Read the December 17 meeting.

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Recording in progress.

Jennifer L. Hall

Whenever you're ready, Mayor.

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you. I was looking for my glasses. I can't read without them. All right, let's start the meeting, Madam Clerk. Yes. I hereby call 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. Madam Clerk, please conduct the roll call.

Jennifer L. Hall

Council Member Becerra. Here. Council Member Hernandez. Council Member Lopez. Council Member Pina-Lyza? Council Member Vasquez? Present. Mayor Pro Tempey? Here. Mayor Mesquith?

Valerie Amezcua

Present. Four members, that is a quorum. Madam Kirk, are there any additions or deletions to the closed session? There are not. Do any council members need to announce their abstentions?

Valerie Amezcua

Seeing none, Madam Kirk, do we have any speakers for closed session?

Jennifer L. Hall

No, no speakers and no emails were received related to the closed session agenda.

Valerie Amezcua

Great, thank you. At this time we'll recess in the closed session.

Recording stopped.

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We'll be right back.

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Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Thank you.

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Thai Viet Phan

Recording in progress.

Valerie Amezcua

You can go ahead, Mayor.

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you very much. 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 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 break or to even clear the meeting room if a meeting becomes too disruptive to properly conduct business.

Valerie Amezcua

Warnings will be provided prior to any action being taken. 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. Hall

Council Member Becerra? Here. Council Member Hernandez? Council Member Lopez? Council Member Penalosa? Present. Council Member Vasquez?

Benjamin Vazquez

Present.

Jennifer L. Hall

Mayor Pro Tem Fan? Here. Mayor Mesqua? Present. Five members present, and you have a quorum. Thank you.

Valerie Amezcua

The first item on the agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. Can I have, you know what, I'm going to have our new Chief of Police, Robert Rodriguez, officially.

Valerie Amezcua

He is officially the Chief of Police of Santa Ana.

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.

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you, Chief. At this time, words of inspiration will be provided by Pastor Theodore Demetrius from Greenville Country Church. Please come to the podium, sir.

Before we pray, I'd like to mention to you that a few years ago, I attended a very similar meeting in Ukraine, and I want you to know we are a blessed nation. Let's pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for gathering us, all of us today, for this important endeavor. We ask you to bestow your guidance and blessing upon each attendee. May we honor one another by keeping an open mind. May we voice our truths and listen with an open heart.

Bless everyone present today, and each one may be able to share his or her contributions and gifts. Grant us good health and safety, and also to the loved ones that are outside of this room. Bestow your peace and goodwill to all of us. We ask your wisdom and grace to use our talents for the betterment of others. May the activities related to this day be a success through your interversion. With gratitude, we offer our prayers to you. Amen.

Valerie Amezcua

Amen. Thank you very much.

Valerie Amezcua

Madam Clerk, are there any additions or delusions to the City Council agenda?

Jennifer L. Hall

There are not, and if I could please make an announcement as well. Sure. For members of the public on Zoom or teleconference 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 in order to be in the speaker queue once public comments commence. Thank you.

Valerie Amezcua

We're going to do presentations right now. We have five of them. So mine is the very first one. If I can have the Taipei Economic Culture Office of Los Angeles and Orange County, please come up to the front.

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All three of you will be right here.

All right.

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I always be my glasses so I can see. Thank you guys. Why are you standing behind me? You stand right here.

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Can't stand behind me. All right, let's do this. It is an honor to be here today to recognize the outstanding contributions of the Cultural Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles. They represent Santa Ana as well. I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for your exceptional dedication to serving the community, fostering cultural exchange and providing invaluable resources that enhance education heritage and cultural understanding the culture center has made a significant impact by creating

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lasting connections across diverse communities from offering cultural resources to promoting education and trade your efforts have enriched both the overseas chinese community and the broader multicultural identity of Southern California. The center has also been fortunate to collaborate with local overseas compatriots, communities, and schools to host a variety of meaningful cultural activities. Notable events include the celebration of Double Tenth National Day and Taiwanese American Heritage Week here in Orange County. These events along with the center's many

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other initiatives are a testament to your commitment to celebrating and preserving cultural heritage while fostering unity and understanding across generations and cultures. It is with great pride that I present this certificate of recognition to the Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Culture Office. This honor celebrates your remarkable contributions and the transformative role you play in building a stronger, more connected, and culturally vibrant community. And I would just like to say thank you for being here. And if you have not been out to visit the Cultural Center, please do. Reach out to them. Go visit them.

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It's beautiful in the work that they do. I was so impressed, and thank you so very much. So on behalf of the City of Santa Ana, this is for you. And you get to speak.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor Valerie and all council members. Tonight I am so honored to be here on behalf of the Director of Cultural Center in Santa Ana. Today I would like to announce that next year, 2025 will be our 20th anniversary for our Cultural Center since we moved from Los Angeles, Chinatown to Santa Ana. Woo! 20th, yes! Here I would like to use this opportunity to thank all the overseas Taiwanese American communities. without that I can stand here on the stage thank you this certificate is belongs to all of you thank you

Thank you.

Thank you.

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Mary, Dr. Jeff Lamb, Mary Hegarty, Coach Johnny Peoples, and very importantly, the members of the 2024 Western State Bull Champions, the Santa Ana College Dons. Get on up here.

Congratulations. Congratulations.

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So today we are celebrating again the remarkable achievements of the 2024 San Ana College football team. On November 25th, the Dons claimed their second consecutive bowl game win by defeating the LA Southwest Cougars with a 35-20 victory in the 2024 Western State Bowl that was played right here in downtown San Ana over at the bowl. That impressive win solidified the Dons' excellence on the field and their commitment to success. With an overall record of eight and three, the Santa Ana College Dons have proven themselves to be one of the top

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teams in the region, finishing third in the very competitive American Metro League standings. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, determination, and teamwork of every player, coach, and staff member involved. I would also like to take a moment to recognize the individual accomplishments that have made Santa Ana College's season even more memorable. So several players on this team earned honors for their outstanding performances. Malik Paya, Michael Anaya, and Owen Smith were named to the All-Metro League first team on offense. On the defensive side, Zamir Richardson and Christian Gab earned spots

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on the All-Metro League first team for defense. Nathan Meek, William Salcedo, Nate Bento, and Aaron Hotchkiss were selected to the All-Metro League first, I'm sorry second team on offense and then Joseph Oborny, Owen Tesh, Joey Fox, Jesse Vargas, Damian Gomez, Malachi Bay and Aaron Hodgkins earned recognition on the all-metro league second team on defense. Did I mention every single player on the team or what? I feel like the whole darn team was on the all-metro league somewhere right? So these honors represent not only the talent of these student athletes but also their dedication, discipline and academic excellence.

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So as we look ahead, we eagerly await the announcement of the all regional and scholar athlete teams where we know more of our dons will be recognized for their outstanding contributions both on and off the field. Because I didn't name enough of the dons tonight. So there's got to be a couple more we name, right? So the achievement of this team is a great source of pride for our community. I know it's a big deal for Santa Ana College, but it's also a big deal for this city. Last year, I had some of the alumni that came back that won a national title for Santa Ana College.

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And I know that this program is going that direction right now. So I'm very happy and proud to have you guys here. And I just want to say congratulations. And with that.

There you go.

Yeah, first and foremost, I'd like to thank God. Pastor, thank you for your words. Thank you for your kind words in opening us up. I want to thank the city of Santa Ana College for having us here. And more importantly, I want to thank our leadership that's behind me, Dr. Neary, Dr. Lamb, Andrea Pichy, Dean Pichy, who's not here, and Mary Hegarty, who's our AD, who allows us to have the resources and the things that we get to do on the football field. I just want to thank our staff for this year for coming together. We had a tremendous loss with our prior coach, Anthony White, who passed a little over a year ago,

who laid down some fundamentals and foundation for our football team and our program moving forward. We want to honor him and honor his wife, San and Olivia and Anthony White Jr. And also to honor Anthony White, the year we went in for football, we wanted to honor Anthony White, and we did that. Coach Jeff Jones stepped in and did a great job. He brought together our staff and kept our staff together, and we were able to do what we do and go out and play football. And the last thing I want to really share is our student-athletes behind us, the most important thing that we preach,

building student-athletes, building a community, we say we put the community in college. And we say our family versus their team. So we're grateful and we're honored to be here. It's a privilege and honor to always get to stand before the Lord and stand before people that you really trust and love in. Our leadership has provided the resources for us, rather than track, football, all of our athletics, our wrestling team. We've got people doing great things at Santa Ana College, and we're building the community so the community can come and be a part of Santa Ana College, and there's some great things that's happening.

So we're looking forward to it. Thank you to this council. Thank you for everything that we ever had here, and just welcome and keep coming back and just come see us. Thank you. Thank you so much.

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I just want to say before we take a group photo, you know, Coach mentioned Coach White who passed away. What I appreciate about the Dons is that the way they recognize the coach, other than their excellent play, but they just kept on winning. They kept doing what Coach White would have wanted them to do. In fact, I think it was his, what, right before he passed, the last thing he got to see of the Dons was them winning the bowl last year. So what did they do again? They win the bowl again this year. So great job, Dons. Council, if you want to come down, join us for our group photo.

Yeah, before we come down, we'll always end with what we do. We do a special chant that we always do just to get the motivation. So we always do that. So let me get two beats, two claps, and a ooh.

Let me get two beats, two claps, and an ah. Let me get two beats and two claps and a ooh-rah. Ooh-rah.

Ooh-rah.

Thank you.

Are we going to turn it over to town?

Thank you.

Happy Holidays, Alex.

Thank you.

Jessie LopezItem 3

Okay, we are recognizing the Orange County Rapid Response Network. members of the network please come on up.

Jessie LopezItem 3

Okay, so tonight we are going to be recognizing the outstanding contributions to our community, not just within the city of Santa Ana, but really countywide, that the Orange County Rapid Response Network has been doing for many, many years. And keep in mind, this is all volunteer work. So it is really both an honor and a privilege to recognize the vital work of the OC Rapid Response Network, an organization that has been transforming crisis response and empowering families across our community since 2016. In a time of crisis, we often witness incredible resilience, but that is not something that

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happens by chance. It is cultivated by those who stand besides us in our darkest moments, and the OC Rapid Response Network has done just that for thousands of families in our city, turning moments of fear into moments of empowerment. In the face of ICE enforcement, this organization has moved beyond crisis management and created a model of courageous organizing ensuring that no family faces these challenges alone. The work of the Orange County Rapid Response Network is not only about responding to emergencies, but fostering long-term systemic change. They empower families to become agents of change in

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their immigration and criminal defense cases, ensuring that their voices are heard and that their rights are protected. This is a powerful and necessary shift and one that is helping build a just more society. The Orange County Rapid Response Network has also been at the forefront of advocating for critical legislative changes that protect our immigrant communities. They have championed transformative state-level legislation and two recent examples of that are the HOME Act and the VISION Act, both of which close to, both of which had dangerous

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deportation loopholes that have torn families apart for far too long and very proud to say that those pieces of state legislation have been supported by my office and other members of this council their work and pushing for these policies reflect a deep commitment to justice and dignity for every individual in our community regardless of their immigration status in addition to the advocacy they do at the state level the organization has made significant strides right here in Orange County. Through tireless advocacy, they help secure funding to

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establish three permanent Padilla attorney positions with the Orange County Public Defender's Office. These attorneys provide crucial guidance and legal assistance to non-citizen defendants in criminal cases, ensuring that their constitutional rights as outlined in the Padilla versus Kentucky decision are upheld. This expansion of legal services is a critical resource for our immigrant community and it is a testament of the ongoing work of our Orange County Rapid Response Network in advocating for policies that truly make a difference in the lives of our families. But the Orange County Rapid

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Response Network doesn't stop a policy and legislation. What truly sets them apart is their unwavering commitment to direct support for families. This organization is on the ground every day offering practical hands-on assistance when families need it most, whether it's accompanying individuals to hearings, helping prepare social bio packets, family preparedness plans, connecting families to legal representation, or offering immediate resources. The work that they do is saving lives and ensuring that people can navigate complex legal systems with the support that they need. Moreover, the Orange

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County Rapid Response Network stands firm in its challenge to the systems that perpetuate the mass incarceration and deportation of the people that we love. They are not simply addressing the systems of a broken system. They are actively working to remove the structures that harm our communities. Their commitment to justice is about transforming the system from the ground up, ensuring that families can stay together, and that justice is just not a privilege but a right for everyone. As a city councilwoman, I'm proud to stand alongside the Orange County Rapid Response Network.

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Their work truly exemplifies what it means to be a true community partner, working tirelessly for systemic change while ensuring the families receive the direct support that they need to thrive. And I really encourage all of you to support and stand with organizations like the Orange County Rapid Response Network, which make our communities stronger, more resilient, and more just. and we know and we firmly believe that together we can build a future where no family lives in fear where justice is accessible to all and where we stand united in the fight for dignity and equality now you're gonna hear from

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Sandra and other speakers of the rapid response network thank you

hi hi good evening everyone thank you so much Councilwoman Lopez for this recognition our organization came to be in 2016 many of the folks that founded it are in this room today and you know the rapid response network is a community defense project that aims to protect families from family separation and we see this every day right through the criminal justice system through the immigration detention system as well but what we've learned time and time again is that the narratives that the state has

is not the only narrative that we know of our community members right sometimes they see a certain penal code or you know one is detained because you know of an outlying criminal charge in the past, right? Or no charge at all. And so the narratives that we create in this space have been powerful in challenging the mass incarceration and detention of our community members. It has been an amazing journey to organize alongside many of these families who have spoken truth to power on different platforms

and have worked to get their loved ones out of different forms of cages. And I know it is a very scary time right now. A lot of families in our community are really scared in terms of what is to come. But everyone here, non-citizen or citizen, has inalienable rights, constitutional rights. And just to inform individuals here today and anyone who is watching, ICE cannot enter your home without a judicial warrant.

An ICE warrant is not a means to enter anyone's home. And the other thing I'd like to share with you all is that if your family finds themselves in a moment of crisis in which their loved one is detained or there's an ICE enforcement action out in the community. We have a crisis hotline 714-881-1558. A lot of these families up here are experienced organizers who have gotten their loved ones out, including myself, and so we are here for you. We are here to fight alongside you. Thank you.

And I would like to pass it on to Laura Hernandez.

Hi, everyone. Hi, everyone. Thank you. I just want to say real briefly that I'm really proud of the fact that our city council is recognizing the Orange County Rapid Response Network. I have been both a recipient of their services as well as their leader at one point in my life. And I can share from personal experience that without the help of the Orange County Rapid Response Network, I don't know where I would be right now. I feel like I would have been lost in the system and really separated from my family, to be honest. And the fact that the Orange County Rapid Response Network is there,

regardless of where you are in life or what part of your journey you're on, the fact that they are willing to step up and to stand alongside you throughout that journey means the world. So I'm very proud of the fact that the city of Santana is recognizing them, and we just want to give them another round of applause.

Hi, everybody. My name is Casey. I'm a member of the network, and Sandra asked if I could say a bit about what we do. and I think for a lot of us that volunteer with the network it's because we're impacted or we have impacted families and a lot of what we go through so it isolates us and makes us feel ignorant but when we come together in these kinds of organizing spaces or alternative resources we realize there's power and the knowledge that we share in each other and deciding to take actions together and that's why so many of us who are volunteers were also

helped by the space I've also brought cases to Orange County Rapid Response Networks our little community meetings and they've helped me with family members and I have to say it has changed so much about my approach to community and the value of doing this together and taking people seriously when they when they have a problem that before it was hopeless but now it seems like we have options and skills and it all just comes from coming together and sharing knowledge and realizing the power in that and that's what the network means to me so thank you

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so you heard a little bit about what the network does and we will be at all of our community events distributing cards that have a quick know your rights in the back, the hotline information. If you know anybody, any family in need, please share this resource with them. We want to make sure that our community is educated with factual information. This is not the time for anyone to panic. It is the time for us to be united and make sure that we are protecting our families. And now I'm going to direct myself in Spanish to our community.

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As I said last time I was here, we have a common hope, a present and a future safe, a opportunity for a good education, a stable future for our children, and opportunities for all our families to prosper. Those values transcend the politics and will continue guiding every decision I take as a council. I want to make sure that we will not use any municipal resource to separate our families from Santa Ana. I was a witness of the devastating impact of the application of immigration laws in my friends and family.

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The fear that they experienced left a permanent mark in me, and it is a fear that no child or family should experience. Hoy, ante la amenaza inminente de detenciones y deportaciones masivas, debemos permanecer unidos. La historia nos ha demostrado que estas acciones a menudo se extienden más allá de las personas indocumentadas y afectan a los residentes legales y ciudadanos por igual. Bajo mi mandato, Santana no utilizará sus recursos para apoyar políticas de deportación injustas y racistas.

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Les pido que se mantengan en contacto con mi oficina y la red de respuesta rápida. Juntos estaremos creando planes para asegurar que nadie se sienta abandonado o impotente en momentos de crisis. Y estamos trabajando con el Supervisador Sarmiento, el Consulado de México y otros socios a nivel estatal para asegurarnos que también estén apoyando a nuestra comunidad. Estamos comprometidos a equipar a nuestra comunidad con las herramientas y conocimientos necesarios para proteger y, asimismo, no solamente a nuestras familias, pero a toda nuestra comunidad.

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En las próximas semanas anunciaremos una serie de talleres para que conozcan sus derechos diseñados para capacitar a los residentes con información crítica.

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Por si en caso alguien visita su casa, su hogar o donde compran sus groceries. So, it's important that you know what you can do when an ICE or Homeland Security official comes to your home or to other places. If you are Camboyano, Vietnamese, Central American, Mexican, or any other origin, know that. The Councils Hernandez Vázquez and I are a united front against fascism, the intolerance and the erosion of our democracy.

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In Santa Ana, we will fight to protect our parents, our brothers, our neighbors, our neighbors, all professionals in DACA and the common people who are afraid of what they can bring in the morning. This is not a moment for desperation, but for vigilance and hope. Together, we are committed to working towards a brighter future where every family can prosper without fear. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

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high school water polo team let's go Saints

Thank you.

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Wow, this is an amazing group. Tom Mumberg's office here. We're presenting with Tom Mumberg in his office. The senator, the state senator wants to come and recognize you as well. I don't know if they came, but today I have the honor of speaking about a group of athletes who have not only made history but exemplified the true spirit of teamwork, dedication, and pride. And I'm talking about no other than the Santa Ana High School water polo team.

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This season, the Saints water polo team has proven to be unstoppable. With an incredible overall record of 27-4, they have shown resilience, determination, and commitment to excellence in every match. Their journey was nothing short of remarkable, but what's sent out the most is their undefeated record in league play at 6-0, earning them the first ever league title in the school's history. This is a monumental achievement that has etched their names in the record books forever. The banner is going up in the gym, banner in the gym, awesome. But that's not all.

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This talented group of athletes also dominated the Corona tournament and bringing home first place and showing the entire region what Santa Ana High School was made of. They didn't stop there. Our team made it to the CIF semifinal fighting every step of the way, proving their skill and heart on the grand stage. As if that weren't enough, we had the honor of celebrating four outstanding players who earned all CIF awards. Who's that? Step forward. Who's our all? Yeah! All right.

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Our team has made it to the CIF final, fighting every step of the way.

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But above all these incredible achievements, there's only one thing that truly sets them apart. the unwavering bond they share. This season wasn't just about the individual accomplishments or breaking records, it was about building something greater together. It was about a culture of championship. It was about playing for each other, supporting one another through every challenge and most importantly doing it as a Saints family. The success of this team is not just a result of the skill in the water but the heart and unity that's shown both in and

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out of the pool, the dedication, the teamwork, and the love for the game have made this season one to remember. To the players, the coaches, and everyone who supported them, to the families, the mothers, the dads, everybody who gave you guys love, to how much you guys show love for each other. One of these kids was sick and had a cold. The other kids brought in medicine and chicken soup. These guys love each other and they brought it and it showed. Here's to the Santa Ana High

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school water polo team your legacy has just begun my name is Yudiel Cecilio my

teammates know me as Cecilio and I'm the captain of the water polo team as when I say thank you to all the parents because without them all this support just is the support was what really carried us this far and I just want to say thank you to everyone and who came and supported our games who gave us food and cooked for us because there'd be times where we'd have people come and just cook for us or they just come by the snacks for our games and stuff so I just want to say thank you to all the parents now I'll pass it over to Matthew

hello my name is Matthew Marcelo I'm the co-captain of the boys water polo team it's It's an amazing privilege to be here tonight, and it's been an amazing privilege to play and be a part of this program. I started my freshman year, and over the course of four years, I've been able to see how much my team has grown, both inside and outside of the pool. We've been amazing things this year. As he said, we won league for the very first time in our school's history, and so we're getting our very first water polo banner up in the gym that will stay up there

forever I don't know it's this journey has been amazing water polo isn't easy it requires a lot of discipline it is challenging mentally and physically and these guys have done it for three four years it's amazing and we've the teams we play a lot of the times seem like they have like advantages over us because they're they have access to clubs and all that kind of stuff and we I guess we're looked at as

the underdogs so when people look at us when we walk inside of a pool it's like like they're laughing at us but we're like we we overcome and we go we go out there and we show them what we can do, and it's amazing. But really, none of this would be possible if it wasn't for our amazing Coach Meyer, so I think we should...

Yeah, he's very dedicated to this program. He works really hard. He's taught us skills that we'll be able to use for the rest of our lives. He's an amazing man, a great man. We're like brothers, and he's like our dad. Yeah.

It's been an amazing privilege. Thank you for having us. And these guys are amazing. Thank you.

Benjamin VazquezItem 4

I used to play water polo in high school. Not only me, but Council Member Bezetta played water polo. council member benia losa play water polo and all of us are proud of you come on down let's take a picture because we're all proud of these saints

Thank you.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

I'm on the team now too.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Last and final presentation is by the City of Santa Ana. City Manager, please.

Alvaro NuñezItem 4

Assistant City Manager Steven Mendoza will read a proclamation for our

Alvaro NuñezItem 4

So Assistant City Manager Steven Mendoza will read a proclamation on behalf of the city of Santa Ana honoring Tom Bissery in recognition of his retirement and 37 years of dedicated service for the city of Santa Ana. Let me clear about that.

Thank you very much. I would say come on down, but he's already here. He's always on time. Tom Beestri began his remarkable journey with the city of Santa Ana in the summer of 1987. Where were you in 1987? Tom first joined us as a full-time employee in our cable TV division here at the city and though that department was dissolved, his dedication led him to continuing serving the city as a contractor, ensuring his invaluable contributions span an incredible 37 years. Can any of you grasp that 37 years it's incredible

Throughout Tom service. He has demonstrated unwavering commitment having missed only one City Council meeting in 37 years and Absence only do yes I do I've got an absence only due to a special meeting during the holiday season But even then he ensured the meeting flowed and was any with his innovative problem-solving skills Tom has witnessed and supported countless significant and memorable City Council meetings over the decades providing steadfast service and expertise that has contributed to the city's progress and governance

Tom is a proud single father of a seven-year-old Tom is a well devoted parent to two adult children and Tom is a loving grandfather to do grandchildren and more than that he is a great-grandfather to two great-grandchildren exemplifying a legacy of love within his family Tom's enduring dedication to the city of Santa Ana and its community is matched only by his deep appreciation for the colleagues in this room the colleagues and the relationships he's made with the City Council members today and yesterday and describing he describes the city's team as some of the most wonderful people in

the world. Tom Beestri has earned the admiration and gratitude of everybody and also the residents of the City of Santa Ana for his exceptional service loyalty and heartfelt commitment over the past 37 years. Now therefore the City of Santa Ana mayor and the City of Santa Ana Council do hereby honor and recognize Mr. Tom Biestry for his 37 years of exemplary service to the city and we extend our deepest appreciation for his dedication professionalism and contributions that have made a lasting impact upon our city

I think we're going to give Tom a moment to talk if you want and then pictures with the entire City Council. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. I just I just want to say a lot of people don't know who I am. I'm the guy up in the booth running the cameras and the sound system so that's what I do but I just want to say it has been a pleasure working with the city of Santa Ana and the Santa Ana family as I call it. So these people who genuinely care they really do care about you in the city and they they spend their time energy and effort to make the city a

better place and they've done it and countless other council members over the years I've seen and the other mayors too no matter what you say or think about them they're wonderful people and really wonderful people at the city of Santa Ana the staff and the employees have been wonderful and it's been a pleasure it really has a pleasure and an honor and I want to say that it's it's so nice I look at human resources they have openings all the time so if some of you other people are looking for jobs, the city of Santa Ana is a wonderful place to work. It really is.

It's one of the reasons I hung around so long. So it's been my pleasure. Thank you, Alvaro. Thank you, Steven. And I'll sail into the sunset, maybe gone for a little bit, but not forgotten, hopefully. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right. Can I have you on the back side?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

I'm good.

The best in the back. The best in the back.

He's going to have a bigger number.

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

If the council would be okay with the changes, I'd like to see if we can approve item 9, 10, and 11 for appointments of commissioners. We have some kids that have homework and they're in finals.

David PenalozaItem 5

I'll make a motion to approve, Madam Mayor.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

I'll second. and it's the swearing in of all the council commissioners again that have agreed to serve. We thank you for your service. So let's prepare to vote.

Jennifer L. HallItem 5

A motion by Council Member Penalosa, seconded by Mayor Mesquite, to hear items 9, 10, 11, approve them at this time out of order of the agenda. Council Member Becerra?

Phil BacerraItem 5

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 5

Council Member Hernandez?

Phil BacerraItem 5

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 5

Council Member Lopez? Yes. Council Member Penalosa? Yes. council member vasquez yes mayor pro tem fan yes mayor mesqua yes seven eyes no nays motion carries if the commissioners from item number nine which are um mayor amesqua's citywide commissioners could please come forward to be sworn in at this time

Jennifer L. HallItem 5

Commissioner Nate.

Jennifer L. HallItem 5

Can I get the mic please?

Jennifer L. HallItem 5

Okay. Commissioners that were reappointed by this item, Dr. Maria Susie Lopez Guerra, Ana Laura Padilla, Mario Alvarado, Irma Jaregui, Celica Diaz, Ernesto Gomez, Christopher Leo, Danny Vega, Timothy Johnson, and Wyatt Malfavon.

Jennifer L. HallItem 5

Not all of them are here. We'll swear the other ones in at a later date. If you could please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I state your name. I do solemnly swear. That I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance.

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 The duties upon which I'm about to enter.

Jennifer L. HallItem 5

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 5

item number 10 um boards and commissioners approved for ward three deborah russell alfonso Jose Javia, David Crockett, Asuri Ramos, Alonzo Lugo, Mercy Benitez, any of them are present to be sworn in at this time.

I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear truth, faith, and allegiance, and the Constitution of the United States.

I will leave this obligation freely without any mental reservation.

Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 5

And the last one from agenda item 11, Ward 2 representatives, Lawrence Klein, Oscar Rodriguez.

I, Lawrence Klein, solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign foreign and domestic, that I will bear true 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 reservations or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter. Thank you. Thanks.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

Thank you all and thank you, Councilor, for being flexible. At this time, Mr. City Manager, may you please have a staff presentation?

Alvaro NuñezItem 5

I want to introduce Mr. Rob Thompson. He's our general manager for the Nuresh County Sanitation. This trick is going to present a small presentation.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

If we could have the PowerPoint, please.

Thank you, Madam Mayor and members of the City Council. I would also like to acknowledge your City Clerk staff. I go to a lot of meetings like this, board meetings, public meetings, and City Clerk staff orchestrate all the movements to make sure everything's ready. So I would just like to acknowledge, I've been watching, been doing a great job behind the scenes, working hard. So thank you. But I'm actually here to talk about OCSAN. We are the local sewer service provider for Orange County. Our mission is to protect the public health and the environment by providing effective wastewater collection, treatment, and recycling.

That speaks to our long history here in the area. starting back in 1912, our job was to make sure we were the joint outfall sewer. We made sure that sewage made it to the right place, which is all the way out to the ocean. Obviously, we've gotten a lot better over the past 120 years or so. Now we do a lot more treatment. We grew into the environmental age in the 1950s and 1960s, improving our treatment levels. We've progressed to the point now beyond just public health and protecting the environment. Now we're into full recycling. recycling and we'll talk a little bit more about that as we go along.

Our service area for OC San goes from Seal Beach all the way up to La Habra, around to Yorba Linda and down the backside of Irvine and Newport Beach serving 2.6 million people and taking their highly enriched water which they send us 190 million gallons a day and we turn that into fertilizer, energy and useful drinking water. Next slide please. So we do that at our two facilities, one in Fountain Valley at the 405 and Ellis or Euclid, and the other in Huntington Beach at the river on PCH and Brookhurst, basically.

Each plant is sized to treat about 320 million gallons in wet weather. We collect all of that from the businesses, residents, and industry. So for Santa Ana, your city would own everything in blue up there. So all the pipes from the curb into the streets, you collect it all and bring it to our larger main trunk sewers, which bring it to our treatment plants. After we treat it, the water can either be discharged safely to the Pacific Ocean or recycled through the groundwater replenishment system. Next slide. Our pipes are pretty big. They're not the 8-inch pipes you might see in your city streets.

This is one of our 10 footers in Huntington Beach near our plant in Huntington Beach there. That's 10 feet in diameter. Next slide. So the water comes to us. I say it's highly enriched. You see it there on the left, raw sewage. Can't really see through it. We have three stages of treatment. And as we progress, we get secondary treated effluent. That's good enough to discharge into the Pacific Ocean. But again, our goal is to recycle every drop we possibly can.

Next slide. So to do that, looking at it from a process perspective, we take that water, we screen it, we add iron salt up front. It really supercharges our primary treatment system. Primary treatment is basically gravity treatment. With the chemicals, we do about two-thirds of the overall removal of the enrichment, as I like to say. Keep it PG for the kids at home.

The water then is taken to secondary treatment, which is biological treatment. And at that point, we turn 170 million gallons over to the Water District. Orange County Water District has been our partner in recycling since the 1960s. We now can make 130 million gallons of pure treated water. That's enough for one million people. That is the largest treatment plant system of its kind in the world, bar none. It is a gem for the residents we serve.

Not only is it a safe and secure 130 million gallons, it's the highest quality 130 million gallons that's going into the drinking water system. If you think about the water coming down the San Ana River, it may have other chemicals. It may have PFAS. It may have pharmaceuticals. The water that we're putting in is pure. It's been microfiltered, which is one-fifth of human hair. I can't really help you with that metric right now. Reverse osmosis is able to filter out anything like viruses or bacteria or salts. So just ultra-pure water, they then blast it with ultraviolet light,

so if anything did slip through, the DNA would be destroyed. They squirt in some hydrogen peroxide, and you have totally distilled quality water. We put that in the ground, stays there for at least six months, and then is accessed by the wells here in the city of Santa Ana and across the water district service area. So a very important partnership, Orange County Sanitation District strives to find public-public partnerships. There's a lot of discussion about public-private. What we're more interested in is public-public. Who can we partner with to leverage the facilities we already own that the people have already

paid for to get more out of them than they were ever designed for. We're using some of those pipes that were designed in the 1920s and still using them in this service. So, that growth over time is something very important to us. Next slide, please. We're always looking at the water quality. That's how we started in the public health world. You can see along the coastline, there are dots on the coastline. We actually have runners that go down the coast in trucks taking water samples. We share that with the county.

If the beaches are closed, it's because we took a water sample and our lab did an analysis and said it's unsafe to be in. Luckily, we don't have to do that. We have A-plus beaches across the county because we do that. We also have our research vessel, the Nerissa. It is harbored in Newport Beach. It does water sample collections on a regular basis offshore. They look at the water column, they look at the benthic material, which is the sands and the muds. They look at the creatures that are swimming or buried in that mud to make sure there's no detrimental effects to the environment offshore.

Tourism is way too important to Orange County to risk. It's something we spend a lot of time looking at. Next slide, please. That's all great. That's what we do. But OC San is always looking at the next thing. how do we continue to improve, how do we continue to invest, what new partners are out there. So we take that water, again, we see it as a source of enrichment. There are things to be mined out of it. And our job is to find ways to make products. So we make drinking water, as I said, 130 million gallons a day from the 190 we take in. We make energy. We make 11 megawatts

a day in our treatment plants. We have power plants at each one. It's powered by methane that we make from destroying the solids that we collect. Whatever isn't destroyed to make energy, we use as fertilizer. It's shipped either to Arizona or the Central Valley, and it's used in commercial operations. And then we safely discharge water to the ocean. And that's important, that discharge. That isn't a waste of water. It's carrying 3 million pounds of salt a day to the ocean. If we didn't have that discharge, salt would be building up in the aquifer, and you'd see harder and harder water in the aquifer.

This is a great way to transport all those millions of pounds of salt, which naturally occur back out to the ocean. Next slide. We're also looking to be innovative. One of the new technologies, and this is a science experiment, I apologize, but I am an engineer. I do love my science. You're all taught that there are three stages or three phases of water, that water is either ice, it is liquid, or it is steam or vapor. But there is a force, supercritical. At above 3,200 pounds per square inch or above 374 degrees Celsius, water changes its phase and changes its properties. At that supercritical phase, oil and water mix.

So a lot of the things you were taught as a kid, water is a universal solvent, not in the supercritical phase. Salt falls out. We can use those properties, and we're designing a machine with a company called 374 Water to take the sludge that we make, which has some harmful chemicals in it, PFOS, PFOA, which I'm sure you've all heard about in the water system. It's everywhere. It does tend to build up in our solids. By using the property that you see here, we can actually destroy PFOS. We can destroy PFOA. We can destroy microplastics. And we can destroy pharmaceuticals.

They're turned into harmless CO2. They're turned into water vapor, elemental nitrogen, and some salts that we can recover. Next slide, please. You do that with this what looks like complicated engine, but it's actually a very simple process. I won't go through it all, but suffice it to say, you compress some air, you heat it with the energy that comes out of the process itself, you compress some sludge, you put them together, and you have a jet engine that runs on wet sludge. That is the holy grail of my industry to turn wet sludge into energy and benign outputs.

The unit is being demonstrated right now in Orlando, Florida, and will be shipped to us. Will be the first demonstration unit in operation at six tons a day in the spring. Next slide. We're also looking at deep well injection. That destruction technology is good. It's something that has, I think, a long term in our industry. But in the short term, we also are looking at deep well injection to make sure we've covered all of our opportunities. If we can inject our biosolids down into old oil formations, 5,400 feet down, we can sequester a lot of carbon.

There's a lot of concern about climate change and carbon sequestration. We believe in our preliminary analysis, if we start putting our sludge in the ground, our biosolids in the ground, we could sequester more than 3,000 tons of carbon dioxide a day and save money doing it. We would take trucks off the road, so no longer trucking biosolids all the way to Yuma, Arizona, or the Central Valley. We could sequester them safely right under the plant there in Fountain Valley. So something we're going to look at over the next six months to a year. Next slide. Food waste is another opportunity for us to partner.

We're working with Orange County Waste and Recycling to collect food waste from, especially commercial establishments they'll take it to their Bowerman landfill they'll screen it create a sludge we got all of the wastewater plant operators in Orange County there are several in South County also we all agreed on a specification for what that slurry will look like what it will entail and we all agree to take it into our digesters so they build one facility that all the wastewater facilities with excess capacity can use we can all make energy which is good for the environment we can all reduce the the

level of solids that we have to reuse and the city of santa anna and others would get the credits for the state laws that require

organic recycling next slide please a couple of bonus slides we have a brand new headquarters building in fountain valley if you're around please stop by we'd love to give you a tour not only of the headquarters but the treatment plant They're connected by a bridge. It's a beautiful, new, sustainable building. It's all a mass timber design. It's a technological step forward for us in sustainability. It's heated by our treatment plant waste heat from our power plant. And it's a great new building for us. Next slide. We do have a couple of upcoming projects in the city of Santa Ana. One is on your southern edge.

actually adjacent to some new development that you're planning there at Bristol and

Sunflower I believe it is Sunflower that trunk is one of our oldest and is being updated and upgraded the manholes are undersized because they were built I guess when people were thinner than they are today we have more cleaning equipment to get in them and they've obviously degraded over the years so we're renewing that line next slide we're also looking at a Greenville trunk improvement this is significant work through some of the older parts of Santa Ana one of the original trunks that was built by the old County Sanitation District number one that construction is scheduled for

2028 through 2032 we're working with a city on potentially some other ideas to make that even better next slide so you ask you're doing all this where does the money come from where does it go we're about a half billion dollar a year enterprise about 220 million of that for operations capital we spend about 268 million we have an ongoing capital improvement program where we understand that we're always going to be wearing out our equipment we're always going to be technologically falling behind so we invest consistently and constantly in our plant one area at a time and we address all of our needs going forward.

That makes for a very efficient delivery system. Most of our fees come from single-family dwellings because we're mostly residential county. I'll show you our rates on the next slide. Our property taxes, we get a little bit of that property tax increment. So you can see we are well balanced. We are pay-as-you-go. we don't borrow money for capital. We intend to be debt free by 2040. Next slide. All that for $371 a day, a screaming deal, just a little over a dollar a day. We're doing all of that recycling, which isn't done anywhere else in the world. We're partnering with food waste. We're converting

waste to energy every step of the way, all while protecting the environment. I didn't even talk about our program which diverts regular urban dry weather urban runoff what we call urban slobber all that water going down the gutters in the summer it's got to go somewhere you don't want to swim in it so it doesn't go to the ocean in the summer we pump that into our system initially that was for beach water quality but now that we're recycling everything and making drinking water out of it now it's a reuse opportunity also all of that for 371 dollars a year you can see where

we rank among other state agencies of our kind, certainly in the bottom third. We intend to raise our rates by 3.5% for the next 10 years. So basically just keeping up with inflation, that constant change helps us to avoid any steep increases in the future. Next slide. With that I can answer any questions you may have.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Councilor, if you have any questions please raise your mic if not. Yes, go ahead, Councilor Anandes.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

Thank you, Mayor Mesquite. Thank you, General Manager Rob Thompson. I just wanted to say fantastic presentation. OC San is doing tremendous work throughout the county. I just wanted to share my gratitude with you today, sir. Thank you. Thank you, Director Hernandez. Thank you, sir.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Go ahead, Mayor Prochelle.

Thai Viet PhanItem 6

Thank you. Hi. I apologize if I missed it, but how is OC San dealing with the fact that the city, all these cities and water agencies are reducing water usage, therefore there's less going back into the system? How is that affecting the work that you do?

We get a little less water. In fact, our highest flow rates were 270 million gallons a day around 2004, 2005. We're down to 190 today. In the depths of the drought, we were down at 180 million gallons a day. So we believe we've stabilized in that 180 at the lowest, about 190, 200 if it rains really hard. but what we see is more solids that's why you saw a lot of our research is going into the solids area the increases in population are being offset by conservation efforts so even if there's more

development there's more densification we're seeing that the net flow to us hydraulically is the same but more solids that means we have to be more diligent about cleaning because you have less water to carry that enriched matter all the way to us but that's another part of the investment we make in the treatment plants knowing that especially our secondary or biological treatment is going to be more and more taxed with more and more load with less and less water thank you seeing no other questions

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

thank you so very much we really appreciate it Merry Christmas thank you for the compliment on the clerk we also see the hard work she does thank you happy holidays at this time madam city attorney do you have anything to report

out of closed session mayor council members and members of the public we had two closed session items this evening but we do not have any reportable action

Thai Viet PhanItem 6

thank you go ahead mayor protest thank you and my apologies for not recusing myself earlier but I was recused from item number two as vineyard is a client of my employer rattan and tucker and so I did not participate in that closed

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

session. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. 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. Thank you, Mayor. Pursuant to resolution

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

number 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 speakers i'll report on the emails that were received we received a total of 32 e-comments 24 related to item number 29 one related to item 30 and seven on non-agenda topics those were distributed to the city council

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

and posted online for public viewing we'll now hear from the members of the public that are physically present in the council chamber followed by those on the conference caller zoom to provide comments on agenda and non-agenda items. Please state your name and the ward or neighborhood that you reside in for the record. I'll call speakers three at a time. If you could please line up in the aisleway behind the podium.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

First three speakers, Marisol Martinez, Teresa Martinez, and Melissa Meyer.

Hi, my name is Marison Martinez. I'm the parent at Junior in Nova Academy Early College. My daughter has been excellent at Nova Academy because they have the whole programs and service they provide for the kids there. It's excellent. It's like wonderful. Nova Academy had the right choice for my daughter because my daughter, the first time she selected a high school, she asked me, Mom, can we check three high schools? And when I say, oh, we know, it's not university for checking high school yet, I say, no, because it's my preparation for it starting now.

So we check every high school and everything, and I don't want to put the other ones down, but Nova High School is the one, the right one for her. And now she wants to be a cardiologist and she's had good grades and everything. So Nova Academy, it's a good selection for her. And right now I'm speaking for the parents for Nova Academy where I say thank you to all you guys for the whole support and the whole last year. I know they're coming to ask you for helps and everything for the friend school and you guys doing a really good job. So making applause for you guys

because this year you guys do a lot of stuff for the community and you guys do excellent job so now I will say thank you for the parents and the kids there thank you so much for everything you guys do each one thank you

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Teresa Martinez followed by Melissa Meyer and Claudio

hello members of the City Council my name is Teresa Martinez I'm one of the

Thai Viet PhanItem 6

juniors of Nova Academy you heard my mother speak I'm here a part of the

students from Nova Academy to say thank you for all the stuff you have done for our school the opportunities our school gives us and of the community around us with community events that you guys have done to give us community service hours that connects us to our school I'm also grateful for the events that some of you City Council members have come to our school to check as also from our senior interviews to help our seniors as well and because I chose Nova as my high school I am proudly to say that I want to become a cardiologist and neurologist by the help of my teachers and admin for being a support so thank you very much

I'm here to represent the students and parents to say thank you for all the help you guys have done for the city of Santa Ana and mostly for Nova thank you

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Melissa?

Good evening. My name is Melissa Mier and I'm an administrator at Nova Academy Early College High School. And my presence here today is not to ask for anything but just to show thanks and gratitude. and it gives me just so much joy to have such a supportive group of council members and our mayor, Emesquad, representing our city and the needs of our city. On behalf of Nova Academy, I'd like to thank each and every one of you for your support, both as our city council and as individuals. You listened to our comments and concerns regarding the OCE streetcar construction

and staging last year. And you helped us address the homeless encampments surrounding our school community. You provided security at Sasser Park and the fountain in front of our school. Today, with your support, our campus feels and looks so much safer, and we are extremely appreciative. This school year, Nova Academy celebrates its 20th anniversary, serving students and families in Santa Ana throughout Orange County. And we would like to invite all of our council members to our 20th anniversary celebration.

So I do have some invitations for all of you, which I will leave here.

And Claudia has yours, Mayor Emesqua. But we do hope that you can make it. We will be celebrating on February 26th. We are part of Ward 5, and we'd love to have all of you there. Thank you so much.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Next three speakers, Claudio, John Ramirez, Carlos Perea.

Buenas tardes. Hace un par de semanas en esta misma camera, se escuchó decir que en el item Nau número 29 hoy en día, no ayudaría a reducir la población de homeless. Al mismo tiempo, nadie dijo que el Gobernador Newsom has already spent more than 24 million dollars in services for homeless. So why do we want to keep reducing the quality of the living of Santa Ana when it has already been done to help those who don't have a living? Today, we are not only insecure to walk in our own vicinity, but we are also paying taxes the most car in the condado.

The Vice President Hernandez has worked hard to bring the city to events that have moved to the city, if I'm not mistaken, they're focused towards the African-American community and the African-American community. Why don't we ask them to put the necessary money to build a clinic and help those in the street with problems with mental health? Why don't we ask Chispa and Harbor Institute to build houses and to give them a home? Piddle, like they ask me, to pay taxes. because to make a car with the money of others is very easy. Ask those who want to help, but let me kill my taxes,

or give me a life like a life that can be lived in Irvine and not a one of the third world, of a third world. If I haven't seen the intention of lowering my taxes, please, please, improve the life of the neighbors. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

John Ramirez?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

We need the translation please. Thank you. Sorry.

Yes, hello. This is in regards to Ethernet 9. And it's in regards to Newsom has already invested $24 million in the homeless community. And here the quality in Santa Ana has really gone down. And I've gone through the streets and I've seen that our taxes are one of the highest in our county. And Council Member Hernandez has really invested in the Chicano community and African-American community. Why don't we already invest this money into clinics for mental health?

CHISPA and the other organization perhaps they can make these homes for homeless people and I am tired of paying for a lot of taxes I want a better quality of life here kind of like Irvine we are not a third world country please support ethernet 9 thank you

Good evening, Mayor, Council Members, and City Staff. My name is John Ramirez. I'm a resident of War II and a resident of this city my entire life. I'm here to speak in support of Agenda Item 29. I think it's important that we strengthen our anti-camping ordinance in our city. We've seen other cities around us take measures to straighten their own laws. So it only makes common sense that our city, which suffers the worst out of all of them when it comes to homeless encampments, open drug use, and public defecation, that we should and must strengthen our own laws as well to combat this.

Your job as city council members is to put residents' quality of life first and foremost. Those other cities around us obviously did just that, so it's beyond me if any of you choose not to support this agenda item. Not supporting it shows you don't put residents' quality of life first, so please do the right thing as you were elected to do and vote in support of this agenda item 29. I want to use the remainder of my time to do congratulations. First, congratulations and happy retirement to Mr. Tom Biestry. Thank you for your service, sir.

Due to personal time constraints, I didn't make it to the Bowers Museum to congratulate you all in person, as I usually would on you winning another term on council. So I want to say to Councilman Hernandez, congratulations, Jonathan. To Councilmember Lopez, congratulations, Jesse. And to our Mayor Pro Tem, congratulations and happy birthday. Happy birthday, hi.

And finally, congratulations to our Mayor, the People's Mayor, Mayor Mezcla. Congratulations.

Congratulations to our newly appointed Chief of Police, Chief Rodriguez. Well-deserved, sir. I know you'll do an amazing job as our officials chief just as you did the past year as our acting chief Congratulations the best of luck to you sir and stay safe And finally I want to say congratulations and to retired deputy chief Esparza And for serving our city for 28 years with our police department Me and Henry been friends for quite some time and he's shown me through actions that he cares about our city He's a good man and was dedicated to our city

Thank you, Henry, for your 28 years of service to our city, and best of luck to you in retirement. Thank you, Mayor, City Council, and City staff. You all have a good evening. To our fire and police personnel present, thank you and stay safe. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. This concludes my comment. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Carlos Perea, Olivia Arzarte, Tim Johnson.

Carlos Perea, Executive Director of the Harvard Institute for Immigrant Economic Justice. I'm here to speak again in support of Agenda IAM 31, the city recognizing the harm and the impact to the family of Edgar Vargas and the immigrant community in general for the assault and wrongful transfer to ICE of Edgar Vargas by the Santana Police Department in 2014. First, I want to express my gratitude to Council Member Vasquez, Council Member Hernandez, Council Member Fan, Council Member Peñalosa, and Lopez for considering bringing

this formal apology to the family. I was very disappointed to hear Mayor Mezco and Council to my research your opposition to this resolution. In this case, we highlighted the last time around that it was very important to the community because it sparked the conversations and the need at the time for the city to become a sanctuary ordinance to prevent incidents like that to happen ever again. It was an important moment for the Latino community as well

because oftentimes we forget that Latinos are also can be impacted by police brutality. And so at that time, the case, the very upsetting case of Edgar Vargas, raised the longstanding concerns of the community about police misconduct and collaboration with ICE. And so we again are here to ask you that you support this resolution. It doesn't take anything away from you. It doesn't take anything away from you for finally recognizing a wrong. And it don't tell us that it is wrong because more people

or more people that were harmed by these actions will come and ask forgiveness. What is wrong with that? What is wrong with that? You do not have the same arguments about formally apologizing to the Chinese community for the burning of Chinatown. which was horrible and impacted the community in so many ways. So do not make this a political issue for you. This is about righting a wrong. Finally, I would like to also ask on behalf of the family to strengthen a little bit of resolution. We appreciate city staff for working on it. It was fantastic.

We just want to make sure that in the fifth paragraph, what it includes, the city recognizes the impact it has had on the community. That is also adds language to say that it recognizes the impact on the family of Darbargas. And lastly, we would like to have language for the city to reaffirm the city as a sanctuary city on this resolution as well. So thank you very much.

against him when he was already handed down and was unjust and unacceptable. First of all, I want to thank my family, even with me, without them, these last 10 years of my life, without their support and support, I would not have been able to stay. I also want to thank many other people in the community that they united my cause without asking who I was or if I had the resources to continue fighting for my son Edgar.

This is only the beginning of a process to start to review the way the police officers do their work, especially in situations with people who have a dual diagnosis, mental illness and diseases. My son Edgar and our family suffer a lot, not only because to convivize with a person with this diagnosis is extremely difficult, but also because the system does not help.

The police officers are not trained or trained to understand these cases, beyond criminalizing them. I thank the council for this struggle for the truth and dignity of a community that lives with these conditions. As a mother and activist, I want to let in clear that I'm sorry, but I'm not forgetting. It's impossible to forget the damage caused.

The forgiveness is a step to reduce the impact, but if it is not accompanied by action, it only remains as a case. Edgar is not a case. As a santanera that I am, I will not let me leave and I will not let me fight. My son no alcanzó justicia, y no podemos permitir que haya otro caso más de brutalidad policial. Uno más. Gracias, que pasen buenas noches, y Merry Christmas para todos.

Yes, hello, good afternoon to everybody. And I am very pained with the loss of my son, Edgar Vargas. two years ago he passed away from police brutality and this is very unacceptable as a mom this is very unacceptable I want to thank first and foremost my family who have accompanied me every way and has not left me behind I also want to thank the community members of the community who have helped me in this cause and who have provided me with resources to fight this

case against this case of my son Edgar and this may be the first start for the police to start working on a new reform especially police that have to deal with the public who have diagnosed a diagnosis and mental health diagnosis and have an addiction we have people that do suffer in that community and And this is a very inappropriate, this is very difficult for me. It's a broken system and it needs to be reformed.

This should have not happened because we don't want no more cases to evolve because of this. I am thankful for the council members, for their support, for their support towards my son in my case. I am a mom. I am an activist. And although I forgive, I am not never going to forget. And I may forgive, but I also want this to be reduced, this type of impact towards our community. We don't want this case to be just another one for the books.

I will not stop fighting for my son. He didn't get the justice that he deserved based on this police brutality. That's all and thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Next three speakers, Tim Johnson, Dale Helvig, April L.

Hi, good evening. Tim Johnson, Ward 3.

So a couple things. One, I took my major ex-oath this evening, as I have since, I think, 2018. We need some help, though. We have two vacant seats. We used to have three until, I think, this evening. Thank you, Council Member Vasquez, for appointing someone. But we have two vacant seats that make it difficult to have quorum. And so I implore, I believe, Councilmember Penaloza and Councilmember Fan to try to diligently find someone to step up.

And even more importantly, I implore the community to step up. Because we are a city of over 300,000 people. We should be able to fill a commission. I want our council members and our mayor to be able to choose the people that represent us in the best way that they can, instead of just taking anyone. So please step up. If you're able to watch this at home, then you can volunteer for these types of commissions. You don't need to be a finance expert. You don't need to be a tax expert. You just need to love our city, which I know that there are many in our community that do. I also, in fact, I want someone to replace me.

I want our mayor to be able to say, let's get some new blood on here. Come replace me, please. No.

I also want to, item number 14, our budget engagement item, really, I know that this is something that just gets passed and whatnot, but I implore our community more so than our council members about getting engaged in the budget process. speak up what our what our our finance team what our council council know what our priorities are as a finance person myself you know money speaks priorities where we place our money is where we show our priorities community please get involved in this process it's coming up once again in the next six months that

we'll all have opportunities to be able to speak into it lastly on item number 29 I'm not going to get into whether support or not but I want to everyone always talks about well where you where should we have services and whatnot and I'm poor our city to work with the county there's a an empty lot that is on Main Street between Redhill and and MacArthur it's a lot of people would know that that is an empty parking lot from the airport that is the absolute perfect spot to be able to work with the county there's no irvine city involvement in that there's purely county

zone land it's a perfect spot to be able to work with the county be able to get some services for people that need it thank you very much good evening mayor council some of you guys may remember Peter Katz. He would always show up at the last meeting before Christmas dressed in a Santa Claus outfit. So that's why I got the hat on tonight, to remember Peter. He was a good guy. He was Comlink president. He was Mr. Spurgeon at a lot of Santa Ana events, dressing up in appropriate

attire and everything else. So guys missed. So I'd also like to congratulate Chief Rodriguez, long time coming so congratulations i'm i'm sure you'll do an excellent job so

i am in support of item 29 and 30 on the agenda i think both of those need to get passed to move the city in the direction that it's going right now and it's going in a good direction and those will protect the citizens on 29, and it will protect the general plan amendment, the housing element on item 30. We need to exempt those properties. Additionally, some people in the community have complained a little bit about the closure on Main Street going into Santiago Park.

they should be aware that that closure is to do park improvement so I'll make sure when I get back I'm gonna get the word out that that's happening and that's why it's closed and look forward to the improvements that are coming our way in that area so with that I just want to wish you all

Congratulations on a good year. Looking forward to 2025 and happy new year.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Next three speakers, April L, Irma Haragwi, and George Kallis.

Hi. Can you guys hear me? Yeah. Okay. My name's April, so I live in Ward 5. I've lived in that ward for just over a year now, but I grew up in the area because my grandparents lived there first. So I've seen a lot of change, or rather the lack of change. The homeless situation has only gotten worse, and it feels like nothing is being done to really stop it. So we as a community, we're kind of tired. We're tired of seeing people shooting up in front of our houses to the point where our children think that they're seeing like dead bodies. We're also tired of driving our kids to school every morning

only for them to witness naked homeless individuals which forces students to jaywalk you know and they try to get away from the situation. We're also tired of homeless people trying to break into our homes. We're tired of being seen as the bottom of the barrel and we're also tired of our children being exposed to all these horrible things because some wards are letting this happen. Now the City Council claims to be for the people, but if you really are, they start standing up for the future generations. Parents sacrifice so much to give their children a better life, and it's heartbreaking to see our kids exposed to drugs, nudity,

psychosis, and trauma right outside of our doors. So I want to know who's going to hold the city accountable for the negligence that's being imposed on our children, who's going to answer for the fact that they're being exposed to this every day we understand that some of these people on the streets need help that's not in question yes they need help but this is not the time to talk about how to help them but because we have the resources like city net in place right this is about addressing the immediate danger in our neighborhoods and it starts with action we need to increase police presence in

ward 5 and we need the city council to collaborate with law enforcement to make this happen and if you're really for the people, it's time to start letting personal beliefs get in the way of doing what's right for our community. We need you to put our children first above all else. And I completely understand that the desire to help those who need it, but it's also clear that some people need to be held accountable for the damage they're doing to our neighborhoods. And if we're going to solve this issue, we need to start by getting these individuals off the streets

and out of our children's sight. So I'm choosing to believe that the police have learned from past mistakes are now trained to identify who needs help and who is simply posing a danger to our community. Let them do their job as I'm sure they will be collaborating with the right team to not arrest families in need or families who are simply having a picnic. Let's have a little more faith. Right now we're asking for something simple. Stop letting our children grow up seeing drug use, nudity, and violence as a normal part of life. This isn't about being cruel, this is about protecting our children's safety.

it's if you really want to help the unhoused then yes we need long-term solutions but that can't happen until we address the immediate issue we're not asking for a perfect solution we're asking for action we're asking for our city council your time is up

good evening mayor council members congratulations to everybody for the the ones who have reelected, and to our new chief, acting chief, hello to everybody, Alvaro. I'm Irma Haraghi from Wall Street Square, I think most of you know me, and I'm here to support item 29 and some observations. In the past meeting, there were concerns about how the unhoused would be treated. Well, there's several sides to that coin, not just one side, but the mission statement clearly says that you have taken an oath to have an efficient,

ensure public safety, opportunities for youth, and quality of life for our residents, which is the first priority and the oath that has been taken. Please adhere to that. Because there's a lot of funds from the county in doing that, you're actually being kind to the unhoused because you're forcing them to be better or get help and get support. So supporting item 29 is actually helping everybody, both the community and the people that need help because they are now forced. It's like children. I'm a mother of two grown men. But when they were young, I'll do a little bit of fun here, I had to use la chancla.

And believe me, they did well. One is a major in the Marines. The other one is a self-made businessman in San Diego that almost made it to the Olympics in Mexico. But discipline, it's absolutely necessary. So I encourage you to use approved item 29. Another observation, you all know each other. Please be respectful to each other, but also work together. Because I know that sometimes there's some passive aggressiveness. We observe it. All of us know. So I want to see that joy that you had in celebrating your birthday and happy birthday. I go, that's the console I want to see.

Yes, you can have difference of opinions, but you can work together. Also, you took an oath to serve all the community from every part of society. We are all Santa Ana. So it's not mi gente, that gente, it is all Santa Ana. So work together, please. In that, thank you very much. Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, and have fabulous holidays. please.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

George Callas followed by Jennifer Lopamato and Victor Mendez.

George Callas and I say hello to all the Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tem and all the City Council members of Santa Ana. I used to be a business owner here in Santa Ana. I invested my life savings to purchase and to run what was called First Street Burger House on First Street at 2029 First Street.

Even councilperson Jesse Lopez had visited me and we had discussed the problem of the homelessness and how it affected not just my business, but the businesses surrounding that area. At that location, we were about a block away from a methadone clinic, and the drop-off point for most of Orange County with their homeless, when they didn't want them anymore, they would bring them and drop them off there. I can only say that we purchased the business in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. We survived that, but we were not able to survive the homeless assault that took place on our premises.

From physical assaults to assaults on our customers, at some point we just decided that we could not invest anymore in the business, and we decided to sell and leave the city. It was a very sad moment for us. I am not here to espouse my case. it's for perhaps my words to fall on the ears of the people of this city that have the ability to take these matters into their hands and protect the business owners of today and future business owners my interest here is not

a self-serving one but it's to pay back the community as I had wonderful wonderful relations with the city we hosted the g7 in our business for over seven months we hosted the coffee with cops at our business so we are not here just to say this happened to us but we tried very very hard to make it work city council member Jesse Lopez we spoke at my business unfortunate and she understood

everything. Unfortunately, it was not enough and it wasn't in time to save us. But I hope that future businesses and current businesses are going to benefit from what I'm doing here today. Have a good evening. Jennifer. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Council members and staff. I appreciate the opportunity tonight to represent a few of us from Metro East Senior Apartments. In the last week or so, we've had a petition taken around. There are many people who couldn't be here tonight, but there are over 100 signatures

from my neighbors who are all concerned about the homeless problem. And so we do support your anti-encampment ordinance. We think it's very important. We know it's difficult to make these decisions, to choose to limit some personal liberty. But we all have to do that. To live in a civilized society, we have to restrict some of our personal freedoms, especially if they harm others. And we have a large population that's vulnerable in our senior citizen building.

And we would like to come out our door and not have to step over immovable bodies that have defecated and used drugs on our front door, in our hallways, in our laundry rooms, and in our trash rooms. And I think homelessness is just a degrading thing for everyone. No one wants that. And we want a humane solution. We want people to be treated well. and respectfully but I think it's disrespectful to live on the streets and

to limit the public's ability to use bus stops crosswalks entrances to libraries and so we support your anti-encampment ordinance and so do my neighbors thank you very much

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Victor Mendez followed by Gloria Salinas

I'll let you go first

Hi, I'm the shy one here Thank you for hearing us here today. I'm here to support the proposed City of Santa Ana anti-encampment ordinance. I'm here because I live at the Metro East Senior Building right at the corner of Tustin and First Street. And my apartment faces the street directly right across. and it's kind of sad that you can't even walk to the store because they're everywhere. They're smoking dope, having sex. I mean, it's just not safe.

I actually have to get my car, and I don't usually drive after 5 o'clock anymore because I just can't see. But walking is not an option anymore because, I mean, they're hitting you up for money or they're just laying around, you know, and it doesn't make sense that they're there at the bus stops there's one gentleman that has taken over one of them he thinks it's that's his home it doesn't allow other people that are say elderly or older than i am not to be able to sit because he has claimed it as his home and um you know i just really feel that

the city should not allow this that they should be have the the choice of going to a shelter you know mental health place or whether they need help with money or food or what have you but that's the reason I'm here because I see it every day every day right outside my porch it could be morning noon and night and you know when you get to be our age you you want to feel safe in your community if you go to Irvine there ain't no homeless people there they send them our way you know if somebody's over there oh let's give you a ride over to Santa Ana because they

take all you people well it shouldn't be like that our country should not have homeless people whether in the community anywhere you know that it just should not be allowed or the and they should get the support that they need with whatever it might be whether it's their health or drug abuse or what have you and that's why i'm here to in support of the petition thank you for listening and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you.

Janice has a distinction of being the oldest person in the building at 90. So let's give her a little applause. She's doing pretty darn good.

She's a lovely woman. Give me one moment, please. Thank you. Your clock is running, Victor. Okay, I'm sorry. Okay, so basically I wanted to hit on the issue of general welfare. I received a great letter from St. Joseph Health Providence, which operates a pretty significant medical office in our community, and they wrote a letter about having compassion and commitment and respect the dignity of the individual, but they also support this ordinance. I go to get my health care at that facility, and there are problems with accessing that building, both the caregivers and patients.

Hundreds of families go there as well. I don't feel I should have to be put in a position where I have to drive to Irvine or Newport at my age to get health care when it's just right down the street. That's incredibly unfair and violates my universal right to health care because somebody else decides the homeless have the right to be there. I think the current ordinance is very fair and very balanced. Homelessness is a very complex issue. I think it's signified by the fact it made Esquire magazine this month. And they talked about the trials of a homeless man called the Invisible Man.

And Esquire, if you don't know, is a pretty kind of a men's fashion magazine. I just happened to pick it up. And I read that article, which is very interesting, but the fact that it's complex and it's deep in our society and we have to start beginning to address it. We haven't really addressed it sufficiently for 40 years. Having said that, the quality of life has been mentioned a couple of times, and I fully agree with that. You know, again, it comes down to protecting the general welfare. You know, Gloria was speaking out about things that happen outside her window. So here is the shelter or the bus stop with a man occupying it.

and a man is actually passed out on the bench. By the way, this is a Tustin bus stop, by the way, but it's right across the street from us. And somehow one night it blew up. How, what? It blew up. Again, a Tustin bus stop, but I'm just giving you an indication on how these things can happen if left untreated or not settled. This was just the other night right down the street, right in front of one of our apartment buildings. So it's prevalent on first. We're doing our best, but we need to do something a little bit better.

So that said, I would just ask that the council promote the general welfare, which is explicit in our U.S. Constitution. It's actually explicit in the ordinance. Let's promote the general welfare and get this ordinance passed. I think it's in good shape. I'd like to see better work on the bus stop ordinance, but I think you're in the head in the right direction, and we can move forward. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Mayor and City Council, that concludes the in-person speakers. We'll now begin with the Zoom speakers. Speakers when unmuted, please announce your name in the warder neighborhood that you reside in within the City of Santa Ana for the record. First speaker is Danny.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Please unmute and make your comments.

hello Danny yes go ahead please can you hear me yes okay thank you good evening mayor and council members my name is Danny Vega and I'm a resident of Ward 3 first I want to congratulate the new chief and congratulations to the council who was re-elected mayor amezcua council members hernandez council member lopez council member fan congratulations to you all i am calling in support of item 29 which essentially strengthens our anti-camping law this item is to address an element of the complex homeless crisis in the city which all of you have already acknowledged exists and that is the criminal element.

Santa Ana residents have time after time made it clear what is most important to them. When you look at the 2024 election and you look at the citywide ballot items, Santa Ana residents overwhelmingly voted in favor for a tough-on-crime bill, Proposition 36. It got 70% of the vote. It was more popular than rent control. It was more popular than our mayor. Sorry, mayor. But I know the mayor isn't surprised by that because we know that people from all walks of life those who voted for Ben who voted for Hernandez renters non-renters we all want the same thing we want to feel safe in our city

and we have known this for a while if you look at budget polls and agenda items and neighborhood association meetings yet any time an item like this comes up to address that criminal element I feel like council members will straw man and conflate it with we're trying to solve the overall homeless crisis and then cite how this item is going to fail in achieving that. I feel like we're talking about separate things here. If we want to tackle the other aspects of the homeless crisis, let's have those conversations. Maybe we can do this in parallel. So we have a with different priorities.

Half of you will focus on getting people back on their feet and the others can focus on keeping residents safe. I'm all for that. But using one element to justify not addressing the other will not get us anywhere. Please listen to us. Please vote yes on item 29. On a lighter note, I also want to congratulate the water polo team. as a water polo player myself from Saddleback High School. I remember the Saints almost capturing their first league title back in 2004 when they went up against us in my senior year when we were all in the same league. It was an exciting game, and we barely won. The score was 8-6, I believe.

We won league that year, and I know how great that feels. So my hat's off to the Saints and way to represent Santa Ana. Lastly, congratulations to the commissioners who were sworn in. I tried to be there tonight, but the entire family got sick, so I couldn't make it. So I just want to close by saying Merry Christmas to everyone. Be safe, be healthy, and let's move Santana forward. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Next speaker, Sandra O'Neill. Please unmute and make your comments.

Hello? Yes, please go ahead. Okay. I live in Ward 3 and I'm speaking in support of Item 29. This is something we really need in our city for the safety of our residents. We watch the council meetings every week and we just wanna know how long this will go on as some things do with some council members that keep wanting to add provisions to things and amending things to delay this ordinance. We're tired of seeing people sleeping on the streets, running around half naked. some of these people are violent. We have a homeless woman who is mentally unstable and sometimes dangerous in Santiago Park.

She throws rocks or whatever she has in her hands at people. She gets chased out by security and the police, yet she always comes back. She'll come back at night and camp there. She's caused a family to move out that lived next to her to the park for fear of their young child being hurt. But we need to really address the elephant in the room. Several council members do whatever they can to disagree with the mayor, and this within and of itself is destroying our city. She says black, you say white. She says up, you say down. It's almost like clockwork when we watch council meetings to see what will be disagreed with the mayor

to put a stop at things that will help our city be better. It's time for you guys to do what's right for our city and put an end to this disregard for our residents over rewarding of a document. I mean, come on. Especially this particular item. These homeless people are starting to have more rights than the citizens do. Last time this item was brought up in a council meeting, Jesse Lopez voted and voiced concerns over someone missing a bus about possibly being cited for staying at a bus stop longer than an hour. What about the guy that's on one North Main Street that's been living on the bus stop for about 10 years?

Or the one passed out on 1st Street in Ward 3, so that's okay? These are the issues that we're talking about, not a missing or bus to target and having to wait for the next one. And you know, you council members think about those people that just came up from the senior complex. What if that was your mom dealing with these issues? I bet you that something would get done right away if it was your mom. I bet it would. Again, whatever these issues you have or whatever reason you guys have, you council members that have against authority or whatever reasons, personal reasons you have with our mayor,

it's time to grow up and put your personal issues aside and stop finding excuses not to pass this. this is so important for our elderly for our children to not be seeing this stuff going all the time please do the job you took the oath for and take care of your wards and take care of our city and congratulations on everybody that got re-elected especially mayor of mesquite we just love the job you're doing taking care of our city thank you

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

next speaker patty please unmute and make your comments

Hello, can you hear me? Yes, please go ahead. Good evening Mayor Amesqua and City Council members. I'm from Ward 3. I want to thank each of you for listening to what I have to say. My name is Patty and I am a lifelong resident of Santa Ana for 64 years. I am in support of item 29 on the proposed ordinance.

I have an adult son, the age of 42, who is currently homeless in Santa Ana, addicted to meth and fentanyl, and with co-occurring mental health disorders for the last 20 plus years. At the age of 17, his high school senior year, he started with marijuana, and that is when he was introduced to meth and immediately became addicted to it.

My son has been in and out of jail, prison, faith-based men homes, and many, many rehabs, sober living homes, psychiatric facilities, and shelters like the Courtyard, the Link, and the Carnegie, while being high on drugs and having numerous mental episodes. He has caused so many disturbances to the public. He has overdosed several times, even once at the MHA on Main Street. He sleeps on the sidewalks and the bus stop benches. Yes, that's my son on the bench. He has been hit by cars while walking the streets at night.

He is so reckless to the point that he is killing himself each day. And let me tell you, as his mother, I would rather be, I'd rather he be safe behind bars than on the streets or in any encampment, bench, or park. Let me share what happened last night as my son searched for a safe place. He showed up again at my family member's house wanting help. And this is something that happens regularly. He's been looking for safety for over 20 plus years and a stable place, but a safe place has not yet to be found.

The services suggested online had not solved the issues of his homelessness, addiction, and co-occurring mental health disorders, nor had they helped others who are like my son and currently living on the streets of Santa Ana. For those of you who think that this issue would be solved by housing, I believe that offering housing would be more beneficial for homeless families and individuals who are not dealing with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. And giving my son a place of his own, who is addicted to drugs and with co-occurring mental disorders, would be a death sentence.

This would enable him to continue with his lifestyle and possibly die of an overdose in the privacy of his own home.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

thank you next speaker jensen hallstrom please unmute and make your comments

hi thank you you sounded wonderful hello can you hear me yes go ahead jensen hello city council and staff my name is jensen hallstrom and i'm a local advocate for urban forests and i would like for there to be a conversation had regarding the um ficus tree over on the the east side of the city library and i understand that the city has made uh claims about

the um structural uh integrity of the library being affected by the tree um there has been several calls for the city to produce, you know, an actual official assessment of the tree having been done by a professional certified arborist or, you know, even a registered consulting arborist. Apparently, no such document has been provided.

So I just want to ask why there isn't a formal list of protected trees within the city that have significant value to the community. This is a particular tree that generations of Santa Ana residents have grown up enjoying and really associate with the library itself.

And so, you know, I hope that some of the unanswered questions are addressed regarding why the removal was not delayed and and, you know, there being, you know, an invitation for, you know, a healthy form of, you know, public engagement and discourse. course um it seems like at the very last minute there uh was very little um that any of the

community felt that they had in ways of um you know bringing some really some some comprehensive and you know rational you know evaluation of the situation uh but instead the entire community was met with this very valuable mature tree being suddenly cut down. And so if you, the council and the city manager, actually do have a commitment to the city

of Santa Ana to provide sustainable management of the city's urban forest, then I think that that a lot of the questions specifically which arborist um jensen your time is up

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

mayor and city council that concludes the public speakers thank you madam clerk at this time we're

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

going to go to consent calendar items 7 through 27 removing 9 10 and 11 as we already addressed them any council members that need to abstain please let us know let uh um make an announcement at this time? No, Mayor Pro Tem.

Thai Viet PhanItem 7

I am recusing myself from item number 17

Thai Viet PhanItem 7

as they are a client of my employer, Retana Tucker. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Okay, item 17. Yes. Okay, any others?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 7

I'll make a motion and move the consent calendar.

Phil BacerraItem 7

Mayor, I'm going to pull item 22.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Yeah, hold on. Councilman Hernandez, thank you so much.

David PenalozaItem 7

Yeah, Mayor, I actually wanted to pull item 17, but I'll second Councilman Hernandez

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Okay, so there's a motion and then there's a second, and you're pulling item 17?

Phil BacerraItem 7

22 and then I think 17.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

22 and 17. No other, any other items we pulled? Let's prepare to vote. Okay, so I have a... Did you have one? Yes. I'm sorry, I thought you were just holding it.

Jessie LopezItem 7

I'm going to pull agenda item 14. I have a comment on 21, and I'd like to register a no on 19.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

So you're registering a no on 19, and you have a comment on 14? 21. And 21. So we're going to pull 21 then. Okay. Let's prepare to vote on the remaining items, please.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Motion by Council Member Hernandez, seconded by Council Member Penalosa to approve the consent calendar with the exceptions of items 9, 10, and 11 already approved by the City Council and items 14, 17, 19, 21. I'm sorry, not 19. 14, 17, 21, and 22 pulled for separate consideration.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Let's vote, please.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

The vote is six eyes, no nays. Motion carries to approve the consent calendar as stated with a noted no vote by Councilmember Lopez on item number 19. Motion carries and a temporary absence by Councilmember Vasquez. The first item pulled, Mayor, is item number 14 by Councilmember Lopez.

Jessie LopezItem 7

Oh, hi, yes. I'm not opposing the item. In fact, I'll make a motion to move forward. however um i would like to see a yearly practice of making sure there's a youth forum involved in the budget process we requested one last year didn't quite happen and so i'm hoping that we can have a partnership with our local school district to make sure that we're listening directly from the voices of young people in the city thank you i'll second the motion i i'll

David PenalozaItem 8

support the motion but just with the comment uh mr city manager that not just the local school district but the multiple school districts that represent Santa Ana as well as the charter schools and we got to make sure that every youth is has a chance to provide input whatever that looks like but our education system there you go thank you let's prepare to vote please I'm sorry you had a

Jennifer L. HallItem 8

comment I apologize a motion by council member Lopez seconded by council member Hernandez to approve the recommended action for item 14 the budget calendar and community engagement plan for fiscal year 2025 to 2026.

Jennifer L. HallItem 8

Vote is seven ayes, no nays. Motion carries.

Jennifer L. HallItem 8

Mayor, the next item pulled is item number 17 by Councilmember Peñalosa. Councilmember.

David PenalozaItem 8

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Item 17 is an agreement with the company company to for ambulance and paramedic billing and collection services Mr. City manager, I read the staff report and thank you for that I just was trying to get clarity on what exactly this is and I guess I wanted to So I have some questions answered just so that the public is aware of How the paramedic service? Works in the city. I guess the first question I would ask is if if a resident within the city of Santa Ana for whatever reason calls 911 and needs ambulance transportation to a nearby hospital,

David PenalozaItem 8

is that service free to the patient?

Is this on?

I don't think so. No. There you go. Okay, thank you. Sorry. No, the service is not free. The service is billed to either the patient's insurance company or Medi-Cal, Medicare, that kind of thing.

David PenalozaItem 8

Okay, and I knew that, but I just wanted to get assurance and so that the public understands how this works. And the reason why I'm asking that question is because unfortunately last month, on November 11th, my mom fell, dislocated her shoulder. It was a whole thing. She didn't want to call 911, but I insisted we did. So we called 911, paramedics came out, and she was transported via ambulance and she actually complained about the ambulance ride going down Bristol Street between St. Andrew and Warner because of how bumpy it was. That's another conversation, just FYI. But the dislocated shoulder, so you could imagine.

David PenalozaItem 8

But about a week later, she got, you know, and this is coming from, I guess, I've been translating this mail for my mom since I was four years old. these types of mails and letters, and I'm sure thousands of other people in Santa Ana have been doing that as well for their non-English speaking parents. My mom received what looked like a bill, her arm still in a sling. So, you know, her always refusing to call 911 because of that fear of

David PenalozaItem 8

getting a bill, a very expensive bill from either the, I know the fire department doesn't invoice but paramedics do. I mean that was why she was like, don't call 911, you could take me. And I'm like, I don't even want to touch you because I'm going to break something else. But that fear is there. And I know that my mom opening up that mail, what looked like a bill. I don't know who did that service right now, but the form was simple. I was able to read it and just fill in her insurance information and send it back so they could hopefully bill her insurance.

David PenalozaItem 8

And I'm pretty sure I'm probably violating all her HIPAA. But anyways, the point is that I would like to know how are we, because I know that residents are going to get this form in the mail. they're gonna freak out they're gonna get they're gonna panic it's gonna cost stress when they're probably still injured so how are we educating exactly because the form wasn't it was easy for me to fill out but it wasn't it looked like a bill and that's the fear right so how are we educating are we letting our

David PenalozaItem 8

residents know that that that I mean how are we mitigating that right we don't

have an active education campaign going on right now, but we can certainly work with Whitman, our billing provider, to add some information and clarification to the form so that maybe it's real clear on top what it is, so that if you just read the first couple sentences, your blood pressure will come back down. Yeah.

David PenalozaItem 8

Yeah, if we can, if we could work with Whitman to make sure that that language is very clear and obviously in multiple languages. I believe the one that came into my house was just in English. I could be mistaken, but that's another issue, right? We have people opening up again, looks like a bill, and they panic. And I don't want residents to not call 911, not to avoid the ambulance transportation because of that fear.

David PenalozaItem 8

So if we could be very, very educational in the way that we send these forms out, because we are trying to collect, that's all I would ask, that we really zero in with Whitman on that language. With that, Mayor, I will make a motion to approve.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 8

Hold on one second. Mr. City Manager, do you have a comment?

Alvaro NuñezItem 8

No, we actually appreciate the sentiments because you're correct. right so it's it's one of those cash 22 sentiments right we educate for the purpose to make sure that there's availability whether people medical Medicare or the private insurance right the fear is as you indicated even from your mom's experience don't call take me right because it happens right I've done it I do the translating from my parents to when I was a kid so that's the that's the complementary aspect right you said yourself in your comments is how do we balance that sentiment and ensure people call 9-1-1 especially in

Alvaro NuñezItem 8

the emergency so they don't compound any injuries and then they still would look for a way to provide education but as long as there's an understanding that we have to balance that with you know primary care that's the key thank you

Benjamin VazquezItem 8

mr. senator councilman Vasquez thank you so much thank you for bringing it up we In Santa Ana, we do have a paramedic subscription program. $70 a year. It covers your household with your Santa Ana and not visitors. So for $70 as a stocking stuffer to our parents,

Benjamin VazquezItem 8

we can give a great Christmas gift to our families. And that's just here a little public information.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 8

We know a councilman Penelosa will be buying his mother. All right, councilman Penelosa, you making a motion?

David PenalozaItem 8

Yes, I'll make a motion. I'll second. Let's require a vote.

Jennifer L. HallItem 8

Motion by Councilmember Penalosa, seconded by Mayor Emesqua to approve item 17, an agreement with Whitman Enterprises LLC for ambulance and paramedic billing and collection services.

Jennifer L. HallItem 8

The vote is six ayes, no nays with a noted recusal by Mayor Pro Tem Fan. Motion carries.

Jennifer L. HallItem 8

The next item is item number 21 by Councilmember Lopez.

Jessie LopezItem 8

Yes, I'm happy to move the item. I just wanted to comment and thank staff because last Thursday we received a notification after work hours, of course, about a water leak. A pipe hub had burst on Camille and Broadway, and we were able to reach out to Public Works. Again, this was late in the day, and so I really want to thank you all for responding immediately and making sure that we stop the flow of water. And with that, I'm happy to move the item. I'll second. Let's prepare to vote.

Jennifer L. HallItem 8

Motion by Councilmember Lopez, seconded by Councilmember Peñolosa to approve item 21, agreements with Houston and Harris, PCS, TE Roberts, and Palos Engineering for emergency on-call water and sewer clean-up services. The vote is 7 ayes, no nays. Motion carries.

Jennifer L. HallItem 8

The final item pulled from the consent calendar is item 22 by Councilmember Becerra.

Phil BacerraItem 8

Thank you. So this is the, item 22 is the agreement with CityNet. so the county has what they call the orange county outreach and engagement program which according to the county's website quote serves individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness in orange county the program services focus on linking individuals to needed housing physical health behavioral health and other supportive services what we see throughout orange county are cities who get sick of the county not providing the service that they advertise and end up engaging

Phil BacerraItem 8

in contracts like this with CityNet or other providers. And so my sentiment tonight is not directed at CityNet, more on the failure of the county to provide the service that they advertise. And so for a community like ours to spend $3.75 million on a service that the county says that they provide, I just can't do it. We all talk about Measure X sunsetting. We all talk about what we're going to do to tighten our belts when it comes to our fiscal health. And yet we're going

Phil BacerraItem 8

to be spending $3.75 million on a service that the county says that they provide. They advertise it. They call it the Orange County Outreach and Engagement Team. In fact, they even call it O-C-O-N-E and yet here we are paying for this program we're not paying for them to do it we're having to go out and do the responsible thing and get ourselves so I you know I've brought up my concerns about this before and I just can't continue to sit here and say okay let's just go ahead and support another year another year another year at some point we got to put our foot down

Phil BacerraItem 8

and we got to say enough's enough the county needs to follow through they're the ones that are responsible for these types of services not every city has this because they don't have these problems but the county knows that we have them and yet they don't provide the service so tonight I will not be supporting this item thank

Benjamin VazquezItem 8

you that's a Vasquez thank you so much I do want to support this item I know we need city net I did a I did a ride-along on my first year on council and I just the quality of work and improved over a year two years that they've been doing this and and they come out they are non-stop our police are non-stop they have they go from one call to another to another and they show compassion and they show work and they do diligence and it after arrest somebody they arrest somebody and the quality of life team and the city net comes in afterwards

Benjamin VazquezItem 8

where it relieves officers of having to handle the homeless people, the unhoused, and they move along to the next call. And these guys will take them to a shelter or to the next place. It's really, we really need to vote the Senate. This is necessary for the work that people want to see. For the same reason you want item 29, we need this here. So these two together are going to help Santa Ana. Without this item here, without these funds, we're going to see a great deal of just man hours by the police that they don't need to be doing and the services that we need to help people actually get into

Benjamin VazquezItem 22

shelters and moving out of the streets so I'm gonna fully support this and I

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

move the I move this item thank you I'll second your motion so I have a comment so mr. city manager we when I first got elected I was asking for regular homeless reports. So we were getting them, I think first it started monthly and then it went to quarterly and then they just stopped. And so for whatever reason. And part of the report was information from CityNet on how many people did they assist, contact, housing, the whole nine yards. Yeah, City Manager Mendoza remembers it very clearly. And so I think it's, I would like to ask for that

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

back quarterly because hopefully we're going to approve 29 hopefully we approve the city net contract and then we look at what are they doing what are they really doing and i'm not saying they're not doing a good job but what are we doing as well as a city because the 29 million that we invest in the homeless services our shelter is this 3.5 million whatever it is on top of that It is? It is, correct?

Alvaro NuñezItem 22

No, it's part of it.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

It's part of it. So it is a lot of money, and so we are going into the discussions, as you had indicated in 25, about Measure X, right? How are we as a council going to start talking about getting prepared for Measure X? Because we can't wait to be reactive. We have to be proactive. And this is one of the areas that we need to be proactive. So I'm going to support the item tonight, but I would like to have reports back on the agenda. I mean, I'll leave it up to you, whether monthly or quarterly or every other, whatever you decide.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

But it needs to go from, you know, police contacts because they're working directly with CityNet cleaning up the bus stops, correct? So how many are we arresting on warrants, parole or probation? How many are getting housed? How many are going into programs? How many are being reunified with their families? And how many homeless do we really have in our city? Because I know we did a point-in-time count, which is a little different from what I believe the county came up with. And so CityNet does do the work,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

and our police department cannot, and our staff cannot. But I do want to see what exactly are they doing. And I know what they do, but I want the community to see it. I want them to hear it, and I want us to be able to see it and ask those questions, right? Because I know we're going to be working with different organizations for housing, right, with Executive Director Garcia. So they're going to connect people to housing. What are they doing exactly? I think for me, I don't have a problem approving this tonight, but I want that information.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

because I think it is critical when you're talking 29, 30, whatever it may be, 31 million dollars that we could be giving to our constituents, but instead we're bearing that weight of addressing the needs of the homeless and the needs of the community, the community members that are homeless, that have mental health issues, that are on drugs, that are committing crime, whatever it may be and then hopefully we'll also have street medicine and keep our fingers crossed next year that we'll get some street medicine as well so mayor pro tem thank you mayor i agree with

Thai Viet PhanItem 22

you mr city manager i am very proud that you are our city manager because you have a great relationship with the county the state as well as the federal government to work on these types of issues now i understand that it is the county's responsibility to provide homelessness services However, unless and until they do that in a manner that benefits Santa Ana, we cannot avoid that responsibility too. It's our job also to ensure that the streets are clean, that people get services, and that we make sure that our residents can walk to school, walk to work, use the bus benches, etc.

Thai Viet PhanItem 22

And so I look forward to seeing you work with the county, with CalOptima. I know our relationships have vastly improved. In fact, they just did a really big resource fair this past weekend at Valley High School. And so I want to see us continue to improve on those relationships so that one day we can change these agreements and we don't have to take on this burden. But until we do that, we can't just turn a blind eye and say we're not going to provide these services because ultimately these are going to be people who are on our streets and either they are arrested or they get services.

Thai Viet PhanItem 22

otherwise they will stay on the streets so I hope that as our police department collaborate with you know CityNet with CalOptima with the county and all of our partners to get services we will get to decrease the funding for CityNet and we will continue to work on our budget thank you thank you Councilor Panellis

David PenalozaItem 22

thank you Mayor Mescua thank you city staff and say I see sitting at in the audience thank you for being here as well I I understand where council member Sarah is coming from because I've also not always but at times have had my own frustrations with with the service that I'm seeing or or or why we're being redundant or or duplicating a service that the county of Orange should be providing right but here I definitely don't want to pull the rug from underneath the services that we're currently providing as a city so I am supportive of the contract what I do want to suggest and I'm not sure if it

David PenalozaItem 22

was Council Member Vasquez was it you made the motion or was it a friendly amendment I'm trying to listen to all of my colleagues here to approve this without the automatic renewal but in six months come back to us with a detailed data record of what services and how many people and how many contacts, a detailed, just like Mayor Mescal was asking, is asking for, to see if the $3.7 million are being put to good use.

David PenalozaItem 22

Then from there, there will be a receiving file, I imagine, and we can make the termination as a city council if we want to extend for that second year instead of just allowing for essentially approving a two-year contract because then you know it would you know help us continue service and and it keeps the provider on their toes in providing the service to our to our city so I would make that amendment councilman Vazquez that we approve the item but without the automatic renewal that before it renews it comes back to the City Council for consideration if I

Benjamin VazquezItem 22

accept the amendment but I invite all the council members to do a drive along with the quality of life team.

Alvaro NuñezItem 22

But just to clarify, Council Member, this is a one-year contract. Yeah, but... With a one-year option, because our intention was exactly that, right? We do want to do the quarter updates. We want to work with CityNet, obviously, right? We are looking to partner with the county, CalOptoma, and with, you know, in conjunction with this, as part of our non-enforcement response, yes we want to pass the amendment to chapter 10 so that we can see that the city is presenting a holistic comprehensive approach at that level right and again with prop 36 coming into effect grant span changes so

Alvaro NuñezItem 22

obviously this year is going to be one of those years where we are looking to make that level of impact six months may not be enough council member obviously at your discretion like data no yeah well there'll be enough data but it still allows us to be more factual to have a whole year because what's happening is right we'll probably call optima if we can get our street medicine right and it also allows us better to work with the county works okay already have a meeting schedule with the kind of behavioral component so we're looking to expand again whether have the the option to be more flexible but again at a yield that

David PenalozaItem 22

your discretion. So I'm okay receiving the data information and in a year but my concern was just a one-year renewal option. I don't want staff to have the sole discretion. We can bring it to you in a year. Wonderful.

Alvaro NuñezItem 22

And that allows us as staff, right, us working with CityNet, the more success, the better options we have. That's the key, right? Okay. And again in conjunction with hopefully you know unanimous approval of you know yes we have to okay otherwise that's that's the key regarding this right when we say that we're often care about what is holistic and comprehensive approach this allows us and for us to monitor and you're right mayor and and as Councilor Becerra said and customer Vasquez said and actually everybody has said right our approaches how do we maximize our relationships with all entities Cal

Alvaro NuñezItem 22

Optima the county the districts McKinna Vento students right the state yes right how do we monitor 10 creativity the fact that we have data not on a yearly basis every three months what do we do how do we do it and where do we do that right so that it doesn't take us a whole nine months six months to know where we're going right our objective with sunset of measure X the point five is that we want to have a directive plan six months eight months so we know that this is quality of life concern one of the key pillars of of of concerns within the city and is into public safety and

Alvaro NuñezItem 22

housing and um and affordability of of having jobs is to make sure that we have a comprehensive plan within the six to 18 months are our key issues thank you councilman becerra thank you mayor so

Phil BacerraItem 22

i would ask my colleagues for all that remember mha so when mha two years ago was before the county board what did they do they approved another year of uh funding right it wasn't until we said hey enough's enough we can't keep continuing to see this happen to our city and finally we got them to stop they were considering a five-year agreement and thankfully we all stepped in i remember councilman panaloza and mayor mesqua being there to say enough's enough right but so i hear my colleagues say well we'll get data okay what do you think the day is going to show it's going to

Phil BacerraItem 22

show what's in the exhibit that's going to say CityNet did the following. CityNet went out and made these contacts. They got some folks into housing. They got some folks into, wait, let's think about the shelters. Where are those shelters? Oh, that's right. They're in our city. Two of them, a county and a city shelter, both in our city. We continue to demonstrate that we're going to do all that we can to help the homeless. And I'm proud of our compassion as a city, but I know because I speak to our residents, enough's enough. At some point, we're going to have to say,

Phil BacerraItem 22

sorry county we're not going to continue to subsidize your empty promises we're going to stop subsidizing your empty promises and we're going to say enough's enough and we're going to cut off the contract and we're going to make them actually fulfill their promise but if we keep letting it go another year another six months another two weeks whatever it is if i'm the county you know what i'm saying thanks san anna thanks keep funding it because now we don't have to now we can dedicate our resources to other cities that have put their foot down so every

Phil BacerraItem 22

time we renew this contract every time we get a little bit of data and then we say ah we should do another year another six months guess what the county's going thank you so the only people we're pleasing right now are the county board of soups so you're welcome guys councilmember lopez yes um

Jessie LopezItem 22

i mean directly to our constituents i think i would like for you to understand that this item is supplemental in nature if you want more to be done this is one item where we can do more than baseline County services I don't think that anyone who advocates for do anything that you can would say take city way a net a city net away because they recognize that you would be taking one tool in the entire toolbox that we're using now to address this issue right CityNet if you read the scope of work it is not the enforcement arm of the city of Santa Ana it is not

Jessie LopezItem 22

it is in fact the opposite of that it's non enforcement it is what we wanted to bring in in 2021 with the understanding that we had limited resources limited money to keep investing through the department through the PD so CityNet serves a specific purpose of being able to go out into our community I've been now with CityNet for hours Sergeant Montil I see you in the audience you know this when we were at the creek we were there for a very very long period of time I would rather have an officer be addressing a crisis in our city than

Jessie LopezItem 22

standing over someone asking them if they would like services this is the function of CityNet in our city and I believe that it serves a really great purpose. I'm not sure how much reporting we can ask of them in the scope, the contract. We already demand monthly, quarterly, yearly reports. I don't want to inundate an organization that is only trying to achieve the collective goal of helping to permanently exit people off the streets by saying, you know, we want a weekly, hourly, daily reports. I think it is incumbent on us to be informed and

Jessie LopezItem 22

read all the reporting that is already being given to the city and made available to all of us and so i will be supporting this item today and you know i think it's important for people to understand the nature of the work 7 a.m to 9 p.m covers a lot of the hours that we can't do and And I believe city manager that the bare picture here is perhaps thinking down the line to reduce some of the issues that you're hearing from the diocese bringing the services in house. That being said, that is going to be a financial barrier to the city.

Jessie LopezItem 22

I see you nodding your head, right? And so we were doing what we can with what we have. It does not mean that we're doing for the entire county. It is actually providing a service to anyone in the city of Santa Ana, particularly for those that can prove their ties to our community.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

Are you done?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

So, Mr. City Manager, just for clarification, I don't recall us having a conversation and bringing it in-house and voting on it. I did not ask for a report daily, hourly, monthly, so I want to be really clear, and I'm not going to go back and forth because it's ridiculous to do that up here. but when I first became mayor, we were not getting that. Yes, we get it as a council, the mayor, and I read things all day long, but the community doesn't get it. So you can say, it's on our website, go look. It's really easy to say that. Go on the website and look. But people don't do that. They don't have time.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

They're working or whatever it may be. So I'm not up here telling any of the council members, well, you didn't read it. It's your response. What I'm saying is that it was working. And for whatever reason, we stopped doing it. And it wasn't by the minute. It wasn't even by the hour. It was just how many people were contacted, how many received housing, yada, yada. Very simple, very simple report. So I don't want anybody out there mistaking that, oh, my God, the council or the mayor is asking for this minute-by-minute report. No, that is not what I said up here.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

And if you look at the reports that we used to get from Ken, they were like three pages. Here you go. Boom, boom, boom. Here's how many took services. Here's how many did not. And so, you know, one of the comments that somebody made earlier about, you know, getting along, and I'll add to it, having respect for each other and getting business done, this is a good example of it right now. Nobody was saying we're doing this, and nobody should be saying, well, you have to read it. We do do that. I can guarantee you up here probably every single person reads what you give us.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

So, but for me, and I think for some of us up here, spending $30 million is a lot of money that can go to our constituents, right? So we're going to give CityNet this contract. Hopefully it passes tonight. They're doing a good job. They're going to continue to do the work. And they're going to continue to report back to you. And they're going to work with our police department. and then we're going to see how they're doing. Again, whether the report is quarterly, I'd like it quarterly. And at the end of the year, as Councilman Penelosa asked for a full report, there's nothing wrong with that.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

Being a county baby for 30 years, 30 years, let me be clear because I'm the first, I won't say the oldest up here.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

I grew up in the county. I had a job, I had a career, I had a profession, and I was out of those streets at 2, 3 o'clock in the morning making contact with unhouse people and civic center, finding children sleeping under a box and the parents sleeping around them, protecting them. And I was incarcerating them or helping them or referring them or driving them to the Salvation Army, helping people that open sores and that were severely addicted to drugs. And we had detox beds, Chief, if you remember, we had detox beds. We don't have those anymore unless we find some I don't know.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

So I'm one of the few, the only one that can sit up here and say, yeah, I have been out there. I don't need to go out or ride along with CityNet. I appreciate the work they do. I have been out there for 30 years, and I don't want to go back out there again. Only when I need to. And so I've put on the gloves, and I've had to go out there for 12-hour shifts, 16-hour shifts. There's people up here who don't even have jobs. So I'm not going to sit up here and be disrespectful, But what I'm going to say is that it is our responsibility to answer to our constituents

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

when we're giving away so much money and we're not giving it away as a gift to you. You're working for it. And we all appreciate that. And Councilman Becerra has a right to whatever his opinion is. And so hopefully again, with item 29 and sitting at its item, they're together, they're married and the good work continues. And so with that, unless there's no other comments, there was a motion and there was a second. Go ahead, Councilman Vasquez.

Benjamin VazquezItem 22

Thank you for that, Mayor. When we do get these reports, can we get comparable data so it doesn't change or it looks the same? So when we see it, I don't want to go from a pie graph to a bar graph to something different. I want to be able to.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

No, you asked for that last time.

Benjamin VazquezItem 22

I want to see it exactly the same way. Yeah. And then if we want to add different data to it, allow us to ask for different data so we could see a grow or whatever's happening so it could be so we can look at it and we can see the changes

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

so with that I move the item so there was a motion Jennifer do we have a second I don't know

Jennifer L. HallItem 22

yes it's a motion by councilmember Vasquez seconded by councilmember Hernandez to approve item 22 as amended to include a detailed report at the end of the year prior to the renewal let's

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

Prepare to vote, please.

Jennifer L. HallItem 22

Vote is six ayes, one nay. Nay by Council Member Becerra. Motion carries. Mayor and City Council, that concludes the consent calendar items. Thank you, Madam Clerk. At this time, we're going to know the business calendar.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

item 28 is the review and reappointment of regional boards madam city clerk may

Jennifer L. HallItem 28

do you have a staff report I'm just a brief announcement this is the biennial biennial review of your appointments to the various regional boards that we are allotted as a city to serve on to represent the residents of the city of Santa Ana on items such as sanitation water flood control other governmental issues and so this is your opportunity to either continue all of you are eligible to continue to serve in the same positions you were appointed to over the last two years or if any of you would like to provide additional different nominations you can make changes at this time

David PenalozaItem 28

thank you mayor I will make a motion to continue with the current appointments status quo of our council to serve on these various boards

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 28

I'll second the motion with an amendment, Councilmember. Given that the Orange County Water District seat is termed out for our Mayor, Valerie Mesquah, I'd like to see if you're open to adding to your motion, Jesse Lopez being the representative on OC Water District.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

Are you asking me?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 28

Yes. Yes, ma'am.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

I'm not sure how I termed out because I was only there one year. Oh. So I know it says I've turned out. So I actually want to stay on the water board. I'm hoping to be vice president.

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

Mayor?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

Yes.

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

If we're going to talk about the OCWD, because I do have to leave. They are my clients, so I cannot vote to appoint anyone onto that board. So if you'd like to do that now, I can leave and come back for the rest of items.

Phil BacerraItem 28

I just simply said I want to stay on. Mayor Pro Tem, are you allowed to stay if we go with Council Member Penaloza's status quo motion?

Yes, if you aren't going to pull it for discussion, she would be able to remain on the bias. I'll second his motion. If you're going to have a conversation, she'll have to leave. I'll second Councilman Pollison.

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

This is the business calendar, so they're going individual, right?

Yeah.

Thai Viet PhanItem 28

Oh.

Jennifer L. HallItem 28

It's at your discretion to either do the entire slate or individual regional appointments.

Phil BacerraItem 28

Can there be a motion and a second?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

Yes. And then you made an amended motion?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 28

Yes, thank you, Madam Mayor. given that you want to keep that seat I wanted to see if there's an opportunity to rotate my alternate for the sanitation district I currently have councilmember Benjamin Vasquez but I know sometimes your schedule can conflict with OC San councilmember Lopez do you have any interest in serving as an alternate on OC San

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

No, that's fine. If Councilman Vassar is going there, he's got to take Skag then.

David PenalozaItem 28

Skag it is for you, my brother. I'll accept that amendment. Thank you, sir.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

Thank you. He said no to Skag, remember? Yes, he did. Okay.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 28

No. Thank you so much.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

All right, let's report a vote with the exception. We're making the changes for Councilmember Lopez. Okay. I don't know. Did you say you're taking Skag?

Jennifer L. HallItem 28

Next year, oh, okay.

Jennifer L. HallItem 28

So just so that I'm clear, I have a motion by Council Member Penalosa to appoint all the current incumbents to their positions with the exception now of an amendment made by Council Member Hernandez for the alternate to OC San to be Council Member Lopez. Do you accept that amendment?

David PenalozaItem 28

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 28

Then that would be the motion on the floor.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

We're going to sneak in Skag later.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 28

Skaggs, still struggling to find someone, huh?

It's in LA, who wants to go?

Jennifer L. HallItem 28

Councilmember Hernandez?

Jennifer L. HallItem 28

Councilmember Hernandez?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 28

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 28

VOTUS 7 ayes, no nays, motion carries. Existing appointments approved and the change for OCSAN alternate approved.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 28

Thank you. Item 29 was continued from the regular meeting of November 19th, the proposed ordinance related to crimes in law enforcement. Mr. City Manager, may we please have a staff report?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 29

Actually, let me ask the council. Do you need a staff report or do you want to vote on it and move forward? You don't need a report. Nobody needs a report? Chief, you're saved. He was all ready. All right. If there's no comments, Mayor.

David PenalozaItem 29

I'll make a motion to approve.

Phil BacerraItem 29

Second.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 29

Mayor, for the time you have a comment.

Thai Viet PhanItem 29

Yes, thank you, Mayor. Chief, Mr. City Manager, Madam City Attorney, thank you so much for your hard work on this. I know that all of your offices work together to address all of our concerns. For the residents out there who spoke on this item, I think that it's really important that we recognize that the City of Santa Ana is not only compassionate and is going to provide the services that all of our residents need, whether you're houseless, temporarily houseless, or experiencing hardship, but we are also going to hold people accountable for their actions.

Thai Viet PhanItem 29

It is not your fault for having mental health crises. It's not your fault for being addicted to drugs. However, it is your responsibility to get help, to accept help, and to go out and not harm others. I think that the changes in this ordinance have been really well considered. In particular, I want to make clear that the changes to camping in a vehicle or habitating in a vehicle is something that was really important to me because I do not believe that the mere act of sleeping in your car is a crime. There are so many people in our community

Thai Viet PhanItem 29

who have experienced hardship where they do have to sleep in their car for a day or two or however long that is. They should not be arrested. They should not be cited if they are not hurting anyone else. However, the provisions that we have kept in here and added, including preventing, you know, blocking of two or more windows, storing personal belongings and trash and rubbish, grooming, bathing in the car, etc. Those are nuisances that have actively negative effects on the communities in which these cars are parked. And so I look forward to our police department enforcing on those

Thai Viet PhanItem 29

issues and making sure that we do not increase the nuisances in our city and keep our community clean. I also want to thank the different departments for addressing the concerns that we talked about relating you know like the coolers and things like that ultimately ultimately our goal is to treat anyone who is disruptive to the community creating a nuisance blocking access ingress and egress the same no matter what your status is because you do not have a right to block our families our pedestrians our students from accessing buses, the streets, going to school, or going to work. But I want to say that I'm

Thai Viet PhanItem 29

really proud of the work that we've done here in the City of Santa Ana to make sure that we still provide services because ultimately we're all community members and if we don't give each other a hand up we're never gonna get out of this situation. So with that I am proud to approve this and I look forward to the work that your departments are going to do together to make sure that we improve the City of Santa Ana. Thank you.

Phil BacerraItem 29

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Mr. City Manager, how many times within this ordinance does the word homeless apply? Not the whereas's, but the actual shall, you know, SAMC section, whatever, whatever. How many?

Alvaro NuñezItem 29

I don't think none.

Phil BacerraItem 29

Probably zero, right? Because that's the correct answer. It doesn't apply. Or it doesn't appear. And the reason for that is why. Because this is not about the homeless. This is about safe access to public spaces. This is not about whether you own a yacht. This is not about whether you own a car. It's not about whether you own a home. This is about being able to walk out to a bus stop, sidewalk, a park, any public space. That's what this ordinance is about. I want to thank the city manager, and I want to thank our chief, and I want to thank everybody that helped revise this ordinance.

Phil BacerraItem 29

Because I think what came to us before was a little kind of muddled, I think. And I think my colleagues actually made some good points about some of the things that need to be revised. I think, as Mayor Pro Tem mentioned, something about coolers, right, that really didn't rise to the occasion of being necessary, given what we were trying to accomplish here. So I want to thank staff for what you guys have brought forward today. And I just want to, again, emphasize this is not about the homeless. This is not about whether you have a yacht, whether you have a car. This is just about having safe access to public spaces.

Phil BacerraItem 29

And I think in the last meeting we talked about the idea that this was based on other cities. I'm going to be so bold as to say that I think this is better than other cities, because I think that the amount of time and effort that you guys put into this, I think it's more thorough. I think it's more defendable, and I think it's more fair. So, again, maybe it was good to have the second bite at the apple, because you guys really stepped up your game to bring us something that I think is something that others will be emulating, not us emulating others.

Phil BacerraItem 29

because when people ask me, well, I won't say the cities, but other cities around us, well, they adopted something. We all need to say their names. When they adopted something, oh my gosh, Santa Ana, why haven't you done it? Because why? We've already got a lot of these things on the books. But with grants pass, we took a look at what we had on the books and we said, we could do better. And we did. And I think what's before us tonight is that improvement. But to say that we were flat-footed, to say that we weren't ready to address these issues,

Phil BacerraItem 29

i think we were but this just further gives more tools to our pd and to staff to be able to make sure again that our public spaces are safe and accessible to the community thank you

Jessie LopezItem 29

councilmember lopez yes um i appreciate the comments of the council member and i appreciate staff's work to make sure that we've revised the ordinance i think it's important um you know that well at least for me given the role that I'm in and how serious I take it that we move beyond you know the sometimes what could be perceived as just a blanket ordinance that can have harmful impacts on other people whether we up here or members in this chamber will ever experience it and so I do appreciate the work to making sure that all of our comments were taking into consideration

Jessie LopezItem 29

And I know that we also sent your way testimony of people in our city that sleep in their cars. And so thank you for taking that into consideration. I really appreciate your work.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 29

Mr. Vasquez.

Benjamin VazquezItem 29

I'm going to vote yes on this ordinance because I have faith in our team and a quality of life team and the work that they do in and out. They do come in at 4 in the morning and they work until 9 at night, two different shifts. They are non-stop. They go and they go from one call to another to another. Along the way, they might pick up some trash with the crew and say, grab this. We're going to head on forward. And in comes CityNet, help hands off the person. I do have some issues that I want to talk with you about later. So we have issues that we can fix our side and then working with the county.

Benjamin VazquezItem 29

And I will continue to do ride-alongs. And I invite everybody. The mayor obviously has vast experience. We appreciate your experience and your service. But the rest of you, I invite you to go and see how we can see and change policy and help out our quality of life team doing this work. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 29

Thank you. So before we vote, I printed out all of the emails that the council received and e-comments and that were sent to us by many, many, many people in the community. I don't recall, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I did not see one that said, I don't support it. What they did ask for is that we do vote to support it because they're tired of people defecating their yard and committing crime and a lot of people commented that they felt that the homeless or the criminal activity they have more rights than we do as community members and

Valerie AmezcuaItem 29

so I'm proud to vote yes for this because this is a matter of quality life for the city of Santa Ana we know that other cities without mentioning them as Councilman Becerra indicated have passed this and i know that i get you know messages sometimes that oh so and so city's dropping off here dropping off there and sometimes maybe it is true i don't know chief and i know you guys are also watching out for that as well but what i do know is that in the city of san anna we all deserve to be safe we all deserve to be able to walk at night we all deserve to live in

Valerie AmezcuaItem 29

a place where it's quiet and we can get sleep we all deserve to not go into our car in the morning it's been broken into or at OSHA the other day there was a completely naked man walking down the street with all the students that were out there he was completely naked naked head to toe and I appreciate all the people who come out and make public comments but let's really look at what is the priority in citizen and city of Santa Ana it is about our quality of life and our safety because nobody wants to walk out their front door wherever you live, even if you are, you know, safely living in your car somewhere

Valerie AmezcuaItem 29

and not committing crime and not a bothersome. And you still want to be able to be safe. And we still want police to do their job. And we still want CityNet to do theirs. And we still want the cult team to do theirs. So, you know, as we all know, and those watching home and those up here, you know, I get the negative comments because, yeah, public safety and quality of life is important to me it is a priority to me it is a priority to me because the constituents of this city deserve to live just as safe as Irvine Newport Orange Tusted because in their council

Valerie AmezcuaItem 29

meetings they don't have these long drawn-out comments about these type of services they don't have these they support it and they say move them out move them out and I want to thank the city staff Mr. City Manager Commander Andrade you're always in the background thank you very much City Manager Chief thank you the first go needed some tweaking and the three of you and some other city staff our deputy city manager you guys had a team you guys did it really appreciate it and so you brought it back and it's gonna work for us and And on December 18th, Chief, I believe, Proposition 36 goes into effect.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 29

So as we say, here we go, right? And with this, now let's see what happens. And I look forward to seeing our officers not just drive by when they see the guy passed out on the bus stop or on the middle of the street, like I shared with you the other day, but actually stopping and making contact with them or calling CityNet to offer them services because now they can offer that assistance or do something about it. And I really appreciate that. So I'm looking forward to it. So let's prepare to vote.

Jennifer L. HallItem 29

Motion by Council Member Penalosa, seconded by Council Member Becerra, to introduce for first reading an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Santa Ana amending and adding provisions to Chapter 10, Crimes and Miscellaneous Law Enforcement Provisions of the Santa Ana Municipal Code, and amending related sections in chapter 31 recreation parks and playgrounds chapter 33 streets sidewalks and public works and chapter 36 traffic to prohibit conduct that interferes with the public's right of access to public property and to address changes in law brought about by city of grants pass oregon versus johnson et al 144 s ct 2202 2024.

for.

Jennifer L. HallItem 29

Councilmember Lopez.

Jennifer L. HallItem 29

VOTED 7 Ayes, no nays.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 29

Motion carries. Thank you all that voted. Thank you for everybody who came out to speak tonight. And thank you those that called in and also sent in the emails. Thank you. Let's go to item 30, please. It's an ordinance regarding parcels. Mr. City Manager, may we please have a staff report? or does the city council need the staff report at this time?

No.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 29

No? Okay. Any questions for the city manager or comments? Move the item. I'll second. Oh, go ahead. Councilman Hernandez will second.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 30

Okay.

Jennifer L. HallItem 30

Let's prepare to vote, please.

Jennifer L. HallItem 30

Motion by Councilmember Becerra, seconded by Councilmember Hernandez to introduce for first reading an uncodified ordinance of the city council of the city of Santa Ana, amending the list of replacement parcels and parcels exempt from California government code section 65912.114 and 65912.124 based upon written findings pursuant to California government code section 65912.114i and 65912.124i and determining that adoption of the ordinance is not subject to CEQA pursuant to sections 65912.1140 and .1240.

Jennifer L. HallItem 30

Madam City Clerk, you are amazing.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 30

That's all I have to say.

Phil BacerraItem 30

I didn't get to it last far. Could you do it again?

Jennifer L. HallItem 30

And the vote is six ayes, no nays with a noted absence by Council Member Lopez. Motion carries. Mayor Pro Tem bought that item.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 30

All right. Item 31 is related to significant concerns of the community and the family of Edward Vargas. Does City Council need a report? Otherwise, prepare to vote.

Benjamin VazquezItem 31

I'd like to move it with the changes. Add a line, please.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 31

You want to make some changes?

Benjamin VazquezItem 31

Oh, no, I want to add a line.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 31

I'm sorry? Add a line.

Benjamin VazquezItem 31

You're going to add a line, okay. I just wanted to add, whereas the City of Santa Ana reaffirms its sanctuary city status.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 31

I'll second your motion. Council Member Vasquez.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 31

So Council Member Vasquez,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 31

I went over this and I was actually going to support it the way it was written. And so now you want to make the changes to it?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 31

So, okay, that's fine. Any other comments?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 31

You have a question? Go ahead, Mayor Proton.

Thai Viet PhanItem 31

Thank you, Councilmember Vasquez.

Thai Viet PhanItem 31

So Santa Ana being a sanctuary city and the state being a sanctuary state are very important issues to me. However, this item was brought forth to discuss the issue of Mr. Vargas' case as well as his arrest and his ultimate death, right? The apology of the city to his family. and to recognize that the city's Santa Ana Police Department the city as a whole I think have made great strides to change to be more transparent and to really change our culture and policies I want to understand what is the specific purpose in adding that line into the resolution as it relates to those issues

Benjamin VazquezItem 31

that were originally brought up this is to bring to the community to the undocumented people making sure that that will not happen that we no longer as the city work with ICE, as happened in this case. So we want to assure the families, the children of undocumented people in the city that we're reaffirming our sanctuary status.

Thai Viet PhanItem 31

So I guess the reason why I ask is that under state law, as far as I'm aware, so please correct me if I'm wrong, that we do not, right, under certain state laws, work with ICE or transfer anyone to ICE unless there is a valid judicial warrant, in which case we are required to comply. Therefore, that is the basis under state law. Is it, I'm just trying to understand because I'm trying to make sure that we are specific to the issues that we're trying to address rather than expand it in a way that is so broad that is not related to the concerns that were originally brought up.

Benjamin VazquezItem 31

This is not an action. It's a whereas. We're just reaffirming that we're a sanctuary city and we're giving people to make sure that they understand that we're in support of them regardless of status of legal status can you share

Thai Viet PhanItem 31

the specific sentence that you are looking to add whereas the city of sanana reaffirms its sanctuary city status okay i'm trying to think about an action thank you

Thai Viet PhanItem 31

Councilor Becerra.

Phil BacerraItem 31

Thank you. Mr. City Manager, maybe this was left out of the report. Has there been a council member that's come to you to ask you, I don't want you to betray anybody's trust as far as conversations, but for the purposes of what's being discussed up here publicly, has any council member approached you about trying to modify or change our sanctuary city status?

Alvaro NuñezItem 31

No.

Phil BacerraItem 31

So, I guess when I look over at Council Member Vasquez and I hear this idea that we need to reaffirm it, I mean, should we also reaffirm that we're a tree-friendly city? Should we also reaffirm all these other things that we already are? In other words, unless you're just playing politics, Council Member Vasquez, you know, the election's behind us. We are a sanctuary city. It's been reaffirmed. And even if we didn't want to be a sanctuary city, we're in a sanctuary state. But we are a sanctuary city. And as Mr. City Manager just shared with all of us, nobody up here has in any way proposed changing that.

Phil BacerraItem 31

So to reaffirm it, it smells like politics to me rather than simply focusing on the issue that's in front of us tonight. It's not politics.

Benjamin VazquezItem 31

It's to our families. It's to the family. is to people who are undocumented and we've seen the new federal government we will have being sworn in soon it's to let him know that we're still with them and these kind of actions won't happen in Santa Ana so it's not I'm not being political or grandstanding or any any of that this is more of a cultural take of how we support everybody we we've heard during election that we had 70,000 non-citizens who could be able to vote and how many families and how many kids are undocumented and how much fear we have in this community running through our

Benjamin VazquezItem 31

community of what might happen in the future years. There was families that were divided, kids that died in internment camps, six children died while under the last Trump presidency in ICE camps, right? So we want to reaffirm our support and how we stand morally. These are the things that brings us together. And I want to make sure that that's part of it because that wasn't there before. And because of what happened, we now have a sanctuary city. We have police oversight. We are a better city for it. We are a better police department for it.

Benjamin VazquezItem 31

So I want to make sure we want to reaffirm. It doesn't take anything away from anybody. the whereas is not an action. It's not taken away from you or anybody else or any citizen. It's just giving people a peace of mind. And that's where I'm going.

Phil BacerraItem 31

So Councilman Vasquez, so with that, I was willing to support the resolution as presented tonight, even with the fact that for some reason, for some weird reason, we had to state, because apparently it wasn't obvious to the world, we had to state this. whereas the city of Santa Ana values all human life and is committed to respecting and protecting the dignity of every individual. Sorry to put you on the spot again, Mr. City Manager. Has any council member come to you and said, I don't really value human life. I don't want to respect or protect the dignity of every individual in our city.

Phil BacerraItem 31

Has anybody come to you and said maybe we shouldn't do that?

No.

Phil BacerraItem 31

Ah, but yet we're reaffirming this again. But we're getting to the point where we're going to start doing water is wet resolutions.

Phil BacerraItem 31

So, again, you want to add that in there. Again, it smells like politics because it was presented to us at the last meeting. You had a chance to put that in there at the last meeting, but now you're putting it in this time. And, again, I understand there's a lot of people that are afraid in this community. But whenever anybody expresses those fears to me, the actions that were taken in the past are already there. Just like I don't believe we need to reaffirm that we have a police oversight commission. Do we? Does anybody doubt that we have a police oversight commission? Does anybody need it reaffirmed?

Phil BacerraItem 31

Council Member Vasquez, should we reaffirm that we have a police oversight commission? Are people coming to you and saying, I'm not sure that we have oversight of the police? I'm not sure. I heard you guys talk meetings upon meetings upon meetings about police oversight, but I'm still confused if we have a police oversight commission. Do you feel that we should probably reaffirm that in a formal resolution, take up staff time and put that pen to paper so that people feel that because of all the meetings they weren't sure, but now we can reaffirm that we have a police oversight commission? Should we do that?

Benjamin VazquezItem 31

The undocumented families of this community, if you have no compassion for what they're going through right now. Oh, wow. So you're saying I don't have compassion? That's a little good. Okay. All right. Here we go. Let's just take a vote.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 31

Okay, so stop, please. This is what this is. You know, this is, again, somebody made a comment earlier. We're not going to start out this way, really. I think you had all the votes, Councilman Vasquez, the way it was written. I would believe you did. It was, it's very well written. You know, so I just want to say, let's just not go down that road. And, you know, we are Sanctuary City. We all know that. And we understand what's happening with the new president coming in. We're all very aware of that. the city of Santa Ana has an immigration fund you know so we were very supportive of all of that so

Valerie AmezcuaItem 31

it's just you know again it was it's very well written the way it is and even though this matter took place in 2014 we I think you would have you probably had all the votes it's Councilman Panalosa

David PenalozaItem 31

thank you mayor with uh with the comments that have been said I'd like to make a sub motion to approve the resolution as is. And maybe Council Member Vasquez would like to discuss with the city attorney in a future day what this looks like. Everyone knows we're a sanctuary city. I know that staff has already shared concerns about potential federal funding that might get taken away. and we all know how vindictive new the incoming administration can be, the last thing I would want is to jeopardize any of that. So I think we could all share on our social media channels,

David PenalozaItem 31

through a press release, whatever it is, that we are still a sanctuary city. We have been for many years. But I will make a motion to approve the resolution as is.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 31

Mayor Brotten.

Thai Viet PhanItem 31

Thank you, Mayor. You know, Council Member Vasquez, I 100% agree with you that it's important to highlight that we are a sanctuary city. As an immigrant myself, you know, the conversations regarding denaturalizing citizens, separating families, those are all things that are very close to my heart. However, I also think that it's important that when we address these types of issues and we say, you know, we are looking to apologize to a family for something that, a horrible thing that happened and that we are holding ourselves accountable for the individual who

Thai Viet PhanItem 31

wore our uniform and our seal and committed a crime that we acknowledge that we apologize for that and then we recognize the work that this department this city has done to improve ourselves to move forward and to change I think those are all really important I think my concern with adding this language is similar to what Council Member Benalosa had said right We know that California is a sanctuary state and that we will be targeted. The city of Santa Ana is always, in my opinion, going to be doing everything we can to protect our undocumented residents, our LPRs, and anyone else in a mixed family or mixed status family.

Thai Viet PhanItem 31

I do think that adding this could confuse the two issues and highlight it in a way that is not necessarily going to benefit our community in that way. So that's my main concern. If you can help me better understand why you don't think that that is a concern, it would help me make my decision as to the vote. But right now, I do agree with the resolution as is. And I would like to see our city work with our various school districts in educating our community as to what it means to be in a sanctuary city, what it means to have rights, what it means to respond when there is someone knocking at your door. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 31

motion madam city clerk yes this is a substitute motion by councilmember

Jennifer L. HallItem 31

penulosa seconded by mayor mesquite approve the resolution as presented

Jennifer L. HallItem 31

and this would be a resolution of the city council of the city of santa anna recognizing the significant concerns of the community and the family of edgar vargas darzarte and reaffirming the city's commitment to justice accountability and community relationships

Thai Viet PhanItem 31

Erin, as a final comment, I would love to see all of us come together for unanimous decision tonight. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 31

I agree with you, Mayor Pro Tem, but let's see how that goes.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 31

Please vote. Madam City Clerk.

Jennifer L. HallItem 31

Vote is seven ayes, no nays. Motion carries.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 31

Perfect. Thank you. Let's go on now at this time. We're going to end the business calendar. We're going to convene to the Special Housing Authority meeting. We are recessing the City Council meeting convening to the Housing Authority meeting. I hereby call the Special Housing Authority meeting to order. Madam Secretary, please conduct a roll call.

Jennifer L. HallItem 31

Authority Member Becerra? Here. Authority Member Hernandez? Present. Authority Member Lopez? Here. Authority Member Penalosa? Present. Authority Member Vasquez? Present. Vice Chair Phan? Here.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 31

Chair Mesquah? Present. Seven members? Madam Secretary, are there any additions or deletions to the Housing Authority agenda?

Jennifer L. HallItem 31

There are none.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 31

Madam Secretary, do we have any speakers for the Housing Authority agenda? We do not. Does any authority member wish to pull an item for separate discussion?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 31

I'll move the items, Madam Mayor.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 31

All right, there's no comments. I'll second. Perfect, let's prepare to vote. Thank you, Councilman Hernandez. Councilman Penalosa.

Jennifer L. HallItem 31

A motion by Authority Member Hernandez, seconded by Authority Member Penalosa to approve the Housing Authority consent calendar items 1 through 3.

Jennifer L. HallItem 1

Thank you. Authority Member Lopez.

Jennifer L. HallItem 1

Voters 7 ayes, no nays. Motion carries.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Thank you. I'm going to recess the Special Housing Authority meeting and reconvene to the City Council meeting. Mr. City Manager any comments at this time? Again I want to reintroduce our

Alvaro NuñezItem 1

appointment of Chief Rodriguez. Welcome to the team and I think we're gonna do good work together. Second I do want to thank the City Council today. I think it was important with the CityNet contract and the amendments to Chapter 10 and it

Alvaro NuñezItem 1

Also, with the passion of this resolution at 7-0, it shows a comprehensive approach that we're trying to bring as part of the leadership component to make sure that there's a better understanding of how we as executives here with the city of Santa Ana work with our community, understand our policymakers, and we're hoping that you've seen that in the work being produced and the work that we're accomplishing. And I want to wish the mayor, the mayor pro temp, all council members a Merry Christmas, and thank you for the opportunity to serve you. And I also especially want to thank our city clerk. You're right. She is good.

Alvaro NuñezItem 1

Always comes and brings me a smile when in a busy day like tonight. Our city attorney and the team, and of course our executive management team and our deputy city manager, Sylvia Vasquez, for all the help. I think 2025 is going to be an excellent, productive, and effective year. and thank you all for everything.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Thank you Mr. City Manager. At this time Councilmember comments. Councilmember Vasquez please.

Benjamin VazquezItem 1

Thank you, thank you. First I want to congratulate our new Chief of Police. Congratulations, we're honored to have you serve us. I also want to congratulate our first openly LGBTQ school board president, Hector Bustos is our new school board president and our very own Valerie Magdaleno is our new school board member and she was sworn in today great job I want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas I'll be supporting three toy giveaways this season we're gonna be at a Jerome Park

Benjamin VazquezItem 1

on the 22nd so look out for details on my Instagram or Facebook at Jerome Park on the 22nd Sunday and on Monday I'll be working with the Pico Low neighborhood association will be at pio pico giving away toys to the children of that area and on the 24th i'll be with supervisor uh sarmiento uh helping out with the toy drive there and just merry christmas everybody uh enjoy your uh enjoy your month that we have off from here i guess i will see you guys and in a little bit uh enjoy yourselves and a happy new year

Jessie LopezItem 1

Thank you. Councilmember Lopez.

Jessie LopezItem 1

Yes, first and foremost, I want to congratulate you, Chief. I can't wait to partner and work together. I really love your story, and so I know that you being from our community is going to come with a different work ethic, and I look forward to that. And thank you, City Manager, for the appointment as well. I also just want to congratulate Trustee Magdaleno for having her first SAUSD board meeting today. We cannot wait to see all of the great things that you're gonna do with your bold leadership. And again congratulations to Board President Bustos being openly LGBTQ young. I think that's really

Jessie LopezItem 1

important in this day and age especially as we know that so many of our civil rights and people's basic human rights are also under attack and we love to see young people in the city that are born and raised from our community leading the city that they deserve to lead. I also want to invite the community to attend the upcoming toy drive that we're going to have in downtown Santa Ana on the 3rd at 10 a.m. we hope to see you there we always provide a hot meal as well and we're looking forward to also gifting our families some groceries for the holidays since we understand that the economy can

Jessie LopezItem 1

be a little rough sometimes for some folks and I just want to wish all of our staff happy holidays Merry Christmas Happy New Year we hope that you will celebrate with your families and that you'll enjoy yourselves over the holidays thank you councilmember panelists

David PenalozaItem 1

thank you mayor mescua i just wanted to wish all our residents and our staff and everyone in here a very merry christmas feliz navidad to our our jewish friends neighbors happy hanukkah all the the next couple of weeks there's a lot of holidays that we all celebrate so celebrate safely with your families remember remember the good and and and try to be good the next year I know I'll try to be good but yeah that's that's pretty much it happy holidays everybody and thank you staff for for everything you've done congratulations again Chief Rodriguez let's hope your mom wasn't watching as

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

you told her story

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 1

Councilmember Hernandez. Thank you Madam Mayor. I want to begin by thanking our city staff for all the work that they've done this year. Congratulate our new city manager Alvaro Nunez, our new city police chief Robert Rodriguez. Congratulations sir. And I also want to thank members of the community who came out to today's council meeting, shared their input. and tomorrow at La Placita Cinco we're having our fifth annual Christmas toy giveaway for residents of the city please come by to La Placita Cinco right across the street from Sari Nanas we'll have some free tamales some free toys

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 1

and first come first serve God bless happy holidays and I hope you all give a big hug and a kiss to the people you love that's what this holiday season is about hold your family tight and tell them you love them God bless you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Councilman Becerra, please.

Phil BacerraItem 1

Thank you, Madam Mayor. There's a lot to congratulate tonight. First off, congratulations, Chief. I was getting tired of calling you Acting Chief, so congratulations, Chief Rodriguez, on becoming our Police Chief. I'll be the first to say publicly congratulations to San Ana's own Mater Dei, who is the national champions in high school football. They beat De La Salle from NorCal 37-15 this past Saturday over at Saddleback College. So congratulations again, Monarchs. I mean, we should be very proud here in Santa Ana that the number one football team in the entire nation plays its games right here in downtown Santa Ana.

Phil BacerraItem 1

With that being said, another thing to be happy about is MHA is finally closed on South Main. And for the folks over in Delhi, Memorial Park, and the businesses in my ward on the west side of Main Street. I know there's a big sigh of relief. I want to thank the mayor and everybody that took part in making sure that happened. It wouldn't have happened without the community. It fills up the supervisor fully. It would have been done last November and I think if supervisor Wagner had his way it may have went six months more but thankfully at least the board

Phil BacerraItem 1

ultimately decided to not give it more funding than a year and so they are finally closed. uh since we won't be meeting again until January 21st uh wanted to share that I'll be hosting my monthly community office hours as I always do every first Saturday of the month so on January 4th I'll be hosting them at 10 a.m. at Segastrom Triangle Park right there at Segastrom Avenue and Shelton right across the street from Saddleback High School and uh I want to wish everybody our Jewish sisters and brothers happy Hanukkah since Hanukkah begins this year on December 25th kind of ironic

Phil BacerraItem 1

right and then Merry Christmas and a happy holidays good night everybody thank you Mary

Thai Viet PhanItem 1

Patum hi good evening everyone Merry Christmas we're very festive today and I'm really glad that we had amazing carolers we had our mascots out and it was just good vibes all around first I want to apologize to my colleagues because I forgot to congratulate you at the swearing in I was very emotional congratulations it was a very tough election season but you know I think we all persevered and we're all here we're gonna continue working together I want to say that you know the mall fest was really fantastic that was so fun and the fiesta de marachi was very fun I just

Thai Viet PhanItem 1

had an amazing time at both events so thank you to city staff for working with our community partners to bring those items forward. We had an awesome Cal Optima resource fair with Congressman Lou Correa as well as Senator Umberg at Valley High School. Thank you for hosting us. Trustee Brazier Aceves was there. And you know I guess I'll close out by first congratulating our chief who's a ram who lived in Ward 1 and we got to do that amazing announcement with a bunch of elementary school students right here in Ward 1. I went there for summer school because I needed a little help but I'm just so proud that we get to

Thai Viet PhanItem 1

elevate one of our own and so congratulations. I also want to let everyone know that I will also be at Supervisor San Miento's December 24th toy giveaway. I really appreciate that he's collaborating with a number of us here on the dais to bring joy to the kids. And finally, before I forget, I want to say happy birthday to my favorite niece, Penelope Luna Penalosa. Her birthday is in January, and I guess I have to say happy birthday to the father of my favorite niece also, Councilmember Penalosa.

Thai Viet PhanItem 1

His birthday is also going to be in January. Merry Christmas. Happy holidays, everyone. Have a good

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

night all right she got paid for all that so first thing I'd like to ask the council members that up here please fill your vacancies on your commissions please bring in board members because it's really important that we fill all of those vacancies so look high look low find community members who want to volunteer and become commissioners so December has actually been a great so far congratulations to deputy chief Esparza on his retirement I've known him a long time well deserved congratulations chief Rodriguez I didn't

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

call you acting I just called you chief it was too long to call you acting so now it's official and it was great to be there at Russell elementary and when I think mayor pro tem or council panelist asked how many people want to be police officers. I don't remember who asked that question. Like all the kids raised their hands. How many want to be police officers? And they all raised their hands. So it was great to see. I'm sorry.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Oh, okay, whatever. Here, he's going to interrupt me again. He does it every time. All right. So Wilshire Square Parade was fun. Oh my God, I had a great time. Thank you, Wilshire Square I look forward to the next parade this in 25 Christmas it's it's just great parade loved it so many people you guys got to go that's all I got to say and I want to ride on the firetruck next year because apparently you got to be on the fire board to do that let's demand it okay we're gonna demand it all right and the League of California cities hosted their fourth quarter OC division meeting at Santa Ana College where we hosted and we

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

welcomed a large group of city representatives and various police departments throughout the county and it was really good to see everybody there and hear that you know how we're all on the same page talking about the importance of public safety and working together and prop 36 and the goals that our law enforcement have working with the community and that was the message about working together unity so it was really good to hear that Sheriff Barnes was on the panel great information at that event and I was there with Mayor Pro Tem and Councilman Panolosa I don't think that's when Sarah was there

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

were you there no huh okay and then the Gerardo Moeg Park grand opening for those of you that were there it really was a very special moment for his family for everybody and those that have known that knew Gerardo for a long time like our city manager, you know, it was a very special day to open that park in his honor. And I'm glad that I could be there and participate. And I want to thank Siva for donating food to almost 60 families. You know, it's, yeah, it's nice to see them out there. And it seems like every time we turn around, Siva's there. So it's a good thing, and they're giving out food.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

I co-hosted the Asian American Senior Citizens Luncheon. It was great. with the city staff, the police department, CityNet, Parks and Rec. I think we were busting at the seams at the senior center with 150 seniors, and they're great, and they want to dance and eat and take lots of pictures. And the police officers are the most popular people at that luncheon. Mike and I just got to sit down and enjoy our lunch. Well, they want to take pictures with the police and fire. So thank you, fire and police and city staff and CityNet for joining us. our seniors as we know we need to be a senior friendly city and we have a large

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

population of seniors that live in our city and so as you all know I I pay special attention to them they're important to all of us whether there are parents you've seen parents who are seniors some of us are I'm not a senior but some people are seniors but we we are a senior friendly city and we need to continue to be a Mr. State Manager, and I really would hope that we continue to do that. We also had the fifth annual The Modfest, and myself and Councilman Panolosa and Councilman Becerra, we had a toy giveaway. Thank you to all the volunteers that came out to help. We distribute over 800 toys.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Thank you to all the groups that donated toys, and we were able to give out all those toys. and I couldn't be there that day, but I know Claudia was there and I saw the pictures and I can tell you that the little tamales, the kids that were dressed like little tamales, they were adorable, absolutely adorable. So thank you, Councilman Penelosa and Councilman Becerra for always joining me on that.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

And before I close, Mr. City Manager, I've asked a couple times and I don't want to be the Grinch, but I've asked a couple times about Santa Ana Unified picking up and dropping off our students that live at the shelter. Madam City Attorney, they have not complied. So I would like to request that we reach out to them via letter. They are in violation of the McKinney-Vento Act. And I looked it up again because even though I was a school board member for eight years, I wanted a refresher. So I looked it up, even contacted a friend of mine who's an attorney for education.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

and he said, no, Val, McKinney-Vento, read it. You know it. They got to pick them up and they got to drop them off. And then if they have IEPs, they need to comply. I don't know why, again, Councilman Becerra talks about this. We're paying for that. We're taking care of that. We as the city of Santa are having our Illumination Foundation case managers driving kids to and from school.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

I don't know about all of you, but that is not their job. Case managers, their job is to help people in the shelter find work, find housing, provide wraparound services, find food, whatever it may be, but it is not driving our kids to and from school. That is Santa Ana Unifieds or Garden Grove Unified, and I don't think there's any Garden Grove Unified. They are, if I correct me, Mr. Garcia, they are SAUSD. One is Gardening of Unified. And it is a shame that there's people who sit up here and say, oh, you know, we want to be partners. But again, there's no partnership.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

When you talk about a barbecue, partnership. It's not a partnership if I bring the carne asada, the potato salad, the rice, the beans, and the soda, and even the beer. And all you bring is your barbecue pit. That is not a partnership. And that is what we have with Santa Ana Unified.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

We bring it all. And those children at the shelter are not getting driven to and from school by Santa Ana Unified. Even though they're McKinney-Vento students, and Santa Ana Unified has the highest number of McKinney-Vento students. So the council up here all the time talks about how important children are. How important they are. They're special, and they are. But it really disturbs me. It bothers me to my core that you can't even, they can't even get them a ride to and from school. So I look forward to Mr. City Manager, Madam City Attorney,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

a letter letting them know that we'll be billing them or suing them. I don't care what we do. They need to pick those kids up and get them to and from school.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

print out McKinney-Vento, send it to them, and so that they can all read it and understand it.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

In closing, this is our last council meeting. Again, I don't want to sound like the Grinch, but it's very important that our kids get treated the way they should. It's kind of like our community. We deserve to be treated well, and our children do too. I want to wish everybody a very wonderful, safe, happy holiday season. Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Feliz Navidad. Spend time with your family, your friends, your loved ones. And I look forward to 2025. There's a lot of work to be done. And to the city staff, I really want to thank you for the swearing in ceremony and the event at the Bowers Museum. It was wonderful.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

It was very well put together. The lion dancers, the mariachi, the whole thing. And it took all of you to do it. So thank you all very, very much for putting that together for those of us that were sworn in again. And with that, I'll see you all on January 21st. And Merry Christmas and God bless.

Recording stopped.