?

Jessie LopezItem 13

Thank you. You know, this report, the sign-in, whenever it's on the agenda, it gets pulled always, all the time. And I think it's great because it allows our constituents to hear about affordable housing, housing, how affordable housing is funded in the city through the in lieu fees. Because when a developer is building and they don't want to build affordable housing, that is what the fee is for, right? They decide to pay a fee. So if affordable housing is what you want and what you like, this is totally your jam. This is your issue. And I think it also helps our constituents hear about the RSO and the Just Cause Eviction

Jessie LopezItem 13

ordinance that we have in the books and really if they're reading the report about the almost 7 000 market rate units that exist in the city that the council has approved to build right and that's nowhere near the affordable units in the city but it's a great comparison for us to see what we're building and what we need to build more of to really meet the demand that exists here in the city of santa ana and so it was briefly mentioned earlier again because it always gets pulled and Judson thank you for coming up here it's not your fault right if families can't qualify or move through the process fully as mayor Pro Tem just said

Jessie LopezItem 13

it is difficult and that's I think part of why having a good lender a good realtor is really important as part of this process I always when people approach me about this program I always say find a lender find a realtor that has experience with this process and shout out to julio arana who i know works with families here really for years sometimes on end when they first realize you know what i need this amount of money amount of money for a down payment i'm going to have to budget for the next year or two years to accumulate that down payment right the other issues with the banks which is why i've said from

Jessie LopezItem 13

the dais when this item has been pulled in the past about the city establishing relationships relationships with non-predatory banks because a bank loan is hard for sometimes our families to qualify, which is part of the process. And sometimes that can be a barrier for our families to move through the homeownership experience. I also agree that, you know, to the mayor's point about playing favorites, this is, you know, at the end of the day, public dollars. You know, commissioners should be calling our staff demanding or pressuring them to pursue these applications or

Jessie LopezItem 13

to move them along at a faster speed than what they need to be vetted through that's really important and i want to make sure that our staff understands that because it's really important for everybody to have i think a fair shot at the program thank you thank you councilman hernandez

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 13

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Lots of great comments today, Director Garcia. I just wanted to inform members of the public surrounding some properties in Ward 5. There's some great projects that are in pre-development, credit to the leadership at the Community Development Agency with Judson Brown and Michael Garcia. You guys are doing great work. In Ward 5, we have Habitat for Humanity off of 1921 West Washington Avenue, where there will be new construction of three duplexes a total of six homes for home ownership serving households

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 13

up to 80 percent ami the housing inclusionary funds that we were able to allocate were 2 million 200 000 a demolition permit was obtained and demolition was successfully completed in january 2024 so for residents in the washington square in the artesia pilar neighborhood alongside washington That's what the construction is taking place there. In the Santa Anita community, we have 918 North Buley, which is the intergenerational housing project, which is being developed by the Illumination Foundation. It's the rehabilitation of two two-story residential buildings into 11 rental units for homeless

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 13

transitional age youth and senior citizens, a total of $2,021,319, right in the heart of ward 5 in neighborhoods that are adversely impacted i just want to thank our city staff because it's a credit to your guys's leadership that these opportunities are coming to these otherwise very dense neighborhoods so i just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you on behalf of our residents because you guys created home ownership opportunities where we're going to be able to focus on people who are other otherwise very vulnerable seniors and transitional youth who are formerly houseless. So I just want to say thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 13

Thank you, Councilman.

Jessie LopezItem 13

Councilman Lopez? Yes, just lastly for our staff, because I was reading the public comment and there was a great suggestion about, in terms of the RSO and the JCEO, besides listing the inquiries, it would be helpful for the general public to know the outcome of the inquiries. Fielded, for example, this could include the number of enforcement actions the department has acted on, whether it be forwarding inquiries to the code enforcement or a number of inquiries resulting in the in what has been informed to seek independent legal counsel the number of new residential units registered and the number of

Jessie LopezItem 13

tenants versus non tenant inquiries thank you thank you see no other

Jennifer L. HallItem 13

comments I have a motion by councilmember Becerra I didn't catch second seconded by mayor Emeskwa to approve item 13 the quarterly report for housing division projects and activities the electronic voting is up

Jennifer L. HallItem 13

up. Council Member Hernandez? Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 13

The vote is 6 ayes, no nays with a temporary absence by Mayor Pro Tem Phan. Motion carries. She's a yes. Yes vote recorded. Yes, thank you. Vota 7-0.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 13

Madam Clerk, can we go back to the oath of office, if the Council doesn't mind, for Emily Parra-Diaz. I believe she is here now. Don't want her to miss that.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 13

Emily, are you here? Oh, there you are.

Congratulations.

I, Emily Parra Diaz, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, enemies, foreign and domestic. Can you repeat that? That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and to the State of California. That I take this

obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of revision that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter thank you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 13

No, we want you in the picture, Beth. We want you in the picture.

Three.

Three. Three. Three.

Three. Three. Three. Three. Three. Three. Three.

Three. Three. Three. Three. Three.

Three. Three. Three. Three.

Jennifer L. HallItem 13

Madam Clerk, you can go to item 14 now. Yes, Mayor. The next item pulled is item 14 by Councilmember Becerra.

Phil BacerraItem 13

Thank you. Who will be answering? Mike, Community Development.

Alvaro NuñezItem 14

Huh? It will be Community Development Director Mike. And then we have both Terry and Ken Kaminski here to help.

Phil BacerraItem 14

Okay. Well, I'll let them figure out who answers. So first question is, or first request, please describe the difference between SMART and CULT. Because we hear a lot about CULT, we see the trucks driving around with the big CULT logo emblazoned on it, but I see in the report the word SMART, or the acronym SMART, referred to a lot. So can you give everybody a description of the difference?

This is a good one for Ken, but CULT is a combination of not only our enforcement team, but also with the cleanup crew from Public Works working through Landscape West. And SMART is a combination of our Santa Ana PD as well as working closely with CityNet. So it's like a combination of CityNet and both operations. Is that the best way to describe it, Ken?

Phil BacerraItem 14

I think you need to bring this one home.

home smart smart is our city net project okay Colt is the quality of life team Colt is internal city resources that are made up of the police department for enforcement our landscape West crew out of Public Works that provides the cleaning members of park and rec that provide the bagging and tagging and and storage of property, code enforcement representatives that work with businesses, and our legal representatives from the city attorney's office that file our lawsuits when we need that help.

Phil BacerraItem 14

So, it would be fair to say then, SMART is primarily the CityNet function, the outreach, whereas all the other interdepartmental functioning goes through COAL?

You are correct, sir.

Phil BacerraItem 14

Okay, good. So, I'm reading on page four of this report, and under the jail release program, it says SMART next to it. And then it states that total referrals for the jail release program, 41, total number of clients that refused services during that intake process, 40. So we're saying only one then accepted services from that effort.

No, we're saying that 41 people accepted services out of a total of 81 that thought about it, and then only 41 went through with it.

Phil BacerraItem 14

Okay, so that's a lot better than the way it looked on there.

To give it some perspective, again, based on the understanding from city council, we wanted a more robust engagement within our Senate and jail. So the police department has gone and through their jail manager and their jail classification staff, every time somebody comes into the jail, and it doesn't matter what for. When they come into the Santa Ana jail, they're asked questions, do you have any needs for services like mental health, substance abuse, are you homeless, whatever those are. If individuals say, yes, I have an interest, then they're put into a different queue. Those individuals

are then asked the same questions later on, often after they sober, and are they still, they stated that they were interested in those services, are they still interested in those services? So it's 81 that said, yeah, I think it's a good idea, and 41 of them that agreed to meet with CityNet and have the discussion about some type of service.

Phil BacerraItem 14

Okay. No, no. And I appreciate that explanation because the way it looked in the report, the numbers were just, they looked awful, to be honest. So that is a much more rosier picture than what was portrayed in the report. And you actually just confirmed what my next question was going to be, which was, as folks are being arrested for violation of public intoxication laws, we want to make sure that they're being offered services. because the idea is not just to arrest people for the heck of it it's the idea that we're gonna get these folks directly in front of services offered

Phil BacerraItem 14

and it sounds like what you're describing our jail staff is working with

CityNet to make sure that that happens based on my discussions with the jail administrator yes that is what is occurring and I believe it is perfect

Phil BacerraItem 14

well that's all I have Ken thank you very much I want to also real quickly applaud our city's success at helping 42 unhoused individuals find permanent housing. And maybe this might be a question for another one of Mike's staff, and that is, for the 23 individuals whose housing is, as the report states, pending, how long is it expected for these individuals to actually secure housing?

I don't know that we could put a timeline on that. They are in the population of individuals who have vouchers. They have to be actively looking for apartments.

It's a difficult question to put an answer on. We do have many people that have vouchers that are on a waiting list.

Phil BacerraItem 14

So on that note then, so if I've got a voucher and I'm looking for housing, and I know that because trying to find housing that will accept the vouchers, that can be difficult. So my question then is how long is that voucher, I don't know what the word would be, valid or usable before it becomes unusable? In other words, like for instance, if someone doesn't use a permit in so many months or so many years, it goes away. So in this case here with the voucher, how long do they have to find housing before it stops functioning?

120 days, right? 120 days.

Phil BacerraItem 14

So they have 120 days to find housing. Okay.

Now, they can continue to reside at the shelter during that time frame, so they're in a different category than other individuals that receive vouchers from Section 8.

Phil BacerraItem 14

Okay. Okay. And as far as just on that topic, I would say that in these reports going forward, I'd like to have a little more clear understanding as far as our staff, whether it's PD or other staff, the interaction with the unhoused individuals. How many of them that they're interacting with, are they from Santa Ana? How many of them are not from Santa Ana? Because I saw racial and gender breakdowns, but I wanted to also understand how many of them are really, truly from Santa Ana I know Ken when we were at the Board of Supervisors meeting it was almost like a kids song you were rattling off every geographic location

Phil BacerraItem 14

where these folks were from and they were not from Santa Ana so I'd like to see that in the report just so that not only the council but the community can see how many folks are coming to Santa Ana that are not from Santa Ana when it

comes to being unhoused? Just quickly, sir, in order to meet that request, we need an understanding of what is from Santa Ana because we have various different definitions. The county says one thing, the state says a different thing, the federal government says a different thing, and so it's very hard for us to come up with that information. That's why we don't include it.

I can tell you that based on my experience in the field talking to people, talking with Colt, talking with Smart, we're seeing about 50% of our people that we're contacting have some type of Santa Ana ties, and the other 50% have no ties to Santa Ana. Okay.

Phil BacerraItem 14

Perfect. Thank you. Two quick things. One, and I just want to make this publicly known. I know this is something that some of us up here been working on with our our acting city manager And that is I want to see a reimbursement agreement For maintenance with Caltrans. I want to see that done. The city of Los Angeles has one in my ward We've had unhoused individuals cutting through fences impacting legacy businesses and We need to not wait for Caltrans to get over there three four weeks later when an encampment proliferates so we know that our staff can do a better job and I say that with pride I

Phil BacerraItem 14

know that our staff can be more efficient and more effective Caltrans cannot and so if they're willing to pay the City of Los Angeles with their employees and I believe our employees are much better so I would say that it would probably be a bargain for them to actually reimburse our employees to do

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

the job that they are not doing Mr. City Attorney do you want to respond to that

Alvaro NuñezItem 14

Understood. So we are, when it seems that it's taking too long to respond, we are authorizing city staff to go into Caltrans property and at least in two occasions we have issued invoices to Caltrans for reimbursement. So I know that the Public Works Agency is working with them trying to get for the last six months if not more trying to get that property maintenance agreement and so we are focusing on that that is one of our priorities and we're also seeking the assistance of both assembly man valencia's office and tom humberg to help us to senator and i appreciate that and

Phil BacerraItem 14

please know that if there's anything you need from me to assist i'd be happy to do it again we've already seen caltrans willing to work with the city to do it we're the county seat we're the capital of the county there's no reason why they shouldn't be working with us and then last but not least i wanted to thank the santa ana elks lodge for donating men and women's hygiene bags sweatshirts socks gloves and scarves to those that are staying at our city's carnegie navigation center just another fine example of our city's compassion so with that that's all i have mayor thank you thank

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

you councilman becerra i do appreciate you asking what is the difference between smart and city net because i think some of our residents oftentimes you don't understand that and so i know it's not not because you don't know what it is but I think it's because I know we want to make sure that people in the audience of people watching at home understand what smart and sitting that are and what they do separately Mike I just have a really quick question and then calling councilman Hernandez and councilmember Lopez here you talked about not having the information of the vouchers or how

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

many where when how so we keep data correct I mean we live on data oh yes

Yes. Yes.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

So if we were to ask you for a quarterly report like we do with Ken, bless his heart, gets it to us, how many vouchers you've given out, how long people have been waiting, where they're being used at, things of that nature, you have that available, is that correct?

It's in the Housing Choice Voucher Quarterly Report that was included in...

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

I saw it there, but you have it available for the public is what I'm saying?

Yes. Yes.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

They can go onto our site and find that information.

We have it on our website, but this report as part of a public record is available, and we can put it on our website.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

No, I'm not asking you. I'm just simply saying it is available, and you do have data, because data, as we know, is how we run off of, right? And then as far as the vouchers, there's a 120-day timeline for them to use them. That's correct?

That's correct. Correct.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

And so what I learned, and correct me if I'm wrong, is they don't necessarily need to use their voucher in Santa Ana.

That's correct. There's portability so you can take it into other cities, even other counties if necessary.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

So that's what I wanted the public to know, said that if they're in our shelter, and hopefully they're from Santa Ana, but whether they are, they're in our shelter, they get a voucher, they can go to Reno Valley, they can go to Anaheim, they can go to Garden Grove, wherever Wherever they can find housing with that voucher, even in Santa Ana, again, I want to state that, they can use it, correct?

That's correct.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

Okay. That's good to know. And I ask that because I know you and I talked about that. But I ask that for the public because I get asked that all the time. I have a voucher. Can I go out of Santa Ana? I've been told I cannot. Yes, you can.

You can.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

So I just want to clarify that. Okay. Great. Thank you. Councilman Hernandez?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 14

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I just wanted to thank our staff for all the work that they're doing across the city my question pertains to ongoing costs related to enforcement do we have any overtime costs that have been associated with homelessness prevention and if so what are those costs

costs? In regards to overtime costs, we do have overtime costs that we keep track of, but we don't track them in regards to a section of the population, such as unhoused personnel. We track overtime more from an enforcement perspective on law violations, but we do have costs.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 14

I had heard of ballpark and I don't want to misquote that number, but it was upwards of six figures plus. Do we have an estimate as to how much total monies are being spent specifically to these directions that you guys have been given by the council for homelessness prevention?

From the onset of the program, I don't have an exact number. We started the program back in mid-August of 2023. I would figure that it is probably over $100,000, yes, from October to, I mean, August 2023 to now. But we are looking to reduce that cost.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 14

Wonderful. Thank you so much. I just wanted to make sure that I asked that question because I know residents have had mixed feelings about it, but I also want to ensure that we are conscious of the overtime that we're paying. so that way if there is a need for us to have additional offices there there's requests that come to us while we're in the process of creating a budget so that way we're not having to pay as much money in overtime we can properly staff perhaps it's maybe some non sworn officers and balance that with some sworn but finding a pathway forward so that we can still you know service the

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 14

the bulk of the area in Santa Ana there's a lot of people who reach out across all of our districts and wards requesting support and i anticipate that there's going to be a lot more requests for support and just want us to be mindful of potential costs most definitely

Jessie LopezItem 14

yes sir thank you sir thank you councilmember lopez yes thank you um so the report is great i mean i hope the community reads it so that they understand how much grant how grant dependent we are to fund these initiatives and hopefully with the HHAP grant with the pie chart the permanent housing can the percentage can increase because that's really how we are able to say that we reduce homelessness in our community by 40 or 45 percent it's because we're transitioning

Jessie LopezItem 14

people from the street into housing. That being said, I think, you know, I was going to ask a similar question to what was asked earlier about how many people from the jail referrals were being used because it didn't include the 81 number. so it read to me as only one person accepted service and then with street access 303 I just want to know how is that defined what does that mean to staff a street exit

evening a street exit is defined by the smart team as someone accepting an an opportunity to get off of the street. So that would mean reunifying with their family, accepting treatment at a substance abuse treatment facility, accepting shelter at either our shelter or another shelter in the city. So they are no longer on the streets of Santa Ana.

Jessie LopezItem 14

Okay, perfect. I really wanted to know that. So thank you. And additionally, I think what the report really reinforces is what we talked about last year when you presented the statewide study about the status of homelessness people in the state our own data is telling us that people over 55 years old are predominantly occupying our shelters right and they're a majority of people 55 to 61 and 62 plus that are considered homeless in our city and you're also seeing 25 to 34 young people again reflective of the statewide data increasing IN HOMELESSNESS.

Jessie LopezItem 14

SO THAT'S WHEN I THINK ABOUT THAT I THINK ABOUT FAMILIES OR YOUTH THAT ARE COMING OUT OF FOSTER HOMES THAT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO OR ARE PLACED IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A HUGE ISSUE WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FAMILIES THAT ARE CONSIDERED HOMELESS. AND SO I'M THINKING THAT THAT IS PROBABLY CONTRIBUTING TO THAT NUMBER BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HIGH COMPARED TO THE OTHER AGE RANGES. And our own data tells us that elderly people and Latino people are the ones predominantly, you know, being, I think as we're calling it, guests at the navigation center per the report.

Jessie LopezItem 14

and so I think it's really important for the community to keep that in mind when we're talking about what services we need to fund and we need to provide because these are very vulnerable populations that are struggling to find housing and are now finding themselves in the streets considered homeless and I'm really happy to hear and read about the 42 people that our staff worked with to find housing. Kudos to you, because I know it's really difficult work. And also, part of the last update

Jessie LopezItem 14

that's part of this report is of April 12th, and it's been about a month. So I don't know if staff has any updates on the seven individuals, the other six individuals, the nine individuals that are detailed in the report. I would be interested in knowing where they are in the process and maybe you can just send us an email if there is something to report out and you know we just heard about the vouching the vouchers and people having to essentially use them in 120 days with a little bit of flexibility and that really speaks to how it's not just that easy right to go into housing because even when you have a housing voucher you

Jessie LopezItem 14

You have that clock ticking. You have 120 days to find somewhere that is gonna accept it. And I think for me, it's not that we should be pushing families to go to Moreno Valley or to go to Riverside because that has really negative impacts in our community. When the school district is losing families, the number one issue is because they're being priced out. That has negative impacts for everybody here, right? People are going to lose their jobs. Teachers are going to lose their jobs. Everybody that works in school hubs are now at jeopardy. Those people are homeowners. Those people have bills to pay.

Jessie LopezItem 14

And this is why housing impacts every aspect of our life, even when you think that it doesn't. And the less schools that you have, the less thriving schools that you have, that also impacts property values. And so it is a complete cycle of how of why we should be dedicated to supporting affordable housing in our community Workforce housing public housing call it what you want because it is so desperately needed for everybody to thrive in our community moving on for the interval house The domestic violence shelter is that in Long Beach?

Intervals House's main office is in Seal Beach area. Their shelter, I believe, is in that area, but they do keep that as something that they don't want to disclose.

Jessie LopezItem 14

Yeah, don't, please. But I ask because it's a domestic violence shelter, and so the question came to my mind of what does the city do do for domestic violence families that are current Sonana families? And so I guess the response is we're sending them to a different city.

ESG funds Interval House, and so that is one opportunity that they would be able to go to if that was where they selected. We also are able to offer a variety of resources, other domestic violence shelters, but Interval House is the only one that I believe ESG is funding.

Jessie LopezItem 14

Is that correct at this point? Oh, and what? And Wise Place?

Vice Place as well. Okay.

Jessie LopezItem 14

Thank you. Those are all the questions for now.

Phil BacerraItem 14

Councillor Becerra. Thank you, Madam Mayor. So Acting Chief Rodriguez, I just want to clarify something. Santa Ana PD does not do homeless prevention, correct?

That is correct.

Phil BacerraItem 14

So it's probably pretty impossible for you to spend overtime on something that you don't do?

Correct.

Phil BacerraItem 14

Okay. Okay. So what you probably have been spending overtime on is enforcing the law because we have a lot of vacancies in patrol. Is that correct?

That's correct.

Phil BacerraItem 14

So how would you suggest, because it's kind of timely that we're going to be talking about the budget pretty soon, and if we're going to be talking about cost effectiveness, wouldn't it be more cost effective to hire more officers than pay overtime?

Yes, it would.

Phil BacerraItem 14

Fantastic. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

Okay. See any other speakers? Madam Clerk?

Jennifer L. HallItem 14

I haven't heard a motion yet. I'll make a motion.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

Second. Is there a second? Second. Councilman Vasquez, thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 14

This is to receive and file the Homeless Services Division third quarter report, moved by Mayor Meskwa, seconded by Councilmember Vasquez.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

And thank you to the staff. This is a very important issue. We all know that, and we're dealing with it every single day. um so thank you very much

Jennifer L. HallItem 14

vote is seven eyes no nays motion carries

Jennifer L. HallItem 14

mayor the next item is item 18 for a comment by councilmember hernandez

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 14

thank you madam clerk i just wanted to thank our city staff for purchasing some vehicles from local providers Chevrolet guarantee thank you for purchasing a union-made vehicle and for buying American made as well thank you mayor the next item is

Jennifer L. HallItem 18

item 20 also by councilmember Hernandez for a comment thank you madam city clerk

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 20

I just want to share with the public today item 20 we approved an amendment to the agreement with the Orange County Children's therapeutic Arts Center to to expand workforce readiness and skills training. The amount is to not exceed 300,000. I know this is in Councilmember Lopez's ward, ward three. Before I was a councilmember, my daughter was a student with OCTAQ at a very young age. And it's actually where she began her arts journey with piano and fine arts. And as a parent who understands just how special their programming is, to me what is really special about us proving this item today

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 20

is they have a two-pronged approach to serving our community. They don't just serve children, they serve families. This grant is going to help ensure that they're preparing members of our community for work readiness, and they are a credit to the community. Thank you, Dr. Anna and OCTAG for being here.

Jennifer L. HallItem 20

Mayor and City Council, the next item is item 27 for a comment by Councilmember Lopez.

Jessie LopezItem 20

Yes, thank you. I just wanted to thank Kaiser for the donation. This donation is going to help cover swimming classes for some of our constituents and also create scholarships. So I just wanted to publicly thank them.

Jennifer L. HallItem 27

Mayor and Council, that concludes the items from the consent calendar.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 27

Great. Thank you. Let's go to the business calendar now. Item number 28. It's related to the amendments to consultant agreements. Mr. City Manager, maybe you have a report, please.

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

Yes. Assistant City Manager Steven Mendoza will assist. Thank you, sir.

Thank you, Mayor and members of the council. In the past two years, the City Manager's Office has administered 22 separate council aid service agreements for 22 different aides over the period of time. Right now we're at about 17 aides. The administration of the agreements require various processing and procedures, and we – it was a little more work than we thought when we kicked off this program. this program was funded by four hundred and twenty thousand dollars over two years ago and we are in the need of a couple of things regarding the program today the first thing is we need the approval of three different agreements

that exceed the city managers Authority the city managers Authority is 50,000 we need approval for the City Council to exceed the 50,000 up to the 60,000 for those three agreements the second item is we're going to need some help with some dialogue from the city council regarding some parameters or what we call guard rails on this program we have found over the period of time that we have various agreements with various amounts various pay structures and it's offering a lot of confusion and not a lot of clarity

or simplicity into managing this program so with that the city manager's office at this time needs the approval of those three agreements to exceed the 50,000 and then beyond that a light discussion regarding some parameters you'd like to see in this program so we can bring it back to you at a later date so mr. city manager

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

Mendoza you want to the approval of option one or option two and then when you come back in July or with the budget that will have the deeper dive discussion or you want to have that now we'd like to have an initial discussion

So we can bring something back to you that has a framework for which you guys can select from. Right now we have seven different council members with seven variations of need for this council aid program. And so, you know, we wish we could predict what all of you want, but we're not there right now. But we'd like to get there. No, I appreciate it.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

I wasn't here when this was brought forward. So I do appreciate it. So let's go with the ‑‑ you don't mind? does anybody have any comments i see you want to raise your mic up when you want to speak please

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

okay three minutes three rounds and mayor pro temp please thank you um so i i had been one of those who advocated for this and it was former city manager christine ridge who had her vision of what this might look like so i completely understand that you know there have been changes because this is the first time i think that the city of santa ana has had a program like this and the reason why we decided to do outside consultants or 1099s is to give the flexibility for the City Council because under our charter none of us up

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

here can direct any of our staff to to do anything for us right and so first I guess if I can suggest a process for doing this if we can first take the option the item of the three agreements first that way I'm happy to make a motion we set it at sixty thousand previously it's unfortunate that the city manager has a weird you know authority only to fifty thousand dollars and so I would like to make a motion first to approve the three agreements and then come back so that we can talk about kind of the outlines that's okay

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

I'll second your motion and then I will come back for the discussion thank you I didn't know how long was it a take for that discussion tonight so that's why I

Jessie LopezItem 28

don't have another discussion so i'll second your motion i don't see any other so are you saying come back at a later date no after this okay i would be supportive of that right now it's just

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

for the 60 000 and then we'll have a discussion afterwards um and if we need to continue it we

Jennifer L. HallItem 28

will yes okay so let's vote a motion by mayor potem fan seconded by mayor mesqua to approve recommended action number one to authorize second amendments to consultant agreements with claudia

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 28

Perez Andrew Linares and Valerie Magdaleno so I just for clarification mayor pro tem so will we be coming back at a later meeting right now we'll be creating those parameters now yeah well no an

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

initial direction as to what we would be interested in seeing so maybe staff only has like two options or something rather than um I think they just need somewhere to go as to what direction to even move in and i think we can talk about that now yeah so um since i did was one of the ones who fought for this in the budget the way i see it and the reason why we created can we finish the vote oh we didn't

Jennifer L. HallItem 28

i'm sorry oh we did i'm sorry no the vote is still open i'm pending two votes councilmember hernandez

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 28

i i am not ready to vote at the moment i will be a no um because there are some parameters i'd like to discuss around the contracts and some concerns as well before i approve any contracts

Jennifer L. HallItem 28

the vote of six eyes one nay nay by council member hernandez motion carries to approve recommended

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

action one thank you mr city manager and assistant city manager steven before we start you give a little i was not here so i've read the history i've met with you Councilman Vasquez was not here as well, so I don't know. Just a brief, you know, it came about, what's the reason, why, because I know what my aide does and she works quite a bit, I think we all. I just want to be clear, the aide for Councilman Lopez is Valerie Magdaleno. I heard Valerie, I was like, I don't know, nobody. So can you give a little briefing, please?

Certainly, and I appreciate the opportunity to do so for the audience's sake as well as transparency. transparency starting in fiscal year 2022 and 2023 the council allocated 420 000 annually to provide Council aid services through the intent was to have some policy aids for the for each of you to have some help with your very busy schedules and your very very busy outreach activities under the program each council member was able to direct the city manager's office to engage with with one or more independent contractors to provide such services to that council member. Some of you have selected one, some of you have three,

I think maybe one of you has four, but you each have your own pattern and your own needs, so you've created a team that works for you. The direct services augment our general city staff by supporting you in the way that staff cannot, hopefully to collect data and analysis, public policy program evaluation community engagement some of the practical things we've seen is some weekend set up help we've also seen some agenda help people understanding and filtering through your agendas for you we've seen a lot of positive come from it with that four hundred twenty

thousand divided by seven it ends up being sixty thousand dollars per aid per I'm sorry, per council member per year.

And we, like I said earlier, I don't want to say it got out of hand, but we all expected to have seven aides and seven agreements. We thought it would be really easy. You wouldn't have a lot of variations. But that soon went out the door, and I think our desire is to rein it in a bit and get a little more uniformity in some of the agreements and some of the terms, terms, whether it's hourly or whether it's a flat rate, we would most appreciate input from the seven of you before we went in one of those directions and made a recommendation to you. CHAIRPERSON WONG.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

Thank you so very much. Okay. I see Councilmember Lopez's mic up.

MS.

Jessie LopezItem 28

Yes, thank you. So we're here because it's a little bit of a mess, right? Right?

Jessie LopezItem 28

And some contractors are operating within the bounds of the role, some are not. And so this council really needs to give our staff clear direction as to what we need in order for this program to move forward because even people or even council members that voted no have contracted others. others, right, and so I really need this to be a consistent process for all contractors because if not, I will be the first one to say have this program go away.

Jessie LopezItem 28

So I need staff to come back with a resolution, really binding what this council is giving direction for. We need campaign prohibitions in the contracts, in the resolution, in the staff report. The contractors need to be aware of those prohibitions as well. We need maybe, maybe, I don't know, this is up for discussion, but a limit of how many aides each council member has. That way it is not a burden on staff. I am open to the idea of pay ranges for the contractors.

Jessie LopezItem 28

You know, I think that if you have a master's or a JD, sure, you know, $50 makes a whole lot of sense, but if you don't, you know, I think that's up for debate. I also think that we should discuss when contractors should be at City Hall, if contractors should be allowed to roam the different levels of City Hall. I don't think the contractor should be calling our staff and giving direction to them because they are not City employees and that needs to be made very clear to all of the contractors And so I think those are some of the things that I want to see come back

Jessie LopezItem 28

and I will I Will leave it there for my first round of comments

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 28

Thank You councilman Hernandez. Thank you madam mayor, and I'm very happy that this item is brought before us Some parameters that I would like to see, City Manager Nunez, is for one, we need to not be able to have conflicts of interest or any misuse of public funds. Some concrete examples are no campaign staff working for an elected official. There's a difference between having a volunteer, somebody who's volunteering on their own time, and somebody who's the campaign filer for your campaign.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 28

I think there's some vast differences between a campaign volunteer and someone who's a campaign manager who's also paid on a 410, who gets paid by a campaign committee, as well as public dollars. So I'd like to see very strong parameters around campaign staff. I hold my office to that same standard. standard. All of my campaigning I do off the clock. I don't use our city time to campaign. The same applies to all of my colleagues. We need to have a very strong stance on having good policy. I think there's some very good examples of policy aides who are doing fantastic.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 28

I think Valerie Magdaleno, Andrew Linares, I see some good people that are actively out there. If I have a city event, I see them regularly attending. I think that the policy policy aids are great, but I think having stronger parameters is going to help reduce some of the stressors that we've seen. Those guidelines that are very important to me are no campaign staff, of course, no misuse of public funds, no conflict of interests. And so right now, those are the parameters that I'm concerned about. I don't want to see any of my colleagues have five to six policy aids.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 28

I think three is the cap for me because it is only $60,000 if somebody chooses to hire three part-time staff at $20,000 each. Depends on whatever the workload is for their office. I think a limit on three because I'm looking at this sheet. I see a couple of my colleagues have three, but I don't see anyone who has four. So I'm thinking three may be the cap. But at the moment, these are my preliminary comments.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Becerra.

Phil BacerraItem 28

Thank you, Madam Mayor. So this exercise, actually, let me just start with a question. So City Manager Nunez, are these city employees or are they contractors?

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

Contractors.

Phil BacerraItem 28

So contractors. So if they were city employees, city staff or AKA the city manager would be telling them what to do, right?

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

Exactly.

Phil BacerraItem 28

But they're not city employees, are they? Exactly. Whose contractors are they?

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

Council members.

Phil BacerraItem 28

Say it one more time.

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

Council members.

Phil BacerraItem 28

Oh, so they're ours. Okay. So I would assume then they're our responsibility. So when we talk about whether they should be roaming the halls, talking to so and so, running a campaign, not running a campaign, that's kind of on us, right? It's a little bit of responsibility. Would that be a good word to use?

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

Yes.

Phil BacerraItem 28

Okay. So look, if we want to put parameters, let's do it. Let's put it together. other. The one thing I would ask staff to do is, I don't know why there's seven, eight, ten different contracts. To me, the contractor is doing pretty much standard stuff for all of us. I don't know of anybody that's either currently or possibly in the future working for any of us that's going to do something that goes, oh my god, Sonia, can you go look at your clients and see if you have a contract that someone's going to do this obscenely crazy thing. I think you could probably come up

Phil BacerraItem 28

with a boilerplate contract right would that be a fair thing to ask yes and i think that's what we

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 28

anticipated but and that's what we provided to staff who was administering this program but then we soon learned that the bumper rails came off of the standard agreement because one particular council member had someone who couldn't comply with the standard insurance requirements one person needed assistance to pay for their travel to come to city hall one needed something something else and one needed something else. And so before we knew it, because there were no parameters, because they were yours, individual council members, there was a lot of deference given to individual council members.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 28

And what we then began to notice is that wasn't the right approach to take. And so we're trying to ask you to kind of put some bumper rails on the program.

Phil BacerraItem 28

I'll just give my two things I'd like to see. Number one, boilerplate language on an agreement so that we don't have to do this up to 50,000 and then to get us over the line, we come back for a secondary action. I think that's ridiculous. The other thing is we're allotted 60,000. So frankly, I don't care if you want to hire 10 people. You want to hire one person. That's up to you. You have 60,000. It's called adulting, right? When you have a budget, you know, you pay for your rent, you pay for your mortgage, you pay for utilities, you have manage your own money, right? I think we can manage 60,000 among each of us.

Phil BacerraItem 28

We're about to be voting on almost a billion dollar budget at some point. I think we can manage $60,000. So I would just say, you know, if we're allotted $60,000, let's manage it. Let's have some assistance from staff with some boilerplate language. I think we were told from the beginning, I don't know why we need to be reminded, but our aides aren't to be roaming City Hall. They aren't to be engaging staff. They're to be working through certain people in the CMO's office. I'm not aware of any aides violating that. So if they are, then let's deal with it accordingly. But I feel like this is kind of a lot of unnecessary stuff.

Phil BacerraItem 28

maybe it's an attempt to try to manufacture something happening that's not really happening so why don't we just get back to this item and say i think in fact staff actually offered it up option two on here says invoicing not to exceed sixty thousand great idea let's do it per an agreement another great idea let's get a boilerplate agreement up to sixty thousand call

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

today that'd be my uh two cents thank you mayor projamp thank you um so i am definitely in agreement with the sixty thousand dollar cap right part of the reason why we had that rather than creating defined positions was to give each council member flexibility in serving whatever needs we have so i can tell you for example um i don't want to have only one full-time or staffer who does $60,000 because this isn't an offer of healthcare. It's not enough for somebody to live off, frankly.

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

And I previously had someone who was paid up $50 an hour to do policy research because she has a master's of public policy. And now she works in-house for the city of Garden Grove Police Department. I have college students who are working part-time and I'm giving them the opportunity to learn on the job as well as provide services to our residents. right and and she is doing that work consistent with her degree and that's gonna give her an opportunity to use this experience to move forward in life so for me I see this as a combination of mentorship but also providing services

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

that frankly I can't get staff to do because I don't direct anything the legal clinic the free pro bono legal clinic that I am hosting and I've hosted before as well as the free down payment assistance programs and other community community events are staffed previously just me and I have a full-time job. And so by having these part-time staffers who can help out at events, it means doing very, you know, jobs that include just going to buy items that we need, setting up a tent. When I staff concerts at the park, if it's just me, I can't use a restroom without someone watching my table.

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

It's basic things such as that that we do not have here in the city of Santa Ana that cities like Irvine, Anaheim, and others do have. But I do understand the reason why we don't have full-time staff because it is expensive and we can't afford that right now.

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

The other thing is, you know, two of my three, sorry Dustin Lamb is no longer with us, but two of my three aides are Santa Ana residents. They live in Ward 1. They went to Los Amigos High School just like I did. So these are opportunities for our own residents to get experience right here at City Hall. In fact, one of my aides worked in the city clerk's office part-time. And so what I would like to see is a $60,000 bucket divided among whoever, you know, however many contracts.

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

I do remember that when we talked about this, they would be able to work out of our offices, so they have a space to work. Now, they can't direct staff, and I agree with that. But I do think that we have to have some flexibility for them to reach out to staff, you know, with us CC'd or at our direction because part of the reason, part of the problem we've had in the past is that every conversation, every question, every follow-up, every follow-through, every update was going through one staffer. And then that just actually made it kind of like a, you know, a bottleneck for us.

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

And so for me, if I have a staffer who is following my direction to say, hey, I need some assistance with figuring out what items, when do I have to show up at something, right? And she's the one who's going to make sure that I show up on time, know where to park, what I need to bring, whatever. I guess I'm not saying I have a solution right off the bat. However, the city manager's office wants to deal with that. but it has become really difficult in the past when basically they couldn't talk to staff at all or which doesn't alleviate any anything for us just to

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

clarify may your pretend can you speak louder into the mic I'm sorry just to clarify mayor pretend our objective is to try to get parameters so they're consistent right so it's not to limit interaction per se as far as directing and in other words we don't want the council and not to be talking to any staff that's not what we're directing we have to have some level of common sense and more importantly this whole aspect that somehow you know staff wasn't available to assist any of the council members to me seems what's the word um yes right i don't understand how

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

how that occurred but i can say that at least from my perspective and and knowing that we have at at least three management analysts that can assist at some level of interaction with the council and the mayor and the mayor Pro Temp that should be something that we as city staff should be able to facilitate that's one when we talk about the council is we're talking about parameters so that we limit the the boilerplate kind of component right so that everybody has a similar type of moreless contract similar parameters as far as you know we know that they can

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

BEGIN JULY 1ST BUT WE KNOW WE PLAN TO END ON JUNE 30TH RIGHT WE KNOW FOR THE FACT THAT THAT WE KNOW THAT 50,000 IS NOT GOING TO TAKE FOR THE WHOLE YEAR IF THE MINIMUM IS 5,000 OR 60,000 PER COUNCIL MEMBER SO LET'S LET'S DO THAT UP FRONT SO THAT'S THE KIND OF DIRECTION WE'RE SEEKING SO HERE'S SOME GENERAL PARAMETERS AND THEN WE CAN COLOR TO LIKE A BETTER ANALOGY WITH BETWEEN THE LINES AND ALLOW FOR THE FLEXIBILITY RIGHT BUT STILL ALLOW FOR SOME LEVEL OF CONTROL AND UNIFORMITY THAT STAFF CAN manage and we can work directly with the mayor the mayor protect me in the council that that's the

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

key we're not to be we're not trying to be rigid or contained or or even claim that we did it ineffectively i'm trying to set parameters that say look let's work effectively and then in reality if there is staff to assist we should be able to assist right was from the city manager's office from planning building from the public agency community development we're here to service the representatives of our resident which is the council so to that extent that's what i i heard from my experience in parameters as far as what i've interacted with that goes again we don't

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

expect your consulate andrew linares claudia valerie not to talk to staff right that's not what we're indicating or requesting at this point we want to be able to serve the parameters parameters. Obviously, the $420,000 come from the general fund, right? So we're trying to be

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

good fiduciary agents of the city also. So with that then, again, I do like the bucket with however many council aides someone might need. Frankly, I don't want a $100,000 management analyst to be attending my Tea with Ty where I talk to high schoolers at Magnolia Science Academy about civic engagement. Sorry, but I love you guys, but that's not where you belong.

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

So, you know, I get that. But they also don't belong with staffing my table at concerts in the park. So that's why I do think these aids are great. The one thing I would say, instead of doing monthly, you know, general monthly retainers or what, I don't know what we call them, the $5,000 dollars or whatever. I don't know. I haven't seen anyone else's invoices, but I know with my aides, they have the invoice for the month, but they also have line items. I make my council aides bill their time in, I think, like 15-minute increments because I'm an attorney and I do

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

billables. So if you see someone getting paid $2,237.50, you can put every single minute that they've worked to a specific item date and time and when they did it or how long they did it for and you know maybe want to do by hour increments or you know I don't expect everyone to do it at 15 minutes but that is gonna make sure that and you know our engineers do this our attorneys do this anyone who works with a consultant knows that they do this and this ensures that you know if if someone is working, you know, 90 hours a month with City Hall, but also doing, I don't know,

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

campaign stuff, whatever else they want to do, you know exactly where their time is. I do understand that there's some frustration or concern regarding campaigning. And so that's, I think the line item invoices would help alleviate those concerns. And that would be public record. Anybody can pull up the invoices and see what Lizbeth did last month and when she did it how long she did it for um and i think that's all i have for now thank you thank you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

mayor pro tem so i'm just going to go back to what councilman becerra said you know we're all adults there's an issue with one of our aides you bring it to us i'm the city manager whoever it may be you stephen or the city manager city attorney to say there's a problem um roaming here being here late there's times where my newsletter is being worked on till eight o'clock at night and then paul gets it at 9 30 at night he doesn't respond to the next morning of course um then gets it to me so you know if we're gonna get to the point where like camera in the hallways can't talk to

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

staff we're all adults here and it's political season it's silly season so we're gonna look for everything and anything i have coffees with the mayor daniel drops things off and leaves i i i don't know how much he gets paid but by golly if you have a staff who gets paid less please ask then my aid stays there the entire time I think somebody had mentioned where I park who I'm that what's there who's there why is there I do my walk same thing everything is set up my girls conference everything is set up I mean I don't have enough time in the day to do what she does and I only have one and I

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

only need one I have met with Sonia and our city excuse me our city attorney to talk about contracts and they should all be the same if you want 15 minute increments i don't care you want to do it by the hour i'm fine too so we are all adults are up here we're supposed to be professional and instead of making accusations just go to the city attorney or to you and have a discussion with you and you clarify it or whatever it is that you need to do but i'm in agreement with leaving it as it is sixty thousand and then we come back for all the council members to have the 60 000 same contract and i don't care either how many they

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

have they want 10 5 3 1 it doesn't matter to me because i'm an adult i know what i want so thank

Benjamin VazquezItem 28

you councilman vasquez thank you so much i'm learning so much and there's seven members up here on the council with seven eight different ideas of how to run it and we personally run it And I would rather be, have the bumpers on. So I could know, because I want to know what Councilmember Phan is doing, because this sounds great. I'm like, what are you doing, girl? Let me talk. So let's talk later. I'd like to incorporate some of that, because it sounds like an amazing idea to write, if by hour or by 15 minutes, that would be great. I think that part of the issue that we have with hiring more aides than two or three is

Benjamin VazquezItem 28

is the resources and the hours of the staff. And at some point it just becomes heavy work on the staff that they're working for us, right? So maybe we could, after you hire three, the staff will invoice this account for the hours used. Right, I would say, I have a high turnover on my first year, so I would be invoiced for those hours for the people that have come in and I'll be okay with it because I should be able to get quality people to stay right so um

Benjamin VazquezItem 28

I'm also in agreement with uh council member um uh Lopez and Hernandez on on campaign prohibitions I think once and if you do something that fan does you're going to be able to say here are your hours here are your hours I'm okay with that too because you're going to be able to name where you were at so as far as campaign prohibitions that gives transparency it's like the sunshine ordinance you're saying where you're at and where you're not and what you're doing so that that kind of uh would work out with me uh with no staff direction i hope none of us will be you know we have staff

Benjamin VazquezItem 28

direction to the city manager the city attorney and the clerk and i hope none of us or our staff are doing that. So let's throw it in there because they're not, they're also not, like we said, they come to us, right? And they're, and they answer to us but they don't answer to the people. So make sure we have that, they're not direct staff and there's that training of what is to do and what is not to do. I would like to see pay raises because we're all over the place and I would like to see something where it's clear and here's what you do for this.

Benjamin VazquezItem 28

For somebody as Council Member Lopez with a master's or higher, you're at the top and bachelor's or different levels. We could agree to it or I'll have a conversation about that. That's about all I have. But thank you so much. Thank you all of you for sharing and I've learned and I want to hopefully we'll all be better with this. Thank you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

Councilwoman Lopez

Jessie LopezItem 28

Yes, thank you. Um, you know, I think mayor Pro Tem Comments are really really important and just full of substance, right? Because it's not a good business practice for people to be paid whatever amount they're being paid without submitting an invoice I've been a contractor in the past and I've been required to submit invoices and and my policy submits an invoice and a billable hour breakdown. And I think that's really important for transparency because I know that her past invoices have been requested by colleagues up here. And so as the Mayor Pro Tem said, these are public records,

Jessie LopezItem 28

and because it is public dollars, the work needs to be quantifiable. That is very, very important to me. It doesn't have to be important to everybody, but that is the direction that I am giving staff and because of that I would be supportive of option two the option that you have laid out in the staff report and I just want to thank the city attorney right for being transparent because we are all adults but this is staff driven let's not forget that staff is asking for these rail guards because you are noticing issues and you want to to stop whatever is happening that you are noticing. So you have my support.

Jessie LopezItem 28

And again, I will be supporting option number two.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

Council Member Palazzo.

David PenalozaItem 28

Thank you, Mayor Eskwen. Thank you to my colleagues for this dialogue up here. I would, I just wanna say that I remember a simpler time when there was just one person who was the ceremonial head of the city, which was the mayor. And he was the only one at the time that would have booths at events, that would have booths at the city events and concerts in the park and that was expected for staff to support the mayor because the mayor is per our charter the ceremonial head of the city and then two years ago we knew about the fiscal cliff that was approaching us but at the time everyone here was saying

David PenalozaItem 28

that we had a 40 million dollar surplus which wasn't true it was a time when the feds gave us hundreds of millions of dollars so obviously we're gonna have some extra money and they decided they needed help and i was proudly the one that voted against it i'm not supportive of it i still am not i do i did do the favor of two college students that i think one billed 300 last month like it's never anything you know i'll happily defer my city council stipend to pay for that if needed uh but uh councilmember lopez if that was a motion to to abolish this program, I will happily second. You know, apologies to everybody in there.

David PenalozaItem 28

But since I don't think that the votes are there to abolish and cancel this council aid program, I just wanna say that at $420,000, I would say maybe half a million in staff time between the city attorney's office, Steven Mendoza, Daniel Soto, Dulce, that all work tirelessly every single day, multiple hours, to make sure that all these invoices are being paid. SO THIS PROGRAM IS PRICY. SO AS THIS FISCAL CLIFF APPROACHES AND MEASUREX SUNSETS, I KNOW EVERYBODY UP HERE IS ALREADY, YOU KNOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, WE SHOULD RECONSIDER THIS PROGRAM AND THE AMOUNT THAT'S BEING SHELLED OUT. I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF

David PenalozaItem 28

REDUCING THE AMOUNT TO 50,000 TO MATCH THE CITY MANAGER SIGNING AUTHORITY. SINCE I DON'T THINK THE PROGRAM'S GOING TO GO AWAY, I'LL GIVE MY TWO CENTS. AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE COUNCIL AIDES SHOULD BE ALLOWED without an elected official present just because they at the end of the day we are the ones that are supervising the contracted aids and city staff really can't direct them so if council aides are running around anywhere in city hall without the supervision of the elected official i don't think that's okay i'm not supportive of the council aides having offices uh or use the eighth floor

David PenalozaItem 28

for office space uh that should also go away because at the same time they're contracted that should be able to provide this, their own office space offsite, and not supportive of a flat rate, only supportive of an hourly rate. That is very descriptive on what they're doing within, you know, that half hour or hour of work.

David PenalozaItem 28

I don't... I will say it again, you know, I'll make a motion to cancel the program entirely today, A IF THERE'S ANY INTEREST OF THAT BUT I DON'T THINK THERE IS AND THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS CITY MANAGER MENDOZA I KNOW THAT THIS IS A LOT FOR STAFF TO UNDERTAKE AND IT'S A LOT OF YOU KNOW AGAIN MEASURE EXERCISE SETTING SUN SETTING FISCAL CLIFF MANY OF US UP HERE HAVE MENTIONED THAT MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS OUT OF ALL OF A SUDDEN SO WE SHOULD REALLY TAKE THAT seriously and reconsider these contracted aid positions and in far

David PenalozaItem 28

definitely no campaigning I mean that is just that should be that shouldn't even have to be said and I know that that we've there was that you know during the recall there was there was there were council aides out there that were could have been campaigning could have been working for the council member I don't know and there's an election happening this year I don't know what these council aides are doing so i would hope that my colleagues understand that that there shouldn't be any campaigning happening with their council aides and i would um just reiterate the fact that

David PenalozaItem 28

it should match the city manager signing authority of fifty thousand dollars thank you councilman

Phil BacerraItem 28

councilman becerra thank you madam mayor um alvaro can you answer something for me because i'm hearing hearing this from some of my colleagues, I just want to get some clarity here. So are any of the aides just being paid some lump sum once they sign a contract? Like are they just jackpot, they get $60,000 or in this case up to $50,000 just by signing the contract?

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

No. But there are different rates as far as hourly rates, there's some are getting paid

Phil BacerraItem 28

just different rates, right? But the point is that they're not just getting free money by signing a contract they're submitting invoices right the invoices are being reviewed by staff right right if it does if it just says their name and a dollar amount they're not getting paid

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 28

correct correct so there's some description there was a request council member at least i know my office received a request to draft one of the amendments and i don't know who or what so i'm not going to be particular but i think our office did receive a request from staff as to prepare an agreement that would simply require them us to pay them five thousand dollars a month and again i don't know who that came from or and i think that was one of the reasons for me that brought up this issue of oh we have some people getting paid fifty dollars a month uh fifty dollars an

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 28

hour some people twenty two dollars an hour oh some people are now going to be five thousand a month but maybe it was a staff not describing that for that fifty thousand a month they were going to be required to work x amount of hours so it maybe i just didn't have that information but that was one of the reasons that caused us as staff to go, oh, we need to get clarification, because that was asked of our office. And so I felt uncomfortable that we would have a contract that simply said we would pay someone $5,000 a month with no other descriptor in there of at least working, you know, 20 hours a week or something like that.

Phil BacerraItem 28

Well, I must have interacted with staff on a good day then, because we've got it set up where the invoices we submit actually shows hours worked, what was being done. So in other words, it's not just some generic Eric, pay me money because I got a contract. There's actually some sort of justification. It gives you a breakdown on what they're doing for the council members. So I just, when I hear some of these comments, I'm a little shocked because I'm wondering, is staff just receiving blank pieces of paper?

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

And the reality is it's one, that type of request, and two, they're not uniform invoices, let's put it that way also, right? So it's not so much that folks are not submitting more detail than listed. deal so for us is having that consistency so when we talk about border plates contracts that you suggest us that's one of the one of the prerogatives that we're seeking to to hopefully obtain for input today right and that's the key you will have a consistent aspect like the mayor protect we can do that because we you know we do that with cdbg locks right by 15 30 minutes and we

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

account for the address for the time and this is what we're doing if it's invoicing we'll have a consistent type of parameters and that's the that's the kind of a direction we're seeking right so it's consistent enough so that so that we get input from all seven like a customer Vasquez says right everybody has their own idea and perspective on how this program was supposed to be as been indicated and it's shown is that everyone's doing a little bit different and so we're looking for that consistency within the parameters so that we can take direction i would have done it on my own

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

but how can i do a policy without taking input from my seven council members right well no i

Phil BacerraItem 28

appreciate that i just you know i want to credit your staff then because from the outset we you know submitted invoices we had a little back and forth as to what should be included and so after that we were off and running so i mean to me i guess i've had a better experience with the program then because that's why i'm sitting here going what's the problem because we've had those discussions we've worked it out we've got everything dialed in so to me it's like when we re-up for the next round it'll be just wash rinse repeat because we've already got it locked in um

Phil BacerraItem 28

the last thing i'm going to say is everybody up here is talking about you know what are these aides doing as far as politics right well you know i've been up here long enough now i can say that every cycle we say oh my gosh we got a crackdown on all the political shenanigans and activity we need to do something staff draft something for us and then we don't receive anything the elections over and then we go back to what we're doing so since we all seem to be concerned about political activities why don't we finally just do it why don't we have staff come back to us

Phil BacerraItem 28

return to us with an item that talks about some of these parameters that everybody seems to be voicing concerns about right whether it's the type of campaigning just certain things that are not spelled out clearly that staff has been around long enough that knows things have happened here at city hall what can we just put in black and white so it's clear to everybody that we should or should not be doing it let's bring that back as a separate item i know that's separate from this item but because that was a consistent theme brought up by almost

Phil BacerraItem 28

everybody speaking tonight why don't we just address that let's get it done let's not grand and try to make assertions about who may or may not be doing something. Just bring us the standards, let's adopt it, and then let's move on. Thank you.

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

Mayor Pro Tem. Thank you, Mayor. A couple other items I forgot to mention.

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

You know, there were some concerns about the aides being on the eighth floor. I think that that's perfectly fine. However, due to some concerns about security, maybe that we require all of them to do a background check. Do we do that now? We don't, right? And so in order to get a key card, they have to pass a background check or something like that. It shouldn't be hard.

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

And, you know, I don't have a need to define how much each person should be making per hour. I think that there is value in different people. I'm sorry, you don't have to have a master's degree to be worth $50 an hour. If you have lots of experience in a particular field or working for whomever, you're going to be more valuable than a first-year attorney, right, who doesn't know what they're doing or vice versa. But if there's, like, a standard that you're looking to have, I think I'm okay with that, or tiers or something like that.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 28

Yeah, and I think that was one of the things that I discussed with staff is that maybe as part of a program, we do say they are independent contractors, but there's like steps, just like we have steps with employees, similar, that might say they're a contractor phase one and they can be paid between this amount and phase two, phase three. Because as of right now, you can see from what you do have, it's just all over the map. And there's no rhyme or reason. But maybe we could put something together that gives you rhyme and reason, like specialty,

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 28

you'd have like a little criteria like specialty skills would get them the third highest pay step, you know. And maybe entry level, high school student who's getting like more of like an internship might be at that lower level.

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

Because for me, you know, I struggle with that because frankly, someone might be worth a hundred dollars an hour to me because they know exactly what I like when I like it how to do it I don't need to give them much direction they're able to run with it when I have an idea or a policy that I need them to run down and they might only be a high school graduate right because but they just understand what I need them to do versus you know someone else so I struggle with that but I can maybe I want to see something what that might look like first and we can kind of check boxes for someone that if they do you know a

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

combination of constituent services outreach and the public community engagement constituent services and connect you know public policy then yeah maybe they can get that higher rate if that's what we want but also I think

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 28

what we're struggling with is that I completely understand the City Council members as individuals saying we know what we need we know what we want we We need the services. They're independent contractors and we should be 100% in charge. But I do think the thing to consider that puts some parameters on this is that it's public dollars. At the end of the day, you are spending public dollars and we have to be responsible with them. And so unfortunately, my opinion is to be responsible with them, I think we need to establish some criteria so that that individual determination that this 19-year-old is worth $55 an hour.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 28

I understand it. I respect that each of you want to have that right, but I do think because you're using public dollars You lose a little bit of that right and that we have to offer you some some guidance to justify your expenditures And I that I don't know any other nicer way to say it But I think that's the reality and that's what we're looking for. We're not trying to take your freedom away We're just trying to make sure that we comply independent contractors under California law They're very very specific standards and I think some of the concerns that we have when we're talking

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 28

about when are they here how are they here are they being supervised some of that is because not because we're trying to tell you how to run your aides it's because we notice some things that are happening that make us say oh if one of these people came forward and said nope I wasn't an independent contractor I was really an employee and let me show you how I looked like an employee I had access to City Hall I did this I did that and those are the things that we're trying to cure so that we have an effective positive program that's

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

helpful and none of my aides get paid $55 an hour by the way um but I think yeah so creating those check boxes and criteria and showing that they can handle that or do that work would be really helpful I do also want to say I understand that this is something new and there's gonna be growing pains but this came about because frankly we did not have wards true wards prior to 2020 which means that the ceremonial head of the city didn't care what happened on the west side. The ceremonial head of the city didn't go to Los Amigos High School, didn't care what happened to Santa Anita,

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

and didn't bother visiting a lot of the communities that are now being serviced. Previously, with the ceremonial head of the city, we did not have a lot of programs and outreach events that happened in Ward 1 that I'm very proud to bring. So I'm excited to continue to provide those services to our residents to keep them engaged, and that's what this program has allowed us to do. I am open to the idea of bringing it down to $50,000 just because that's just easier for the city manager to approve if that's the case, but none of my contractors have reached anywhere near $50,000, so it's not been a problem for me.

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

I think that's all I have.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. Well, this ceremonial head is all over the city, so I appreciate that comment. I mean the previous ceremonial head. That's right. Thank you. The 30-year one. Councilman Hernandez.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 28

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Acting City Manager Nunez, I think we heard a lot of good comments from everybody. For my office, my policy aid helps with graffiti removal, reporting issues at different park sites. I have a lot of parks in Ward 5, a lot of community centers. And so for my office, we have never reached the $50,000 or $60,000 threshold. I'm a very proactive council member where I am on the ground if I get a call from my constituents. It's almost like I regularly have office hours weekly, right? But for me as a policymaker, I understand how busy our staff are, and I respect everything that they do.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 28

But the policy aids, I think that where we can make improvement, I think Sonia Carvalho beautifully laid out a plan for us. I think creating some parameters so that we can have entry-level staff come in and create those guardrails is going to be good for all of my colleagues here. For me, I just wanted to be very firm, right? If you are somebody who is involved in the community politically, that's great. We want people to be involved in their community. But if you are a campaign staff member, I think there's a conflict of interest if you are being paid on public dollars.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 28

And so those are parameters I would like to see, is that we don't have any campaign staff working. I got elected in 2020. Anyone who helped me get elected in 2020 did it as a volunteer. I didn't hire anybody to be a policy that worked in campaigns. pains and so that is a big concern that i have because i i feel that a lot of the conversation has revolved around that topic and so that to me is important and furthermore i'm supportive of option two at sixty thousand and not changing it that is correct guys you're good or doing

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

councilman becerra i mean panelists did you have yours up you have yours up no thank you mayor

David PenalozaItem 28

mesqua i just want to double down on what councilman hernandez said i definitely am supportive of having very strict parameters on campaign activity, whether it's staffed or volunteer. Because anybody who volunteers for any campaign, it should be a conflict of interest if they're later now contracted for that elected official. So across the board, it's something that could be demanded legally of a contracted aide because of the position that they are to not engage in any political activity at any level within the city or that elected official I think that's great councilmember

David PenalozaItem 28

Hernandez and we should definitely I would support that if that was a motion to to incorporate that now and that would be moving forward and no other

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

comments mr. city manager do you have your direction I think we do we'll

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

bring it something back with your parameters and standards perfect all

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

right hearing no further discussion or motion in a second I think everybody was in agreement to option two it sounded like no I think you don't need point time you were just providing direction to the city my direction that's what I

David PenalozaItem 28

thought okay let's go on now point of clarity madam city attorney pardon me mayor um it says provide input for option do you want to your option one or option two the staff doesn't need

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 28

a uh motion or direction for that no i think we got just the input because you're going to have to develop if we bring back to you the rules you're going to actually adopt them anyway and I think I've heard and took copious notes as to what your direction is.

David PenalozaItem 28

So can you anticipate when that would come back?

A month.

Did you say tomorrow?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 28

Just because of our new agenda deadlines and your publication, it's hard for us to bring it back at the very next meeting. But I think within two meetings we can bring it back to you.

David PenalozaItem 28

Okay. Second meeting. now would that include i know councilmember macera mentioned it the the the political activity kind of silly season that we've seen in the past because back in 2022 when i was running for re-election i try to block out the period of being able to use the city's emailing system and nobody cared to to move in that direction and nobody wanted to and that for transparency so that that should come

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 28

come back I've got some standards other communities use I could work with staff if staff allow me to assist them I could give them some very variations and they could use that and make a proposal to you and they could come back together

Alvaro NuñezItem 28

right and those you know we understand there's two separate requests okay thank

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

you thank you two meetings from now it sounded like is that what you said

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 28

exactly and I just like to remind the council on this point in case you forgot it has been my personal practice as your city attorney to send you a memo as to to what I would do and what I don't do. And not everybody agrees with it. Not everything's in the law. But for example, I sent one the last election cycle that said how I was gonna deal with complaints about campaign signs, for example, or how I would not provide assistance. So you may not recall that, but I did send out a memo. It actually was jointly authored between myself and the city manager. And so we, because the council had not given us some parameters,

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 28

she and I had worked together to say, okay, council, these are our limits. So unless we hear otherwise, we're not doing this stuff. And so I think we'll use some of that as well because I think it was effective and then we'll add some additional parameters for the manager to propose to you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

Madam City Attorney, please feel free to send the email again. I will. Thank you. All right at this time we're going to close the business calendar and go to public hearings. Public hearing item number 29, Madam Clerk, please provide the instructions to the public who would like to make a comment on this item.

Jennifer L. HallItem 29

Thank you. If there are any members of the public joining us by way of Zoom or the conference call who would like to make a comment for public hearing item number 29 only, please dial star 9 from your phone or select raise hand from Zoom now. Thank you. One second please, Mayor Pro Tem.

Thai Viet PhanItem 29

Thank you so much, Mayor. I have to recuse myself from item number 29 as America on Track is a client of my employer, Rattan and Tucker, and we also provide free pro bono legal services to to Community Legal Aid SoCal and United Cerebral Palsy Association of OC, DBA, Unlimited Possibilities. So at the advice of the city attorney's office, I will leave the room until this item is determined and come back when you are done. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 29

Item number 29 is related to the fiscal year 24-25 annual action plan and budgets for CDBG. Once Mayor Portem leaves the room, Mr. City Manager, staff, may we please have the presentation at this time.

Thank you, Madam Mayor and members of the Council. You know, you see this every year and then you see the CDBG aspect of it every two years. We do have a presentation available for you. We have our CDA team that's here to walk you through the application process, how they were judged, the Commission's involvement, and they'll give you some background on that. Mike? Mike?

Mike Nugent, So we have many of our public service organizations that are here. We wanted to, we've met individually and spoken with, I believe, all of the council members and we're ready to take questions, but we wanted to give our time to the public service organizations if they're desiring to come up and speak in front of the council. AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER MENDOZA MENTIONED. EVERY YEAR WE DO THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN. EVERY TWO YEARS WE DO THE PUBLIC SERVICE, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION PROCESS.

THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WENT THROUGH ABOUT 20 HOURS, A FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN. plan. Grantee jurisdictions have to annually submit the plan to city council for approval and then on to HUD. The application, the annual action plan must be submitted to HUD coming up May 15th. Next slide. Based on the priority needs and goals of the city council and put put into that consolidated plan, the Community Development Commission used these goals for figuring out how to direct money

for the annual action plan for all of our programs. Next slide.

This provides a flow chart for the annual action plan as well as a consolidated annual performance and evaluation report. NEXT SLIDE. THIS PROVIDES A BREAKDOWN ON THE BUDGET AND THE FUNDS THAT ARE PROGRAMMED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-25. AND THEN THERE WAS A LOT OF OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT THAT BEGAN BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2023. CITY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WORKED WITH CITY STAFF TO COME UP

with a process for outreach and engagement to nonprofits the application was approved by them and as part of that the annual action plan moved forward and it included a substantial and robust program working with the public service organizations this public hearing tonight was published in three local newspapers of general circulation and made available for 30 days Here is the breakdown on the CDBG program budget.

And the one that is most important to some of us on the staff level is the public facility improvements. The $2.3 million, we all compete amongst ourselves, including Brian from the library and Nabil from Public Works, who try to put those towards good projects within our city. Here are some of the great pictures of some of the great work that's done from some of our nonprofits throughout the year.

And this gives you an idea about the application process and what the nonprofits went through to try to apply for funding over a two-year period. Next slide.

The ad hoc committee was established from three members of the Community Development Commission. They met multiple times, four times throughout January, February, and March to score and review all the applications that had been received. Next slide. And then it was brought back to the Community Development Commission as a whole to review and to make decisions as far as a recommendation that's being presented to the City Council tonight. This is the annual action plan hearing, and we hope to provide the report by May 15th to HUD. Next slide.

Part of it includes a $5,000 micro enterprise small business incentive program made up of about $100,000 per year. We have staff in economic development that work very closely with a lot of our small microenterprise and startup businesses. Money goes towards the Police Athletic and Activity League. Next slide. There's work to be done within Angels in El Salvador Park, as well as work that we do on individuals' homes with necessary preventive maintenance and repair work.

Next slide. Code enforcement is very important to this process and receives received funding in prior years and is being recommended again for this coming two-year period, one-year period coming up. And you can see the before and after photos here from the great work that our planning and building agency works through their code enforcement division. Next slide. This provides you a breakdown down on the home investment partnerships program and how it's broken down with by the chodos and and a lot of the work that we do with housing rehabilitation we have a residential construction

specialist there's a big part of our team that is helpful and next slide and some money goes into our affordable housing programs is the archways up on 17th street just west of fairview Next slide. Crossroads at Washington, when you get off the 5 freeway at the Santa Ana Boulevard Grand Street exit, immediately to your right, immediately west of that exit, you'll see Crossroads is being developed and finalized right now.

As well as putting money into home ownership, affordable opportunities, we just closed a request for proposals. We have many proposals that came in, and we're reviewing them currently. The application period ended May 1st. We did a second round, an extension of our RFP that was issued back in October, and we got better responses from different developers. Next slide.

ESG program budget, not a big portion of the annual action plan tonight, but again, something that every year City Council considers. Next slide.

Wise Place, Illumination Foundation, all part of our Heart Team, and very important for doing work with getting people into permanent supportive housing. Next slide. Final steps and next steps right now is to consider the action in front of you is to consider the recommendation from the Community Development Commission, and then submit it to HUD no later than May 15th. and we're ready for questions and we'd love to hear from our public service

Valerie AmezcuaItem 29

groups that are here just comes from pillows that has his mic up I was just

David PenalozaItem 29

the same area that I will make a motion to approve this is a public hearing you

Jennifer L. HallItem 29

do need to hear from members of the public prior to making your

Valerie AmezcuaItem 29

determinations my apologies thank you go ahead

Jennifer L. HallItem 29

Good. Mayor, if you could please open the public hearing, then I can call the speakers.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 29

At this time, I'd like to open a public hearing for any comments. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 29

Thank you. So noting for the record, we did receive 11 e-comments related to public hearing item number 29 that were distributed to the council and posted online for public review. We currently have 15 cards and one speaker on Zoom related to this item. I'll call three names at a time. If you could please line up in the aisle behind the podium. Carlos Beltran, Georgina Maldonado, Dr. Ana Jimenez.

Good evening, good night, not sure what to call it at this moment. Good evening, Madam Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and City Council members. I am Georgina Maldonado, the Executive Director at Community Health Initiative of Orange County, also known as CHEOC. I want to thank the City Council for the five years of commitment for CHEOC's mission of access to health care. Our program, Community Access, has helped reduce the uninsured population in Santa Ana, especially our undocumented residents enrolled into Medi-Cal. As you all may be aware, the state of California, beginning January 1st, 2024,

our undocumented residents who fit within the federal poverty level can qualify for Medi-Cal, which is full scope with primary care and specialty services. We have seven enrollment sites in Santa Ana, a memorandum of understanding with the Santa Ana Unified School District. Your investment over the past five years has facilitated our community to access primary care physicians, reduce emergency room visits, treat chronic health illnesses, utilize preventative care, and overall public health improvement. Thank you so much. Have a good night.

Jennifer L. HallItem 29

Carlos Beltran. Dr. Ana Jimenez.

Jennifer L. HallItem 29

John Paul Bryan. Followed by Marina Bulkin.

Good evening, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and Council Members. First and foremost, we, the staff, Board, and leadership of Moms, extend our thanks for your consideration of the application before you and for the many years of partnership we've had working together to give Santa Ana moms and babies the healthiest starts possible since 1992 it has been our pleasure to work with thousands of local moms dads and their little ones giving them the knowledge skills screenings support they need to thrive we have submitted an application to continue the storied partnership into the next fiscal year so that our

maternal child health coordination program can continue to support moms with flexible in-home and virtual visits to ensure that each participant is equipped with the resources and information they need beginning in pregnancy and lasting through their baby's first year of life. Each year, MOM serves approximately 750 Santa Ana mothers and infants across roughly 2,500 in-home visits. Although our clients face many barriers to care and even more to establishing proof of income and legal residency, we are able to obtain qualifying documentation from roughly 150 low-income participants each year,

which for intensive measuring CDBG progress is our proposed service goal. goal. Our services begin in pregnancy when a participant reaches out to us either by phone, online, or by way of referral from their doctor or community health clinic. She is then paired with a maternal child health worker operating under RN supervision from moms who meets with her on a monthly basis, developing a birth plan, conducting mental health screenings, and providing bilingual resource navigation available in Spanish and Vietnamese to ensure that expecting moms receive proper early prenatal care. Where our nurses

identify potential areas of concern, they work with the family and MCHW to identify identify resources to resolve or mitigate risks, including where need be referrals to on-site licensed mental health counseling, courtesy of moms. After the baby arrives, we collect data on birth outcomes and continue working with mom and baby alike to promote healthy development, support maternal mental health, and measure progress toward critical milestones, including physical and psychosocial development, as well as healthcare access, such as completion of

immunizations and well-baby visits. In 2023, we were proud to find that the baby served through our program 92 percent were developmentally on track at closure 93 percent had completed doctor recommended vaccination schedules and 100 had a medical home with a pediatrician upon graduating as of early 2024 the maternal child health coordination program has rendered its services in partnership with cal optima through its community health worker and enhanced care management initiatives under cal aim given that 90 percent of our participants are either enrolled

in or eligible for cal optimal plans these initiatives have significantly expanded our capacity to provide care coordination among healthcare providers and among community-based organizations to ensure that clients' immediate health needs are met and that social determinants of health, such as housing needs, are addressed. Thank you again for your consideration of our proposal and we look forward to continuing our work to advance the wellness of our community's

Jennifer L. HallItem 29

youngest families. Thank you. I know there was a mouthful. Questions? Thank you all so much. you've been gracious next three speakers marina bulkin yanet gonzalez arleth ulloa

i can do faster good evening my name is marina bulkin i'm the director of clinical services at unlimited possibilities we've been in the disability community since 1953 treating over 160 different diagnoses including autism cerebral palsy down syndrome and various neurological disabilities. Our organization provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and we appreciate the opportunity for this grant to help support our safety net fund, which helps under-insured families have access to the care that we provide. Sixty-one percent of our early intervention and pediatric therapy

patients reside in the city of Santa Ana, and this grant would support the excellent level of services for families in the Santa Ana community. Seventy-seven percent of our patients are uninsured or underinsured, and the Safety Net Fund allows a variety of families to have access to quality care. We're honored to be considered for this funding, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our services in the Santa Ana community. Thank you very much.