Read the October 1 meeting.

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Good start.

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start Thank you.

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Recording in progress.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Madam Clerk, please start the meeting.

Jennifer L. HallItem 1

Yes, go ahead, Mayor.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

I hereby call the Santa Ana 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. Please bear with us as the technology may disrupt the flow of the meeting. Madam Clerk, please conduct a roll call.

Jennifer L. HallItem 1

Councilmember Becerra. Here. Councilmember Hernandez. Councilmember Lopez. Councilmember Penaloza. Here. Councilmember Vasquez. Present. Mayor Pro Tem Phan. Here. Mayor Mesquith. Present. Five members present. That is a quorum. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

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

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Hearing none, Madam Clerk, do we have any speakers for closed session?

Jennifer L. HallItem 1

We do not have any speakers for closed session in person or on Zoom, and we did not receive any e-comments related to the closed session agenda items.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Thank you. We will now recess this portion of the meeting to consider the items listed on closed session agenda.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Recording start.

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So let's go.

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start start

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Good morning, good progress.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Madam Clerk, please start the meeting.

Jennifer L. HallItem 1

Yes, Mayor, you can go ahead.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Excuse me. 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. 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 conduct business. Warnings will be provided prior to any action being taken.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

We appreciate your cooperation. For everyone's safety per the fire marshal, please do not stand or place objects in the aisles, in front of the dais, along the back wall of the council chamber, or in front of the entrances and exits. Guidelines for members of the news media or anyone else who wishes to film or photograph the meeting are available in the lobby. During city council presentations and oaths of office, guests of individuals being recognized are invited to come to the front to take photos. Madam Clerk, please conduct the roll call.

Jennifer L. HallItem 1

Council Member Becerra?

Phil BacerraItem 1

Here.

Jennifer L. HallItem 1

Council Member Hernandez? Present. Council Member Lopez? Here. Council Member Penaloza?

David PenalozaItem 1

Present.

Jennifer L. HallItem 1

Council Member Vasquez? Present. Mayor Pro Tem Fan? Here. Mayor Mesquita? Present.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

All members present. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Before we proceed to the Pledge of Allegiance, please make an announcement.

Jennifer L. HallItem 1

For any member of the public on Zoom or teleconference, in order to request to speak during public comments on agenda or non-agenda items within the city's jurisdiction, You must dial star 9 from your phone or click the button labeled raise hand from Zoom now to be in the speaker queue once public comments commence. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Thank you. Commander Andrade, would you please come and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?

Please stand and face the flag. 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.

Benjamin VazquezItem 1

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Thank you. The words of inspiration will be provided by the... You go ahead, Van Proton.

Thai Viet PhanItem 1

By the Ching-Way Lion and Dragon Dance Cultural Troupe.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Come on down, please.

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Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

May I pretend if they're done, would you like to make your presentation, please?

Thai Viet PhanItem 1

Hi, good evening, everyone. Hopefully those lions got you very excited awake. So come on. All right. So as you know, my name is Tai Viet Phan. I'm the mayor pro tem, and I'm also the first Vietnamese-American person and the first Asian woman elected to the city of Santa Ana. And today we are issuing a proclamation celebrating October 1st, 2024 as Mid-Autumn Festival Day. I think this might be the first time, as far as I'm aware, at City Hall that we have lion dancers here and we're so excited because this recognition, this proclamation is being presented to the

Thai Viet PhanItem 1

Ching Wei Lion and Dragon Dance Cultural Troupe and we have Angela Nguyen who is the executive assistant and junior coach to the troupe. So please give them a round of applause.

Thai Viet PhanItem 1

And so I convinced Mr. City Manager to allow the lions to come because, you know, words of inspiration, it could be poetry, it could be a prayer, and lions are meant for good luck and celebration. A Mid-Autumn Festival, as some of you may or may not know, is one of the most important holidays in many Asian cultures. In Vietnamese culture, we call it the Chung Thu. It's essentially our Thanksgiving. It's when our families come together, we celebrate children, we have lanterns, we have a feast, we have food, and it's about families. And part of that is really about educating each other and the city about the different

Thai Viet PhanItem 1

cultural diversity we have here in the city of Santa Ana and when you think about or mid-autumn festival you think about communities coming together to celebrate each other and to really celebrate children which is one of the few festivals I think that we have in the city now why Ching Wei well Ching Wei is one of our incredible partners ever since the first mid-autumn festival that you know the city put on three years ago now they have just been incredible partners they have pulled out every single stop at every single event never hesitating to say yes never hesitating to bring the

Thai Viet PhanItem 1

little dragon the big the little lion the big blind their dragon everything because I know in speaking to Austin and the team that they are just as dedicated to bringing Asian American Vietnamese American culture to the city of Santa Ana and to celebrating that as much as we are here. So who's Ching Wey? I'm going to leave Angela to talk a little bit more about that, but I also wanted to say that Ching Wey also has a special place in my heart because I went to my cousin's wedding this spring and lo and behold, I saw some lion dancers and who were they? They were Ching Wey.

Thai Viet PhanItem 1

So it's really something that is important to me and I really believe that together we can continue to celebrate this cultural diversity and really elevate what it means to be a Santa Ana resident. Turn it over to Angela.

Hi, as mentioned I am Angela Nguyen, executive assistant of Ching Weh Lion and Dragon Cultural Troupe. We pride ourselves in being the forefront of pioneering lion dancing in the Western Hemisphere. We have quite a few names outside of the country internationally. We have Ching Weh Singapore and we are very proud to serve the city of Santa Ana. We love to educate the youth in our culture and are very accepting of other ethnicities and spreading awareness of this culture to many other people around us.

Thai Viet PhanItem 1

So with that if I can ask my colleagues to come on down to grab a photo if you'd like next to the lines before we let them out and if you guys want to come on up too we can do a little group picture in the front.

Thank you. Okay, let's go over there.

Thai Viet PhanItem 1

It'll be a little bit different.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thai Viet PhanItem 1

And before I forget, if you want to see the longer extended super version of what you just saw make sure you come out on this Saturday October 5th between 4 and 8 p.m. at Centennial Park for a Mid-Autumn Festival. It's free for everyone bring your families bring your friends.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Well, that was beautiful. We're going to have to, can't top that, Mayor Pro Tem. Thank you, Mr. City Manager, for making arrangements for that. I am presenting today because it is the International Day of Older Persons. Come on up. Come on up. Come on up. I'm presenting to the Asian American Senior Citizens Service Center, Luna Lu.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

I'm sure there's others in this room that fall under the International Day of Older Persons.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Everybody coming up?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

If you want to join us, if you fall under that, you're more than welcome to come up.

Everyone's always welcome.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Hello, how are you?

Come on, come on.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Come on up. Come on up. Come on up. Come on up.

Come on up. Everybody's always welcome.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

A todos, por favor, come on.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

I knew I'd get other people up here.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Hello, hello.

Hello.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Come on down, come on in.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Okay. Come on, here it is.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Okay, on December 14, 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1st as the International Day of Older Persons, recognizing the valuable contributions of older adults and the increasing challenges brought by aging. If you've been here a couple of council meetings ago, if you were here, you heard us talking about how we want Santa Ana to be senior friendly. We want to be that city.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

This year's theme, Aging with Dignity, the importance of strengthening care and support systems for older persons worldwide, emphasizes the need to build compassionate and fair systems that ensure older adults receive the care and support they deserve. Today, nearly 900 million people worldwide are over the age of 60. 900 million. And by 2050, that number is expected to reach 1.6 billion. For the first time in history, older people will outnumber children, which challenges us to rethink how we care for our aging population, Mr. City Manager.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

The International Day of Older Persons is a time to reflect on the significance of older adults in our communities. They are our teachers, our mentors, and carriers of wisdom. We must continue to honour their contributions and stay committed to addressing the challenges of aging through inclusive and sustainable policies. The Asian American Senior Citizen Service Centre sets a powerful example of how to support our elders through direct care and services and culturally sensitive wellness programs. The center empowers older adults to enhance their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Their work strengthens our diverse community and ensures older persons can age with dignity. Recently, the AASCSC collaborated with the City of Santa Ana Parks and Rec Senior Services Section to host the second annual older adults celebration held this past weekend. The event brought together multiple generations to enjoy a variety of free activities. And I want to thank the city staff for that. Hawk, all of your staff, everybody who participated in the cities. It's a beautiful event, and it was wonderful to have everybody there. And I went as the mayor. I'm sure I'm going to be there soon, but I went as the mayor.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Several members of our elder community who participate in our Parks and Rec Senior Services are with us this evening. I can't name them all, but I just want you to know they're all behind me and there's many more that are not here tonight. It is my privilege to declare October 1st, 2024 as International Day of Older Persons and to recognize the AASCSE and our elders for their invaluable contributions in strengthening support systems that protect and uplift our aging population. And I just want to say something that before I give this proclamation, Jennifer, to you, and I'm

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

not going to read all the where asses because they're where as because it's so money, but I really want to thank you for all the work that you guys do and I want to thank all of the older adults, all the seniors that are here and thank you for everything. I spent a lot of time with them because they truly are carriers of wisdom and many of you have parents that you take care of, and so you know that that the wisdom that they have and the love that they have for our community and for all of you so I just want to say thank you thank you to all of you for everything that

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

you do and so with that I'm going to give you a proclamation declaring the International Day of Older Persons signed by the mayor and the entire city council so thank you Jennifer

Good evening. Thank you Mayor Mesquah and Santa Ana City Council for recognizing the Asian American Senior Citizen Service Center, also known as ASCSC, and the opportunity to share brief remarks. My name is Jennifer Wang and I'm the exec director of ASCSE. Tonight as we come together to celebrate International Older Adults Day, we are honored to receive this recognition from the city of Santa Ana. This moment is not about ASCSE. It is about deep sense of empathy, connectedness, and humanity that binds us as we honor our older adults and what it means to age.

Founded as a 5-1-C-3 in 1989, ASCSE was founded by Chinese American community leaders to address issues facing their aging parents with the philosophy to care for elders as if they were our own. Since then, ASCSE has become a trusted community organization and partner with a history of ensuring our most vulnerable, and that includes our low-income seniors, our refugees, our immigrants, to have equitable access to quality social and health programs and services. We take an intergenerational and cross-cultural approach to our work to ensure that no one is left behind.

I have the privilege, as the exec director, to witness the resilience, wisdom, and grace of our older adults for the last decade. Each older adult story is a chapter in our history. Each face carries a lifetime of experiences, and each moment spent with them is a reminder of the hardships that we have endured so that we can enjoy the lives and freedom we have today. This freedom serves as a reminder of the importance of fostering community where empathy flourishes, where connectedness is celebrated, and where the humanity of our older adults is also celebrated and recognized.

It is a call to action for all of us to embrace our older adults, to ensure that they are never forgotten or overlooked. They have a right to be heard, seen, and to be known. They have a right to live life with dignity and respect. With a grateful heart, and a tremendous grateful heart, we thank you for this recognition and we look forward to partnering together to serve, protect, and celebrate our elders. Together, let us nurture a community where empathy, connectedness, and humanity thrive, and where every member of our society, especially our older adults, are cherished as the invaluable treasures that they are.

And there's one thing that I have to share because cultural resiliency is really key to what we do. It started with our philosophy to care for elders if we're our own. Well, tonight, you know, we are invited guests. And as invited guests, we always make a point. We never come to anybody's house or home without a gift, especially food. So tonight, if you guys notice what I'm carrying, this is what we call our longevity peach. We're in Chinese, so tall. So this is actually something that is very special. Not all bakeries make it. This is special ordered, actually all over from Northern Heights.

We couldn't find any in Santa Ana yet, maybe one day. But we brought this to share with everybody. It is a steamed bun. It's vegetarian. It has a sweet paste. If you have a chance, please grab one and enjoy. We recommend to heat it up just a bit, but these were just made fresh today. So just gobble it up and enjoy. And as a reminder, really, our elders, as you can see here, they want to be seen. They want to be heard. So take time, whether it is within your own family or in your neighborhood, say hi to them. Embrace them. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Before we take a picture, I just want to say that I was with them recently and I met a man that's 102 years old that lives here across the Senior Center. And he served our country proudly and he wanted me to know that. And the other gentleman I met, I talked to a lot of them, but I always do. But another gentleman was 91 years old, and he still drives. And I was like, well, I want to be like you. I want to drive at 91. So I just want you all to know that they're not just sitting there. They are out, and they're active, and they're involved in their community, and they're making change.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

And they call me all the time to say, Mayor, we want this, we want that, we want this, we want... And I listen to them, and I interact with them. And so I would recommend that you all do, too. I knew Parks and Rec does so thank you Hawk but just enjoy them while you have them they are our carriers of wisdom so thank you.

I want to speak Spanish. I'm very grateful to Santa Ana, because we are two senior centers that we represent. Southwest Senior Center and Santa Ana Senior Center, here no more than the third. We want to ask that we expand our senior center of Southwest, because we are not able to It's so good our place where we are at 6 or 8 hours, I love to participate there,

and we are very proud of our center, but we are not able to do it. We are 180 people, or more, for the exercise we are doing, so we don't have space. Please, we want to expand our place so that there is more people. Today, they didn't have a place where we can do so much work. And here I thank you to the Ms. Cua, the Attorney and all of her city staff, who are beautiful people. I know them and love them.

Margarita Macedonia fue mi mentora, fue la que me ayudó a que yo me pueda expresar y estoy muy agradecida con todo el city staff. Gracias.

Thank you.

Okay. Over here.

Right here. One, two, three.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Okay, we're good? All right, thank you all very much. Thank you.

Okay.

There we go.

David PenalozaItem 1

Sí, a la forma de cantar.

Oh.

David PenalozaItem 1

Oh, hey. Venga, ahorita. Go ahead.

Thank you.

Phil BacerraItem 1

All right, men, batter up.

Phil BacerraItem 3

Good evening, everybody. Tonight we'll be recognizing Community Planning Month. So change is constant and affects all cities, whether they are urban, suburban, or rural. Planners can help navigate this change by gathering input from various stakeholders and using data-driven insights and expertise to help shape opportunities for how people live and work and help businesses and residents determine the future of our community. For the full benefits of planning to be realized,

Phil BacerraItem 3

elected and appointed officials need to support excellence in planning and plan implementation. We have seen that here in Santa Ana with such accomplishments as the update of our city's general plan, led by our very own planning and building agency staff.

Phil BacerraItem 3

See, I don't have bagpipes or a dragon, so I'm sorry guys. Planning isn't always sexy. The Santa Ana General Plan established a shared vision of our community's aspirations to be the world-class capital of Orange County that celebrates diversity, neighborhoods, and cultural heritage. The Santa Ana General Plan is meant to help every decision maker, stakeholder, business, and resident take the steps necessary to help realize this vision. Our planning and building agency staff are leading the efforts on the update of our city zoning code, the largest effort since I'm going to say the 1950s, right? Yeah.

Phil BacerraItem 3

So the month of October is designated as National Community Planning Month throughout the United States. National Community Planning Month is an opportunity to highlight how planning is essential to every community and how planners are uniquely positioned to identify solutions to communities most difficult land use questions and whether you know it or not you're constantly asking land use questions whether you know it or not The celebration of National Community Planning Month also gives us the opportunity to express our appreciation for the continued commitment to public service by these professionals.

Phil BacerraItem 3

So that's why I wanted to bring these folks up here tonight to recognize them because not only are we celebrating National Community Planning Month, but it is their effort not only to bring us into the 21st century with an updated general plan, but to go further with an updated zoning code that you'll see rolled out over time and you will have an opportunity to participate in that process. But for all the work that our planners do in advocating for this city, I can't tell you how many countless meetings and hours where I've been with these guys along with the mayor to talk about where I'll

Phil BacerraItem 3

just say various government entities would like to see Santa Ana take a different direction and we have been leading the way whether it's housing whether it's innovative ways environmental justice so I wanted to say thank you Min Ali Margarita for all that you do and I'd like to present this proclamation on behalf of the Santa Ana City Council and declaration of National Community Planning Month

Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember Becerra, and thank you to the mayor and our city council. On behalf of the planning staff and the planning department, I want to accept this honor that you have bestowed upon us.

Serendipitously, this past weekend, we attended an APA conference, Cal Chapter in Riverside. American Planning Association, I'm sorry. American Planning Association.

Phil BacerraItem 3

We thrive in acronyms. Exactly.

Where we represented the city and accepted an award for excellence in our general plan update that was done in 2022. too. Our staff, Margarita and Ali, also help lead a couple workshop and panel experts discussing our general plan progress on EJs as well as the many trailblazing policy that we have created in the general plan in front of 1,500 professional planners so good job guys. So in closing I would like to again

thank Councilmember Sarah and our mayor and the City Council for not only give us this honor but the privilege to serve and to represent the city of Santa Ana. Thank you.

Phil BacerraItem 3

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Jessie LopezItem 3

All right, we're almost done with this portion of the agenda. So tonight we're going to be recognizing Abel and Crece Urban Farms as a whole for their outstanding contributions to our local community. And in 2016 Crece emerged from a powerful community vision, a vision that seeks to enhance the quality of life for Santa Ana's working families by nurturing and healing our connections to land, to food, and to each other. They recognize that the term food desert fails to capture the systemic issues we face. In Santa Ana, as in many other PIPOC communities, we experience food appetites, a reality where

Jessie LopezItem 4

access to nutritious food is shaped by racial and socioeconomic lines. Poor food options are concentrated in neighborhoods where people of color reside and opportunities for meaningful participation and community development have been limited. At CRECE, they believe it is their responsibility to overturn these historical injustices. By bridging the gap between food injustice and food sovereignty, CRECE empowers local producers, ensuring that the bounty of locally grown, organic food reaches those who need it. Their goal is not just to provide food, but to create a robust infrastructure that promotes long-term community wealth,

Jessie LopezItem 4

economic, social, and environmental. Let me share a little bit about two inspiring individuals at the heart of our movement. Abel Ruiz, the project director and the co-founder, grew up in Tlachichitla, Zacatecas, where his family cultivated the land as a means of substance. In 1996, they migrated to Santa Ana, and it wasn't until 2013 that Abel reconnected with the urban agriculture movement. Since then, he has tirelessly contributed to various projects, coordinating youth composting programs, supporting new farmers, and developing community governance processes.

Jessie LopezItem 4

Abel envisions neighborhoods organized around food and land, and he is proud to lead the community self-governance movement, fighting against the injustices of the past while building a brighter future. We also have Steven Anticona, who brings his passion for biology and environmental studies from his roots in Peru. Through an agroecology fellowship, Steve discovered La Granjita and fell in love with the community mission. His focus on education, beekeeping, and community engagement highlights the importance of fostering a love for sustainable practices and stewardship among our neighbors.

Jessie LopezItem 4

At CRECE, they support and advocate for new and emerging indigenous and people of color urban farmers and food stewards. Together they are working towards a just transition, a community-owned food system where everyone has access to the nourishment that they deserve. As we move forward, let us remember that building a just food system is not about growing food, it's about growing relationships, it's about healing our communities and ensuring that everyone has a seat at the table. Together, we will cultivate a future where food and justice and community empowerment thrive hand in hand.

Jessie LopezItem 4

And I also just want to say that the first time that I went to Crece, I immediately fell in love. Because it is so much more than just about food, it is about community here in the city of Santa Ana. And I really encourage all of you, especially if you live in Santa Ana, War III, to get involved, figure out how you can support Crece, who has done so much for our community and has helped even establish folks start their micro businesses out of their community farm. It's a really beautiful thing that they've been able to do and we're so proud to support them in this process and we look forward to seeing

Jessie LopezItem 4

more micro farms in the city of Santa Ana. And so today we recognize all of their work and on behalf of the city we want to recognize Crece for everything that they do to make our city a better place for everyone.

Hi, good evening, everyone. We just want to start off by thanking Councilmember Jesse Lopez and the rest of the City Council for this recognition. For the past eight years, Cresce has uplifted the call to address food insecurity in our community by amplifying the passions and skills already present in our community for going food locally. We have transformed an underutilized community garden in the Park Santiago neighborhood into a thriving urban farm. This place has produced thousands of pounds of food every year that has gone to feed local families uninterrupted for the past four years since the pandemic began.

It has also diverted over 100,000 pounds of organic waste and turned it into nutrient-rich compost. La Gran Jita, as it's locally known, has been a place for healing, for connection, and sharing for residents of all ages. It has helped bring people together, bring them together with other people, the land, and food. It has been a jumping board for resident owned cooperatives such as Salsa Food Hub. In this county with its deep agricultural history, Salsa could arguably be the first farming enterprise where the folks who are working the land are also the owners of the operations.

We appreciate the recognition and would like to extend our deepest gratitude and recognition to our partners at Salsa Food Hub. and for the community of volunteers and local members whose collaboration has been invaluable in our growth.

Thank you, Jesse.

Just going to finish with this. This recognition is also coming at a very perilous moment for Crece, as we are all being displaced from La Granjita due to the sale of the church where our project is located. It means the world to us to feel seen during these hard times, We hope to count with your support or the city government support as we embark in this process of finding a new home for our project and our programming.

We actually, this call is not new. In 2015, the City Council passed the Wellness District Resolution, which in principle, the Council recognized the importance of increasing resident land projects such as ours and many others that are in the making.

I will conclude with this. When climate catastrophes continue to intensify, when the world's top soil continues to be depleted, only 50 years is left of it. When communities such as Santana's continue to face this investment and poor access to healthy food choices, it's the resilience and creativity in our community to create long-lasting solutions that can become the most durable gift for our future generations. So, thank you very much.

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Thank you very much for the presentations at this time. Is there any additions or dilutions to the City Council agenda?

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Madam Clerk? Yes, thank you. For item number 13, the Enterprise Land Management System, a revised staff report was distributed and posted online. Additionally, staff requests the removal of item number 21, the Santa Ana Wellness Plaza project.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Great, thank you. Madam City Attorney, do we have anything to report out of closed session?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 4

Mayor, Council members and members of the public, we had three closed session items that we discussed earlier this evening, but there's no reportable action.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Thank you. 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 and call the first speakers, please.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Thank you, Mayor. Pursuant to Resolution No. 2023-047, speakers are requested to address the City Council directly and to refrain from profane language, racial epitaphs, 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 the speakers, I'll report the following summary of emails received as of 2.30 p.m. today. City Council received 104 total comments. It was 1 on item 19, 10 on item number 22, 76 on item number 26, and 17 on non-agenda topics.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

We'll 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 their comments on agenda or non-agenda items. Please state your name and the ward or neighborhood that you reside in for the record.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

First three speakers, Paul Guzman, Sylvia Pizarrozo, and Ty Pham. Please approach the podium.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

I'm sorry, before you start, sir, just to clarify, it's two minutes for each speaker, please. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

For mayor's directive, two minutes per speaker. Go ahead, sir.

Thank you, mayor, state councilpersons. My name is Paul Guzman and I'm one of your community grand marshals in the Fiesta Spots Parade. I come before the City Council to thank you, thank the Parks and Recreation Department, particularly the Fiesta Spots Committee for their outstanding contributions to the city and the parade and the fiesta.

I asked you to look at page six on the culture book, and you see a picture of myself pointing to a photo of 1976, where the labor union 652 participated in a parade, and I was on the float with members and children of our staff. And then on page seven, I would direct you to a photo at the bottom of the page.

In 1900s, my family participated in the Fiestas Patrias in the city of Anaheim. This is a family that had just come from Mexico, and my father, my previous brothers and sisters, that not only were they celebrating their country, but on the photo, he showed them with the American flag.

I can grant you, my father was a civil servant in Mexico. He was very proud of his contributions wherever he went. He worked in the mines in New Mexico. His family went to Texas, Arizona, into California. I just checked in on my family's tree. There are over 5,000 in California. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Sylvia Pizarrozo and Ty Pham.

Good evening, Madam Mayor and members of the Santa Ana City Council. My name is Sylvia Pizarrozo. I'm the immediate past chairwoman of the Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and I'm here tonight on behalf of the CEO, Ruben Franco, and our entire organization to reaffirm and support the related Bristol project. It is not often that a project of this scale and importance comes along. We have been supporters of the $3 billion project, the largest private investment in the City of Santa Ana's history since it was proposed two years ago. Related Bristol's impact will be unprecedented.

It will create close to 17,000 much needed jobs. It will generate $500 million in new tax revenue in the first 30 years alone and provide $544 million in community benefits that can be spent on multiple projects across the city.

As an organization representing and serving 30,000 Hispanic business owners and companies in the region, the growth and prosperity of Santa Ana is crucial to Orange County's future. Related Bristol will attract new investment and opportunity to the heart of Orange County for decades to come. Santa Ana needs Related Bristol. We urge you to join the Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to support Related Bristol. We urge you to vote yes tonight. Thank you for your support.

David PenalozaItem 4

Madam Mayor, if I can ask a question of the City Clerk or the City Attorney, can one of you make an announcement regarding the public comments and the topics that could be covered under public comments tonight?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Anything related to the related project has to be heard when we're at that item.

Phil BacerraItem 4

But the public hearing is closed on that item, so there would be no more comments on

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Right, unless one of you make a motion to allow it.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

So if you're here to speak on item number 26, you need to hold that please until we get to that item. Is that correct, Madam City Attorney? And if we allow public comments at that time, because at the last meeting we heard all the public comments, then we'll discuss that for our City Attorney. And a council member needs to make a motion to allow public comments for related, is what I was told by city attorney.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

City attorney. Madam city, where is it? I'm behind you. Madam city attorney, there's comments related to the, referencing the related project. And so I believe a council member needs to make a motion. We need a motion to hear the comments. No, no, no.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 4

Because the city council decided to take on general public comment before you took the related project. There are two requirements for the Brown Act. First one is if you have a notice public hearing, anyone who submits a card must be permitted to speak when you open the meeting, a public hearing, which is what you did at your last meeting. Every agenda must also have an opportunity for public comment. If you take public comment, you must allow anyone to speak on any item which impacts the city. However, the testimony that anyone provides during public comment will not be included

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 4

in the official public hearing record for the related project.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Thank you. And after the public comments, we'll be going to that item first. Yes.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 4

And if you so wanted to open up the public hearing and allow those comments to be in the public record, you could ask those speakers to wait, and then you could open the public hearing if you wanted to.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

So everybody's clear on that. If you'd like your comments to be included, if we allow public comments when we're addressing item 26, please hold your public comments. And that is only if a council member makes a motion.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 4

Yeah, but I think you might want to make a decision on that so that someone knows whether to speak during public comment.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

So is there a motion or should we just hear all the public comments now?

Phil BacerraItem 4

Actually Madam Mayor I'd like to recommend that maybe we hold off the public comment period until after the related item. That way nobody has to be confused on who speaks when on what item.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

Is there a second? No, second your motion.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Second. All those in favor?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

Aye.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Aye.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Madam City Clerk, can you do a roll call, please?

Council Member Becerra?

Phil BacerraItem 4

Yes.

Council Member Hernandez? Yes. Council Member Lopez? Council Member Peñalosa? Yes. Council Member Vasquez? Yes. Mayor Pro Tempam? Yes. Mayor Emescua? Yes. Motion carried, 7-0.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 4

Thank you. And just to be clear, Mayor, I want to make sure everybody's expectations are met and we're communicating clearly to the public. If you take the related item and you decide not to open up the public, reopen the public hearing, then anybody who came here tonight to speak about related can still do so, but they would be doing that when you take public comment, not when you hear the related item.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Perfect. Thank you. Let's proceed when you're ready, Madam Clerk.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Actually, Madam Crick, we're going to just take item 26 at this time.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Okay, thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

All right, let's move over, you guys, all to public hearings. I'm going to close up this one right here now, and we're going to move to item 26.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Mayor, before you start, may I announce my recusal?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Yes, please do.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Thank you. Because a client of my employer, Rattan and Tucker, is the property owner relating to this project therefore I must recuse myself under the Political Reform Act. I will leave the room while this item is being discussed and return when it is completed. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

We're now in the public hearing section. Item number 26 is the continued public hearing related Bristol specific plan. Public comments were heard at the September 17th meeting. At this time Mr. City Manager, we have an update. then we'll open it up.

Alvaro NuñezItem 4

Executive Director of Entire Planning and Building has an added presentation and again this is just a follow up to some of the direction and questions asked from the City Council regarding some items. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Just to be clear, you emailed that to us last week. I believe it was a day after our council meeting, correct?

We emailed information as well as updating the official staff report.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Great, thank you.

Thank you, Senior Manager Nunez. we do have a very brief presentation to the city council tonight to bring you up to date as to some of the updates as well as responses to this question um if we can have the powerpoint up please

just a quick overview the related companies is requesting approval of a specific plan to develop a 41 acre site generally located 3600 south bristol street into a mixed-use urban village the project is located within the South Bristol general plan focus area the requests again tonight is for an application to include a zone change a development agreement and a tender track map

apologize I'll pause for a moment for the technology to catch up

Thank you.

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

we should have been well prepared for this how much longer is this going to let me just

continue without thank you so on september 17th the city council held public hearing on the matter following the public comment and closing comments by the applicant the public hearing regarding this matter as you mentioned was closed the city council posed nine questions for follow-up by the applicant as well as staff and continued the discussion on the matter to tonight's meeting staff prepared an updated report that include the responses to the nine questions and also recommended that additional restriction be added to the implementation section of the specific

plan addressing the concern raised in one of the questions regarding trucking and construction hauling activities after publication of the agenda staff receive additional comments from the city of costa mesa and from south coast plaza seeking a clarification for mutual design coordination with the city of costa mesa regarding the projects proposed street signal improvements along sunflower while this information is already stated in the projects uh traffic study staff is recommending the clarification also be incorporated part of the consideration of the vesting tender track map

tonight's recommendation recommended actions are for the city council to one adopt resolution certifying the final supplemental eir and adopting the associated environmental findings of fact a statement of overriding considerations and a mitigation monitoring and reporting program for the project adopt an ordinance approving the related Bristol's this plan with the addition of the recommended construction and truck hauling restrictions adopt an ordinance approving the development agreement adopt a resolution approving the tender track map with the recommended

modification to condition number 13 G with the text as shown on this slide and adopt a resolution overruling the Orange County Airport Land Use Commission determination that the related Bristol's BISC plan project is inconsistent with the airport environment land use plan including the supportive findings and lastly adopt a resolution concurrently and as a separate invitation action of the general plan a resolution and the associate sequel determination amending resolution 91 88 resolution 93 76 and resolution 2062 modifying the procedure for participating in

the south coast sandpoint and the south metro permit parking districts just want to make a note that all the public comments that we receive before tonight's meeting have been responded to and have been posted on the city's website with that i close my presentation our city team as well as the applicants team are here to ask any questions you may have thank you very much i have

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

no comments or questions um do any council members have any questions or comments councilman becerra

Phil BacerraItem 4

thank you bad mayor i just want to begin by thanking everybody that's participated in this process we've been at this for quite some time here i want to thank all the residents especially those in ward 4 who are near the project site i want to thank all of our union brothers and sisters who are here this evening in support of the project. 41 acres of the most attractive, developable site in all of Orange County is what we're talking about tonight. This project will be a walkable community filled with residences, shops, restaurants, cafes, outdoor spaces, and experiences just across the street

Phil BacerraItem 4

from an international shopping destination, that being South Coast Plaza. The project, I'm very sure, will be a destination of its own. along with the 3,700 residential units, a 250-room hotel, 200 units of senior continuum of care living, and 350,000 square feet of commercial space, along with 13.1 acres of publicly accessible open space, including a 2.5-acre publicly accessible usable open space located on the northern portion of the site. The present shopping center includes about 465,000 square feet, so we are going to see the majority of that retained.

Phil BacerraItem 4

A $22 million community benefit and $18 million that will go to our housing in lieu fund. $500 million over 30 years in net in our general fund versus what the present site generates over $135 million over 30 years. That's 3.7 times more. And with the state mandates for housing construction, this project will make sure that Santa Ana continues to meet our mandates from the state, from the RHNA allocations that they thrust upon us constantly. I do have one question for the developer tonight,

Phil BacerraItem 4

and I would not be able to return to my ward if I didn't ask this question. So if I can have either Bill or Stephen come up real quick for a question. Flip a coin.

I'm coming up because I'm in the over 60 club.

Phil BacerraItem 4

I thought I saw you behind the dragon earlier, Bill. It's a very simple question. So my residents want to know, will there be a Vaughn's, an Albertson's, or a very comparable grocery store on site in this project?

The broad question is yes. I mean, we've recognized from the outset that the supermarket may be the major, certainly not the only amenity, if you will, that the community, not just your community, but the broader community wants. And we will work very closely with a potential supermarket. And we are building a new Vons with apartments above it in Santa Monica as we speak. So we have a good relationship there. But we know how important that is. And we will continue to work with the community to get their input on timing and the kind, etc.

Phil BacerraItem 4

So I'm going to take all of what you just said as a yes.

Yes.

Phil BacerraItem 4

Thank you. Appreciate it, Bill. Well, no, you've got to appreciate Bill. Bill's thorough, so I really appreciate that because that's the kind of attention we're going to need for a project of this magnitude. So I would like to indulge my colleagues, and I know I'm going to go over my time, so if you would indulge me, I would like to discuss real quickly eight revisions and conditions that I'd like to see incorporated into this project.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

So before you do that, let me ask if there's anybody who just wants a quick comment or I don't see any mics up.

Phil BacerraItem 4

So go ahead, Council Member Sarah. Thank you, Madam Mayor. As this project is located in Ward 4, in fact at the very edge of Ward 4, I felt that it was important for me to go through this and add a couple of things that I think will enhance the project. So first and foremost in the supplemental EIR, oh, I'm sorry, not the EIR, excuse me, in the specific plan document is where I'll be focused. Anywhere that discusses the bike trail or the type of bike trail along Bristol, MacArthur, or Sunflower sides of the project, I would like the document to state that it will be a class four bike trail, not a class two.

Phil BacerraItem 4

That will be implemented along the Bristol, MacArthur, and Sunflower sides of the project. Next, on page 4-3 and 4-4 in section 4.1.6.a, the second paragraph states, to enhance on-site security, private security officers will routinely patrol the specific plan area. I would like that revised to say private security officers will be present on-site 24 hours per day and routinely patrol the specific plan area. Then on page 4-18 in section 4J, it discusses bicycle parking.

Phil BacerraItem 4

What I'd like subsection J to state is that bicycle parking shall be provided based on use type and shall be located on the primary frontage of each building or in common open spaces. Bicycle parking and bike lockers may also be located within parking structures and that within the residential uses, a minimum of 10 bicycle spaces per multifamily building. I know that you guys will provide much more given the amount of infrastructure, but I think it's important that we set that bar at 10, not 4. On page 4-6, Table 4-1 states that alcohol sales for on-site or off-site consumption

Phil BacerraItem 4

associated with restaurants only need a land use certificate instead of a CUP. I would like that to continue to be a CUP because I think it's important for the residents and adjacent businesses to have the same ability afforded to them to be able to know what coming in and what conditions are applied. On page 5-19 in section 5.7.2.a, I would like it to state a trellis green screen mural dynamic building texture or other buffering element shall be used where blank walls occur on the parking structure. Right now it says encouraged but I want that to

Phil BacerraItem 4

be shall be used on page 5-12 section 5.6.2 we're talking about timelessness architecture precedents for commercial retail uses i would like that language to read as the cultural heart of related bristol the architecture of commercial space in a district should be iconic and reflect the wide variety of activities which it hosts we are talking about such a transformational project want it to be clear to everybody in this room and to anybody else that reads that document that we expect iconic architecture in there on page 6-16 section 6.2.10.1.b I'm not making this

Phil BacerraItem 4

up that's really the section uh screening uh I just want to say that this particular section this is not a condition I want to commend our staff so what it says is screening shall be provided at all chain link fencing and shall include graphics and visuals that promote the project and the city of Santa Ana we should be seeing that on a lot of our fences I know in councilmember paneloza talks about the fencing along Bristol that's what we should be looking at and I'd like to see that in other projects going forward so thank you for incorporating that staff and then also

Phil BacerraItem 4

I would like to add the trucking and haul route language that staff has proposed in chapter 6 of the specific plan I won't bother everybody by reading that language but staff has presented that and I know it's available for public view. And last and certainly not least, so as I mentioned already, we're talking about $22 million in community benefits. 18 million, separate from the 22 million that's going to go into the OHOCA, which was formerly known as the WHO, for the in lieu fee payment. Plus 17 million per year in net general fund benefit versus what we see today with the 4.5 million

Phil BacerraItem 4

per year that the site generates. So again, 3.7 million, I'm sorry, 3.7 times more. So it's an additional 12.5 million per year that will be coming into our general fund. So every year our city will receive that approximately 12.5 million. So when the main place specific plan was adopted and built, no one-time money was earmarked for projects anywhere outside the immediate vicinity of the main place. And that's fine, especially for the south side that's five miles away. But in early discussions with Related, my colleagues that served on the ad hoc, we had talked with Related about an on-site community center.

Phil BacerraItem 4

Now, the south side of town is blessed to have plenty of park space. But what we don't have are actual community centers. When I look at the offerings of the library and parks and rec, they talk about all these wonderful things that are going into the Jerome Center, that are going into El Salvador. but they're not coming to the south side because we don't have a center to put them in. And in early discussions with Related, we all agreed that maybe this center should be built off-site. So in looking at that money that's coming in, I'm hoping that not only will that money go towards the center,

Phil BacerraItem 4

and I'm not saying that nothing can go anywhere else, but I'm saying is because Ward 4 will be the most impacted by this project, I'm hopeful that we can have a committee, an oversight committee appointed comprised of the different neighborhoods of Ward 4 who can oversee this funding and provide the council recommendations before we spend any of it in our budget cycles. And I'm hoping that either Director Tai or our city attorney can best place that language into the approvals tonight should it go through. and other than that I just also want to say thank you to related for the folks

Phil BacerraItem 4

that are here tonight I see the carpenters here tonight and I see our laborers here tonight and as I said the last meeting if we're gonna endure more traffic in Ward 4 for this project yes the finished product will be amazing but I want to make sure that those cars on the road show our are filled with folks that are our labor brothers and sisters that will be building this project that are local hire that are skilled and trained so with that I'm very excited that something has been worked out to where you guys will be participating on the project so I guess I'm gonna say that's my motion is to

Phil BacerraItem 4

approve with the litany of conditions that I presented to my call second your

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

motion thank you and councilmember Lopez your mic up to speak yes just a quick

Jessie LopezItem 4

question for planning staff I don't have I don't have issues with the majority of your new recommendations but the last one is that already in alignment with what is in the staff report or what the Planning Commission suggested the

Planning Commission recommended that the City Council consider creating an oversight committee so to answer yes it is in alignment with what the Commission recommended for City Council to consider what staff would recommend is that such a committee if we were to be created by the City Council as part of this action is to also include staffs as part of the committee so that we can assist and facilitate with some of the priority discussion as well I would be okay with

Phil BacerraItem 4

having staff participate in that committee as well and what would be the

makeup of the committee base base well the makeup the committee can be as the council wishes what I heard from councilmember Becerra is that it make up

Phil BacerraItem 4

both citizens of Ward 4 correct since he said neighborhoods the different neighborhoods to represent the different areas correct but just to clarify right

Alvaro NuñezItem 4

foot for your community center right as you indicated me I mean correct me from wrong, maybe I'm misunderstanding. The direction is for the neighborhood alignment, right, as far as community involvement regarding that, establish a community center, correct? Very specific language.

Phil BacerraItem 4

Yeah, so the committee would talk about how to spend the $22 million, especially as it relates to the location and construction of a community center in or near the project site.

Thank you.

Jessie LopezItem 4

So just quickly, I'm supportive of the majority of your recommendations, not the last one. I think the money coming back into the general fund is what I'm going to be supportive tonight, and having everybody give recommendations through our general budget process, as we've normally done, I'm also fine with.

Phil BacerraItem 4

All right. Are there any other comments on the project, Council Member Vasquez?

Benjamin VazquezItem 4

Thank you for that, Council Member Lucetta, as well as Council Member Lopez. I'm going to agree with the majority except for the last one, but I do want some funds set aside for that area, for some projects that they have coming forward to them to improve the neighborhood as they have asked in the past. so we could talk about it afterwards but i'm hoping we could set some funds aside for the neighborhoods as well and most go to the general funds councilmember hernandez uh thank you

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

councilmember serra i want to thank members of the public who have been following this project from the first council meeting i want to thank my colleagues up here for the dialogue as well and bristol related for doing their due diligence in meeting with the community working with our city staff and having two signatories that are very closely part of Santa Ana's history, and that is the laborers and the carpenters union. What's exciting about this project is the thousands of jobs that are going to be created in our city and the thousands of Santa Ana residents that are going to be working these jobs.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

These are residents who live in your community, who are going to be working in their own backyard, and because of that, we're also reducing carbon emissions. less people will be on our roads, people will be able to have dinner with their family. This is a win for the community. I am very thankful for Bristol-related and investing in our city of Santa Ana. I'm supportive of all of your recommendations, Councilmember Becerra, with the exception of the last one. I would like to see some monies earmarked for the South Coast area. They certainly do need some library and community service center amenities, but I also would

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

like to see those 22 million split amongst all of the different neighborhoods in our city but I do support seeing an emphasis in your area specifically closest to Bristol related and at this moment I am very proud to support this project I look forward to voting yes.

Phil BacerraItem 4

Thank you Councilmember Hernandez and if I might offer up oh I'm sorry.

David PenalozaItem 4

Councilmember Becerra yes thank you. The only question I had and this was more for and maybe the city attorney can chime I mean, I'm not, I don't know the bylaws for the Measure X committee off the top of my head, but I'm trying to start and think that creating another bureaucratic layer or government or body to oversee tax dollars that we are already all elected up here to do. So I kind of agree with Council Member Lopez's comment about us being those decision makers, but is this something that we could kind of assign like a special project to the Measure X committee

David PenalozaItem 4

who's already discussing and overseeing and reviewing or keeping track of where measure X dollars are spent versus creating another body, and maybe if that means adding an additional seat that represents the Ward 4 neighborhoods to that body.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 4

So as a matter of policy, however you want to form this oversight committee, assuming you want one, I think I'm hearing their support for one. It's really the composition of it is what you might have some differences of opinion. is up to you but I do think we should get a clarification from our staff to specifically answer Councilmember Lopez's question about what was the

Planning Commission's recommendation so I want to clarify in my response to you and the council is that the Planning Commission's recommendation was for the City Council to consider the formation of a oversight committee consisting of members to be appointed by each council member so that way there's repetition throughout the city council I did include the comment that the recommendation by councilmember Becerra was to look at Ward 4 so I just want to clarify that the Commission's recommendation was for each council to

Phil BacerraItem 4

appoint thank you for the clarity so so if I might offer up to my colleagues and I appreciate your guys's feedback on my recommendation so and I agree with Council Member Pelosi perhaps maybe creating another body may not be a prudent way to expend these funds. We're going to get $22 million into the general fund. What I would ask is that then maybe staff, as we do with Measure X every year, we always pull it aside. It's still in the general fund, but we show it as a separate item as part of the general fund. If we could do that with the $22 million with the prioritizing of a community center in

Phil BacerraItem 4

Ward 4, given the impact that this project is going to have on Ward 4 for the benefit of the entire city, I'm hopeful that at the very least the residents of Ward 4, because every other part of the city has the ability to enjoy a community center. So I'm hoping that Ward 4, through such a transformative project, will have its opportunity to finally secure a community center. I know it won't be overnight, and I know it won't be in one year, but I'm hoping that with that $22 million as it comes in, it'll be prioritized in addition to whatever else the council decides to spend the rest of the money on.

Phil BacerraItem 4

That's my amendment to the motion.

David PenalozaItem 4

So the question again, if I may, can this just be a general desire to look into creating an

David PenalozaItem 4

additional or having some kind of oversight for those $22 million? Because we just, at the last meaning we spent that's what we spent for bike lanes on standard I mean it's not going to go very far when you look within the grand scheme of things so

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 4

Madam City Attorney if the council so desires to create an oversight committee we would need to hear you say that you want one you could either you could either complete the details this evening or you could say we're going to create an oversight committee and we will decide at a later date what it looks like how it's going to function, and I only say that because a lot goes into that, just as we did with Measure X. You might remember there was conversation about how that was going to be formed and what it looked like. In fact, Measure X was approved by the voters. But so you can do it however you want to do it.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 4

If you want an oversight committee, we could put in the documents tonight, language, I'll work with staff, we'll put it in the documents that there shall be an oversight committee to be determined its compensation and its operations pursuant to a resolution adopted at a later date by the City Council. or you could hash out all those details this evening it is up to you so I'm

Phil BacerraItem 4

proposing to just scrap the whole idea of an oversight committee just asking that of the 22 million that prioritizing I'm not asking for a set amount I'm just saying that as we look at spending that 22 million that a community center and Ward 4 for the residents that are going to be most impacted by this project that of the 22 million a community centers prioritize for them that's all I'm asking mr. city manager did you want to say something I think that that's a

Alvaro NuñezItem 4

better, Council Member Rosero. As Council Member Pañalosa said, $22 million is not an extravagant amount. We understand there's some historic ideas why that happens. The reality is we are trying to be very mindful in the way we direct certain expenditures. You'll see that at the next Council Committee we'll provide an update specifically to address these type of concerns. Right. What does that mean when we indicate in an open discussion that we want to do something and how we laid down that commitment without being very specific. I think the way Councilman Becerra itemized it and indicated,

Alvaro NuñezItem 4

and we do understand that it's a priority, a community center in that work is required, that we can have that discussion through the general fund employment, including this $22 million. Makes it 100 times easier.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Thank you.

Alvaro NuñezItem 4

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Councilman Hernandez.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I just wanted to share if there's a simple process for us to be able to see these monies earmarked and an equitable process that maybe staff can bring back. I'm supportive of that. If there is no need for us to create an oversight committee, I don't see a consensus here. But I just wanted to share that it is important to me, although this isn't in my district. I agree with Council Member Sarah. There should be some amenities for his district as well. They too should have library services. I know we're bringing it to Delhi, but that side of Santa Ana too should have a community center.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

And so I just want to share that it's important to Ward 5 as well. I would like those $22 million to be split evenly amongst all of our districts. I would like to see an emphasis on affordable housing, library services, and education. But this is an area of importance to me as well. Just want to share that. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

I don't see anybody else? Madam Clerk? No council member needs to disclose any communications, ex parte communications at this moment. There was a motion. A second.

David PenalozaItem 4

If I can. Yes. Really quick, just comment. I would like to disclose that over the last couple of weeks I have had communications with various labor organizations related to this project as well as the applicant has reached out and has also had more informational and more information sharing. So just wanted to disclose that for the record. With that said, I also want to comment on the project itself. I know that I want to thank everyone involved, everyone from the property owner to the applicant to the developer to the

David PenalozaItem 4

residents, neighborhoods, the various entities that have come to speak in support and against this project. If somebody had would have told me that I was gonna make every single person happy as an elected person, I would have probably laughed in their in their face because that that is not the reality. You know, part of our jobs are up here are are sometimes difficult in the decisions that we have to make and we have to look at the at the bigger picture and my job here is for the sustainability of the city and the sustainability of and seeing its growth so I want to thank everyone involved

David PenalozaItem 4

there's gonna be a lot of economic drive for the city once this is all said and done once it's completed it's gonna not only throughout the construction process but when it's once it's completed it's gonna bring hundreds and hundreds of jobs to the area and that's all I can ask for at the end of the day so with that said mayor those are my comments just wanted to voice my my support I'm

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

going to just finalize the comments really quick I want to thank the ad hoc committee myself and councilman Sarah and councilmember Vasquez and the city staff you know we had long meetings some were easier than others but thank you and thank you to everybody who has come out as councilman Penelope said indicated whether you support it or you don't support it Santa Ana is gonna look different feel different hopefully we're gonna be generating some revenue some some good things coming our way so with that let's take a vote madam mayor if I

may just take one second for process and procedure I know that the City Council can impose conditional the project on its own core but if we may just take a moment to see if the applicant has any feedback on any one of those conditions

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Sure. Does the applicant have any feedback? No? Or yes? Come on up. No feedback. Great. Thank you so much. Thank you. You can come up again and say I'm part of the over 60 crowd. I'm good with that. All right. He has no feedback for the record. Thank you,

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 4

Mayor. Okay. Let's prepare to vote. And then, Mayor, as you vote on a project of this size, I know it's a little bit complicated. We're going to do a roll call. Staff needs to walk you through the separate approvals these are really important documents you got it you got

to do environmental first so go ahead do that yes so the first action is to adapt i apologize

Jessie LopezItem 4

councilmember lopez yes thank you i don't have any other questions or concerns about the recommendations i just want to thank the applicants um for bringing this project to our city and for working with our staff it's been months of going back and forth and so I want to thank staff for doing the book load of that work and facilitating conversations and I want to thank all of the residents for the past couple months whether you've sent an email whether you've called whether you've attended a community meeting in person to provide your feedback I thank you for making

Jessie LopezItem 4

time to share what you want to see from this project and finally I just want to to thank the workers that you see in this room today who are gonna build this project so thank you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

so quick question meant why do we need separate we could just take off one vote

or is it legally required for this size of the project we would like to be able to take each action separately so how many actions are we talking there are

Phil BacerraItem 4

five or six items separately? Well, I think my motion was just to take them all at once, so that's going to be my motion. And I second that. So can we just do the vote already? Yeah.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

So let's...

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

I want the council up here to understand that this is for everything that we've been discussing, so let's prepare to vote. Madam Clerk, can you do a roll call, please?

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Yes, but if you could please bear with me, I do have some things to read into the record before we actually take that roll call vote. So this is a motion by Councilmember Becerra, seconded by Mayor Emesqua, to approve six recommended actions for the continued Public Hearing Item 26, including a resolution of the City Council of the City of Santa Ana, one, certifying the final supplemental environmental impact report for the related Bristol specific plan project, SCH number 2020029087, two, adopting environmental findings of fact and statement of overriding consideration for the project

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, and three, adopting the mitigation monitoring and reporting program. Second action, approving a resolution of the City Council of the City of Santa Ana, California, overruling the Orange County Airport Land Use Commission's determination that the proposed related Bristol-specific plan is inconsistent with the Airport Environ's land use plan for John Wayne Airport, including supportive findings. Third action is the first reading, an introduction of an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Santa Ana,

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

approving amendment application number 2023-03 to establish the related Bristol specific plan SP number 5 and to approve a zone change for the 41 acre site generally located at 3600 Bristol Street from general commercial C2 and commercial residential CR to related Bristol specific plan SP number 5 as amended per the items stated by council member Becerra including bike trail class security presence, bicycle parking, CUP for alcohol sales, shall be language related to trellis and green space, iconic architectural style language, a revision to page 6.16, the trucking and hauling language as presented by staff,

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

and showing the $22 million community benefit fund as a separate budgetary line item for consideration by the council.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Conducting item number four, conducting a first reading of an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Santa Ana, approving development agreement number 2023-02 for a mixed use development known as the related Bristol specific plan project at 3600 Bristol Street between the City of Santa Ana and Greenville Ranch LLC, BSG West Bristol LLC, and MCG Bristol West LLC. action number five approving a resolution of the city council of the city of santa anna approving vested intent of track map number 2023-01 county map number 19272 as conditioned for a mixed use

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

development known as the related bristol specific plan project at the 41 acre site generally located at 3600 bristol street and action number six approving a resolution of the city council of the city of santa anna amending resolution number 91-088 resolution number 93-076 and resolution number 2000-062 regarding permit parking district petitions and determining that that particular resolution action is not a project subject to sequa thank you madam thank you very much for reading all that council member becerra yes council member hernandez yes council member lopez yes

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

council member panaloza yes council member vasquez yes mayor mesqua yes vote is six eyes no nays with a noted recusal by Mayor President Farron. Motion carries.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

All right. All right we have business to do. Thank you. We're gonna continue with city business. Thank you very much. We're gonna end the public hearing at this time and we are going to go to the consent calendar. Yes, we're going to do public comments.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Mayor, would you like to take your recess?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Yeah, at this time we're going to take a 10 minute recess.

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Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

The meeting, please. Let's resume the meeting. We're at the consent calendar. I know that we have an appointment here of Adrienne Ramirez.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Mayor, if we could hear the public comments. Yes.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

I just want to make sure. Is the nominee still here?

Yes, ma'am.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Okay, perfect. All right, great. So let's go ahead with public comments, please.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Thank you, Mayor. So moving on to the public comments that we have remaining, we had a few on non-agenda topics, so we'll start with those. If you could please approach the podium to make your comments. Time limit is two minutes. Jackie Cordova, Dale Helvig, and Sue Palak.

I would have liked to request three minutes of my full time. Good evening. I am Jackie Cordova. I'm a mother of Santa Ana. I came here tonight to speak with my community. There is a few members left. Seven years ago today, October 1st, 2017, hundreds of Californians were killed or injured in the Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting event in Las Vegas, Nevada. More than 200 California cops were there at the Las Vegas shooting event. Also more than 40 Orange County Sheriff personnel attending as as off-duty deputy sheriffs and district attorney investigators.

These officers later received workers' comp benefits after state law was changed as a favor for their role that they played in the out-of-state event. We continue to pray for all of those affected by this senseless tragedy, and we pray for answers as we enroute the corruption in this sick, demonic, false flag charade orchestrated by state Senator Janet Nguyen, who used our Santa Ana Police Force and entire city council in their human sacrifice event, touted as the deadliest mass shooting in American history. Janet Nguyen should be locked up behind bars for that domestic terrorist attack that she continues to perform and profit from.

For that attack on our community and police officers, Janet Nguyen is not welcome here. Regarding the County of Orange, it has officially been sanctioned while under federal investigation here, And as a result of multiple audits, exorcisms, and investigations, on April 11, 2024, we, the people of the County of Orange, fired Frank Kim, CEO, Bob Page, Registrar Voters, and the entire Board of Supervisors, including that racist district attorney, Todd Spitzer.

As part of this investigation, beware anyone doing business with violators who are beholden to special interests and all turn themselves into the community at the Santa Ana Police Station, April 6, 2024.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Dale Helwig, Sue Palak.

Good evening, Mayor, Council Member, City Staff. My comments are on item 11, the RSG awarding of an agreement with them.

In 2021, when this rent control process started, they were awarded or given $300,000 to do the administrative work. Next year, they're given $500,000. 2023, they're given another $500,000. So we spent $1.3 million, and I'm hoping that you guys are auditing this because it's supposed to be self-funded and everything. It's going to be covered by the landlord fees and everything else, but now they're asking for another $800,000 for another two-year contract with a two-year extension. So hopefully we're getting our money's worth out of this.

I don't see it happening, though, with all the comments that we've heard from residents as far as just cause eviction and everything else. So please audit them, make sure they're spending the money right, because, you know, a 66% increase after the first year was pretty big. Now they've dropped it down, but it's still 33% higher than what the original contract was for. The other comment is on item 21, which was, I think, dealing with the upgrade for the area right outside City Hall here.

one of the line items on it is for installing two ping pong tables at a cost of thirty eight thousand dollars hopefully you guys take a look at that and say you know what do we need ping pong tables out here for and especially at that cost I think it's ridiculous that we're spending that kind of money so and in closing thank you for related Bristol I think it's going to be a great

project. Sue Palak, Francisco Alex Ramirez. Good evening. I bring this personal issue. I hope you can help me. I cannot renew my car registration because I got a

ticket, parking ticket for the city. I bring a copy for all of you. The ticket is for 362. I am already a senior and working for the minimum wage. that is too much for me. Even I went to the DMV, I already paid the fees and the employee for DMV was very surprised on that ticket. And I ask you, why we can go to the court for a speed ticket or

any other small crime and the judge reduce or even dismiss it, but not for parking ticket? I ask you that. And why the subcontractor is untouchable? City must disclose how much is doing for parking tickets. They are too expensive. Somebody needs to take care of that. And some, they are unfair. I was working before in another company,

and let me tell you this. I was under training to be a patrol officer and the other guy was given tickets when one was too close for the red line. So the subcontractor for the city is by sure is doing the same because it's by commission. And I ask you who can help me for this issue because it's very important. Thank you. It's a copy for you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

In case any of the speakers are still here that wish to address item 26, Ty Pham, Lana Munholland, Patricia Huerta, Richard Adams, Maria Garcia, Carl Benninger,

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Jack Molenkopf, Donetta, Adrian Esparza, Dave Elliott, Libby Borgen, Sasha Law, Krista Sheehan, Jonathan Daley, Logan Crow, Ricardo Garcia, Irma Jaregwi, Doug Mangione.

Madam Mayor, Council, boy, that was weird. I was ready to speak on 26 when there were actually people in the room, but now that there's not, I am the proverbial floating object in the punch bowl. And yeah, IBW is still opposing this. And I know, I gotta give credit to the contractor. He organized a very good game and my hat's off to him. He had the Democratic Party, he had the directors of the Democratic Party's union brought in. He got the two big unions on board, but there's still, I want everybody to know there is collateral damage in this. My members aren't gonna work there, the sheet metal workers aren't gonna work there,

iron workers, operating engineers, there are some people that aren't going to work there. So we are not all that happy about this. But I was thoroughly confused there, so I apologize. But yeah, I want to go on record. IBW is opposing this. Thank you.

Good evening. Ricardo Garcia here. I too didn't get a chance to speak, so I've got to read something. Pursuant to Senate Bill 1181 Glacier, Mayor Amescua is required to recluse herself on item 26 or was required to recluse herself on item 26 due to receiving a $1,000 contribution from the Labor's Local 652 on September 21, 2024.

Councilman Jonathan Hernandez was required to recruit himself as well on Item 26, having received a contribution of $950 from the Carpenters Union on June 13, 2024. And lastly, Councilwoman Jessie Lopez should have also recused herself on Item 26, having received a contribution of $950 from the Carpenters Union on June 17, 2024. for. This bill prohibits local elected officials from voting on matters from interest groups that have contributed $250 more to an elected official. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Vicki Juarez, James Brine, George Boutros, Paolo Lima, Victor Mendez.

Is it two minutes, Madam Mayor, or three? Two minutes. Is it two minutes or three? It's two minutes, sir. Thank you. One second.

Okay, so evidently people over 60 or 65 have a lot of wisdom, so I bought my box of wisdom today.

So we're having a lot of problems on East 1st Street. This was on Saturday at 542. I called the police. Picture doesn't do it justice. A lot of traffic was happening. there's our candy man right here a lot of traffic around him I did call the police at 545 hoping somebody would come 602 candy man and his crowd disperse this is what we need to have no drugs when there's no drugs there's no people no people buying them do we want drugs or do we want or we want no drugs it's

very evident what's going on here no drugs looks nice no people no problems

he 602 I think he took off and then 603 like I said he was gone all happened in about 17 minutes anyway so we got a problem there's a lot of seniors that live there and we talked about oh we got to protect him we got to preserve him we need something done that alleyway is a very hot bed of drugs Hopefully I'm not boring you. Item 8. So you have about a chance for a $1 million opportunity in item 8. I hear $22 million is not a lot of money, but a $1 million might be. If you go through this general fund expenditures, there's a lot of unencumbered money there, about a million dollars at least. You can use it to fund the arts.

You can do a lot of different things with it. If you want to pass it over and just put it into the general fund for next budget year, you can, but you have about a million dollars just sitting there ready to do something with it. And I hear people always come over and bang the tin cup. So please go through that and maybe find something. There's also about $600,000 in mental health funding that has been spent. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Jason Goralnik.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Mayor and City Council, there are no speakers on Zoom, so that concludes the public speakers for tonight's meeting.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

At this time, we're going to go into the consent calendar.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Before we go there, Madam City Attorney, there was a comment made that Councilman Hernandez, Councilmember Vasquez, and myself,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

I'm sorry, Council Member Lopez, I apologize.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

We had accepted contributions to our campaign from, I believe you said the Carpenters. If you look under SB 1243 campaign contributions, the Governor did sign. Can you clarify on that, please?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 4

Yes, I believe that the reference was to the Levine Act, which says that if an elected official receives a campaign contribution of more than $250, they cannot participate in a decision, a governmental decision like an entitlement, such as the ones you approved tonight, if there are certain monetary thresholds that result from that. The unions would potentially be considered, potentially be considered as participants under this law, but in order to To be a participant, the impact on those entities would have to be $1 million. And each of you were advised to make sure that you spoke with those entities to confirm

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 4

whether there would be a million dollar impact. My understanding is that there was advice that there was not going to be a million dollar impact.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

That is correct. Thank you very much. I just wanted to correct the record. Okay. This time we're going to go to the consent calendar. consent calendar items 5 through 25 item 21 was pulled by the city manager just for clarification purposes council members please announce items you'll be abstaining from due to conflict and those you'd like to pull if we can get an approval for item 6 then we can do the swearing in of the youth commissioner i'll make a motion i'll second your motion madam mayor All those in favor?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

Aye.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Unanimous.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

Adrian?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Come on up, Adrian Ramirez.

I, Adrian Ramirez, do solemnly swear that 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'll bear truth, faith, and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of California. that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion,

that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter. Thank you.

You're good, you're good.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Congratulations, Adrian. All right, let's start. Any items you'd like to pull, Council Member Vasquez?

Benjamin VazquezItem 6

I'd like to make a comment on item 13.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

I'm sorry, comment on item 13. Councilwoman Lopez, please.

Jessie LopezItem 6

No items to pull.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Councilmember Penelosa.

David PenalozaItem 6

No items, Mayor.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Councilman Hernandez.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

Yes, Madam Mayor, just a comment on item 10 and 14.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

10 and 14, comment.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

And I'll make a motion to move the consent calendar.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Hold on, I'm not done yet.

Phil BacerraItem 6

Councilmember Becerra. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I will be polling item 9, and if 11 is pulled, I'll be voting no. And then I'd like to poll item 13. Mayor Pro Tem.

Thai Viet PhanItem 6

Nothing, Mayor.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

I'm going to poll item 11.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

There was a motion. Second. Is it prepared to vote?

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Motion by Councilmember Hernandez, seconded by Councilmember Penaloza to approve consent calendar items 5 through 25 with the exception of item 6 already approved.

David PenalozaItem 6

Jennifer? Yes. Councilmember Becerra.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Becerra, my apologies.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Consent calendar items 5 through 25 with the exception of item number 6 already approved. Items 9, 11 and 13 pulled for separate discussion and consideration and item 21 which was withdrawn by staff vote is seven eyes no nays motion carries mayor the first item pulled

Phil BacerraItem 6

is item nine by council member becerra thank you so this item is a purchase order for bottled water and i don't know when i see this item it it kind of uh intrigues me because proudly our city has award-winning, best tasting water. So what I don't understand is why we're not bottling our own water, number one. Also, too, just the fact that, you know, on this agenda we also have an update of our climate action plan. So it just seems like we're in conflict if we're going to continue to provide resources towards

Phil BacerraItem 7

something that's not sustainable. And I get it, there's conveniences to bottled water but again i revert back to why aren't we bottling our own so on this item i i will be a no vote i just i don't think we should be continuing to purchase bottled water we have amazing tasting water and it's not just me saying that it's not just my colleagues saying that it has been proven that we have one of the best tasting waters around so with that i will not be supporting this item i I do not want to continue to put more plastics in our landfills.

Phil BacerraItem 7

I think we need to be a little more environmental minded when it comes to how we provide water in a more sustainable fashion. So I will not be supporting this item.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Are there any other comments by any other council members?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Yes.

Jessie LopezItem 7

Does staff want to provide some sort of summary for the public about this item?

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

So one of the reasons why we have this item is that we're required to provide drinking water to our employees when they're on the field. So this is more for folks that are actually out there like in public works, parks, recreation, and even officers and court enforcement, for example. So this allows them to retrieve and take water from the yard. that's one we can look and to see if we can form some level of to borrow our own our own water my understanding is we've looked in the past and it's been very expensive we can provide a look into it maybe we see we can do a receiving file

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

and a summary what the possible cost will be for bottling our own water

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

can you get back to us with that I'm always bragging about our water no I

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

I understand. I mean, again, it's not so much that we're not proud to have our own water. We can look into it, but what would it take, right? You know, kind of health inspections, state, you know, aspects. Do we have a refinery? I don't know what we look for. So what do the research provide an update?

David PenalozaItem 7

Mayor, I'll make a motion to approve item nine, but to also include that so you can come back to us later with information on the feasibility of bottling our own water. I'll second your motion.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

I'm sorry. There was a question. Was that your motion? Yes. Okay. So there was a second over here and then I had a couple of comments. Yes. May I pretend?

Thai Viet PhanItem 7

Thank you. So just for clarification, when you're talking about employees in the field, right, because I carry bottled water pretty much everywhere I go since I sit on the water board and it's really important to me. But are you saying, so if you're sending someone out, maybe they'll be out for several hours, they'll take a case of water or a few water bottles because it's not convenient to stop by somewhere to refill a water bottle. Right. So I get it. I always tell our residents, don't buy bottled water. It's lower quality and it's like a thousand percent markup.

Thai Viet PhanItem 7

But I also understand the convenience, especially if we have events, if we're providing reusable containers and we're cleaning them ourselves or a situation like that when folks are out for a few hours and it's not easy or convenient for them to stop and go find a water fountain or go visit a local business or try to purchase their own exactly right and so i can see that convenience i think maybe i do support getting a report back just a receive and file but i also think that as a city we can always promote the use of individual water bottles as well as refillable

Thai Viet PhanItem 7

water i think that's always a positive practice to have thank you yes and we appreciate that we do

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Yeah, thank you for that, Mayor Patel. Because I was going to say, I drink our water, and we hardly ever buy water bottles in our house anymore.

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

As do I in Medellin City Hall. Again, it's just the functionality that allows to make sure we provide resources to our people in the field.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

That's fine. And 90 days is enough time to just come back and get us that information?

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

If I could do it sooner, I'll provide it sooner.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Okay, perfect. There is a motion and a second. Let's prepare to vote, please. There's no other comments.

Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Motion by Council Member Penaloza seconded by Council Member Hernandez to approve item number nine citywide purchase order with DS Services of America with the provision for staff to return with the feasibility on bottling our own Santa Ana water.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Vote is six ayes, one nay. Nay by Council Member Becerra. motion carries thank you mayor the next item is item number 10 for a comment by

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 7

councilmember Hernandez thank you madam thank you madam mayor this was just a very brief comment we're one of the few cities and across Orange County that provides translation services I was happy to see that we weren't unanimous in approving this item today specifically very happy with the translation services provided here at City Hall through Caesar Vargas and associates they do a tremendous job updating the public in Spanish and just ensuring that translation services and interpretation services are provided at the highest level so I just wanted to share with my colleagues I'm very

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 7

thankful that we continue to make that a priority that all of our residents are able to engage in their community thank you thank you mayor the next item is

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

item number 11 which you pulled? Right. There was an email sent by, I believe, Assistant City Manager Steven Mendoza. You have this listed as item number 10. I believe it was item 11, correct? I just want to make that correction. Yes. Yeah, I was reading it. Okay, so I just want an update if we could please. I see that there's a $400,000 contract services for 24, 25, 25, 26. And yes, I did read the information. I did read the staff report. And then Mr. Mendoza, I appreciate your email to clarify something. So the council member that asked, thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

It appears the city collected 1.96 million in rental registry fees and 11,000 in change in investment earnings. expenses for the rent stabilization program during the year were paid from the inclusionary housing fund of 1.26 million so i saw the email you sent could you just go over a little bit about i know the goal was to hire i believe 12 staff or 14 staff we have consultants we have attorneys Mr. Garcia, thank you. Can you give us an update?

Yes, Mayor, City Council, we currently have four staff within our rent stabilization division. We are supplementing that with RSG staff. We have two on-site staff as well as three remote. We are in the process of looking at hiring an office assistant in this coming fiscal year. and we very much appreciate the work that RSG does in helping us with our property exemption reviews, our fair return petitions, capital improvement petitions, as well as training our rental housing board. We get quite a number of inquiries.

In July we had 582 inquiries, 409 in August and 347 in September. and the work that RSG does is cost effective for the rent stabilization division. Over a five-year period, we plan to pay back the inclusionary housing fund, starting with a $250,000 payment this fiscal year.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

What is the inclusionary fund money used for on a regular basis?

It can be used for housing-related services and production of affordable housing. and so we felt this was a complimentary service that could be utilized for the interim.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

You just said it could be used for affordable housing?

That's correct.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

In what way?

It could be used for production of affordable housing units. It could be utilized for consulting contracts. We have contracts with Kaiser Marston for doing financial feasibility studies. We are also funding appraisal valuations. We're in the middle of a request for proposals process, and we hire consultants that are coming in and doing appraisal work for some of the scattered sites that are being proposed for development. And so it could be used for a variety of uses.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

I remember when I was first elected when this came about and we were having conversations lots of meetings with you thank you to understand it and get a good grip of it so it says here that the city anticipates receiving a revenue 1.96 million during the fiscal year 24 25 where do you

anticipate that coming from we're going with the same amount of money and this would be for the rental registry revenue collected for 2024 25 we hope it'll be higher than it was in 23-24 but we're going with a very conservative estimate that would be similar to what it was upon initiating the program in 23-24. Has everyone paid? No. Right now we have been working with property owners that have five units and above and we're also looking at going this year towards even two, three, and four unit apartment complexes. Kind of the smaller mom and pop.

Landlords have not been, I mean, they do have an obligation to pay. If they are renting properties within the city, they have an obligation under the ordinance to pay. But our focus has been on the larger multifamily property owners.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

But tell me again, just for those watching at home, and so that I am very clear, the small mom and pops that you say you'll now be billing, the two, three, four units, five units, how much will they be paying?

They would be paying per unit $100 per year. Half of that can be put onto their tenants. But that's not an obligation. It's only if they so choose to put that on their tenants on a monthly basis.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

Okay, so what I heard you just say, and I don't want to put words in your mouth, so I'm going to repeat what you said, and if I say it wrong, please correct me. $100 per unit. Per year. And half of it can be placed on the tenant. That's correct. So then they would pay $50, and the owner or property manager would pay the other $50.

That's correct, and that $50 on the tenant would be paid on a monthly basis. It can't be placed on them at one time.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

The tenant would pay $50 monthly.

No, no. It would be $4.80. It's broken down. It's broken down over a 12-month period.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

Perfect. Okay. Council Member Sera?

Thank you, Mr. Garcia. You're welcome.

Phil BacerraItem 11

Thank you, Madam Mayor. So we have this contract with RSG because they're going to provide us services now. If I remember from the beginning and from what was proposed at the beginning is far different from where we are today. Let's be clear, right? So 100% compliance on these rental fees or unit fees, and you were going to have 14 new bodies, but now we are contracting out. Is there a reason why you haven't hired staff instead?

The rental registry revenue is still not what we would want it to be. We would like 100% compliance from those who must be submitting and registering and submitting their payment, but we do not have that yet.

Phil BacerraItem 11

I bet everybody would love for 100% compliance. So we made a decision. No, let me rephrase that. Four people up here made a decision that did not include me as part of that decision to go ahead and embark on this journey. So we were hoping for 100% compliance, right? Hope is not a currency, but dollars are. We were hoping for it, but we didn't get either. So now we're at a point where instead of paying for staff to manage the boondoggle, now we are using in-loop fees. So we're basically baiting and switching here.

Is that fair?

It was always part of our plan to utilize inclusionary housing fees and pay them back over a five-year period.

Phil BacerraItem 11

So it was always envisioned not to rely on the unit fees. I want to hear that. Is that really what I just heard? Because if I go back and look at the staff reports, it talked about, don't worry, this will all be self-sustaining because we're just going to use the unit fees. Because remember, 100%, everybody was going to pay it, right? But now it's no no no we were actually always going to use the in-lieu fees to then pay back because for some reason somewhere it got lost that we weren't going to get shockingly weren't going to get 100% compliance in paying the unit fees.

Phil BacerraItem 11

So and then also did I hear you say that you were only seeking payment from certain types of units. So for instance only five plexes five and above.

Well, all the property owners that are subject to the ordinance must register and pay their fees. We have focused our efforts in trying to get compliance from those that are five units and above, and we're going to keep working on how we can go after property owners that are four and three and two units in this coming fiscal year.

Phil BacerraItem 11

So we're targeting property owners. Yes. We are targeting property owners. That is not a good practice for a city government to only look at, even though a fee is on the books, we are only looking to collect it from certain folks. That is not a good look for this city. And I am definitely, definitely bothered by that. So we're only knocking on the doors of certain types of folks, even though the law says everybody should be paying it that is renting units.

So it's just a focused effort.

Phil BacerraItem 11

Yeah, I get it. I get what focus is. or targeting, focus, targeting, either way, that's what this is. I am very happy that I'm gonna be voting no on this item. This thing has been flawed from the beginning, and it continues to be flawed, as just every time we ask one question, it's like, what I think is gonna be awful becomes exponentially worse with this thing. Now, the concept, yes, limiting rent, we don't wanna see people out on the streets, but this has been a giant boondoggle, but why would anybody be shocked when decisions were made at 3.30 in the morning on policy?

Phil BacerraItem 11

can't say we should be shocked here so I'm very proud to be voting no on this

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

item thank you any other comments otherwise remove the item in common you

Thai Viet PhanItem 11

had razor go ahead Mary project thank you director Garcia so a couple clarification questions whenever we have any type of program in the city any program or maybe minister city manager do we have a hundred percent compliance from any program in the city let's be honest here that you're aware of we

Alvaro NuñezItem 11

always try for a hundred percent so no we try right right as a city with our

Thai Viet PhanItem 11

limited resources we work to get every single person in compliance right yes okay my other question is you know when you set up a new department or funding So let's say our police funding. We funded these vacancies, but we don't have them filled yet. Does that mean we don't try to fund it?

Alvaro NuñezItem 11

Correct. We try to fund it.

Thai Viet PhanItem 11

Yes, because our goal is to get them filled and to get those services taken care of. Is that correct?

Alvaro NuñezItem 11

Yes.

Thai Viet PhanItem 11

So when we're talking about the rent registry, we're setting up a new program. Over the last two years, do we have the same amount of staff or have we been growing the department?

We have grown the department in the past year.

Thai Viet PhanItem 11

Thank you. And over the past year, has the rent stabilization department provided more services to landlords and tenants?

Yes.

Thai Viet PhanItem 11

Over the past year, has the rent stabilization department answered more questions as well as helped renters from, say, being evicted, helped landlords follow the law?

Yes.

Thai Viet PhanItem 11

Okay. And when we're talking about ensuring compliance, right, and Mr. City Manager, you worked in code enforcement and any other, lots of other programs in the city. It's my understanding that, you know, we have everyone, whether it's get a business license or a permit, etc. But obviously some businesses, especially if they're big businesses with hundreds or thousands of units or in some cases lots of sales tax, if they're evading, complying with the law, we notice. Is that correct?

Alvaro NuñezItem 11

Yes.

Thai Viet PhanItem 11

or when there are landlords who know for a fact that they are increasing rent in violation of local ordinance and residents complain about it then we go talk to the landlord is that correct yes okay and when you're talking about the two million dollars that's been collected and I just want to clarify we are paying back dollars that we are borrowing for the time being from the inclusionary zoning ordinance correct yes okay and we will be paying back every single penny of that is that correct yes and are there any funds in the inclusionary zoning ordinance that is being withheld from any affordable

Thai Viet PhanItem 11

housing developers that we know of right now no so basically what staff is doing which is something that staff has always done in the different departments if there are available funds for a project that is necessary today we do a transfer is that correct? Yes. Okay. So I just want to make it clear to, you know, the residents watching and anyone out there. This program is helping prevent families from being forced out of their homes, preventing families from going homeless, and making sure that our communities stay together. This is a growing program. There are going to be learning curves, and I'm so proud of the work that

Thai Viet PhanItem 11

our rent stabilization division has been doing. I visited them just this past week, and to see the commitment and the personal values that they put on the line every day to make sure not just the tenants but the landlords comply is truly incredible because at the end of the day our most basic needs is housing and that's exactly what they're doing there and I look forward to the additional programming that we are working on getting federal grant dollars expanding the services to both landlords and tenants as well as helping them mediate right a lot of issues that come up as well as hopefully prevent the unfair

Thai Viet PhanItem 11

eviction of tenants so that everyone complies with the law is that correct that's correct thank you and I look forward to an update with all of those different programs that Maricela and the team are working on because truly I think this is a not just a unique but such a needed program and I'm so excited that other cities and counties and jurisdictions are following soon thank Thank you. And I will be supporting this.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

Thank you. I'll call on you Councilman Hernandez. One second. Because she brought up some really good points. You said we have how many staff? You have three remote?

We have RSG has three remote and two on site. And then the city staff are four. And they're located at the work center at 801 Civic Center Drive.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

We have three remote, two on site.

That's correct.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

And then you have the work center. How many?

For city staff at the work center building, 801 Civic Center Drive.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

And you have a consultant? That's an RSG, correct?

That's correct.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

And how much do we pay then?

We plan, if this contract is approved, to pay $400,000 in the first contract year and $400,000 in the second contract.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

So $800,000 for two years?

That's correct.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

And what's the percentage that we've collected? How many people or how many apartment complex property owners, duplex owners?

2,600 parcels or properties have paid their rental registry fees.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

And how many are we lacking?

I believe we don't know the exact amount because single family property owners and the smaller property owners that are harder to identify. So I can get that to you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

Roughly, what do you think since it's your department?

it? I think it's another 15,000 that would be appropriate to collect. Another 15,000 parcels?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

Yes. Okay, that's what I wanted to know. And I hear Mayor Pro Tem clearly. My concern is that we're spending a lot of money on consultants and we're using funding. We're basically taking money out of one area of the city and using it for another area. And so when you say we're paying

it back what's the timeline to pay back in this fiscal year would be $250,000 and then in the following four years we're ramping up to $500,000 in the next fiscal year 25 26 and staying on that trend so we're gonna use we're

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

using basically we're using a lot more than 800,000 because you're also paying

city staff and do we have attorneys we do have attorneys we work with a silver and right and they help with the petition reviews and we also work with our own legal counsel who is helping uh work through the issues with different challenges that have been

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

presented to the city okay that's all i have for me now thank you councilman hernandez

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 11

thank you madam mayor i just wanted to thank the city staff i know that the rent control ordinance is new to the city and we're the only city in orange county that has that and when we have policy that is being created in the county where families have had to leave this county to the IE and counties where housing costs much less money it is important that we uplift our staff and we celebrate the work that you do I know that there is certainly you know a higher threshold that we'd like to see of landlords responding and working with the city but I want to commend you and

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 11

your staff for your due diligence you guys are consummate professionals you guys are at all of our city events providing resources and information I've worked with you Michael Garcia and protecting over you know a very large number of residents in an apartment complex that we're facing an illegal rent increase and there's many examples as to how rent control is protecting families where the money is going to focus on under this agreement is RSG will continue to assist the city in administering the ordinance by providing for the following services. These monies will help us with providing services to our residents

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 11

in the areas of providing temporary staffing to respond to public inquiries, support staff with the rental registry and property exemptions, reviewing and processing fair return petitions, capital improvement petitions, and written evaluations. They will also support city staff with review and process of tenant petitions, provide support with petition hearings, assist the City Clerk and the staff with formation of the Rental Housing Board, including board member trainings, orientation and materials. They will also provide new and temporary staff training,

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 11

including training materials. They will refer tenant legal matters and interpretation questions to community legal aid organizations as needed. They will conduct research on best practices and surveys. And lastly, they will provide advisory services, all of these services tailored on protecting Santa Ana families I know that this is a policy that we would love to see the this ordinance be able to absorb these costs just as we've designed but as we're shaping this ordinance and we're working through these kinks I think it's important that we support our city staff through this process so I

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

will be voting yes thank you see no other speakers it was there a motion I'll

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 11

I'll make a motion to move the item, Madam Mayor.

Thai Viet PhanItem 11

I'll second.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

Second by Mayor Pro Tem.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

Prepare to vote.

Jennifer L. HallItem 11

A motion by Council Member Hernandez, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Fan, to approve item 11, an agreement with RSG Inc. for contract staffing to support the rent stabilization Just Cause Fiction Program.

Jennifer L. HallItem 11

The vote is 4 ayes, 3 nays. Nays by Mayor Emesqua and Councilmembers Becerra and Penaloza. Motion carries.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 11

Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 11

The next item is item 13, pulled by Councilmember Becerra.

Phil BacerraItem 11

Thank you. Of course the planner up here would pull this item. So what can I say? This is the agreement for land management system software. Is Director Tai still here? Okay.

So I have a question.

Phil BacerraItem 13

So in kind of the local world of planning, Zemus in LA, not to be confused with the drink, is seen as the Cadillac when it comes to land management systems. I looked at the group that I guess we're going with, is it acela okay and and looking at the uh examples that were cited in the report i mean no disrespect to any of these cities i'm about to name i'm just i'm saying this more as a planner than i am as a council member hunting beach anaheim whittier the systems are very limited especially again having seen a system like la where you can pull every imaginable piece of

Phil BacerraItem 13

information about a property with just a few clicks although ASLA did a great job with the city of Sacramento's land information lookup app or lila as they called it so Sacramento's I think was probably the closest we got to Zimas in LA but I'm just curious why we're not going and aspiring to a system like that why are we kind of settling a little bit lower than that Can I? Don't be shy.

Alvaro NuñezItem 13

Jack Shula, our IT expert. Can I help us?

Hi, Council Member. When we put out the RFP back in 2021, Zemus, they never bid on it. So we ended up selecting a vendor at that point. Things didn't really work out with that vendor, So we went back to who had bid before and looked at what was already there that we had already somewhat evaluated. So I'm not familiar with the Zemus system. And I don't know if it's customized or why they didn't choose to bid on our project. But that's why they weren't looked at.

Phil BacerraItem 13

I don't know that Zemus is an actual company per se. I think that's just the name of the system that the city of Los Angeles uses. And it's not often that we cite the city of L.A. for something we want to aspire to. but in this particular instance we do. But I would just ask then if we are going with ASLA, which I don't have a problem with because the other systems seem okay, but the Sacramento one seemed like the one that really truly made it publicly accessible to gather more information. When it came to Huntington's or Anaheim's, it was just identifying the parcel and the zoning,

Phil BacerraItem 13

whereas Sacramento's I feel like made much more information available to the user. So are we, or can I get a commitment that we are aspiring more towards the Sacramento model, not some of the other, I would say, kind of less accessible models?

Thank you for that question. The short answer is yes. That is the goal for both our code enforcement, planning, and land use, as well as building information to be able to allow the public to access our information online as is publicly available.

Phil BacerraItem 13

So just so everybody understands what this is and correct me where I go wrong. So this land management system. So I'm going to go online. I'm going to see a map of our city. I'm going to go to a specific parcel that has a property of interest. I'm going to be able to click on it. I'm going to be able to access zoning, general plan information, building permit history, code enforcement, any sort of violation history. Is there anything else that I'm missing?

We have much of that today available on a module-by-module basis. Our goal with Accela is to consolidate everything so that it's easy for the customer to be able to interact in one user interface and access all that information.

Phil BacerraItem 13

Great. I'm supportive of the item. One last comment is just pretty please take a look at the City of LA's Zima system. I think, again, that is the Cadillac of these types of systems, and I think that's what we should be aspiring to. It's encouraging that ASLA did the city of Sacramento's because theirs is a pretty good interactive system. So those are just my comments. I'm hoping that that's kind of the direction we're going with this.

Thank you. And I'll go ahead and move the item.

Phil BacerraItem 13

I second.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 13

Thank you. Let's prepare to vote.

Jennifer L. HallItem 13

motion by council member becerra seconded by council member vasquez to approve agreements for enterprise land management system software and implementation services item number 13 vote is seven ayes no nays motion carries mayor the next item is item 14 for a comment by council Member Hernandez.

Jennifer L. HallItem 13

Councilman.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 13

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I just wanted to speak on this item. Item 14 is furniture for the main library renovation, which is an important part of the city's history. We have a beautiful library right in the center of Orange County, and today we approved an agreement with New Tanagram, LLC, Goforth and Marty DBA, and J.K. Minkin. Some of these providers have worked with libraries in our neighboring cities, and I'm really excited about modernizing Santa Ana's Public Library. Very happy that my colleagues unanimously supported this item. Investing in your children is investing in the future. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 14

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

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

Thank you. And we've already heard the public hearing item, so at this time we're going to go to the city manager comments.

Alvaro NuñezItem 14

Yes, I want to provide a brief comment regarding our cleanup. I know we've mentioned it multiple times, but I want to thank the Public Works Agency. As many of our residents, and when we go to meetings, often complain how our streets look, more importantly how our bus stops are not being cleaned. Just as a quick highlight, we're going on our 21st, 22nd day of cleaning the bus stops, right on the main arterials this that includes first Street 17 Main Street Grand Street Bristol Street standard Warner Harbor and Edinger and our staff is out there from 6 a.m. to 3 o'clock in the morning we average about 27 to 32

Alvaro NuñezItem 14

bus stops a day to cleaning over 705 have clean been clean so far so I say that because as we travel to our city you begin to see our city staff actually focusing on those kind of fundamentals where actually the public can see that we're trying to make sure that we sanitize both our sidewalks and more importantly where people that ride the buses take an opportunity to actually sit and enjoy at least those amenities. So I want to thank the Public Works Agency for that component. On a second note, and I recognize the fact that Councilman Becerra recognized the Planning

Alvaro NuñezItem 14

and Building Agency with the proclamation earlier today before the City Council meeting. But I do want to emphasize at the APA, the Association of Planning and Building Conference, was a statewide conference in Riverside and as Executive Director meant I said over 1,500 attendees. But one of the things that I really do want to recommend and acknowledge about the Planning and Building and our city as we move forward in leadership positions is that we actually had our staff, and I'll mention them, Ricardo Soto, Ali Pechishpor, Margarita Macedonio,

Alvaro NuñezItem 14

and Yvette Portugal actually be the panelists and key components within the actual APA conference. And I can tell you because I literally walked out and looked at the other panels at the same time, and you could tell that ours were the most visited and at least attended. So that just gives us the level of folks that you have within your staff and how we are providing some level of leadership within the city and the state. You notice that I sent an email earlier last week regarding our participation with CalCities and encouraging our policymakers to also take those leadership positions.

Alvaro NuñezItem 14

And again, our posture is to make sure that the city of Santa Ana takes advantage of those type of training opportunities, highlight our work represent our work not only regionally but statewide and also encourage my policy makers to take the same approach because that's where wait I think we as leadership are providing this direction making sure that the city of Santana is represented at the regional level state level and let's say national level too thank you thank you mr. City manager

Benjamin VazquezItem 14

councilmember Vasquez please thank you so much I'm excited for a day of the dead I know I'm a month off, but it's coming and it's time to get ready and hope families can sign up for Viva La Vida or Noche de Artares to bring their altars onto 4th Street. I know my favorite event for Day of the Dead is Valley de los Muertos, which is celebrated at my school and the kids get involved. I want to make sure I'll be remiss if I didn't mention Don Eric Velasco who passed away, who started a marigold movement in Santa Ana, that little house, little blue house in Henninger Park and he did amazing work and and started a

Benjamin VazquezItem 14

movement and now we grow them throughout our city farms and gardens and throughout Santa Ana where we're growing marigolds and actually Abel Ruiz who had an award from Crescer earlier was one of his mentees and he he grew it in the backyard Carl we had a neighborhood association for Central City Bella Vista Casa Bonita and New Horizons 25 people came out it was great Councilmember Hernandez send out his staff we were graced by the mayor they were super excited they were into it asking questions and you know fighting for themselves it was great thank you john for for coming as well uh

Benjamin VazquezItem 14

you know always welcomed and it was just a beautiful event and i'm looking uh forward to the mid-autumn festival a shout out to you know i just want to shout out to my students they've been amazing the last last year and this year you guys have been awesome that that i don't love you in the past that I just been I just been a better teacher and they're just so calm and just great children and we're really good and I love them to death and a special shout out to JT for being the student in the muds a good kid and all his teachers are really proud of him ah water polo the boys of

Benjamin VazquezItem 14

Santa Ana high school are doing a great job I think they're 17-1 hopefully 18-1 today their moms told me I have to shout them out and bring them on at the end when they win league so I want to shout out the Santa Ana boys water polo team maybe me and David could pair up since we both play water polo in high school you play water polo oh damn okay the three of us all right so I shout out to the boys Santa high school water polo team thank you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

no we're good do not come in here whatever you wore when you played water polo okay are you done councilman vasquez okay councilmember lopez

Jessie LopezItem 14

yes um we just want to invite the community to another creek cleanup that we're doing with oc habitats um later this month and so we'll share that day via our newsletter and our social media channels and thank you it feels nice to get out of here before nine hopefully yep council member

David PenalozaItem 14

council member panelist thank you mayor mesco i just wanted to thank public works and city manager for your clean city initiative on our bus stops i know that i've mentioned this to you out of city manager nunez over the last couple of weeks but um our bus stops uh it might be clean but But I don't like, personally don't like driving around and seeing four different versions of bus stops throughout the city. I know that we've slowly been transitioning them out. The ones pictured in the slideshow that you presented, those ugly aluminum ones,

David PenalozaItem 14

probably should be, I hope, on the list soon to be replaced with the nicer ones that we've been installing over the last couple of months or years. With those that we've installed, as much as I love tulips, I drive around. and the idea was to generate revenue from these bus stops and the shelters. However, these advertised here now, tulips that don't seem to change ever on these bus shelters, we should make a proactive effort to go out there and try to hunt down advertisers and companies to pay us to advertise on our bus shelters. The tulips are starting to fade.

David PenalozaItem 14

So, if we could work on that, I'd appreciate it. Aside from that, that is it. Looking forward to the Mid-Autumn Festival on Saturday. I will be with my daughter there, who has her aweai, that Auntie Ty got her, that finally fits her. So excited to see everybody out there on Saturday. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

Council Member Hernandez.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 14

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I just want to thank members of the public for attending today's City Council meeting, as well as our city staff for putting this together. I especially am looking forward to wishing a happy birthday to our city attorney, Sonia Carvalho. Her birthday just passed this weekend. And I especially am very much looking forward to the Viva La Vida and Noche de Altares events that are going to be happening in downtown Santa Ana. Those events have been happening. Specific Noche de Altares was the first event started over 15 years ago.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 14

started by local residents, brings thousands of altars to the community that are led by residents. And next Thursday, we have a very exciting ceremonial street topper unveiling. It will be at the intersection of Santa Ana Boulevard and Pacific, as well as a ceremonial street topper placed at Santa Ana Boulevard and Forest. We will be celebrating the Guzman family, Virginia and William Guzman, who were plaintiffs who sued Santa Ana Unified in the 1940s to desegregate those schools. Virginia and William Guzman were residents of Articia Pilad and their home was off of

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 14

second and rate. Their family still lives in the community and their contributions to civil rights and desegregating our schools should be uplifted all throughout the country. Santa Ana will now have ceremonial street toppers at the intersections of where their story began. And then lastly, in our city of Santa Ana, we are a fighting community with a lot of world-class athletes. And this upcoming weekend, we have a historic fight happening that includes one of our own residents. Ronnie Rios is the brother of Alexis Rocha. And this Saturday, he will be fighting for the WBA World Championship title.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 14

He will be fighting Nick Ball in Liverpool, England. There will be over 40,000 fans watching San Ana's own resident fight for a world championship. And he's going to Liverpool to fight the champion in his own backyard. So your neighbor from your city is fighting for a world championship this Saturday against Nick Ball. San Ana versus everybody. We're putting our faith and our love and our hope into Ronnie Rios that he brings back a championship to the city. and granted that we have a championship coming back here, I want to put it out there in front of my colleagues, we get a championship victory, we should do a parade for this man.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 14

This would be our first boxing world champion and again, he's going to Liverpool to take that title and in order to beat the champ, you got to go and take it. So, Ronnie Rios, we stand with you. Let's go, campeón.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

Thank you. Councilman Becerra, please.

Phil BacerraItem 14

Thank you, Madam Mayor, and I'm also hoping Ronnie brings home the championship. one of the things that we are blessed in the city especially on the south side is that we do have some beautiful parks and over the past couple of months i've hosted my monthly community office hours at different parks and this month october 5th on saturday at 10 a.m i'll be hosting it at adams park right over there off of rate and warner so i look forward to seeing

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

everybody there have a good night i'm going to go next because may i protest will be closing the meeting out on October 14th here in the chambers from 6 to 8 p.m. there will be a prop 36 educational forum I usually have my neighborhood association meetings with all neighborhood association leaders but instead of having that meeting we're going to have a prop 36 educational forum here in the chambers from 6 to 8 p.m. also the bus stops city manager thank you so much for doing that the police department sitting at thank you chief for all the work it's not just

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

one person it takes a whole village right we all know that so thank you also the older and adults older adult celebration was a lot of fun it always is the second year we had a great time no I don't fit that older adult yet but someday the Logan reunion oh my god we had a great time Councilman Becerra Penelosa and I were there. We brought in new flags for them and we hung them up and Hawk thank you so much. Your staff got us new flags and the Logan neighborhood was very happy. Got my Logan reunion shirt. I'm gonna wear it to a meeting. Great people, had a great time. The Discovery Cube was wonderful. We had

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

good time there as well. On Saturday October 19th I'm having the next coffee with the mayor at Fire Station 75 on 1st and Main. I'm looking forward to that. It's always wonderful at the Fire Station. A lot of people turn out with their children. Again, October 19th at the Fire Station, Fire Station 75 on 1st and Main Street on October 19th. And finally, one more thing, two things actually. On October 12th, Santa Ana College, we'll be having a second girls conference. starts at 9 o'clock in the morning until 2 p.m. A lot of partners, a lot of resource tables, looking forward to that as well.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

So if you're a young lady between the age of 12 and 21, please sign up. There's a QR code. You can go on my newsletter. You can go on to social media. You can find it there. And it will be October 12th at Santa Ana College. Please go on there and register and join us. It's working in collaboration with Girls, Inc. and many others, and it is a lot of fun. Finally, I'm going to close with this, that today I sent out a letter to Supervisor Sarmiento requesting help to fund school crossing guards in Santa Ana. As we all know, or we should know, Supervisor Sarmiento and Supervisor Don Wagner gave funding

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

to the City of Orange for their crossing guard program, and I'm hoping that now we can reach out to him. Well, I've reached out to him today as the mayor of the city to ask for his assistance to bring the school district to the table so that Santa Unified, the county, and the city can share the cost, all three of us as partners, for crossing guards throughout our city. So I'm looking forward to a response, hoping we can get our crossing guards back with assistance from the supervisor and Santa Ana Unified. And with that, Mayor Pro Temp, I'll turn it over to you.

Thai Viet PhanItem 14

Thank you, Madam Mayor. So a couple of announcements first. First, obviously, this Saturday, October 5th, it's going to be a packed one. First, between 9.30 and 1 p.m., you should visit the Vietnamese Catholic Center right here in Ward 1 for the Hope Health Fair. You can get your flu vaccines, hepatitis B screening, blood pressure screening, diabetes screening. Come, get checked. I got both my flu and my COVID vaccine a couple days ago. Feel great. So definitely do that. It's going to be an intense season. And of course, after you do all that, come by from 4 to 8 p.m. Centennial Park, also in Ward 1, for our mid-autumn festival.

Thai Viet PhanItem 14

It's our third annual festival. It's going to be an incredible time. Come visit our booth. We are just so excited to have you and just to see the community come out and learn about different cultures in the city. October 12th, Orange County Fire Authority is having station open houses. And so Station 75 in Santa Ana, that's at 120 West Walnut Avenue, you'll be able to come, check out the fire station, check out the engines. It's going to be super fun if you've never been to one before. I always learn something new when I'm there. And so lastly, thank you, Madam Mayor, for giving me the opportunity to close this meeting.

Thai Viet PhanItem 14

It was supposed to be on the last meeting, September 17th. And that was, and still is since the election is about a month away, September 17th is National Voter Registration Day. And it was also my dad's birthday. He passed away in 2017. And, you know, I bring these things together because despite coming to America as a Vietnamese refugee, the first in his family who worked. He gave up going to school so that he can work and help to

Thai Viet PhanItem 14

bring his family to America. He lived in America for 35 years, and he never registered to vote. He never got to see me run for office, and he never got to vote for me. And part of that is because, you know, I'm getting emotional, but so many immigrants and refugees who are forced to leave their homes out of fear due to violence and war often do not feel a part of the fabric of America. Many others do. I myself feel very American and very patriotic. But I bring this

Thai Viet PhanItem 14

story up because I think it's incumbent on all of us here who have the right to vote, who have the privilege of being engaged with our government to reach out to others and help lift them up and remind them that they part of this community too. That they, whether they are an immigrant, a refugee, asylee, or someone born in America, that they need to participate in this system because democracy cannot exist without them. So I encourage everyone to register to vote, to talk to your friends and family and learn about what's on the ballot this November 5th because looking back I wish I had the opportunity to sit down with my dad and

Thai Viet PhanItem 14

tell him that his daughter ran for office and became the first Vietnamese American to represent the city of Santa Ana and I'd like to believe that he would have registered to vote for me thank you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 14

meeting adjourned

Recording stopped.