Read the May 6 meeting.

!

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

guitar solo

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

piano plays softly

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Jennifer L. Hall

Mayor Pro Tem, you can proceed.

Benjamin Vazquez

I hereby call the Santa Ana City Council meeting to order. This meeting is taking place with the 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 flowing of the meeting. Madam Clerk, please conduct a roll call.

Jennifer L. Hall

Council Member Becerra? Here. Council Member Hernandez?

Benjamin Vazquez

Present.

Jennifer L. Hall

Council Member Lopez? Council Member Penalosa? Council Member Phan? Here. Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez?

Benjamin Vazquez

Present.

Jennifer L. Hall

Mayor Meskwa? Four members present. That is a quorum.

Benjamin Vazquez

Madam Clerk, are there any additions or deletions to the closed session agenda?

Benjamin Vazquez

I defer to the City Attorney.

Sonia R. Carvalho

There is a new item that's on the agenda with the Anchorstone case. We've gotten some additional information. They've agreed to extend that case for two more weeks. So we will not be discussing that item this evening.

Benjamin Vazquez

Perfect. Do any council members need to announce their abstentions on closed session items?

Benjamin Vazquez

Thank you. Madam clerk, do we have any speakers for closed session items?

Jennifer L. Hall

There are no in-person speakers, Zoom speakers, and we did not receive any e-comments related related to the closed session agenda items.

Benjamin Vazquez

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

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

piano plays softly

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

🎵 🎵

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

piano plays softly

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

guitar solo

Thank you.

Thank you.

piano plays softly

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

piano plays softly

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

guitar solo

Thank you.

Thank you.

piano plays softly

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Jennifer L. Hall

So

Valerie Amezcua

Madam Clerk, may I start the meeting please? Yes please.

Valerie Amezcua

Good evening everyone. I hereby reconvene the Santa Ana City Council meeting to order. This meeting is taking place with in-person attendance and by teleconference via Zoom. The public may access the meeting via the Santa Ana a 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 the meeting becomes too disruptive to properly conduct business warnings will be provided prior

Valerie Amezcua

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 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 councilmember Becerra here

Jennifer L. Hall

councilmember Hernandez present councilmember Lopez here councilmember member Penalosa? Present. Council member Phan? Here. Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez?

Benjamin Vazquez

Present.

Jennifer L. Hall

Mayor Meskwa? Present. All seven members present? Thank you.

Valerie Amezcua

Madam clerk, before you proceed to the Pledge of Allegiance, please make any announcements.

Jennifer L. Hall

Thank you. 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 nine from your phone or click the button labeled raise hand from Zoom now in order to be in the speaker queue once public comments commence. This does not apply to the public hearing items for which comments will be heard during the specific public hearing. Please hold your comment on those items until called upon during the public hearing. Thank you.

Valerie Amezcua

First item on the agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. If someone from Reimagine can come up and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Pick someone or I'll pick for you. Come on up and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance please. Come all the way to the microphone. Thank you.

Ready? 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

Words of inspiration will be provided by Pastor Johnny Denny.

Valerie Amezcua

Is Pastor Dunning here? No? I don't see him. All right. Anybody else? Pastors?

Well, I guess we don't have one.

Valerie Amezcua

Somebody want to come up and do words of inspiration? Here's your opportunity.

Valerie Amezcua

Mike, Mr. Garcia, come on up. They voted for you.

Join me as we say some words of inspiration. i'm going to pray to my god and my lord jesus christ and his father lord please watch over our elected officials and all those present today that we make decisions that are important to the community and for the good of the community that we come here tonight with an open heart and an open mind in jesus name amen amen thank you so much mr garcia appreciate it

Valerie Amezcua

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

Jennifer L. Hall

The City Manager has an announcement.

Alvaro Nuñez

Yes, item 21, we would like to postpone 30 days. This will allow any Council Member the opportunity to participate.

Valerie Amezcua

Madam City Attorney, we can do this, correct?

Yes. Yes.

Valerie Amezcua

I'm sorry, I didn't hear that question, Mayor. Mayor. Mr. City Manager is going to propose that would like to postpone item 21 for 30 days from

Sonia R. Carvalho

now to the June 3rd 2025 City Council meeting. Yes if you would like to continue that you can if you just continue without opening the public hearing you have to just you could do that now you could open to continue or it can be republished depends on what staff would like to do. They do not want to republish then you just have to open the public hearing quickly and then continue it

Valerie Amezcua

to the date specific mr city manager i believe we have received an fppc madam city attorney in response to councilman panelosa awaiting the same response for councilmember lopez is that

Sonia R. Carvalho

correct yes we have received um correspondence from the fppc with respect to both council members when council members going to continue to see if they can work out the conflict and because this

Valerie Amezcua

is such an important matter we should allow all council members that are able to participate to provide input and that was the reason I think Mr. City Manager you're asking we'd like to postpone the matter that is correct okay yes

Thai Viet Phan

madam city attorney since I do have a legal recusal shall I state the recusal now so you can vote on the continuance thank you for item 21 as my employer Rattan and Tucker does represent some property owners in the area I will recuse myself while this item is being discussed thank you

Sonia R. Carvalho

this time so again if you'd like to continue my recommendation would be that you just open that public hearing and then continue that public hearing to the date certain as suggested by your city manager so the city manager has made a

Phil Bacerra

recommendation so so madam city attorney do we need to um also have the two members leave the dice as well

Sonia R. Carvalho

yes well not one of them has been cleared to participate

David Penaloza

So one council member Lopez would and if the other one point of clarification madam city attorney, what is the conflict council member Lopez?

David Penaloza

But it's a it's a contribution from whom for transparency purposes

David Penaloza

So so you don't remember who gave me the contribution

Valerie Amezcua

Can you have her speak in the mic and set her from there? Do you want to come back to?

Jessie Lopez

yeah so the FEPC this is why I can participate today that this is the same information that the FEPC is requesting of us to figure out if the contribution

David Penaloza

would be in conflict yeah but for transparency purposes who was the

Jessie Lopez

contribution for from they said to you I don't recall I have to go back and look

David Penaloza

at the Excel sheet of donors oh geez if someone you know that let me not

Jessie Lopez

extends for an entire year it's just not a three month or six month right okay

David Penaloza

so madam city attorney for transparency purposes with the public do you know who because they I imagine it was submitted in the letter correct no it's not we

Sonia R. Carvalho

just submitted under the Levine Act the amount because usually the donors name is not relevant it's the the amount and the timing the date to the contribution and the amount is what's relevant and and for the councilmember in the Levine Act makes the determination of whether it's an interested party or not. And when I do give conflict of interest advice to all of you, I do try to keep that conflict of interest advice between me and the FPPC unless they publish a letter and then it's public. So what my understanding is in this situation is that the council member is going to be

Sonia R. Carvalho

looking through the contributions to determine whether there are certain actions you can take under the Levine Act that would allow you to participate. So those actions are being taken, but it's going to require a full review to see whether there are any additional contributions. But I do not know the name. I do not know the person. I do not know the party.

Phil Bacerra

I have a question. Now this has kind of piqued my interest. Madam Mayor, if I may? Yes, go ahead. So you're saying the name doesn't matter. So all of us up here receive contributions, right? And so some of us up here aren't having to submit letters to the FPPC inquiring about whether we're in conflict with the LaVena, right?

Yes.

Phil Bacerra

Is that correct? Yes. So I guess what I'm trying to understand is I feel like the name is kind of important. I feel like you might know the name because that's what's triggering this whole issue because nobody else up here is feeling the need to see whether we qualify to participate on this item. So I just want to make sure. I mean, the name is important because it's talking about who contributed, who she didn't give the contribution back to, and now we're in this quagmire, correct?

Jessie Lopez

Correct?

Sonia R. Carvalho

Well, I will say that each of you have to make your own choices as to conflict of interest. I do not monitor your individual campaign contribution forms. So I think if, you know, as your city attorney, I want to encourage you to always declare conflict if you have one. Council member has declared a conflict saying that she had received a contribution within the 12 month period. That's what we were told. We took that information, sent it to the FPPC. see under the Levine Act the council member can take actions to cure that conflict and I don't know the details but I understand if she is desirous of

Sonia R. Carvalho

doing that my advice would be to let her go through that process and see if she

Phil Bacerra

can clear that conflict but the mem city attorney I just again just for for clarification it's about who gave the donation because obviously that's what's triggering the conflict yes right yes but I do not know who that is okay no no I just want to make sure, though, that it's clear, though, it's not just simply receiving a contribution because then all of us up here should be talking to the FPPC. That's correct. It's who.

Sonia R. Carvalho

It's whether it's a party that's interested in the proceedings. Like a business or whomever within that area. It could be a resident that wants the ordinance or it could be a business who doesn't want the ordinance. Correct. Thank you.

David Penaloza

Okay, Madam City Attorney, thank you for that information. You know, it's just extremely troubling that this didn't come up today or last week for the first time. this has been before us now for over a year and the fact that we don't know who that contribution came from is troubling we pride ourselves on transparency and you know it's unfortunate that's that's not being practiced right now at the moment but uh thank you for that information it's not

Jessie Lopez

troubling i've disclosed it to the fppc they're the regulatory body that i need to be forthcoming and I've been forthcoming and we're going through the process because it's also about the dollar amount with the living nuts I thought you didn't remember the Living Act is a dollar amount so let's let's go I think but the

David Penaloza

public should know who the contribution came from yeah and I'm happy to really

Jessie Lopez

actually if it was during the last 12 months they can go through the public records on the city's border and check so you you have you were that interested you could have already accessed that information councilmember so you don't to be transparent you're so bothered i'm in conversation with the fppc are you the fppc

Valerie Amezcua

no so let's not go that way i think the question is i think the issue is and matter of city attorney councilman panel also brings up a good issue good transparency transparency so you know we all up here talk about that we use that word uh some of us more often than others um and about good leadership and leadership leadership leadership and being disingenuous so there's been ample time to address this matter or the money could have been returned and then everybody could just sit up here and vote with the exception of council member fan so let's um council member

Valerie Amezcua

lopez you're pleased you can step off the dice and then we'll take a vote at this time thank you

Valerie Amezcua

and thank you madame city attorney for the information i think it's very important that that when we cannot vote that we share why and who and then if we return the money we return the money if not then we don't vote so yeah and to that point Madam City Attorney in the past you

David Penaloza

have said that when it comes to campaign contributions you should disclose who gave you that campaign contribution just because again it's transparency we pride ourselves on transparency but then we don't practice it when it's before us I would like to say that if the

Sonia R. Carvalho

council member decides to go through that process and to clear a conflict she will be required to do so in public on the dais and to tell you who it was and how it worked so it isn't that you wouldn't get that transparency if that's what she decides to do if she ultimately declares that it's a conflict she can I think the issue right now is that there's no final determination and she's working through that but if she decides to declare a conflict and not participate at all that will have to be stated and ultimately if she cures that that conflict that will have to be stated on the record before she can vote.

Sonia R. Carvalho

So you will be told at some point.

Valerie Amezcua

Do you know how long Madam City Attorney this will take? Have you heard from the FPPC?

Sonia R. Carvalho

We've heard from the FPPC with respect to the timing, but I don't know what the date of the contribution was. So as you know, the Levine Act does allow you to return a contribution within a certain amount of period from the date that you became aware of it.

Okay.

Sonia R. Carvalho

One of the things, can I just say this about the Levine Act, and I think it's something we need to keep in mind because it's a new law. Remember that the Levine Act applies to interested parties, right? There could be times in the future when someone comes up to the dais who might have given you a campaign contribution and you had no idea they were going to be an interested party until the day they show up in front of the microphone and start to comment on that item. So that, just so that you understand that.

Sonia R. Carvalho

So I think the Levine Act's a little tricky because there could be people who contribute to you and then call you on the phone and say I like this project, I don't like this project, then you're gonna know. That's gonna trigger your knowledge. There could be other times when they come up to the dais. And so for those of you that are in active campaigns, that's something you need to be really mindful of and we'll figure this out as we go along. No one's trying to like not be transparent. I think this is an issue of where where people sometimes figure out that they have a conflict when they receive a phone call from someone

Sonia R. Carvalho

who contributed to it.

Valerie Amezcua

Well, I'm gonna thank you for that information, but I'm gonna disagree just a little bit. I think Councilman Penalesa said it clearly when he said this has been a matter for over a year now, so this is nothing new. So all council members up here had an opportunity to look at past and current contributions. So Councilman Hernandez could have, I'm sure he looked. If you would ask him, he would say he looked. So, Council Member Panellosa.

Sonia R. Carvalho

Someone who could come up to your dais tonight, who you could have looked, but you won't even know until they come up to the dais, is what I'm saying. That's what's going to trigger that time period to return the money.

Valerie Amezcua

Well, again, I think the issue is transparency and honesty. So Council Member Becerra, after that, we're going to take a vote.

Phil Bacerra

I was just going to say, so two things. One is, I think, Madam City Attorney, I don't think anybody was expecting you to disclose. I think the questioning was more of the hope for transparency from the member that the issue's about. So I don't want you to think madam city attorney We were trying to get you to say something that you weren't supposed to say I think it was really right here that direction With that I do have a question for the city attorney. Do I do we need to open is the hearing open?

Valerie Amezcua

Are we ready to make a motion then?

Phil Bacerra

So let's just all move that we continue this item till the June 3rd councilman. I'll second the motion

Valerie Amezcua

Let's prepare to vote Madam City Clerk.

Jennifer L. Hall

A motion by Councilmember Becerra, seconded by Councilmember Hernandez to continue public hearing item number 21 to the June 3rd, 2025 City Council meeting.

Did you tell Melissa to call?

Jennifer L. Hall

Councilmember Becerra?

Valerie Amezcua

Did you vote, Councilmember?

Phil Bacerra

I'M A YES, BUT IT HASN'T COME UP.

Valerie Amezcua

YOU CAN TAKE A ROLL CALL IF YOU NEED TO.

Jennifer L. Hall

IT'S FINE. WITH THAT STATED YES BY COUNCILMEMBER VECERA, THE VOTE IS FIVE AYES, NO NAYS, WITH TWO NOTED REKUSALS BY COUNCILMEMBERS VAN AND LOPEZ. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM IS CONTINUED.

David Penaloza

MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY. YES. JUST FOR CLARITY WITH THE PUBLIC, I WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE TODAY BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN CLEARED BY THE FPPC. THE RESIDENTIAL LEASE THAT I HAVE DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH THE

David Penaloza

I KNOW THERE WILL BE HALF A DOZEN PEOPLE TOMORROW. WHY DID YOU PARTICIPATE? THAT IS WHY. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY COULD ATTEST TO THAT. THANK YOU.

Valerie Amezcua

THIS MATTER IS BEING CONTINUED TO JUNE 3. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

David Penaloza

THANK YOU.

Valerie Amezcua

LET'S MOVE ON NOW TO CEREMONIAL PRESENTATIONS. FIRST PRESENTATION IS MINE. IT IS FOR THE RECOGNITION FOR REIMAGINE FOR 75 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS Come on up, Reimagine. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

We're going to wait just for a second until things quiet down. Gentlemen, can you close the door? Paul, can you? I'd like to start.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Okay. I'm honored to join you today in recognizing Remarkable Milestone reimagines 75th anniversary of service, inclusion, and impact. Reimagined, formerly known as the Rehabilitation Institute of Orange County, has been serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1950. Let me say that again, since 1950.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Yes, let's give them a round of applause. I wasn't born then, I want you to know. With campuses in Fullerton and Santa Ana, Reimagine remains a vital community resource, especially for Santa Ana residents seeking compassionate person-centered care. Their programs support individuals across the lifespan, from early intervention for toddlers to transitional and adult services, to comprehensive medical and therapeutic support through their health and wellness program. Reimagine has also launched innovative efforts like their family caregiver support groups, offering a space for emotional connection, learning, and well-being,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

something especially valuable for families in Santa Ana. What sets Reimagine apart from others is their unwavering belief in inclusion, growth, and dignity, reimagining what's possible for people with disabilities and ensuring those opportunities are accessible to all. On behalf of the City of Santa Ana, I I extend our deepest congratulations on this extraordinary 75-year legacy and our thanks for all that you continue to do in our community. Thank you. So I just want to share that I visited Reimagine with Claudia.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

And I just want you to know, if you have not had an opportunity to visit them and just take a look at what they do, it's remarkable. As you know, I left in tears. I was just overjoyed with the work that you do. And so we have families and children and adults that sometimes they're faced with challenges. And it's often difficult to find services for them. And it's hard for the parents. And thank you for providing support groups. And so I just want to say if you get a chance, talk to them. Take a tour of Reimagined. See what they do.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

I was very blessed that when I got there some of the students that are now adults from Santa Ana Unified remembered me. It was beautiful. And they were saying, oh the mayor's here. And they said, she's not the mayor, she's our friend. And so they hugged me and we took pictures and it was very emotional for me because I know, I knew those students from our special ed classes in Santa Ana and from Valley and from other schools. and they're just doing remarkable things with them and so thank you so much I mean giving you a certificate is is very it's small but thank you for everything

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

that you guys do it I'm very passionate you know about our families adults and children with special needs and so just the work that you do is powerful and just know that I I'm here as the mayor to support you and all that you do so So thank you. Thank you. One of you want to say something, or both of you? Sure.

We would like to thank Mayor Meskla for this recognition. Reimagine has a 75-year rich history of serving adults and children with developmental and intellectual disabilities in the community of Santa Ana. We provide a lot of opportunities for family support, continued learning, and health and wellness. And we look forward to continuing to support this wonderful city. Thank you.

I just want to say thank you, Mayor Mesquite. It's been a real privilege for me to have been in this role and getting to know more of what it is to work for the individuals we serve and then to meet great individuals like Mayor Mesquite who recognize the work and effort that we put into in giving a voice to those who definitely look up to us to showcase that they are active and important members of our communities. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Give her a round of applause.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

I'll do your magic.

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

All right, next step is Councilmember Hernandez presenting an award to Hernandez to Mark and James, I'm going to say it wrong. Go ahead, Councilmember Hernandez.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 1

James Viridian. If we could please bring up Mark Viridian and James Viridian, son of the honoree and grandson of the honoree.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 1

today may 6 2025 um i have the honor of presenting a proclamation in honor of Jack Viridian. If we can please put our hands together and give him a warm round of applause.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 1

Today I have the honor of celebrating Mr. Viridian and his legacy and presenting this proclamation to Mark Viridian, the son of the honoree, and James Viridian, the grandson of the honoree. Today we gather not only to remember but to celebrate the life and and the legacy of an extraordinary individual, Jack Faridian. Jack was more than just an educator and a teacher. He was a guiding light, a mentor, and a tireless advocate for students, especially those navigating challenges of being the first in their families to pursue higher education.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 1

He spent the majority of his career teaching here in our backyard of Santa Ana, teaching our neighbors, our families, our future educators, our future policymakers, and more importantly, lifting up your community one day at a time. As the proud son of Armenian immigrants, Jack embodied resilience, perseverance, and an unshakable belief in the transformative power of education. He understood that for many, education was not just a path to knowledge, but a pathway to opportunity and self-actualization and self-empowerment.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 1

Despite receiving numerous offers from world-renowned organizations, including Disney, Jack made a conscious choice to remain in the classroom. Why? Because he believed his greatest impact wasn't in boardrooms or studios, but in the hearts and in the minds of young people, our students. Jack saw potential everywhere. Jack saw potential where others saw struggle. He gave generously, not only with his time and with his wisdom, but with his own resources,

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 1

quietly supporting students financially so that they could achieve their scholarly dreams. Tonight, on behalf of our mayor and city council of this beautiful city of Santa Ana, we honor Jack Faridian for his life, for his passion, and his unwavering commitment to education and utilizing education to lift up others. May his legacy continue to inspire future educators, and may every student who was touched by his wisdom carry forward the torch he so passionately held. Let's please give him a big round of applause.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 1

And without further ado, it is an honor to present this proclamation honoring the legacy of Jack Faridian to his son. Thank you. Thank you.

This is incredible. I want to thank everyone here for bestowing this honor on my dad, who died in September at the ripe age of 90 years old. I don't want to take too much of your time. There's a lot that I would want to say, but my dad was an immigrant, came from an immigrant family. He came from the Armenian.

His family fled Armenia during the genocide, and his mother and father came here through Ellis Island.

He grew up in hard circumstances during the Depression and was the first in his family to go to college and he did have many opportunities. He was in the United States Navy, served his country proudly, and ended up in San Diego through the Navy and then ultimately settled in Mission Viejo. So he was teaching in Santa Ana and driving every morning at 6 a.m. up here. I remember waking up with him very early and feeling sad that he was leaving. and coming home late he had a second job for most of his career as a lot of

teachers do because they have to but you know Sal Tenejero is one of my father's students who initiated this process and we always heard the legend of Sal when we were growing up and we've become close through these many years but it's a great example very very briefly of what my father did Sal lost his father at the time that I lost my brother and my dad lost his son and he became a surrogate son to my dad who took him under his wing I think it's fair to say and and gave him inspiration at a time when he really needed it and most of you

here know him and know his story and know his great successes personal successes and I like to think that my dad played a important part in all of that and played a role like that for many hundreds of students and I can't overstate the importance of teachers and your support for them is is instrumental in the success and careers and lives of so many other kids but thank you my dad is a humble man he would have hated this recognition but I love it and my family loves it and on behalf of my wife and my mom and Sal and

my family friend Mike here, and my two sons. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Okay, next up, Councilmember Lopez, recognizing the Center for Teacher Education, their 25-year anniversary if you can come up please

Jessie LopezItem 3

Okay, so today we are going to be recognizing the Center for Teacher Education at Santa Ana College, celebrating their 25th anniversary. It's really an honor to be here today to celebrate this remarkable achievement of the Center for Teacher Education at Santa Ana College. For a quarter of a century, the center has played an indispensable role in shaping the future of education, not only in Santa Ana, but across Orange County. Since its founding in 1999, the Center for Teacher Education has been dedicated to supporting students on their journey to becoming K-12 educators.

Jessie LopezItem 3

Through its unwavering commitment, it has helped thousands of aspiring teachers achieve their dreams and positively impact our communities. The center was established with the vision to increase access to the teaching profession, particularly for first-generation, bilingual, and underrepresented students. and today it continues to deliver on that promise. The Center for Teacher Education has provided a full range of services from academic advising and field experiences to transfer support and financial assistance, all with the goal of creating a seamless pathway to teaching. It has pioneered the development of academic programs

Jessie LopezItem 3

such as the Associate of Arts in Elementary Education and the Elementary Education for Transfer Degree, which have set the standard for community colleges, across the state and which I took advantage of when I was at Santa Ana Community College. One of the standout accomplishments of the CFTE is long-standing partnerships with prestigious institutions like Cal State Fullerton, UC Irvine, Cal State Long Beach, Go Beach, and Chapman University. These collaborations have helped establish robust transfer pathways for students, ensuring that the future educators receive the support that they need as

Jessie LopezItem 3

as they move forward toward earning the credentials and making a lasting impact in classrooms across our region. Another key milestone in the CFTE's history is its role in building Grow Your Own Teacher Pipeline programs in partnership with local school districts like Santa Ana, Garden Grove, and others. These programs have been instrumental in providing classified professionals professionals with the opportunity to pursue a career in teaching, helping to diversify and strengthen our educational workforce. For over two decades, the Road to Teaching Conference, hosted annually by the CFTE, has

Jessie LopezItem 3

served as one of the largest and longest-running teacher preparation conferences in the region. This event has brought together thousands of high school students, community colleges, and university students from across Southern California to inspire and to support their journey towards becoming educators. The impact of the Center for Teacher Education can also be seen in its commitment to diversity and equity. More than 80 percent of the Center's participants have identified as Latino, with many pursuing careers as bilingual, dual immersion, and or special education

Jessie LopezItem 3

teachers. The Center has also been a beacon for creating inclusive pathways, ensuring that our classrooms reflect the communities that they serve. I would be remiss not to mention the $20 million in grant funding that CFTE has secured, along with the numerous accolades and recognition it has earned, including the 2003 Exemplary Program Awards from the California Colleges Board of Governors. These awards highlight the excellence and innovation the the center has consistently demonstrated over the years. Today, as we celebrate 25 years of impact, it is important to recognize that the Center for Teacher Education

Jessie LopezItem 3

is not just preparing teachers, it's preparing leaders. It's a program that empowers students to take on the responsibility of shaping the minds of future generations. It's a program that has helped launch the careers of educators who now serve our communities all across the state. The legacy of the CFTE is one of inspiration, dedication, and service. It's about preparing educators who will return to their communities and make a difference where it matters the most. As we embark on this milestone, we can proudly say that the Center for Teacher Education has built a lasting foundation for future generations of educators,

Jessie LopezItem 3

ensuring a bright future for students throughout our region and beyond. On behalf of the City of Santa Ana, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the faculty, to the staff, and to the supporters of the CFTE for their commitment to excellence in education. Thank you for all that you do and for always being in the community. Congratulations on 25 years of incredible achievements, and here is to many more years of impact and success. Thank you very much.

Thank you so much. I just wanted to say on behalf of our President Dr. Annabelle Neri, Santa Ana College and the Center for Teacher Education, we extend our deepest gratitude for this recognition of 25 years of service in preparing future educators. Your support and acknowledgement reaffirm the vital role that education plays in strengthening the community. For over two decades the Center for Teacher Education has been committed to empowering aspiring teachers, providing them with guidance, resources, and opportunities to become impactful leaders in classrooms in Santa

Ana and beyond. And your recognition is not just a celebration of our amazing work, but an investment in the future of education. And I couldn't stand here alone and do this. Of course it is because of this amazing team right right behind me. I just have the honor of working with such geniuses who do the work every day under the leadership of Dr. Maria Dela Cruz and Dr. Steve Bautista, our amazing academic faculty and our classified leaders. I just wanna say thank you, much appreciation for this honor and recognition to the amazing work that our team does in cultivating change

in the lives of many of our students every day because of the power of education. Thank you so much.

one two council member fan

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

Congratulations.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

Council member Phan's going to recognize Parks, Recreation, Community Services, Aquatics team declaring May of 2025 as Water Safety Drowning Prevention Month.

Thai Viet PhanItem 3

Yay! May I please invite up Director Hawk Scott, Evelyn Medea, Celia Smith, as well as some of our lifeguards. Yeah!

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Come on up, y'all.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Yes, for the first time, I get the young, happy people.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Maybe just a little.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Okay. So some of you may not know, but May is National Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Month. An especially timely reminder as Santa Ana families prepare for summer around pools, lakes and beaches. I don't know where we have a lake around here, but you know. Okay, Centennial Lake, please don't swim in that. Drowning remains one of the leading causes of unintentional death for young children, and the risks are even higher in underserved communities that historically lack access to swim education. As a city, we have a responsibility to ensure that all residents, especially our youth,

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

but also middle-aged people like me, have the knowledge and skills to stay safe in and around water. So, Santa Ana Aquatics, leading the way. way. Santa Ana's Aquatics Program is at the forefront of local water safety and drowning prevention efforts, obviously. The program was recently featured in the April 2025 issue of Parks and Recreation Business Magazine, highlighting Santa Ana's innovation and impact on a national level. City Investments in Facilities. The City of Santa Ana has also made a major capital investment in aquatic safety and access through the development of the brand new Memorial

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Memorial Park Aquatics Facility, a state-of-the-art project totaling $29 million. This facility will provide expanded capacity for swim lessons, recreational swimming, and competitive aquatics.

Jessie LopezItem 4

Do you get like, what do you call them? You know when people swim in unison to music?

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Yeah, synchronized swimming. Signing up for that. While serving as a cornerstone for future water safety programming. Investments like these. Wait, why didn't we talk about Santa Anita? We're getting a new pool of Santa Anita, y'all. Yeah, that's right.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Investments like these reflect the city's commitment to building safe, inclusive, and healthy spaces for all residents. As we recognize Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Month, we also celebrate the proactive leadership and meaningful partnerships that make Santa Ana a model for other communities. The city encourages residents and staff and council members to take advantage of these resources and enroll in swim lessons and spread awareness of the importance of being water safe. Together, we are not just preventing tragedies.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

We are creating a culture of safety, confidence, and opportunity for every generation of Santa Ana families. El Salvador, Jerome, and Salgado pools open on June 2nd with registration opening May 22nd.

Director Scott, would you like to say a few words? Actually, no, I want to give it to my team. The amazing ones here.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

I love that they had me do this because I can't swim very well. I just float until someone saves me.

We'll be there. We have all the people. Yeah.

So good evening, mayor and city council members. Thank you for recognizing the importance of water safety in our community. As we head into the summer months, it's essential to remember that with the right education and community awareness, drownings are preventable. This water safety proclamation helps shine a light on critical prevention steps, active supervision in and around water, access to swim lessons, secure pool barriers, and CPR training. I'm proud to share that Santa Ana Aquatics swim lesson registration opens May 20th with scholarships available for both youth and adults. We offer classes for every age,

from infants as young as six months, adults, teens, and seniors. Additionally, we are excited to invite the community to Santa Ana's Safer Summer Pool Party on July 26th at the El Salvador Pool. In partnership with the Orange County Drowning Prevention Coalition, the Jasper Ray Foundation, and the OC Healthcare Agency, this free event will include interactive water safety stations, in water safety skills, and hands-only CPR demos in Spanish and English. For more information and to stay updated in our aquatic programs, please visit our Park and Recreation website.

Thank you again for your continued support in helping us create a safer, healthier Santa Ana.

Thank you.

Can I invite the council members now for a photo?

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

And also, please wear sunscreen. It's very important.

The same. Oh, I never did that. This is why isn't the window.

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Thank you for all the presentations. Let's move on now at this time. Madam City Attorney, do you have anything to report out of closed session?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 4

We do not have any reportable action this evening, Mayor.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Thank you so much. This is the time of the meeting for the City Council to receive comments from the public on agenda and non-agenda items. Madam City Clerk, please explain the public comment procedures and call the first speakers.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Thank you, Mayor. Pursuant to resolution number 2023-047, speakers are requested to address the city council directly and to refrain from profane language, racial epitaphs, and libelous or slanderous statements that disturb the decorum of the meeting. Pursuant to the Brown Act, the city council may not enter into discussion at this time. Speakers will have three minutes for their comments. Before calling the speakers, I'll report the summary of emails provided as of today at 2 p.m. We received 26 e-comments, 15 on non-agenda topics, one for item 17, two for item 20, two for item 23, two for item 24 and four for item 25.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Those were distributed to the city council and posted online for public review. We'll now hear from members of the public that are physically present in the council chamber, followed by those on the conference call or Zoom to provide comments on agenda or non-agenda items. Please state your name and the ward or neighborhood that you reside in for the record. I'll call three speakers at a time. If you could please line up in the center aisle way behind the podium. Sherry Kerr, Elmer Garcia, and Dan Robinson.

I was here a few weeks ago to describe, in my opinion, the unsafe conditions in the parking lot shared by the DiPietro Performance Center and the Margaret Webb Theater at 801 and 809 North Main Street. The two buildings are contiguous. there are three driveways. The Orange County School of the Arts continues to obstruct, in my opinion, ingress and egress to my property each weekday from approximately three to five via its dismissal center arrangement by closing off one of those driveways completely, posting misleading signage at a second one, and posting exit-only signage to the remaining driveway.

It is my understanding that them doing so is in violation of code. Code says all parking stalls and garages shall be accessible and usable. According to my easement agreement, I have ingress and egress to all three driveways 24-7, 365 days a year. There are no restrictions. The easement has no conditional provisions for this kind of thing. Since January 24, OSHA has obstructed, hindered, and other times literally precluded me and our patrons and visitors from reasonable ingress and egress to my property. This is now, and this is why I'm here, has hindered my ability to do business.

Since the last year and a half, we have begun to lose students, and we have even had to cancel classes. It's too difficult to get to our property. For just a little history, in 2010, OSHA moved in next door to us. They soon published a story and a map of ten buildings they were buying, two of them possible purchases. The DiPietro was among them. Shortly before they issued that information publicly, we had already refused their request to sell the DiPietro to them at that time. We asked that they issue a correction or retract that misinformation. They refused.

Ever since then, in my opinion, the Orange County School of the Arts has tried to drive us off our property.

I really believe that in my opinion they have bullied us in a word constantly and we have a 35 page documented journal of incidents that have happened that are absolutely in my opinion unneighborly and a 62 slide PowerPoint show that shows that they also in my opinion operate above and think they're above the law. There's code violations, there's safety violations, and there's neighbor, I believe in my opinion, violations. So we can't do anything. We understand that you guys can't do anything, you've told us that. This is a public matter and it would

have to be handled in court. We've been to court with them before and we lost. And when you're affording, they're purported to be a 40 million dollar organization, we subsist on a few thousand dollars a month. So we cannot do that. But what we can do is ask for something, which I'm here to do today. Whatever influence, whatever input, whatever jurisdiction you have, we'd like to ask you to revoke their charter. In our opinion, we don't think they reflect the spirit of Santa Ana. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Elmer Garcia.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Dan Robinson followed by Sandra de Anda.

Hi, I'm Dan Robinson. I live in Ward 3 in West Floral Park, multi-generational household with my mother-in-law, my wife, daughter, six cats. and I'm here to address City Council regarding a public safety imminent public safety issue that we have in our city right now has brought a stain on our city and that is this person Alejandro Acosta Oliveros this is a

serious issue uh for me for the community for my family um i think it has been established that there is a direct correlation between people who uh torture and kill animals and people who torture and kill humans and i would like to bring up this issue with the city council and hope that we can do anything and everything we can in our power to get this person out of our community or to get this person put away in prison in jail for as long as possible this is unacceptable that this behavior is being done in our community and it's

unacceptable that we will have this in our community and I want to do anything hope that you guys can do anything and everything we can to address this this is a stain on our community um and this is a horrible and disgusting uh actions that are happening here and i hope that we take this very seriously and i thank you for your time

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

sandra deanda followed by casey conway and oscar torres

good evening mayor and council members my name is sandra and i am a ward 4 resident and I serve as the coordinator for the Orange County Rapid Response Network. Our organization is dedicated to countering dehumanizing immigration enforcement practices in Orange County by responding to ICE enforcement actions and related activities. We do this by documenting and sharing verified information, educating the public, supporting pro-immigrant refugee policies, connecting individuals with legal resources, and conducting community trainings and outreach. I'm here tonight because I'm deeply disturbed

by recent revelations reported by inadvertent press that the city of Santa Ana and the Santa Ana Police Department withheld critical information about ICE activity in our community, despite having multiple opportunities to share it during the first 100 days of this new administration. As I stated in Mr. Camacho's article, and I'll reiterate it again, providing transparent, timely information, even when it is difficult, is a responsibility of city leadership.

Doing so empowers residents to take steps to protect their families, whether by seeking legal counsel, creating family preparedness plans, or making informed decisions about remaining in the city. Our team has also documented disturbing trends in local immigration enforcement. At the Santa Ana Ice Field Office, we've seen an uptick in individuals being detained during their scheduled ice check-ins. Homeland Security presence has also increased countywide and also here in Santa Ana.

Most concerning, we are now receiving reports of Homeland Security investigation agents conducting welfare checks on vulnerable community members, including unaccompanied minors. Some may believe that ICE targets only individuals with serious criminal records, but the data tells a different story. According to TRACK, a nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization, as of April 6, nearly 46 percent of those detained have no criminal record whatsoever. Many others are detained for minor infractions such as traffic violations. As a lifelong Santa Ana resident who witnessed immigration enforcement firsthand living in the

the mini street neighborhood, growing up a vibrant Latino and Cambodian neighborhood. I speak from lived experience from the early days as a volunteer to now being a community advocate. I have seen the real fear and harm caused by these actions. I urge this council to recognize the very real impacts of immigration enforcement. And I ask you all to do more. You guys don't need me to tell you how to do your jobs. Our communities deserve safety, dignity, and transparency. I call on the City of Santa Ana to recommit to protecting its immigrant and refugee families. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Casey Conway, Oscar Torres, Victor Mendez.

Good evening, councillors. My name is Casey. I know some of you, so it's good to see you guys. I'm also with Orange County Rep Response Network. Sandra already said who we are, so I won't repeat that. And I apologize if I repeat any information she shares as well. My name is Casey, and I'm the Director of Organizing at Orange County Rapid Response Network. I'm here to make comments on an article from Inadvertent that came out yesterday containing data PRA'd from the SAPD. The data indicates that ICE and DHS not only have large operational presence in Santa Ana, but gives courtesy notifications to the police department.

department. A couple of things. This data largely reflects community reports that have been given to us at OCRN and on February 4th, SAPD Chief Rodriguez made no mention of these alerts as a courtesy or otherwise despite Mayor Mezcua asking him directly. On that same day, Mayor Mezcua insisted that mass deportations are not happening in Santa Ana. She also implied that if it is happening, it is only happening to so-called criminals as director of organizing at ocrn i can confirm that detentions and deportations are happening in mass in our community that is to say they're happening at

alarming rates i manage our team of dispatchers and we receive several calls a day about ice sightings and at least three reports a week of detentions with some happening before our very eyes as we perform accompaniments with our community members i'm not sure who you consider criminals but if there are criminal charges ice races to detain before verdict can be had if folks are convicted they have already served their time immigration detention putting them in double jeopardy what I'm describing is the interference of ice in a criminal justice system in the deprivation of

constitutionally guaranteed due process we are also in communication with community members who report so-called welfare checks operated by ice HSI and and SAPD, targeting unaccompanied migrant minors. These minors are being approached at schools, just off of campus, and at home. It is our belief that immigration surveillance is being operationalized as welfare checks. Surveillance and case building are crucial steps by ICE before performing a detention.

We believe that due to restraints on data sharing, due to ORR policy that protects the privacy of minors, and as well as sanctuary law isis having to find creative ways to make quota quota that's what this is to them to ice ocrn calls upon this council to protect its residents from being fodder to a violent bureaucracy we call upon the city to follow through and restore sanctuary policy advisory group as separate from police oversight commission as the expertise is distinct it's clear ice has been creative and proactive and mass deportations are happening in our community

and as such we must also be creative and proactive thank you Oscar Torres

the City Council of Santa Ana hello mayor hello mr. Vasquez and mr. Hernandez we have people in common you haven't met me yet but I'm a new resident here in the city of Santa Ana and I've come to cross a big gap in your ordinance with the short-term Airbnb ordinance that was passed last year, NS-3072. It seems that there's a lot of things falling through the cracks where people are being rented short-term rentals that are substandard, illegal ADUs that do not provide the amount, sorry, the same necessary, what's it called, warranty of habitability that is afforded to all tenants in the state of

California. What I've noticed is Airbnb takes the side of their hosts who are illegally operating writing then the hosts are using other owners or other owners to separate the two but it's an omnibus for them to be able to act and then act like hey i don't know what they're doing they're just leasing it from me so what i found was working with mr um mr cesar jimenez and jerry navarro i have a proposal for you that we could discuss at a later time because i only have a few minutes to tell you but i have a way to help you fix this gap i work for housing advocates of

America is an organization that I started that I advocate for tenants and people have been displaced due to the fires and people that have been put in situations with ADUs and unscrupulous landlords. I just wanted you guys to know that this gap in this ordinance basically has led the hosts and the owners of properties to utilize police to escort people out when they've already broken the law and they've already rented the unit for less than 30 days, which goes against the ordinance. ordinance I am for your ordinance I am also a person who suffered the same thing last week this

is why I'm here I was actually shopping to stay in the city and I actually now I found more motivation to stay in the city instead of going to Rancho Santa Margarita so I feel that I can uh give you a lot more information in a in maybe a meeting in a different setting but this is my first time speaking in front of a council and I feel that this would be something that will benefit you and will bust people that are breaking the law and teach a lesson and also tell you you mean business. So I also wanted to shout a quick thank you to a couple of non-for-profit organizations, Family First, people who serve, Angel Carrasco specifically,

a well-known gentleman in the community. Also the Non-For-Profit Alliance for Consumer Advocates, Jose de la Vega, the Del High Community Center, and the Del Sol Food Bank for being there. for many people who needed help in very very troubling times I thank you all for your time and hope to hear back soon thank you Victor Mendez

very briefly I got a couple of comments on item 23 mr. Bracero's report to To me, that represents two major failings, failings that we kind of experienced at Metro East, a failing in property management and a failing in case management. People are just not doing their jobs. That's why you have those conditions that came up. I don't know what approach you wanna take, but you have to motivate these properties to start doing their job and start taking care of their people, their property, and making the communities, improving their communities and keeping them safe. And I'm well aware of the property

that you're talking about mr. Bracera and I look forward to speaking with you tomorrow now the reason why I'm here I'm really not comfortable with the level of communication that's going on with the East first rehab project and I spoke to councilmember Lopez thank you she's well aware of my concerns here you know you have the council the city the taxpayer put so much money into improving first Street so much effort I have put in a lot of sweat Jeff Katz has put in loss but the mayor has put a lot of sweat in why don't we take the approach of this rehab project which

i think is a great project and really think things through specifically this bikeway these but this bikeway component i'll talk about that in a minute but again i support this project i think it'll be transformative i think have a great impact i just don't think it's being thought through with all the consequences um of the current design or this direction uh you know these bikeways you know or or the bikes themselves, they're the main means of transportation to circulate drugs in the neighborhood. OK? And they also attract the transients. And likewise, a bikeway will already take away space from an already congested neighborhood.

Right now, to get out of my apartment, the line to cross over to turn left on Tustin snakes about 100 yards down to the entrance of 2120. 20. First point, 100 yards out, you can't get across. But we're going to cut a bikeway and further limit the amount of lanes. I think bikeways are a good thing, but we just need to think this through. Just so you know, these are becoming more the exception than the rule.

Bikes, congestion right in front of the sidewalk, drugs, I called that in. And later on a guy passed out right in front of this building like a week or two ago. Bikes, drugs, called that in, the police came out, they took them away. The next day at Sunland Motel there was a huge drug bust. Bikes and drugs seem to have a correlation out in for at least in terms of First Street. We need a conversation not a community presentation. We need a hard conversation. It involves code, housing, city attorney, police, and cult. Let's understand what's going on, let's

make the best design possible let's make this project a transformative problem that's that's productive and very positive i think you'd be a great driver for the community but we got to do it right and we got to get it right we don't want to see the money victor your time is up thank you

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

mayor and city council that concludes the speakers that are present in the chamber we'll now go to the zoom speakers when unmuted please announce your name and ward or neighborhood within the city for the record patty if you could please unmute and make your comments

hello yes go ahead please thank you hello everyone my name is patricia desantos and i live in word four and i want to and i but i also want to speak as a resident of all of santa ana the city is currently working on our annual budget myself and other residents have been informed by the finance department that our current budget consists of approximately 255 million dollars of unrestricted spending over the past six months numerous residents have requested a community oversight committee for $22 million of community benefit funds that are part of the Bristol related construction project.

Our requests for a community oversight committee were denied, ignored, and met with hostility from council member Phil Fisera. A copy of these residents written requests were submitted to the city clerk for this meeting. I have to wonder why there has been so much pushback to our request for community oversight. We only seek a voice in the management of our city money, particularly when during the April 2nd, 2025 City Council meeting, which is recorded, City Council voted for an 8% raise in pay for one of the already highest paid positions in the city. No offense to the city manager,

but in our current economic environment, an 8% raise to $342,000 per year, or to put it another way, over $28,000 per month in compensation is irresponsible. Based on this and other spending problems, like the one that resulted in over $600,000 in settlement payout to our last city manager for alleged bad behavior, I believe we need more community oversight. I would respectfully ask City Council to take another vote to our request for community

oversight for the $22 million from the Bristol-related project. On the record this time, and at the next City Council meeting, our prior requests were ignored and at a recent public meeting, Councilman Becerra angrily stated, I'm going to take the $22 million and go to Vegas. Again, irresponsible. responsible. Currently there are five construction projects in the city. I believe all will have millions of dollars of community benefit funds. I believe we need to impress City Council to provide for more community oversight. Now I would like to ask what the other residents of our city think

about this. If City Council or anyone would like to contact me, my email address is pattystation714 and I will be sure to respond in a timely manner. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Mayor and city council that concludes the public speakers this evening.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Thank you very much, Madam city clerk. At this time, we're gonna go into the consent calendar. Items five through 19 are before us. Council members, please announce any items that you'll be abstaining from due to conflict. And if there are any items that you'd like to pull, please state them for a discussion. Council Member Hernandez.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 4

Thank you, Madam Mayor. No items to pull. I would like to register a no vote on item 14 and I'll make a motion to move the consent calendar.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Thank you. Council Member Becerra.

Phil BacerraItem 4

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'll be pulling item seven and eight.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Thank you. Council Member Phan. I'm not pulling anything, but I'll recuse myself from item 10 and 19 as Falk and City Ventures are clients of my employer, Rattan and Tucker. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

COUNCILMAN PENALOSA.

David PenalozaItem 4

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I'M NOT PULLING ANY ITEMS, BUT I WILL REGISTER A RECUSAL ON NUMBER 8 DUE TO A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION FROM GUARANTEE CHEVROLET TO ME IN THE LAST YEAR. SO NOT A RECUSAL. SINCE IT WAS PULLED, I WILL STEP OUT OF THE ROOM FOR THAT DISCUSSION.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER LOPEZ. PULLING ITEM 15. THANK YOU. MAYOR PERROT, 10. 15 AS WELL. Perfect, thank you. There was a motion to approve the other items. Second. A motion by Councilman Hernandez, second by Councilman Becerra. At this time tonight, our laptops are not working up here, our servers, so we're gonna do roll call votes. And if you want to speak tonight, please point your mic straight up, not in front of you, straight up so I can call on you, please. Thank you. Madam City Clerk.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Thank you, a motion by Councilmember Hernandez, seconded by Councilmember Becerra to approve consent calendar items number five through 19 with the exceptions of items number seven, eight, and 15 pulled for separate discussion and consideration. Council member Becerra?

Phil BacerraItem 4

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Council member Hernandez? Yes. Council member Lopez? Yes. Council member Penalosa?

David PenalozaItem 4

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

Council member Phan? Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez? Yes. Mayor Meskwa? Yes. Motion carries seven ayes, no nays with noted a no vote on item number 14

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

AND NOTED RECUSALS BY COUNCILMEMBER PENALOSA ON ITEM 8, WHICH WAS SEPARATE DISCUSSION, AND BY COUNCILMEMBER FAN FOR ITEMS 10 AND 19. MOTION CARRIES.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMEMBERS, DO YOU WISH TO HEAR STAFF REPORTS OR WE'RE GOOD? WE'RE GOOD? ALL RIGHT. COOL. ALL RIGHT. MADAM CITY CLERK, IT'S ALL YOURS.

Jennifer L. HallItem 4

YES. MAYOR, THE FIRST ITEM PULLED WAS ITEM NUMBER 7 BY COUNCILMEMBER PENALOSA. I'M SORRY, BESERRA.

Phil BacerraItem 4

Thank you. So this item, item 7, is the City of Santa Ana 2024 General Plan Annual Progress Report. I just want to begin by thanking our Acting Director of Planning and Building, Ali Pazeshkipur, and his planning staff for preparing this report for us. I pulled the item from the consent calendar to do a little bragging. So state law requires us to submit an annual progress report on the status of our city's implementation of the general plan. And I would like to share a couple of those highlights that are gonna be included in the report that's gonna be submitted to the state this year. So first off, we had the launch of PBX,

Phil BacerraItem 4

and I think Assistant City Manager, Min Tai, was very much a part of that, so thank you for that. So what PBX does is it's same day express permit service that's available for certain residential and commercial projects. The next thing was the completion of the first round of stakeholder engagement for the comprehensive zoning code update so which the city has already reached out to 30 000 stakeholders both residents property owners and business owners then also we have the formation of the environmental justice action committee comprised of residents

Phil BacerraItem 4

representing each of the ej clusters which was part of that general plan uh adoption of course we have the opening of ferrardo mouette park over at standard mcfadden which that new park brings brings our city closer to the ambitious goal that we laid out in the general plan of three acres of parkland per thousand residents now since our city's housing element is one of the elements that comprises our whole city's general plan we're also going to provide to the state uh an update on housing production in our city so the state provides housing production allocations to each each city in California known as RENA.

Phil BacerraItem 5

And we're supposed to meet those RENA allocations by 2029. So right now, again, this is where we get to do a little bragging. Santa Ana has met 94 percent of what the state has required Santa Ana to build for low-income housing. And for very low-income housing, Santa Ana has already met 57 percent of what the state has required us to build. We're only halfway through that RENA cycle and Santa Ana will exceed what the state has asked Santa Ana to build, especially when it comes to low income and very low income housing. We exceed our arena allocations, or I'm sorry, we exceeded arena allocations during the last cycle.

Phil BacerraItem 5

So the reason other than bragging, I'm bringing all this up is, I wanna say to the folks in Sacramento that as they pass these one size fits all pieces of legislation, you don't need to. You've got some cities that are doing great. We meet and exceed our housing allocations. And I would just ask that as the state continues to come up with policies hoping to jumpstart housing production in other cities, recognize that some cities are already there or going far beyond that. So that's my comments tonight. Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

Thank you. Anybody else?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

I'll second. Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Jennifer L. HallItem 5

Adam Clark. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez, seconded by Mayor Mesquite, to approve the recommended action for item number seven. Council Member Becerra?

Phil BacerraItem 5

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 5

Council Member Hernandez? Yes. Council Member Lopez?

Jennifer L. HallItem 5

She's not in the room. Yes. Council Member Penalosa?

David PenalozaItem 5

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 5

Council Member Phan? Yes. Mayor Pro Tembaskis? Yes. Mayor Meskwa?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 5

Vote is six ayes, no nays with recorded absence by Council Member Lopez. Motion carries. Thank you. Mayor, the next item is item number eight, also pulled by Council Member Becerra.

Phil BacerraItem 5

Council Member Becerra. Thank you. So this. Oh, I'm sorry. Noted recusal by Council Member

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

Penalosa who's leading the dais. Council Member Penalosa needs to leave.

Phil BacerraItem 5

Well, faster, faster, faster. All right, we're good to go. All right, thank you. Hopefully this won't be long. So item eight is the purchase order contracts to guarantee Chevrolet here in Santa Ana for nine Chevy vehicles and Selman Chevrolet for seven Chevy vehicles. So in those staff report now we're purchasing vehicles right so as we're purchasing these vehicles we've asked them to submit bids they said this is what it'll cost to purchase the vehicles so when i'm reading the staff report i notice that there's a 12 contingency now i'm thinking about contingency

Phil BacerraItem 5

when we're constructing something and you say well based on materials and the cost of other aspects of the project things may go up things may go down that's why you have a contingency SO IF THEY'RE SUBMITTING A BID, THEY'RE SAYING, THESE AUTO DEALERS, THEY'RE SAYING CITY OF SAN ANA, IT WILL COST X AMOUNT FOR NINE VEHICLES AND Y AMOUNT FOR SEVEN VEHICLES. WHY THE CONTINGENCY? IS THERE SOME SORT OF PROVISION THAT ALLOWS THEM TO SAY, SIKED, JUST KIDDING, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND INCREASE IT BY 12%?

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. GOOD EVENING.

No, it's not like that. The contingencies are really for increases in the delivery of the year of the vehicle itself. We could be issuing a PO or a purchase order for a 2025 vehicle. And by the time we issue this particular PO, the vehicle may not be available, but the dealership will have a next-year vehicle. VEHICLE, WHICH WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT OF A PRICE DIFFERENT. THAT'S WHAT THE CONTINGENCY CAN BE USED FOR.

Phil BacerraItem 5

THAT SEEMS VERY DISINGENUOUS. IF THEY'RE TELLING US THEY'VE GOT NINE OF ONE VEHICLE AND WE SAID HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST, THEY GAVE US A DOLLAR AMOUNT, THAT SEEMS LIKE A BAIT AND SWITCH. NOW IT'S, OH, I'M SORRY, YOU KNOW THE ONES WE TOLD YOU WE HAD? WE DON'T HAVE THEM ANYMORE. NOW HERE'S THE NEXT UPGRADED MODEL. NOW THIS IS WHERE THIS 12% CONTINGENCY COMES IN.

And so that's again, the contingencies rarely.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

I'm sorry, Mabel, can you get a letter of finishes? Hold on one second. No, I'm done.

Phil BacerraItem 5

Go ahead, go ahead, Dr. Salva, go ahead.

The contingency is rarely used. It's just based on staff experience and the many years of purchasing vehicles. These issues can happen and we wanna be a little flexible in adjusting the price and buying the next year model THE MODEL RATHER THAN, BECAUSE 2025 CANNOT, A LOT OF TIMES IT WOULD NOT BE EVEN AVAILABLE AT THE TIME THE P.O. IS ISSUED.

Phil BacerraItem 5

BUT DIRECTOR SABBA, THEY HAVE SUBMITTED THE BID. WE DIDN'T CONJURE THIS UP. THEY SAID WE CAN GET YOU NINE VEHICLES FOR A CERTAIN PRICE. SO WHAT I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING IS, DO WE ACCEPT THESE BIDS SAYING, I KNOW THIS IS WHAT IT SHOULD BE, BUT IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE? Because that troubles me that we're entering into these agreements and the price is going to be fluid. If they've agreed, we didn't tell them they had to do this. They came to us and said, we can sell you nine vehicles at a certain price. I don't understand why that price would be fluid. I do not understand that.

It's because the sale itself is not final until the PO is issued. AND THERE IS A TIME LAG BETWEEN WHEN THEY BID TO THE TIME WE ACTUALLY ISSUE THE P.O.

Phil BacerraItem 5

BUT THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING ON OUR PART, RIGHT? THEY'VE COMMITTED TO A PRICE, RIGHT? HAVE THEY COMMITTED? BECAUSE THEY SUBMITTED THE BID, RIGHT? WE DIDN'T WRITE IT FOR THEM. THEY SUBMITTED IT. AND SO WE HAVE A SET PRICE, AND YOU'RE SAYING BECAUSE OF AN INTERNAL PROCESS THAT THEY CAN NOW MOVE THE PRICE BECAUSE WE TOOK TOO LONG TO ISSUE A P.O. again I mr. city manager what am I missing here so you are correct but how

Alvaro NuñezItem 5

would I say this in a nice way typical from from from when we do we do get the bit it's not like they set it aside right so so they will act and they will sell the vehicle right and so that's what he's asking sometimes when we release the peel by the time we go pick up the vehicle sometimes they may not be available i understand the inconsistency i appreciate the what you're stating so again it's like they don't accept you know the promise for example that we'll purchase the vehicle at this by just set it aside from us that's why the contingency is there if it's has happened

Alvaro NuñezItem 5

that when we do pick up the vehicles the vehicles may not be available or they're sold out or they didn't get delivered on time and then we have to wait for the delivery of the vehicles that's why SO THE BID IS BASED ON THE PRICING AT THAT TIME. THE AVAILABILITY OF THAT TIME. BUT THEY'RE NOT SETTING THE VEHICLES ASIDE FOR US, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

Phil BacerraItem 5

BUT WHY AREN'T THEY?

Alvaro NuñezItem 5

THAT'S A BIG CONTENT.

Phil BacerraItem 5

IT'S LIKE MAKING A RESERVATION AND THEN SHOWING UP AND THEY'RE LIKE, WE GOT RID OF YOUR TABLE. BUT I RESERVED IT. I SAW THE MOVIE TWO YEARS.

Alvaro NuñezItem 5

I APPRECIATE THAT. okay yes all right the same field show right i get it yeah we don't disagree i understand the the the discrepancy but that's that's that's the main reason right is how do we deal with a private sector uh business component that gets to make those determinations and so what we're doing is adding the contingency at that point we can always come back and say okay you know what you know what

Phil BacerraItem 5

the view is more expensive let's see what we can do well i'd be happy moving the item without the contingency and then if you guys really can't get a po out in time then you should have to come back

Alvaro NuñezItem 5

to us that's acceptable too okay in fact let's do it that way are you done counselor i am so i i'm

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

uh yeah i don't i'd ask for this to come back so you mentioned an internal process how long is this

internal process? Mayor, it's from the time that we actually go out to bid.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

I don't want you to describe it to me because I'm very aware of it. I want the timeline.

It can be from three to four months before we bring it to Council for a PO.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

Why does it take so long for you to bring it to us? It's the bidding and

working with purchasing and Public Works and the other agencies and see what what they're looking for in terms of equipment and desire for the type of equipment or vehicle that they're looking for.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

So in your department, you pretty much, you should know when you're going to need new vehicles, correct? You know that.

The different agencies budget for the replacement of vehicles is through the budget process, yes. Correct.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

So you know you're going to need new vehicles and you'll know the number of vehicles you're going to need.

Yes. Well, again, you know, it depends on the agency. We in public works serve other agencies and we purchase vehicles for them and maintain those vehicles.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

But nothing is a surprise?

No, not a surprise, yeah.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

Okay. So, yeah, I'm not going to, Mr. City Manager, I'm not okay with this one either because 12 is a large amount of money here and i understand things are fluid but if we're in my opinion if we're saying whatever car dealership we're buying nine then they have nine there and then oh no we're just kidding like councilman says you're kidding um we don't have nine here we gave them away yesterday but we have them for you you're just gonna pay 12 more now I THINK I'M GOING TO GET IN THAT BUSINESS.

Alvaro NuñezItem 5

IT PLEASES THE MAYOR, AS COUNCIL MEMBER BESERRA INDICATED, WE MOVE THE ITEM, WE DON'T TAKE CONTINGENCY, LET'S DO IT THAT WAY.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

COUNCIL MEMBER FAN?

Alvaro NuñezItem 5

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M SORRY, I'M GOING TO LET HER. THEN YOU CAN GO, COUNCIL HERNANDEZ. THANK YOU.

Thai Viet PhanItem 5

MY QUESTION IS, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CONTINGENCY. It's $35,000 for, you know, well, $35,000 and $45,000 for, you know, very large purchases of cars. Now, how many times have you can remember in, let's say, in the last couple years or in the last four years, have we had to use a contingency?

I spoke with staff this morning and they said rarely. We don't normally use those contingencies.

Thai Viet PhanItem 5

Right. And I imagine right here it says, you know, new 2025 vehicles. vehicles, but if, I don't know what this cycle would be like, but for example, especially in the falls when you kind of get the 2026 vehicles and if they come out, we would have the option to purchase those if they're available with the contingency, correct?

That's correct.

Thai Viet PhanItem 5

Right. So to me, I understand that there are delays because here you're not just looking at one type of car or one vehicle for one department. you're coordinating with a variety of different departments with a variety of different types of cars and so to me it does make sense that sometimes there might be delays or changes for example you said that some of these leased vehicles are reaching the end of their leases and you were transitioning to ownership so and the mileage might be different on some of them so you might not be buying all of them at the exact same time I assume right so then you

Thai Viet PhanItem 8

you might want to have different timings. So you might end up getting two this month and then two in five months. So with that, I would be okay with approving that. I think though, if, yeah, I guess, you know, the fact that you're telling me that the contingency is used very rarely, I don't have a problem moving that forward and there's no reason to delay staff's ability to continue with this if it's rarely used. But to have to come back in the event that we need it, I think would just be more bureaucratic delay. Thank you. Thank you councilman Hernandez. Thank you

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 8

Council member fan is that a motion?

Thai Viet PhanItem 8

Yes, I move to approve staffs recommendation. I'll second your motion with a very brief comment

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 8

I share very similar concerns that it's not common that we have a Contingency here, but given that it's important for us to move our city's business forward I am going to support this item, Director Nebel. You've always brought good contracts to us here at the City and although there's, you know, of course, you know, in this case, some very unique nuances to this item, I do want to highlight some very positive things that we can celebrate. YOU'RE PURCHASING AMERICAN MADE, UNION MADE CARS. THE CHEVROLET EQUINOX IS MANUFACTURED BY MEMBERS OF THE UAW. AND IN THE CASE OF THE COLORADO,

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 8

IT IS ALSO A UNION MADE CAR BUILT BY MEMBERS OF THE UAW IN WENTZVILLE, MISSOURI. SO THIS IS AS AMERICAN MADE AS THESE CARS CAN GET AND I'M GLAD THAT OUR CITY IS PURCHASING VEHICLES THAT WILL LAST US. SO I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM, DIRECTOR SABA. THANK YOU.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 8

Thank you Councilman Hernandez. So I just have a question. So when you say it rarely happens,

what does that exactly mean? Mayor I need to talk to my staff and see when was last the contingency was has taken place. The question from Councilmember Becerra this morning, we couldn't collect the information but we were able to answer his questions about why we need those contingencies but again the staff experience from the past that a lot of times not a lot of times few times that happened where the price changed from one year to another and that's where we were covered by the contingencies for the minimal increase in price and I can get you that

Valerie AmezcuaItem 8

information from staff tomorrow well I think that council members found said if we ordered 2025s so then 2026s come in and if we purchase 2026s, and I'm not trying to speak for her, but she brought up a point, the price is gonna go up, we all know that. But I think that I'm uncomfortable just the fact because it's so fluid. So whatever information you can send us, I want us to be very, we're using this word a lot tonight, transparent, but just clear on how many times we've had to use this. Because I've been sitting here now, this is my third year, and I think there's been more than one occasion where we've had a contingency.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 8

So I would like to be really clear on how many times we've had to use this. And if we're purchasing the vehicles, and I'm glad they're union-made, we want them to be,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 8

we need to also know where our money's going, right? We're counting our pennies. For sure. So we want to make sure. So please, when you come up, I think you know by now what questions we're going to ask right down to the down to the penny sometimes so we just be prepared and with that there's a motion of councilman becerra do you have anything sweet i just i just want to clarify

Phil BacerraItem 8

because i think some of the comments up here i think gave the impression that there was opposition to the purchase let's be clear we're not opposing the purchase i appreciate the fact that guarantee chevrolet is a santa ana business i appreciate the fact that these are american-made vehicles WHAT MY CONCERN IS, IS JUST MORE OF CLARITY AND TRANSPARENCY. THAT'S IT. THE PURCHASE, WE LIKE IT. WE WANT TO DO IT. IT'S JUST HOW WE DO IT. WE OWE THE PUBLIC THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING. IT SHOULDN'T BE, WE SHOULD BE PAYING THIS, BUT WE'RE REALLY PAYING SOMETHING HIGHER.

Phil BacerraItem 8

AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE, BECAUSE, YES, IF A 2026 MODEL BECOMES AVAILABLE AND WE HAVE THE ACCESS TO PURCHASE IT, SURE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT, RIGHT? NEWER, BETTER. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE SHOULD BE SOME PREDICTABILITY. IF YOU'RE PUTTING OUT A BID AND YOU'RE SAYING I WANT TRUCKS, THIS IS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THE PARTICULAR MODEL, THEN EVERYBODY SHOULD BE HAPPY. ONCE YOU SAY YES, THIS IS WHAT WE RECOMMEND THE COUNCIL APPROVES, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO APPROVE IT KNOWING THAT WHEN WE WALK AWAY, WE APPROVED A DOLLAR AMOUNT,

Phil BacerraItem 8

AND THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE SPENT. SO THAT WAS MY CONCERN WAS JUST SIMPLY THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, MAKING SURE THAT IT WAS CLEAR TO EVERYBODY WHAT WE'RE SPENDING, NOT, WELL, IT SAYS THIS, BUT GUESS WHAT? IT MIGHT BE 12% MORE. THAT'S ALL. SO THANK YOU.

Benjamin VazquezItem 8

MAYOR PRO TEMP. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER POSETTA FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING LIGHT TO THIS AND MY PEERS FOR THEIR WORDS TODAY. SO WHEN THERE IS A CONTINGENCY THAT WE ARE GOING TO USE THAT MONEY, NOT ONLY WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST, BUT FORWARD, COMING FORWARD, IF THIS IS USED, WE WOULD ALSO LIKE A REPORT ON EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS WHEN WE GO INTO THE NEXT YEAR. overspent please thank you right thank you thank you council member fan thank you i just have a

Thai Viet PhanItem 8

question um is it possible that within these bids when we say hey i want to buy a 2025 chevy colorado truck for them when they submit the bid for the price to hold the price for a certain amount of days i know that sometimes we do get that in other types of purchases or maybe that's just my personal experience do we do that at all for anything else I believe

that the price is set however the availability of the piece of equipment may not be there by the time we issue the PO or by the time the fleet manager

Thai Viet PhanItem 8

finds the piece of vehicle right so that's totally fine that makes sense to me I just think that maybe in the future to help prevent some of this heartburn we can request that such pricing and availability you know be available for three months or four months or whatever it is and if they can't you know and they'll let us know right if that's not possible for these types of large purchases the vendors will let us know and we'll you know please let us know that that the whether it's the not the economy but the industry does not provide for that type of guarantee and that would help us as well as the public

Thai Viet PhanItem 8

like when we're making these purchasing decisions. Thank you. Thank you. That's for a part of vote.

Jennifer L. HallItem 8

A motion by Council Member Fan, seconded by Council Member Hernandez to approve the recommended action for item number eight. Council Member Becerra.

Phil BacerraItem 8

No.

Jennifer L. HallItem 8

Council Member Hernandez. Yes. Council Member Lopez. Yes. Council Member Fan. Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez.

Benjamin VazquezItem 8

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 8

Mayor Meskwa. Yes. Five ayes, one nay. Nay by Councilmember Becerra. Recorded recusal by Councilmember Penalosa. Motion carries.

Jennifer L. HallItem 8

And Mayor and City Council, before we move to the next item, if I could please make an announcement regarding item number 12, pursuant to Government Code Section 54953C3. Approval of that item included an increase to the City-provided deferred compensation to the City Clerk of the Catch-Up Contribution effective April 15th, 2025.

Jennifer L. HallItem 12

item number 15 by Councilmember Lopez and Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez.

Jessie LopezItem 12

Thank you, Jennifer. So I pulled agenda item 15 and first I think we should discuss what an ALPR is. It is an automated license plate reader and they're basically cameras that capture images of all passing license plates and it stores that data that was data in their cloud. So, story details like a car's location, a date, in time, color, really any data point that you can think of, it lives in its cloud. And so, these cameras collect data on millions of vehicles. You don't have to be somebody that's accused

Jessie LopezItem 15

of committing a crime. You can be driving to your grocery store, you can be going to school, to the gym. And so, these cameras will essentially capture these data points and so while these systems can be useful for tracking stolen cars or wanted individuals they are mostly used to track the movements of innocent people and I don't know sitting here if our staff read both of the contracts that have been giving to this council tonight to discuss and vote and I need to know that

What was your question, Council Member? Did we read the contracts?

Jessie LopezItem 15

Yes.

Yes, we did.

Jessie LopezItem 15

And so, well, first, I mean, because I have many questions and comments, part of, and I asked that, right, I wanted to know on the record if my staff had read these contracts that you're bringing forth, because part of the contract states explicitly that this information information can be used to give to the federal government. And I wanted to know, City Attorney, if that would be in Jervak violations of our sanctuary ordinance.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 15

If the city provided information under both state law and our local ordinance, that could be a violation. The contract may say that we may provide it. It doesn't mandate it but I understand the concern is that there is that opportunity to provide it as provided for in the contract yes and the most concerning

Jessie LopezItem 15

part of it isn't that it's that it's saying that the city will do that right it's saying that these entities that you're recommending to us have the ability to do that without the city's permission so I think that's the most concerning aspect of this some of the language that I found in in these contracts and so of course I've been doing a lot of digging about this it's something that I'm personally actually interested in mass surveillance and so according to the Center of Privacy and Technology at Georgetown Georgetown law the use of ALPR technology by law enforcement raises serious Fourth

Jessie LopezItem 15

Amendment concerns especially when again this data is used in conjunction with other forms of mass surveillance which when you read the contract it will tell you that is that third parties are embedded in what you're recommending mending tonight's and you will have we basically when you read the contract will understand that we have no say in who those third-party vendors are in fact it doesn't even list who the third-party vendors are and again the data retention is another issue for me and the most concerning part as I said earlier is that this data is separate from the city's control because it lives

Jessie LopezItem 15

in both of these entities clouds, which again can be used in any which way. We will have no say. It can be shared with anyone that requests it, even without a court order, which is highly, highly concerning. And so, ALPR data can be used to make inferences about an individual's work, their relationships, their health, their faith, their political activity, and this data with the kind of depth and breadth that it has that concerned the Supreme Court in the seminal 2016 case Carpenter versus US so aside from what we've already discussed

Jessie LopezItem 15

that there could be good use for this data there is no independent evidence that the use of ALPR enhances public safety or that the benefits police perceive it to have outweigh the cost of in terms of privacy and rights for all people that they don't even know they're being subjected to this type of surveillance and so there are a growing number of cases in which individuals have been wrongly targeted by police as the result of flawed ALPR data and people will probably remember the case of the officer that misused some of the

Jessie LopezItem 15

tools he had to stalk his ex-wife and this is part one of those cases and so So one of the ways that the companies make money from really the data that you're asking me here to provide tonight is by selling it to other entities, which then they repackage it, sell it to again third party vendors, and in a sometimes endless chain. And so another way they make money is by using data to train algorithmic products. and so you will find the specific language in both of these contracts

Jessie LopezItem 15

presented to this council and to the public. It explicitly states that this data, all of these data points that are being collected will be used by Flock and Motorola to train AI entities and so again when which then they can package and sell to a variety of customers. So even when contracts contain provisions provisions limiting this kind of data brokering it is often very difficult in practice to discover the breaches of those agreements that have occurred and so I I have three pages of comments

Jessie LopezItem 15

and questions I see that my time is up I'm happy to hear from a different member of this council

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

thank you yeah we're going to try to keep three minutes each because I'm sure that there are many

Benjamin VazquezItem 15

who want to speak so mayor Pro Tem thank you for the councilmember Lopez and I'm equally worried about the third party entities and we should not sign into a contract that gives our information away if we do get a ALP ours or automated license plate recognition I would want to have a resolution for policies and procedures for governing the use of automated license plate recognition for For one, we want to start with the limitation of use. They may be used for legitimate law enforcement purposes, like locating stolen vehicles, identifying suspects, and active investigation. Parking enforcement for what I believe

Benjamin VazquezItem 15

we're gonna buy it for, but not immigration enforcement. Surveillance of lawful protests, religious, or political activity without a warrant.

Benjamin VazquezItem 15

Not to be used by private entities unless authorized, like the contract parking that we control that we're going to have have a retention period limited to 30 days unless it's under investigation we're going to have oversight accountability number of license plates scanned number of matches and alerts number of investigations aided and any known errors or complaints also the report should be reviewed by the police oversight commission any employee found to have used this technology in violation of these policies should be subject to disciplinary

Benjamin VazquezItem 15

reaction uh that's just a few but we can we can have some uh conversations on how we could bring this back and use this to support the city but not be not having the information sold across you know the internet and other clouds thank you thank you council members for the comments

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

i'm going to speak really quick and then i'll call on you councilman hernandez and anybody else i just want to share with the public i read this and i see council members reading off their their laptops, their comments and their information. And that's wonderful. And Mayor Pro Tem, if you wanna bring this back after we have additional time to discuss it, we could talk about that with the city manager. I have no problem with that, but I think we all did a gender review. And so tonight would have been, it would have been a good thing to have those changes before the meeting. So I just returned from Chicago with the city manager,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

deputy city manager and the chief of police. The National League of Cities, we sit on a committee for public safety. And there were 40 mayors in there and 40 chiefs of police and multiple city staff, city managers and whatnot. And this license reader, every agency that was in there, including attorneys and again, like I said, city managers and city staff, they all shared how this has helped them in many ways because of a shortage of officers throughout the country, this has helped them. So if we want to bring it back and say, you know, no sale to third party, I'm okay with that.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

What I don't want to cause is fear in the community that, oh, we're going to sell this, because I agree, I don't want to sell their information either. And before I call on other members, I want to share with you, if you have not watched the news, that in Inglewood, there was a shooting at a trade college, and I'm reading my notes that I have here. And there, I believe, two people were killed and the shooter shot himself.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

And how did the officers locate him? Three hours later. Not three days, not three weeks, not three months. Three hours later. And it was because of the license reader that they used. And so that is just one example. And we can share case law up here. and we could talk about tracking and, you know, the one incident that was shared up here by a council member that she shared that the officer that stopped his ex-wife, gosh, we could talk about teachers and lawyers and doctors.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

We always go back when it's a police issue, we always go back to the, in my opinion, the work that they do. How do they solve crime or the bad police? I just want to share that this, if you ask other cities, Akron, Chicago, the cities that I was sitting in this conference with, some were very large, some were very small. I mean, Chicago's over 3 million people. They use it. And then very small cities, they use it. And why did everybody in that room say they needed it and they use it was because they do not have enough officers. officers, and it helps them solve crime.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

And so they didn't talk about targeting and they didn't talk about tracking innocent people and, you know, there were people of color in this room. And so it is a national approach to law enforcement. And if those of you that sit up here, if you go to these meetings or take time to meet with law enforcement across the country you will hear from them that this is a national approach to law enforcement it's a it's another tool and it improves the quality of life in Santa Ana you can read all over social media or you'll get

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

an email saying my car was stolen and it took Santa Ana PD three hours to respond well they wouldn't it's not gonna take that long with a license reader because because they'll be able to truck the car and arrest the person who stole your car. So I'm just gonna give that example. And I know there's council members up here that'll disagree and that's okay. That's the beauty of us all having our own opinions. But it is a national tool that law enforcement agencies are using. They're adding it to their belt of tools because there is a shortage. And if anybody up here wants to say there is not a shortage, there is.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

There is a shortage of officers. officers. And so whether it's somebody going into a place of business and killing many people and then getting in their car and taking off and the fact that they were able to arrest him in three hours, I think that's a great thing that they were able to arrest him in three hours. So Chief, if you can explain a little bit or if one of your, whoever wants to speak on law enforcement's behalf, exactly what is the license reader so the community can hear And what will it do for our police department and for our community sir?

I have a deputy chief by Julian Rodriguez who worked on the project come up

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

Thank You deputy Rodriguez

Naming mayor mayor Pro Tem members of the council and city staff

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

Can you bring the mic down so we can hear or up so we can hear you please thank you

Okay, so ALPR automated license plate readers are an independent system that capture and collect data specifically on vehicles. They can be hard posted in a location or they can be mounted to a vehicle as well, like a police vehicle or any other vehicle within the city. And it captures the data of these vehicles that go by just like the council member said, license plate, make, model, color, et cetera. It is not tied to any other database so that the ALPR does not then find out who the registered owners are, doesn't find out where the address of the registered or legal owners are.

In some cases if we set up the system a certain way it will trigger an alert if it's a stolen vehicle or wanted. But it becomes a data point when conducting an investigation. Officers can then put in whatever information they have on a particular suspect vehicle, and if it hits either partial description or by a full license plate, then we will be able to track in part wherever the camera picked up the vehicle. Case in point, we've had examples in allied jurisdictions where we've had crimes in our city. We reach out to them, they check their database, and they tell us where those vehicles went

and quickly aided in the identification and or the capture of violent criminals in our city.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

Thank you very much. If you want to stay, because I'm sure. Councilman Hernandez?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 15

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'll keep my comments brief. I share very similar sentiments to my colleagues, Jesse Lopez and Benjamin Vasquez. I want to thank them both for pulling this item. I SHARE THE CONCERNS ABOUT PRIVACY VERSUS POLICING. AND PART OF WHY I SHARE THAT IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE A BALANCE BETWEEN THE TWO. WHEN I RESEARCHED SOME OF ALPR SYSTEMS HISTORY, I FOUND A CASE THAT RECENTLY CAME ABOUT IN 2022 WHERE BARTS MCCARTHUR STATION PARKING LOT WAS A

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 15

a location of litigation due to ALPR. And what they found that was information was being shared with the NCRIC as well as federal agencies such as ICE. This is sparking debate amongst cities like Santa Ana on the misuse and the impact of privacy. And particularly in a sanctuary city, I have to err on the side of caution. And part of why that is is because there doesn't seem to be any oversight on how this information is to be used. And given that the lack of oversight that is before us in these contracts, I am not in a place to be able to support this. I am not supportive of automated policing

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 15

or automated enforcement. I'm supportive of our police department having tools that are going to make our community safer. Given the climate that we're in right now, I don't know if this is the right tool for that. And I am also very concerned about potential misuse. of this. We recently learned that ICE was sending courtesy contacts to our police department, 42 of them to be exact, and I think we'd probably be in a different place if our department was proactive and communicating that to the city, but when we see a contract before us and we see neighboring cities like LA having

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 15

issues with automated enforcement, it does lead me to have significant CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL LIABILITIES. AND GIVEN THE LIABILITIES THAT WE'VE SEEN COME BEFORE US WITH OUR DEPARTMENT, I WANT TO SEE THAT DEPARTMENT CONTINUE TO IMPROVE, AND I DON'T THINK THE TIME FOR AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READING IS NOW, SO I'LL PLACE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO REJECT THIS CONTRACT. THANK YOU.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

COUNCIL MEMBER FEN?

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

HI. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR for their comments. I have a couple clarifying questions. First of all, who in our police department will have access to the data for ALPR?

So it would be based on the account that we have and there would have to be an investigative need. And so any officer who has an investigative need can run a query and all that data is captured on who's doing the request. There would be an auditing system as well. And we We have to input the requester, the legitimate law enforcement purpose to include a case number or incident number for tracking purposes.

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

Right, it's my recollection that you have to have a login account, a password, and things like that.

Yes, ma'am.

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

So I have experience with ALPR technology with some of my other clients. In fact, one of them approved an ALPR contract with Flock not too long ago.

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

So that's my first question, right? We do have the ability to track which officers or sworn personnel who have a legitimate investigative reason to use this information.

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

Secondly, if someone is misusing the information, how do we audit that? How often would we find out? Or how do we check who has a legitimate reason? Is it like a quarterly check? Is there something in place now? Or is that something that the PD can put in place?

Those mechanisms are going to place once the system were to be installed and operational and subject to our policy So we would draft policy in support of how we would do auditing and we would be able to choose

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

What that would look like and I imagine that policy would be drafted in conjunction with the city attorney's office and potentially the police oversight Commission right or PD so some collaboration between the different departments and that is also posted online as all of our policies are correct chief that is correct thank you my next question is relating to the storage of ALPR information do we have a policy as to how long we will retain this information in our records retention

policy yes I don't quite have that information my colleague who did a lot of the work on that has it it's available here this evening if we want

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

further discussion yeah I just like an answer as to how long we retain that information if it is not subject to an appending investigation good evening just answer your

question councilman councilmember fan um so uh two different answers with flock uh we can retain the information up to five i'm sorry up to a year uh with motorola up to five years uh in the cloud If it is pulled for an investigation, then we can retain it until it's no longer needed for prosecution purposes.

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

So not to direct any type of policing activity, but I think maybe for some of my colleagues or members of the public, it might be a little bit more reassuring to have a more consistent retention policy in the cloud. five years seems to be a very long time and any type of data regarding where a car is located five years ago when it's not related to a pending investigation could be stale information so I do make a recommendation that if this item is passed that a policy might be limited to a one-year cloud storage that's just a recommendation from my part the other question I wanted to ask is you know in

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

reading the staff report and I believe it was said I'm sorry I did step out for a minute. The staff report says that the feature on for ALPR systems allows for the immediate notification response of police personnel to stop investigating apprehend wanted individuals. ALPR technology gathers unbiased evidence while preserving individual privacy. The system does not identify, photograph, or record vehicle occupants. It does not access any personal information and does not employ facial recognition capabilities. The the data collected by ALPR cameras is entirely anonymous and utilized for law enforcement investigations only.

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

So I want to make sure that unless somebody has access to the owner of the vehicle already, like for example that particular case in which that officer was committing a crime by stalking his former spouse, as well as illegally accessing information

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

information on the ALPR storage website. You wouldn't necessarily know who is driving a car at any certain time. If I'm borrowing my sister's car, you'll know that the car is potentially the license plate is in that location but you don't know who is driving it. You don't know what other information do you know. Just the location of that license plate at that location.

That's correct, Councilmember. It is completely anonymous. It doesn't utilize any facial recognition or other technology to identify who the driver is. It would require the officer or the investigator to log on to a password protected database independent of the ALPR system to identify. And all those systems are law enforcement access systems that are controlled, they're restricted and they're audited.

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

Okay. And then just to better understand, and apologies if I missed this, are these going to be moving ALPR cameras or are they going to be stationary?

So both. So we are asking for both fixed cameras and mobile cameras.

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

And this will be fixed cameras on both private and public locations?

Primarily on public locations.

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

Okay. Because I do know in the past or in other jurisdictions I've seen private businesses or HOAs saying, we're happy to put up a camera because they might be at an intersection that has a lot of speeding or something like that. The other question I had was some individuals or some colleagues mentioned the idea of automatic policing or something like that. I'm sorry I didn't get the correct terminology, but I just want to confirm that this is not like a red light camera Right you you have to you only use this to supplement the investigatory

Investigative work that you're already doing that's correct. This is not automated policing in any way it's it requires the office just a Pointer system if you will it requires the officer investigator to log on to an independent law enforcement only database to pursue that investigation.

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

And my other question is, I don't have direct experience with Flock and Motorola, but a different one. You know, so it's my understanding that I think the city of Oakland, Los Angeles, Santa Margarita, Irvine, Claremont, a number of cities use ALPR databases and cameras. Do you believe that they're all in violation of state sanctuary law?

I believe that they are not in violation. They are in strict compliance and it's regulated by state law.

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

Right, so I think I completely understand the concern with sharing this information with the federal government for immigration purposes. That is not something that any of us up here want, but I do think that there is, I guess in investigating a crime, time is of the essence. And so to me, having access to information to help our law enforcement capture anyone in a car or just to find information is helpful. I do want to make sure that if this item is approved, in drafting our policy, we continue

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

to have audits, multiple audits per year to ensure that there's no improper use of the programs and that we ensure that both flock and motorola are not inadvertently or advertently you know helping this or causing a violation of state sanctuary law or our own sanctuary ordinance i think that's really important for members of our community as well as the members of the city

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

council thank you thank you councilmember you don't want to leave um i just want to state this and then i'll call on the other council member on the council members is that every month i meet with the neighborhood association presidents and the conversation the topic that always comes up is police policing and why Santa Ana PD does not use technology the neighborhood association presidents have asked for drones they've asked for this license reader I mean you'd be surprised the neighborhood association presidents and vice presidents that are in that room they're very

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

I mean they're very involved they know what's going on in the community and that's what they they always come back to you. Mr. City Manager, you've been there. They ask, we want drones in our city. They showed a video at the conference. It was very interesting how cities are using drones and that we're not there yet, so I don't want anybody to panic and run out and say that the mayor said we're gonna use drones. That's not what I'm saying. I'm using it as an example because that too helped the law enforcement agency with the drones. And the license reader, they shared their experiences at the conference with that.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

but i want to be clear that every meeting that i have with the neighborhood associations that is what comes up is why and you've been there mr city manager why do we not use more technology in our police department so i really appreciate this item and hopefully who knows where it's going to go i'm going to hope it's going to pass and councilmember family i really want to thank you for the questions and the comments that you made because you as a city attorney for other cities and your knowledge about this. I really appreciate it. It is another tool. And so speaking of policies, I would feel more comfortable,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

Mr. City Manager and Police Chief Rodriguez, that the policy would state that if an officer uses it in an inappropriate, illegal manner, that he or she is held accountable to the fullest. There's no leeway. None.

Correct.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

I would appreciate that policy see if this matter passes in writing um and that an audit is done i would say every 30 days oh council member fan that works for the rest of us but every 30 days of who's using it and i don't think we're going to abuse it and that's not why i'm asking that but it makes the community comfortable it makes the council hopefully comfortable to say you will be auditing it whether it's a deputy chief or it's user or it's the chief and i hope that there are that the leadership at the top with the city manager is going to look and say who's using it and why and

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

then if it passes that you would come back to us and share how it has helped you as a law enforcement agency how many crimes have been solved how many stolen cars how many whatever it may be and so because information is valuable right and we want to share with the community because if we're going going to invest in technology which again I'm going to state it but across the country every law enforcement agency is is going towards technology they are using technology we are the county seat we're the we are let me say it again the county seat and yet we're sitting up here having a discussion about you know

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

using a license reader and when our community is asking for drones and asking for you to be able to see what is happening in their neighborhood in real time because they want to be safe their quality of life so you have people up here running for assembly saying well I'm not sure you may be targeting people no that's not what this is about I've been up to Sacramento a couple times now and let me tell you the pendulum is swung back to public safety that's where that's where we are today and so yes I am gonna support this item because again Again, it will help our community. It will help you as officers. You will audit it.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

You will monitor it. And you will make sure it's being used properly. And, Commander, you just stated that I think, or DC, one of you, I apologize, officer uses it as Councilmember Phan. They have to punch in their badge number. You know, they have a DR number, which is the report. They punch that in. What is the crime? THERE IS A TIMELINE, IT IS STAPPED, CORRECT? 9.45 PM, BUT IN MILITARY HOURS, WHAT THEY ARE DOING, WHY, AND THEN THAT'S IT. SO IF SOMEBODY GOES IN THERE AND TYPES IN HIS EX-WIFE'S INFORMATION, BECAUSE THAT WAS

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

AN EXAMPLE USED THAT OCCURRED ONCE, YOU WILL KNOW THAT. CORRECT? AND WHEN THE AUDIT IS DONE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT. that that's correct correct to the fullest thank you okay Councilmember Lopez yes thank you I have

Jessie LopezItem 15

questions for you um okay so you talked about the data points right you you mentioned that only vehicle data points are going to be collected but the contract and again this is why I asked if our if my staff read what you are presenting to me if you are aware of what you are asking me to approve and hand over to these companies. It is basic personal data, for example, place of birth, street name, house number, address, agreemental code, city of residence, country of residence, mobile phone number, first name, last name, initials, email address, gender, birth, including basic personal data about family members and children.

Jessie LopezItem 15

Authentication data, for example, username, password, or PIN code. Security questions, audit trail, contact information, for example, address, email, phone number, social media identifiers, emergency contact details, unique ID numbers and signatures, for example, social security number, bank account, passport, ID card number, driver's license, vehicle. vehicle. Back of this page, biometric information, DNA, fingerprints, iris scan, okay, photos, video, audio. What does audio mean? It means that it is going to be recording all of the

Jessie LopezItem 15

time. Citizenship and residency information. Example, citizenship, naturalization status, status, marital status, nationality, immigration status, passport data, details of residency or work permit. And I really, really, like it is okay. This is such a massive, big layered complex topic. It is okay for people to say, I am not as informed.

Jessie LopezItem 15

I am not, you know, I am not actually, to the best of my knowledge, can assure you that these data points are not going to be collected and inadvertently shared. That is imperative that we understand that the council members, that staff understand, because once you go down this path, you will not be able to prevent people's personal, personal information from being used against them. These are data points that are layered. They can actually target people and say, you live in a specific zip code,

Jessie LopezItem 15

therefore we can charge you more for different price of goods. So I think again, if the council wants to entertain this, at a minimum, a study session should happen where we have scholars, where we have legal experts, to fully flesh out the intentions, what they have seen happen in other jurisdictions, because that information is already available out there. For example, the city of Syracuse went down this road and they had to walk it back because they understood later that it was a severe issue. I understand, I genuinely really do understand the appeal.

Jessie LopezItem 15

I think it, you know, in theory it sounds amazing, but I have a responsibility to my constituents. I do not have their authority to just hand out thousands of data points that belong to them. Nobody here has their consent to do that. And again, I think that if the council wants to see this happen in the city, you should at least give it to the voters. Let them decide. It's their personal information. Because Forbes also published an article about a case study that flocks sites about San Marino, California. California. It claims that crimes in the town fell 70%, but in fact Forbes article found that the

Jessie LopezItem 15

residential burglaries, which again the flock claim focused on, actually increased five percent between 2019 and 2023. And so there's language about indirect resellers, there's mention of extensive network outside of law enforcement, there's a different network for the Motorola, which if I'm not mistaken Motorola is being sued for a data breach as I'm sharing these concerns with you and again it explicitly states here that these contracts that have been pre-signed by staff that they are able to share this information with the third vendors that they already contract

Jessie LopezItem 15

with and so I think for people just you know people our constituents have to to understand that this is not just about the make and model of a car. This is surveillance. I feel confident sitting here relaying to the public that this is a mass surveillance tool. It collects pictures. It collects pictures of family members, their children, their friends. It creates profiles of people. And it is OK, 100% for people to say, you know what? Maybe I don't fully understand what this means. or the unintended consequences of engaging

Jessie LopezItem 15

with these companies at this point in time.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

Councilman Hernandez.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 15

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I share very similar concerns with Councilmember Lopez. Specifically, a question I wanted to ask our police department is how are we going to abide by state law when it comes to Public Records Act?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 15

Have we anticipated what that will look like? if somebody were to PRA our police department and say hey I would like to see your last 48 hours of because this would all be public information and the reason I bring this up is because there may be thousands of residents who are on their way to school dropping off their loved ones with no criminal record and their name address and and history will pop up on this reader and they're not criminals these are people that may be on their way to drop off a child to school and so there are some very real concerns that i have as to people's privacy so how will we handle public

records act requests well they would be handled in compliance with the law and secondly the information that we would have access to through alpr is not the depth of data that you're speaking of although that might be available to the contractor it's not available to the police department or the city so if any information was released in compliance with the law it would be that data such as was described the license plate or the vehicle where it was at a specific date and

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 15

time okay and an additional question i i have is that i have concerns with the retention of data um i think the five-year retention timeline is is too lengthy for especially for uh you know a majority community who is who are not criminals but I am also concerned about it being reduced to merely one year given the Public Records Act if people are to PRA something and we have a very short turnaround of one year that also may get in the way of us engaging in best practices when it comes to transparency and and so I do have concerns about this this policy I'm not

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 15

ready to support it at the time but i have heard a number of my colleagues share concerns about this item i did have a motion on the floor i i wanted to see if there's any second um the motion is i i am not ready to to see us you know support this contract so i'm putting a motion on the floor

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

to reject it thank you i'll second that motion mayor pro tem second the motion council member fan

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

i just had a clarifying question relating to the agreement uh and this is uh directed toward councilmember lopez i'm sorry i just want to make sure i get some clarification you mentioned that the alpr database can transfer information relating to gender birth and street name are you referring to page 15-62 of the agenda i think that's page 660 out of 1764 of the agenda package let me check because i pulled it out and thank you i think that might be part of annex one

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

Subdivision B description of transfer as well as categories of personal data transferred.

Jessie LopezItem 15

Is that under Motorola? I remember it was under Motorola.

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

Yes, it would be under the Motorola contract.

Okay.

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

Okay. So the way I read it in this annex, it states that, for example, categories of personal data transferred, for customers' use of the products and services, customer may elect to include personal data from any of the following categories in the customer data. Basic personal data, for example, place of birth, street name and house number, authentication data, contact information, unique identification numbers, pseudonym identifiers, financial insurance information, commercial biometric information. I think that's the list of items.

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

items. However, and please, maybe Madam City Attorney or our city team, it's my understanding that the customer data, the customer part of the customer data is the city of Santa Ana, not the subjects in the cars. So here it seems to me that the information is actually information about the city for purposes of Motorola's marketing outreach. For

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

example, just right above that says customers use of the products and services customer may elect to include personal data and above that categories of data subjects whose personal data is transferred data subjects includes the data exporters representatives and end users including employees, contractors, contractors, collaborators, and customers of the data exporter. That the data exporter would be the City of Santa Ana. Our end users and representatives, that would be you all doing the investigations, employees, contractors, imagine Madam City Attorney.

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

Data subjects may include individuals attempting to communicate or transfer personal information to users of the services. Maybe another city that's working with us on an investigation.

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

And this customer may elect to include personal data from any of the following types of data subjects in the customer, so employees, contractors, et cetera. So it's my understanding, and again, please correct me if I'm wrong, that the information that is being listed here for purposes of transfer is information regarding the end user, not the vehicles. because in this case, it's a marketing tool for them to be able to send further information regarding, you know,

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

who's using ALPR database, how often is it being used, is it being searched, you know, can they target you for additional sales. So that's how I read this part of the agreement, not that Flock or Motorola is actually collecting that information information as to the vehicle license plate. I don't know how they would collect that information regarding the vehicle license plate. If I'm driving my sister's car, I don't know how they would get some of that information maybe, but I don't have that same concern. Now, if

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

If it is discovered, and I would leave this up to our team, that there is information beyond what we believe it to be, meaning basic license plate information, location of the vehicle, at what time, et cetera, et cetera, then that's a conversation that we should have. And I think that all of you, including our city manager's office, is well aware that this council would be very concerned if there's something beyond that basic location data for such vehicles. right but it reads to me that the concern here is not actually relating to the vehicle data but relating to the information that the city of Santa Ana

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

would be providing about ourselves yeah so with that I would make a sub motion to approve this item I would like an update within a year regarding you know installation of the information as well as any usage of the information and you know that the mayor mentioned because the contract is for a few years in a row and i think at that time we can choose to see if the um you know use of this and the investment in this is actually

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

beneficial to the city of san diego second your motion thank you council member fan council member

Phil BacerraItem 15

sir thank you madam mayor um and thank you uh police for bringing this item forward uh some of of you here at the podium have been to meetings down on my end of town with the South Coast Metro Alliance. And what do you guys hear from your friends over in Costa Mesa? When are you going to get the license plate readers? Come on, we're doing them. Help us out, right? Help us help you. And a lot of times you guys collaborate very well. In fact, I want to give our chief a lot of credit for really kind of stepping that game up to make sure that as the capital of Orange County, we're being more collaborative and we're doing more

Phil BacerraItem 15

WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, WHETHER IT'S THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, OTHER CHIEFS, AND OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS. PART OF THAT ALSO MEANS INFORMATION SHARING WITH THEM AND VICE VERSA. I THINK YOU GUYS HAD MENTIONED EARLIER THAT IF A CAR IS GOING SOUTH INTO COASTA MESA, HEY, PICK UP THE PHONE AND YOU'RE ABLE TO TALK TO YOUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS SUNFLOWER AND SAY, HEY, HERE'S WHAT'S GOING ON. CAN YOU HELP US? AND IT EXPANDS EVERYBODY'S ABILITY. You know, there are folks up here that at one point in time said, defund the police, right?

Phil BacerraItem 15

Right now, I wish we could say that we've rebounded from that narrative, that rhetoric, and I wish we had more officers, but we don't. And so one thing that was in the staff report talked about leveraging technology to support policing efforts to effectively respond to and investigate criminal incidents. Not people, the incidents, like what's going on? Someone steals a car, this is to investigate those. So one thing for my colleagues to know is that you guys can vote no on this tonight. There will be license plate readers in Santa Ana. In fact, I know our police knows this, that some folks in my ward, private property owners,

Phil BacerraItem 15

are working to install license plate readers that will capture license plate data along arterials. So that's already happening. And folks cross over into another city, our neighboring cities have license plate readers. If we want to be the oddball and not be collaborative with law enforcement, especially when if you're listening to your residents, as the mayor said, and I've heard those same conversations both at her events and those in Ward 4, you have folks that say, I wish the police would respond quicker.

Phil BacerraItem 15

Here's a chance for police that are already stretched thin when it comes to the actual human resources aspect to leverage the technology to be able to respond better. I appreciate some of the concerns being brought up here tonight about privacy and data. and I think one of my colleagues brought up third parties right unless you guys don't use the internet unless you guys don't use apps every time you click on something it says I accept the fact that there's gonna be third party blah blah blah right data gets sold all the time but I think councilmember fam brought

Phil BacerraItem 15

some really good points about how this data is secure the fact that it the interns at the PD aren't just gonna walk through the explorers aren't gonna be a hey you know what I want to see if my buddy drove down Bristol today let me just go take a look right that's not happening so there are a lot of safeguards in place i think council member fans um motion with the addition of being able to have this come back and being able to review that um how it's being used i think is great so i'll be supporting the motion tonight

David PenalozaItem 15

so thank you councilman panelosa thank you madam mayor and i want to thank my colleagues for the discussion up here and thank yourself uh uh dc rodriguez and and and uh the chief for your work in in getting this before us you know this isn't anything new this is something that the city of irvine city of beverly hills san diego costa mesa many cities throughout this region are already using within their police departments i know that just about a year or two ago there was a man in in beverly hills that was arrested for murdering homeless people and he was arrested using license

David PenalozaItem 15

plate technology i think of you know now being a father of two young kids and the number of times i see amber alerts come through our phones guess what if this was something that we had in santa anna and the number of times that we get emails from the chief about an amber alert in the city We could have the police department would have a tool to help apprehend and catch these individuals that are doing harm in the community.

David PenalozaItem 15

You know, we I heard one of my colleagues say that we have a responsibility to our constituents. We do. We absolutely have a responsibility to our constituents. So let's take you all back to August of 2019. When Victoria Barrios was murdered in our city just a couple blocks from here. I'm pretty sure that that grieving mother that has been grieving for six years trying to find the who killed her daughter And all those billboards we see around town if we had those license plate readers in the city. Guess what? We probably would have caught him

David PenalozaItem 15

So this is a tool that is I'm hopeful is gonna be used responsibly by our Police Department And I know there will be guardrails that THAT ENSURE THAT IT'S USED RESPONSIBLY. SO FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, THANK YOU CHIEF RODRIGUEZ FOR THIS ITEM BEFORE US, AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE MOTION.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

COUNCILMAN PANELOSA, I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP VICTORIA BARRIOS BECAUSE I THINK THAT HITS HOME FOR A FEW OF US UP HERE. I TALKED TO EVA, I'M GOING TO SAY ALMOST ON A WEEKLY BASIS, HER MOM AND HER, VICTORIA'S VICTORIA'S GRANDPARENTS AND AND AS YOU KNOW I ALWAYS ASK CHIEF AND I ASK YOU GUYS HOW'S IT GOING AND YOU NEVER DISCLOSE ANYTHING YOU JUST SMILE AND SAY WE'RE WORKING ON IT MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN PENALOSA IS IS SPOT ON IF WE WOULD HAVE HAD A WOULD HAVE COULD HAVE SHOULD HAVE WE WOULD HAVE HAD A LICENSE READER BACK THEN WHO KNOWS WHERE WE'D BE TODAY THERE'D BE CLOSURE FOR THAT FAMILY

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

And so hopefully this item gets approved and if that ever occurs again, that you'll be able to find and arrest whoever pulls the trigger in the car and murders somebody else in our city. So thank you, Council Member Penalosa, for bringing that up. And I happily support this item in honor of Victoria Barrios so that we can make sure we don't have any more incidents like that in our city. Thank you. Council Member Lopez?

Jessie LopezItem 15

Yes, thank you. It is just so important for me to be on the record because of everything that I do know about this technology. technology and I think it's important that people understand that you do not have to be the subject of an investigation for the system to capture your information which means as I see the writing in the wall that millions of data points of Santa Ana residents are going to be captured And saved and so I just hope that you know as the council moves forward you're talking about rail guards there are no rail guards in these contracts. This is what I'm flagging for you, right?

Jessie LopezItem 15

And so you should at least take your time with the language to make sure that any data that is asked for is court mandated. You should look at the model that New Hampshire has where they only retain pictures for 30 seconds. There are many things that could be placed into these contracts to ensure some sort of rail guard in place not that it's gonna matter ultimately because the data is layered right we it lives in the cloud beyond what what our department as you stated on the record what our department will have access to other people will also

Jessie LopezItem 15

have access to it and so there there is no accountability for data leaks as the as the contract explicitly states and so please I really really urge my my my colleagues tonight too, you don't have to pass this tonight without fully understanding what language can be in the contract. City manager, I hope that you work with them because this is not going to, you know, I feel very confident and comfortable being worried, raising the flags that I am raising because you know, you talked about the hot list, right?

Jessie LopezItem 15

But people, as I said, people that are innocent can be put on this hot list and not notified and not know about it. There was a family that was held at gunpoint. They didn't know that they were on this list. And so this can have severe consequences for many, many people. And I really hope that my colleagues take really what I am urging them to take into consideration because other states can can also have access to this information and if people are coming into California for abortion access in this under this political climate like those are the things you know under for example a

Jessie LopezItem 15

Texas bounty law can be shared and so there there are massive implications here and I really hope that at a minimum you you give this to the police oversight at a minimum you have a study session and bring in experts thank you councilman be the last one

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

to speak and then we're going to take a vote please excuse me i'm sorry you didn't have your mic go ahead and then councilman becerra and then we're going to close on to the vote thank you very

Benjamin VazquezItem 15

much for those words uh council member lopez um when i when i brought this up i wanted to have rail guards i wanted to make sure we have guidelines uh when we first brought this idea of license plate readers it was for parking enforcement it is for parking enforcement and and we hire we contract out so they will have that information and so for me i i i understand you need this tool but i want to make sure we have guidelines on that information on the data why we use it how long we store it it we we really need to make sure that uh we're prepared to have this this kind of technology as we move forward and not blindly go out.

Benjamin VazquezItem 15

And I hear a lot of my colleagues, I would hope, I would hope, I would hope. I want to know that we have those safeguards in place. I wanna know that we do it. So please come back, create those safeguards for us, please. I think the department would be able to do that, have these conversations and be reassured if it does pass or let us look at it, let us wait and create these safeguards as we're supposed to do as a member like this tool, WE CAN USE IT, BUT LET'S MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT AND LET THIS BODY DECIDE WHAT'S THE RIGHT WAY AS WE'VE BEEN GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY TO SAFEGUARD THE COMMUNITY.

Benjamin VazquezItem 15

I WANT TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, BUT I WOULD BE VOTING NO AS IT IS TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

Alvaro NuñezItem 15

MAYOR, IF YOU CAN, WE APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS, MAYOR POTEMP, AND MORE TO FOLLOW UP ON COUNCILMEMBER comment. If the chief can read directly from the FLOC contract and part of that item that we just highlighted. So, thank you, Senator. Just for the record.

So I understand that it's a balancing act and we're talking about information and where they're going to sell information or not share. But in the contract, it clearly states under data use and licensing for the FLOC, customer data, customer generated data, and anonymized THAT FLOG DOES NOT OWN AND SHOULD NOT SELL DATA. SO IT'S IN THE CONTRACT. THEY CANNOT SELL OUR DATA AND THEY WILL NOT SELL OUR DATA.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

THANK YOU, CHIEF, VERY MUCH FOR CLARIFYING THAT. AND MAYBE SOMETIMES PEOPLE MISS CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CONTRACT. SO, GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY OTHER ANY COUNCILMEN. BUT, SARAH, HOLD ON. I APOLOGIZE.

Phil BacerraItem 15

OH, NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I JUST THANK YOU.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

THANK YOU, COMMANDER. APPRECIATE.

Phil BacerraItem 15

WELL, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FROM SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES. up here i almost wonder are we in 2025 or 1995 because the concerns about oh my gosh we're going to be on camera oh my gosh they're going to track us i want to say everybody up here has at least one if not two cell phones if you go outside there are cameras everywhere you are on camera hundreds of times a day so if you're going to be concerned about being captured on camera and by the way at least with what we're talking about here today at least they're safeguards thank you chief for

Phil BacerraItem 15

reading that because when you walk into a grocery store, you don't get to say, well, hold on here, don't use my data, don't do this, don't do that. You're at the mercy of wherever you walk. You go outside, you go through an intersection, there's cameras on all four corners, all four corners, but yet you don't get to say, well, hold on, I want to know who the third party is, who's going to be sold to and all the things. You don't get to. You just go through the intersection, you go into the store, right? It's not 1995, we're in 2025. The concerns about data should be there I THINK THEY ARE ADDRESSED HERE IN THAT CONTRACT.

Phil BacerraItem 15

THANK YOU FOR THAT, CHIEF. BUT I THINK TO ACT LIKE WE SOMEHOW CAN JUST LIVE IN A CAVE WHILE WE ARE HERE IN OUR GREAT CITY, I DON'T THINK THAT IS POSSIBLE. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE ITEM. THANK YOU.

Jennifer L. HallItem 15

THANK YOU. MADAM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FAN. SECONDED BY MAYOR MEZCLA TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDED ACTION FOR ITEM 15 WITH A ONE-YEAR UPDATE FROM STAFF ON THE EFFICACY. Council Member Becerra? Yes. Council Member Hernandez? No. Council Member Lopez? No. Council Member Penalosa? Yes. Council Member Phan?

Thai Viet PhanItem 15

I want to say thank you to my colleague, Council Member Lopez, for bringing up these concerns. But in my eight years working with ALPR data, we have not, I guess, faced any of these issues. and so with that I will approve the contract thank you mayor person Vasquez

Benjamin VazquezItem 15

because of the current administration and the work that's being done and our families are being treated are these folks are gonna vote no they're voting

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

right we're voting yes without comments we're voting so I'm a yes thank you

Jennifer L. HallItem 15

voters for eyes three nays nays by mayor Pro Tem Vasquez and council members Hernandez and Lopez motion carries mayor and City Council that concludes the

Valerie AmezcuaItem 15

consent calendar thank you very much i'm clerk at this time we're going to go into the business calendar item 20 again i'd like to remind the council three minutes please um i know this is a really important conversation we're having here and before we start mr city manager i just want to thank supervisor foley supervisor foley approached me months ago about this item and i met with the city manager and the police chief they did their due diligence and followed up and did some investigative work the chief met with another chief with other chiefs and the city

Valerie AmezcuaItem 20

manager and code enforcement and then i know she also approached council member lopez and other council members up here to bring this item to the council so supervisor foley i really want to thank you i know that it was approved by the board of supervisors back in february with the work that she has been doing in her district so let's get on with this item 20. um go ahead madam city clerk i also have a comment anybody have comments councilman hernandez yes thank you madam mayor

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 20

I would like to thank our supervisors Katrina Foley and Vicente Sarmiento For their advocacy and leadership on this. I'm looking forward to supporting the banning of nitrous oxide in our city. There are no health benefits to people utilizing Nitrous oxide this is a deadly and dangerous substance that is accessible to people all throughout our city in an effort for us to protect children and families I am asking my colleagues to support the banning of nitrous oxide I'll place a

Valerie AmezcuaItem 20

motion on the floor to move that I'll second and I also matter city attorney I also want to thank you for your support on this you the city manager and the police chief for doing the work behind this behind this item so I see no I know Mike's raised here. I'm gonna go this way, Councilman. I'm Mayor Pro Tem.

Benjamin VazquezItem 20

Yes, I'd like to add some things, if you may, I propose that we do a mandate point of sale warning signs and also have a public health campaign in English, Spanish, Vietnamese. Let's educate the youth and the parents. So if you see your child with a balloon or a tank, let's make sure you know what that is. So there needs to be some education in the city to spread around to have this information.

Benjamin VazquezItem 20

First time offenders, if you have a youth command, let's have a restorative justice program instead of citations and somewhere we can work with them, bring them in, work with some of our groups that we have, Project Hand Ship and...

Benjamin VazquezItem 20

Neutral Ground, thank you so much. And let's make sure we require demographic reporting ON CITATIONS, ARRESTS, AND ORDINANCE TO MONITOR RACIAL AND GEOGRAPHIC DISPARITIES. SO WE CAN DO SOME OF THESE THINGS TO EDUCATE FAMILIES BUT ALSO HAVE THE SIGNS AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD LIMIT THE AGE LIMIT OF BUYING ANY SORT OF NUTRIX OXIDE TO 21 WOULD BE ALSO BENEFICIAL IN THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT AS EASILY AVAILABLE AS IT IS NOW.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 20

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. and protect madam city attorney um the i the information that he's sharing the request about 21 madam city attorney can you discuss that please yeah i'm looking through the ordinance to see our

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 20

restriction you can impose whatever age limit you want um here but i will verify the age limit that

Valerie AmezcuaItem 20

we have put into the ordinance i'd like to move it to 18 but if 21 is what we are good with i'm I'm more of an 18 kind of person. So, Council Member Lopez.

Jessie LopezItem 20

Yeah, I wanna thank the City Manager's Office and the Chief, this is something that I had requested to bring forward as a Council Member requested item. Your divisions really took the lead here in recognizing the severity and the negative impacts to not just young people, but anyone that is using using this drug and I also want to thank the parents who have shared very, very painful stories and really all of the attempts that they have made to try and make sure that their children don't use this gas.

Jessie LopezItem 20

And so I also want to thank Supervisor Foley and Supervisor Sarmiento. The ordinance before us is modeled after the county and so I want to thank them for the work that they were leading and for approaching us and wanting to have a collaborative relationship and i'm happy to support this and again thank you city manager and i'm chief for making sure that it didn't go through a lengthy process i appreciate it thank you do i see any other

David PenalozaItem 20

microphones up okay i'm sorry councilman panelosa thank you mayor uh yes thank you city staff and THANK YOU MAYOR MEZQUAL FOR FOR THE THE ITEM AND SUPERVISOR FOLEY I KNOW SHE'S BEEN WORKING FOR MONTHS ON THIS AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UH AGGRESSIVELY ENFORCE THIS AS AS WE MOVE FORWARD UM WHEN IT COMES TO THE BANNING OF OF THIS NIGHT NIGHT NITROX OXIDE UM I RECALL BACK TO UH A COUPLE ride-alongs when I first was first elected Chief Rodriguez and we came across some street takeovers

David PenalozaItem 20

that were happening in our city and I remember approaching the street takeover in the police vehicle and of course everybody scatters and everybody that was on foot all the spectators that were on foot, running away, were carrying balloons, tanks. I mean, I saw it. And I remember in my naive mind at the time, I asked one of the officers that was driving me, I was like, what's up with the balloons? I mean, he's like, oh, it's like they're using it to get high. And I'm like, are you kidding me?

David PenalozaItem 20

And so it is obvious that many of these people that we see every day, every night on the news taking over our intersections and whatnot they're they're high they're recklessly inhaling this gas being a a recklessly putting our community in danger and putting themselves in danger i mean this is a dangerous drug that should not be taken lightly and i'm happy to ban the cell and distribution of it here in our city i could tell you right now that a couple parents from the Delhi neighborhood have messaged me because

David PenalozaItem 20

this has come up at their neighborhood meetings that holiday market sells nitrous oxide tanks so there's one right now that you that once this goes into effect I hope they're listening and I hope that they remove it off their shelves and stop selling it there's other liquor stores throughout the city CITY THAT ARE ALSO I'VE SEEN IT AND PEOPLE HAVE SENT ME PICTURES OF. SO THIS IS IMPORTANT AND I'M HAPPY THAT IT'S FINALLY HERE. I HOPE THAT WE COULD ONE DAY REVISIT THE STREET TAKEOVER ORDINANCE, CHIEF RODRIGUEZ, BECAUSE IT'S RELATED TO THIS.

David PenalozaItem 20

IT'S A WHOLE CULTURE OF THIS GAS, THIS LAUGHING GAS THAT'S GETTING HIGH AND RECKLESSLY PUTTING OUR COMMUNITY IN DANGER SO THANK YOU CITY STAFF THANK YOU MAYOR AMESKWA THANK YOU SUPERVISOR FOLEY WITH THAT MAYOR I AM HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE MOTION THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FAN

Thai Viet PhanItem 20

THANK YOU MAYOR UM COUNCIL MEMBER EXCUSE ME I'M SORRY MAYOR PRO TEMVASKAS YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A YOU REQUESTED A 21 ANOTHER PROVISION REQUIRING THAT ANY PURCHASER HAS TO BE 21 AND OLDER ASSUMING THAT THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE EXEMPTIONS OR THE EXCEPTIONS TO THE whole prohibition correct so I will I would agree with the mayor to leave it at 18 because here it does say that if it's being sold offered for the purpose of providing medical dental care by or at the direction under supervision of a

Thai Viet PhanItem 20

medical dental practitioner you know 18 year olds can go to not just dental school but you know any any school to do like to do dental assisting and whatnot so if they need to go out and buy nitrous oxide for purposes of providing that medical care or the dental care I don't think that we should prohibit them from doing so so I do think that an 18 or older requirement should suffice for so long as it meets the exceptions to the prohibition is that okay with you so

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 20

I can just the reason I hadn't addressed that is because I was trying to look at the ordinance and the age. I didn't recall seeing an age level in here, but it's because our ordinance doesn't specify an age, but it does reference the state law, and the penal code actually sets the age at 18.

Thai Viet PhanItem 20

Okay. If that's the case, then I assume we're preempted.

Benjamin VazquezItem 20

Yeah, we're going to follow the penal code.

Thai Viet PhanItem 20

18.

Benjamin VazquezItem 20

Can we do it at 21 at liquor stores and markets and 18 at professional?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 20

Well, the penal code section is very clear about the age of 18, and so you want to go to the state and change the penal code?

Mayor. Mayor.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 20

Hold on one second, I'll call you one second. Thank you, Madam Mayor. So we're good with 18, okay. Councilman Hernandez.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 20

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I just wanted to accept the amendment. I will keep it at the age of 18. I know there's students who may pursue higher education in the field of dentistry, but I am supportive of the amendment. Mayor Pro Tembaskis and especially doing PROACTIVE EDUCATION WITH OUR CITY WHERE WE DO PRESS RELEASES INFORMING THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS NOW ILLEGAL AND THAT WE ALSO SUPPORT CODE ENFORCEMENT AND ENSURING THAT WE ARE CRACKING DOWN ON ANY BUSINESSES THAT ARE SELLING THIS ILLEGALLY. SO I AM WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT AMENDMENT. IS THAT THE AMENDMENT? YES.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 20

I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AS WELL. MADAM MAYOR, YOU SECONDED THE MOTION.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 20

are you supportive of that as well i'm supportive of it it has to be 18 per per the law but yeah an educational campaign is great the only question i had mr city manager is who will be doing that it would come from the police department or code enforcement and then hopefully you can reach out to the school district and the charter schools and also include them and then put out a press release so parents understand and everybody who reads our press releases and the chief if you could also do

Alvaro NuñezItem 20

the same so once it passes we can do a campaign a press release obviously an educational component working with the local schools both um the school districts associated here in the city of santana and same thing with the charter schools any enforcement that you know and as far as enforcement both in chapter 10 which is where this is going to be both the police department and code enforcement have enforcement powers and authorities. Anytime we do an enforcement component of this level, there's always an educational phase, right? We allow and educate staff and property owners and business owners first and give them an opportunity

Alvaro NuñezItem 20

to take corrective action. That means they stop, right? That's the key. And so you notice part of the penalties and violations allows for both the misdemeanor infraction or administrative citations, which that's part OF THE WHOLE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT WHEN WE TAKE ENFORCEMENT SO YOU'LL BE NOTIFYING BUSINESSES TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS YES MAKES IT HUNDRED TIMES EASIER

Valerie AmezcuaItem 20

TO REMOVE YES THE NOTS FROM THEIR STORES LOCATIONS TO CEASE OKAY AND I JUST WANT TO JUST MAKE YOU AWARE WHEN I SPOKE TO KATRINA SUPERVISOR FOLEY SHE HAD INDICATED I THINK WE DID DISCUSS THIS THAT THE THE CANNABIS SHOPS AND THE SMOKE SHOPS SO IF YOU CAN ALSO TAKE A LOOK THERE AS WELL PLEASE with code enforcement so thank you there was a motion and a second there are no further comments

Jennifer L. HallItem 20

madam clerk the motion by council member hernandez seconded by mayor mesqua to introduce for first reading an ordinance of the city council of the city of santa ana adding article xiv to chapter 10 of the santa ana municipal code crimes and miscellaneous law enforcement provisions prohibiting the sale or distribution of nitrous oxide with amendments as presented by mayor pro tem vasquez to include a public health campaign monitoring citation demographic data and limiting sales to those 18 and over. Council Member Becerra? Yes. Council Member Hernandez? Yes. Council Member

Jennifer L. HallItem 20

Lopez? Yes. Council Member Penalosa? Yes. Council Member Phan? Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez? Yes. Mayor Meskwa? Yes. Vote of seven ayes, no nays. Motion carries. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 21

And we pulled item 21, so correct. So at this time, Madam City Clerk.

Jennifer L. HallItem 21

Yes, so the next item on the calendar or on the agenda is public hearing item number 22. And if I could make an announcement for members of the public on Zoom or conference call who would like to comment on public hearing item number 22 only to please dial star nine or raise hand in Zoom now, and you will be called upon once the public hearing is opened and asked for comments.

Thai Viet PhanItem 21

Council member Fenn. Thank you, Mayor. I have to state my recusal for this item as Jamboree Housing is a client of my employer, Rattan and Tucker, so I will leave the dies while this item is being heard. Thank you. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 21

I'll make a motion. If there's no discussion. I'll second your motion, Madam. Thank you, Council Member Nunes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 21

This is a public hearing, so we do have to go through the formal process of if you need a staff presentation or otherwise opening comments and closing.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 21

I think we need a staff presentation. No.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 21

Any public comments?

Jennifer L. HallItem 21

So if the public hearing is now open. We're opening.

Jennifer L. HallItem 22

We have no comment cards, no e-comments, and there is nobody on Zoom either for this public hearing.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

No council member comments?

Jennifer L. HallItem 22

No.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 22

I'll make a motion to move the item.

Jennifer L. HallItem 22

I'll second. Okay.

Jennifer L. HallItem 22

And just confirming that public hearing is now closed. It is now closed.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 22

Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 22

Motion by Council Member Hernandez, seconded by Mayor Emeskwa, to approve the recommended action for public hearing item number 22, inclusive of a resolution of the City Council of the City of Santa Ana, approving the issuance by the California Municipal Finance Authority of exempt facility bonds for Estrella Springs. Council Member Becerra?

Phil BacerraItem 22

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 22

Council Member Hernandez? Yes. Council Member Lopez? Yes. Council Member Penalosa? Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez? Yes. Mayor Meskwa? Yes. Vote is six ayes, no nays with a noted recusal by Council Member Phan. Motion carries.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

Thank you. Council Member Phan will come back in. At this time, we are going to go to item number 23. Madam City Clerk.

Jennifer L. HallItem 22

Yes. Item number 23 is a Council Member requested item by Council Member Becerra.

Phil BacerraItem 22

Councilmember Becerra. Councilmember Becerra. Thank you. So this is not a fun one. This is an item that I brought forward for discussion here at the dais. So back in February, well actually let me just start further back. One of the good things about our city, you know, we talk a lot about enforcement up here. We talk a lot about support for our public safety. But there's a lot that we do as a city that I believe is compassionate and truly trying to help those that are suffering in our city.

Phil BacerraItem 22

I mean, folks that are houseless, homeless, however you want to call it, but folks that are suffering from either chemical dependency, mental health issues. We've done a lot. In fact, you probably hear a lot of us up here on the dais talk about how much as a city, not with county funds or federal funds, as a city, how much we've invested out of our general fund to help those in need. And with that being said, one of the things, and I've been a longtime supporter of, is permanent supportive housing. Because I've always understood permanent supportive housing to be housing, and it's in the name, permanent, right?

Phil BacerraItem 23

And supportive, as in to get the folks that need support, get them the support that they need. So let's take for instance folks that are suffering from drug related issues we get them into a permanent supportive housing community and Then and this is where I'll go into what happened not too long ago Back in February this year one of our permit supportive housing communities right here in the city was part of an ongoing Investigation where police officers obtained and conducted a search warrant at an apartment for the sale of narcotics

Phil BacerraItem 23

that included crack cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and fentanyl. Now, we're trying to help these folks. We're trying to make sure that they're in housing and they have the services that they need to get better, to just to thrive. And it wasn't just simply saying, oh gosh, I wish the property manager would just put a fresh coat of paint on there or maybe, you know, replant some of the the flowers in the front flower bed. There was a drug den inside this community. And I'm sorry, like when I saw that email that we got,

Phil BacerraItem 23

I just, I could not just say, oh gosh, golly gee, you know, another instance of drugs here in the city. This is a community, or these are communities that we're trying to help those that are our most vulnerable, our absolute most vulnerable. And so for me, again, and I don't know that i have the answer with this item i truly don't but that's why i've asked for this item if there's concurrence from my colleagues to have this come back august 5th and the reason i say august 5th is because i want to give our city attorney i want to give our police city manager's

Phil BacerraItem 23

office anybody cda anybody that needs to weigh in on potential policy to allow for inspections of these properties which is not unprecedented we have the um i forget the name of it now but it's It's our rental housing program where folks pay in and we conduct, was it the prep? Prep program. So we already have something similar in this city. I don't want this to be seen as something that's meant to be intrusive. This is not saying we need to go in and look at every single apartment. What I hope will be done in a more holistic way is to look at calls for service from these particular communities.

Phil BacerraItem 23

TRY TO SEE WHERE IT IS THAT THEY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT BEFORE ENTERING THE PROPERTIES. AGAIN, THIS IS NOT MEANT TO GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE UNIT, EVERY SINGLE MONTH. BUT WHEN I TALKED TO STAFF AND I WAS TOLD THAT FOR SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT'S RECEIVED FOR THESE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS, THE RESPONSE I GOT WAS, WELL, WE DO ANNUAL CHECKS. ANNUAL. WELL, THERE WAS ANOTHER CHECK. THE PROBLEM WAS IT WAS WITH A SEARCH WARRANT. THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. was that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of the cure. This is meant to be a way

Phil BacerraItem 23

that we make sure, because I know we all want to help these folks in our community, and we want to make sure that they're in safe environment, in a very safe environment. Right now, annual inspections, as we already saw in February of this year, that doesn't work. So what I'm asking, not only for there to be monthly inspections of the communities at large, not just going door to door, but of the communities at large, but also to put those results of those inspections online. We all need to be accountable, all of us, because we can't sit here and try to tell people we care,

Phil BacerraItem 23

we want to help people, and we're going to put them in permanent supportive housing to only have them being next to a drug den. I just, it drives me nuts that we had that happen in our city. We are too compassionate to allow people to be subjected to that. So I hope that my colleagues will support this coming back in August with a thorough vetting from staff and

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

I'll leave it up to you guys. Thank you. Thank you councilman Sarah madam city attorney When it does come back, hopefully it does I just want to be clear and you'll provide us with information that does this put us in any type of compromising position

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

The government code or the HUD services I know that that deputy city manager and city manager and the chief met with councilor Becerra and I, and I believe you were there or Tamara, I'm not sure. What if somebody from your office was there? And we talked about the property management and what is our responsibility as a city. And so I'm wholeheartedly supportive of it because there are people living in these locations that are vulnerable and can be taken advantage of and can be hurt and you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

know there there was sales of narcotics happening and where there's one there's two and when there's two there's more so I just when it comes back hopefully it does you'll be able to share with us so that we don't end up in multiple lawsuits

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 23

yes so I did meet with council members you know council member generated items items require a consult with the city manager, city attorney. We did have a consult on it. I'm sure you've seen in your packet that we have received correspondence from interested individuals questioning whether we can even have this type of ordinance. So we will fully vet that. We will respond to each of those questions that have been posed. We'll also have to address issues like how we establish the fee as well if that is if it moves forward. So yes, I'll work with staff and make sure this gets on our work, you know, our work list of items to come back.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 23

But it's gonna require quite a bit of review and especially based on the legal issues that were raised in the correspondence that we received

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

Right and I support it and August 5th gives you enough time to do that We want to get through the budget and we have about four or five ordinances coming between now and August 5th So we'll get through that hopefully councilmember fan

Thai Viet PhanItem 23

Thank You mayor first. Thank you to councilmember Sarah for bringing this item forward forward. However, at this time, I'm not ready yet to direct staff to bring back an ordinance. I would like additional information regarding this item. Number one, Madam City Attorney, you know, those legal issues that you brought up or that was brought up by the public correspondences. Before we do any type of ordinance drafting, I would like a briefing on any potential, you know, litigation risk. With that, I think that's important for me. Number two, I I would like to know what the cost would be.

Thai Viet PhanItem 23

I know that there's a fee associated, potentially associated with this, but I understand that when you're in government housing, you are subject to additional scrutiny. I grew up on Section 8. We would experience, like my mom, we'd say, housing, they're coming, make sure you clean up extra, make sure you clean up your room so it looked tidy because we knew we were going to get scrutinized. Anyone on government benefits understand that you are subject to that. But I also want to make sure that when we provide this type

Thai Viet PhanItem 23

of housing and that when we say to our members of our community that you know we are going to help you, we're also treating them with dignity and that they are also entitled to having the type of security and privacy in their own home. I want to know number one, you know, what other cities have this type of monthly inspection? Because I assume in order to do that you'd have to have some type of appointment with this person Number two, I'd like to know what the cost would be How many additional staffers do we have to hire or do we contract out in order to have this monthly inspection?

Thai Viet PhanItem 23

And number three, I'd like to know, you know well I guess that would be the three things the legal concerns the cost as well as the process for doing something like this I'd like to hear about all of that first I'd also like to know because the concerns about being next to these type of drug dens of course is extremely would be definitely scary I would not want to live next to anyone selling drugs wherever they are how often have we run into that issue is this a one-off case is this something that is you know pervasive

Thai Viet PhanItem 23

in the permanent supportive housing i guess industry or supply is this related to certain areas of the city or is it related to the entire city how many units do we have i think all of i'm sorry i don't have all that information i would like to know that before we direct staff to going forward with something that would create essentially another subdivision of CDA and if that is what is needed to ensure that our community is safe I'm all for it but I want this information

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

first thank you so councilman Raffan you're asking for potential litigation risk the cost process and the data from the police department yes at the very least got it thank you councilman panelosa

David PenalozaItem 23

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I want to thank my colleague, Council Member Becerra, for bringing this item forward. While I understand the idea behind it, and I completely agree that we should not have drug dens happening and the types of seizures that we recently had, Chief Rodriguez from our police department, thank you for that, by the way, within these communities that we invest so much in these residential units to be able to provide housing for our most vulnerable members of our community,

David PenalozaItem 23

I want to have more information as well when it comes to the legality of going in to inspect individual homes on a monthly basis, and also just the feasibility of it. I for the last seven years here I pride myself on is this sustainable can this be achievable what's this going to cost is this going to be sustainable five years from now and and I I can't say that I could see this being successful two years from now when we realize that inspecting

David PenalozaItem 23

400 units every month by city inspectors is going to be a financially a possible thing for our city to do um i i you know have a hard time um unders knowing that that's possible um so i definitely i along the side of council member fan would like more information on what that would look like and if that's even possible to do um and with that those are my comments uh madam mayor but i i do want to add that i hope that we are working with these property management companies throughout the

David PenalozaItem 23

city because it's not just the one on 17th street where we had this issue happen i mean that we we see victor mendez uh come here and speak every meeting about the issues that that have been going on at their senior housing complex when we approve these in these these apartment complexes and these entitlements, and we entitle these properties, these property managers and developers promise us the world and the stars and how they're going to manage the property. And I have so many issues with that property on First Street. And they made so many public promises about security. And guess what? That's not being seen through.

David PenalozaItem 23

We're having so many security issues at these different housing complexes. So I would hope that we aggressively work with these property management companies about managing their properties. because at the end of the day that's on them it's it's uh it's a private property and these property managers and these owners of these facilities should be doing their job and and that's something that that isn't just isolated to one area it's it's many so whatever we could do through code enforcement through city attorney's office and the police department to go after these property

David PenalozaItem 23

managers that are neglect and as we found out on the first street there isn't much we could do so it's like how can we through the entitlement process through whatever means necessary achieve that so thank you uh city staff thank you to my colleague councilmember sarah um and yeah those

Phil BacerraItem 23

are my comments thank you mayor if i may just real quick because i i appreciate what my two colleagues have already said i just want to be clear this is not a door-to-door let's go knock on every single door in a community because i think you're right councilmember panaloza going to 400 units every MONTH IS NOT FEASIBLE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FEASIBLE TO DO MONTHLY. MAYBE IT'S BIMONTHLY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT HOW DO WE PUT AN EYE ON THESE COMMUNITIES SPECIFICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE PROBLEMS DON'T FESTER. SO I'M OPEN, WHETHER IT'S INSPECTIONS, THAT'S WHY I THINK FOR MY COLLEAGUES WANTING TO

Phil BacerraItem 23

BRING BACK INFORMATION, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW. IF IT'S ON INSPECTIONS, WHAT ELSE? I'M VERY OPEN AT THIS POINT. BUT I'M VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT I I don't want to get another email from PD that they had to serve a warrant inside a permanent supportive housing community because it has got that bad. That is unacceptable and it should be unacceptable for all of us. Whatever the solution ends up being, that's where we have professional staff and I'm hoping they can bring something back. This was my first foray into saying maybe this is the option.

Phil BacerraItem 23

If it's not, I'm not going to be brokenhearted, but we need to do something to keep an eye on these properties and annual inspections are not cutting it, obviously.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

Councilman Lopez? Council Member Lopez?

Jessie LopezItem 23

Yes, I agree with Councilman Afan. I think we need a thorough legal analysis, address the questions that have been presenting, whether we're discriminating on the basis of income, disabilities. There's many legal questions that have been presented because of this suggestion, and and also addressing privacy concerns of people, unequal enforcement, and share if there's any case law, share if there's precedent against cities taking these kinds of action. And also if it does, I don't hear consensus that it's moving forward.

Jessie LopezItem 23

But again, when you come back with an analysis, you should clearly detail how much of the general fund this is gonna allocate. It sounds like you're gonna need somebody else in the division to do this work And I also think that if you're gonna bring back an analysis You should detail so that the public can read the inspections that currently happen not just by the funders of these Housing units, but the work that CDA does I believe it's the early and you know, I think that was said But I think there's other people that also go and do inspections at the properties

Jessie LopezItem 23

and so I think there's still a lot of questions that need to be fully addressed and all of that should be reflected in a legal analysis. Thank you.

Thai Viet PhanItem 23

Council Member Friend. Thank you, Mayor. Mr. City Manager, I'm not sure if you would have the answer to this, but I believe CDA had, I guess, increased the inspections for some of these PSHs from, I think, to twice a year or quarterly.

Thai Viet PhanItem 23

ANNUALLY IS REQUIRED?

Alvaro NuñezItem 23

ONCE A YEAR.

Thai Viet PhanItem 23

I THINK THERE IS POTENTIALLY SOME NUMBER IN BETWEEN THAT COULD WORK. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, AT LEAST REGARDING THIS SPECIFIC ITEM, CHIEF RODRIGUEZ, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER BENALOZA BROUGHT UP A GREAT POINT WHICH IS THAT THE which is working with these management companies, right? How did we get that information? How do we determine that this is a place where we want to obtain a judicial warrant and things like that? And maybe working through that process, we could prevent this type of activity or catch it earlier. So I'd just like all that information to come back.

Thai Viet PhanItem 23

That would be very helpful. Thank you. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

Mayor Pro Tem.

Benjamin VazquezItem 23

Thank you, Mayor. I wanna thank Council Member Becerra for bringing this forward. AND SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. BUT HOW IS THIS SUSTAINABLE? DO I HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS AS MY PEERS ON THE COUNCIL? I THINK WE CAN FLUSH THIS OUT, AND WE SHOULD BRING IT BACK AND SEE WHERE THIS HAS BEEN DONE OUTSIDE, WHERE THERE ARE EXAMPLES OR ANY OTHER PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE ACROSS THE STATE WHERE WE CAN SUPPORT THESE GROUPS THAT NEED THE SPACE. SO FOR NOW, NO, BUT I WANT TO HELP SUPPORT ANY MOVEMENT THAT

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

forward thank you thank you so um i think everything's been said mr city manager the only thing i would say is this is not about discrimination because the sales of drugs knows no color race sexual preference people who use sal they come in all shapes and sizes and all colors this is about the safety of people who live in our permanent supportive housing You know, as Council Member Phan said, she grew up in that housing and I don't think she would want to live next door to somebody who's dealing dope every day.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

And again, you know, you don't have to be Latino to buy drugs. You come in all shapes and sizes. So this is not about discrimination. Thank you, Mr. City Manager. I know when we met with CDA as well, you guys have talked about, I guess you guys have talked about what can be done Mr. Garcia I know you're looking into that so thank you as well and Chief thank you you know police work is I'm sure people know or don't know when you obtain your search warrants it's not public knowledge and you're I don't want you to come here and share I don't think you will either about how you gather those search warrants or put them together or why

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

it's just a matter of for me I you know I appreciate Councilman Becerra bringing this forward it's not just happening in one location we all know that up here that's that's not the case uh just like drug use is not happening in one location in this city either um it happens everywhere and so um i appreciate this and i'm glad we'll bring it if if that's the direction you heard mr city manager august 5th um councilmember fan's recommendations were great with the potential litigation, Ms. City Attorney, the cost, the process, data from you, Chief, on how many calls we get out at our permanent supportive,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

we get for our permanent supportive housing locations and whatever you can share legally. And so I think that's what we heard up here. And so if you heard different, Mr. City Manager, you can let us know.

Alvaro NuñezItem 23

We're good.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

Perfect. Great, thank you. Okay, on to the next item.

Jessie LopezItem 23

This is very straightforward. I'm asking my peers to consider directing the city manager to work on an ordinance to allow A-frames in commercial areas. I've heard from different business owners, you know, they've received tickets. They've had to pay these costly fines for having A-frames outside of their businesses. And they're really only trying to promote some of the specials and the product that they sell. And so I went a step further than just submitting a council member requested item report. You know, have to do the work here.

Jessie LopezItem 24

And submitted exhibits and so people can look at what other cities jurisdictions have done, what other cities jurisdictions allow, don't allow. And so I'm hoping that my peers will support really the ask of small business owners that have approached me and have shared their frustrations about paying these fines and wanting to see something different a different approach in the city thank you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

Thank you Councilman Hernandez and Councilman Panaloza I believe you have the downtown area so I would just like to hear your thoughts on this please before I

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

Thank you Madam Mayor thank you Councilmember Lopez for agendizing this This is a topic that a lot of businesses in downtown have recently reached out to my office about over the last year. I received contact by a business that was located on Broadway that they were ticketed for having an A-frame sign. And that was the first time that I learned about us not allowing it in our city. I've also checked the pulse of businesses in the downtown, reached out to them and wanted to see what their stance was on it.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

Many of the businesses that I talked to in the downtown were very supportive. I represent the downtown and the barrier that is in my ward is Main Street. So businesses that are near the Civic Center, businesses that many of us frequent have let me know that this is something they would like us to adopt. SO I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF SEEING OUR CITY, YOU KNOW, BRING THE A FRAME TO DESIGNATED COMMERCIAL SPACES IN THE DOWNTOWN. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WILL HELP WITH VISIBILITY FOR BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, NEWER BUSINESSES THAT MAYBE DON'T HAVE THE BEST, YOU KNOW, ACCESS TO PARKING.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

THIS IS A GREAT WAY FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE A BUSINESS THAT THEY LOVE AND SUPPORT AND MAKE THEIR WAY OVER. SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE. I'm sorry, Councillor Becerra? You have to raise your mic up high so I can see it, please. Thank you.

Phil BacerraItem 24

Thank you, Madam Mayor. And I'm a little lukewarm on this one. And I say that only because we want our downtown to be very accessible. And one thing I have a concern about is, because we have a very old downtown, we also have some narrow sidewalks in certain areas. So putting an A-frame up, I don't wanna see wheelchairs in the street, is what I'm trying to say. So I think if there's gonna be anything that comes back, I think we have to make sure that we pay attention to ADA concerns also to any areas depending on where these Designated commercial areas are want to make sure that we're not seeing a frames trembling city landscaping

Phil BacerraItem 24

Because I think that would be a concern especially in certain areas where there is some sort of Parkway there shouldn't be a frames in those Parkways because Well now that becomes another cost for us right from the landscaping perspective I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT STAFF COULD BRING BACK, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW FEASIBLE IT WOULD BE DEPENDING WHERE THIS IS IMPOSED. SO LOOK TO SEE WHAT YOU GUYS BRING BACK. BUT RIGHT NOW I'M NOT SUPER ENTHUSIASTIC. I'LL JUST WAIT AND SEE. AS CAL CITIES WILL MONITOR IT.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, WHEN THIS COMES BACK, YOU'LL INCLUDE THE ADA ISSUE AND ANY POSSIBLE LITIGATION THAT SOMEBODY TRIPS AND FALLS OVER AN A FRAME IN FRONT OF A BUSINESS. We're responsible.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 24

Yeah, I mean, personally, I think this would be one of those multi-agency collaborative efforts from the public works, being able to tell us the size of sidewalks, the legal and risk working on ADA and compliance issues, and then, of course, the planning department, which handles sign programs. So I think it would take a village on this one.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

Yeah, I'll support this, Mr. City Manager and Madam City Attorney, with all that information when it comes back. it doesn't have that no i won't because as councilman becerra said we have ada you know yeah somebody in a wheelchair using a cane whatever it may be um you want them to be able to not have to go around but go through safely and so um you know we have colt and our pd out there all the time you know resting or moving the homeless that are sleeping on our sidewalks and blocking it and i would sure hate to have the same with the a-frames and i want i want our

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

businesses to thrive as well we just had a meeting with the downtown merchants and they talked about we talked about with them how they can do a better job with their businesses what they're looking to do and how to do it to get more business and i i can support this i just want to I agree with that a couple times tonight, talk about litigation, the cost to the city, we're deep pockets. And when someone trips and falls, we write the check. Not a council member, not the business, we write a check, it's on our sidewalk. So thank you. Mayor Pro Tem.

Benjamin VazquezItem 24

Thank you for those words, Mayor. I had the same concerns. I do know we need this for our companies. My mom had a beauty salon in Ward 2 on McFadden and Bristol next to Kristy Donuts for 30 years and she used that a frame and she loved using it and it was something we took out and brought in every day and it was something that we did and but I do have the same concerns as long as it's we have a DA compliant way down and think about safety and we have all those concerns and it's gonna look different in Little Mart's compared to downtown Santa Ana so we have to figure things out and I really want to

Benjamin VazquezItem 24

make sure that people are safe and can walk through and and especially those on wheelchairs

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

and and make sure we do it right thank you thank you mayor proton council member fan

Thai Viet PhanItem 24

thank you and just um when we bring this back i'd also like to see and i'm sorry if i missed it um design guidelines some of them are kind of ugly like i don't want like a bad white plastic frame A-frame with mismatched and peeling. Just make sure they look cute too. You want to tell them what to do. No, I'm just saying if we're going to have A-frames in our downtown where we spend millions of dollars to beautify, to bring more people in, to make it the crown jewel of our city, I don't want it to be just filled with plastic advertising

Thai Viet PhanItem 24

advertising that is going to you know prevent people from enjoying how beautiful it is so

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

design guidelines thank you and it won't be just downtown and once it's approved this is for the entire city so on Harbor in your area even more important

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

Councilman Hernandez in front of saudi and so we all have a council member paneloso please

David PenalozaItem 24

THANK YOU MAYOR I I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD UM I GUESS TO COUNCIL MEMBER FAN'S POINT I I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SO MANY BACK AND FORTH CORRESPONDENTS ABOUT THIS WHOLE SIGN STUFF UH STATE MANAGER NUNES ESPECIALLY ON THOSE BUSINESSES THROUGH ON FLOWER AND ST ANDREW I GET SO MANY UH EMAILS ABOUT WHAT KIND OF SIGN THEY CAN HAVE AND WHAT THEY CAN'T THE BUSINESSES bristol street so instead of focusing just on one uh type of sign a frame and i mean we should really look at our sign ordinance throughout the entire city and see what kind of to council member

David PenalozaItem 24

fans point uh uh the aesthetics how how they would look what kind of signs do we allow i know we don't allow the banners those giant banners that stick in the lawn but guess what every business in the city has them and we don't seem to enforce it so i would hope that we could kind of dial in this sign ordinance um and not just limit it to the one a-frame uh conversation but to all the types of signs that we have throughout the city and really uh tie you know tidy it up so that we could have uh uniformality throughout the the the the city um there we we all want to help our our

David PenalozaItem 24

small businesses and our businesses throughout the city and help them thrive and i think this THIS IS A WAY TO DO IT, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY WHERE THESE SIGNS ARE CAUSING AN ISSUE, WHERE THEY'RE CAUSING PROBLEMS. SO INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON ONE, LET'S FOCUS ON AN ENTIRE SIGN ORDINANCE. SO I'D BE SUPPORTIVE OF AN ENTIRE SIGN ORDINANCE AND NOT JUST FOCUSING ON THE ONE TYPE OF SIGN. WITH THAT SAID, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. ANY TIME THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES, I'M ALL IN. but just wait till these businesses find out that they might have to replace their water heaters with

David PenalozaItem 24

full electric ones that's really going to break them so let's continue to work on this and and see i'm excited to see what staff brings forward with regards to this sign ordinance thank you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

yeah thank you councilman panelists i think that's good citywide and what kind and the whole signage thing because as we know we get calls and emails and people get tickets and about their windows and windows being covered and signs and the whole nine yards. So if you bring it back and I think Council Member Lopez, you're okay with that? Bringing it back instead of the, just A-frames the entire signage issue. Yeah, the request I made, thank you. I'm sorry?

Jessie LopezItem 24

The request, the A-frame.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

Right, but we're looking at the whole signage. We're gonna look at the entire, everybody's good with looking at the entire signage issue in the city? I don't hear any nos.

Thai Viet PhanItem 24

I guess the only the only issue I would have with that or maybe not an issue is that we would need a lot more time I imagine because I've worked on sign ordinances There are they are rife with First Amendment issues and design issues. So if that's

Thai Viet PhanItem 24

Well, no, no, I just know no I Way worse if you're gonna do signs throughout the city I think limiting into a frames is perfectly fine by me because it seems to me that councilman Lopez is trying to address a specific issues I'm okay with keeping it with a frames and if staff believes or if councilmember Penalosa believes that we should bring back a broader sign ordinance. Maybe that's another council requested item that would need additional time

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

I mean, you'll have to go back and do it all over again

Phil BacerraItem 24

I was just gonna concur with my colleagues. I don't want to open up the whole sign can worm NO, NO, NO. THANK YOU. I WILL JUST STICK TO WHAT IS BEFORE US AND SEE WHAT COMES BACK. SORRY, COUNCIL PENDLETON.

David PenalozaItem 24

THAT'S FINE. WE CAN DO THE A FRAME. BUT JUST TO THE FANS POINT, MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT TACKY. SO WHEN IT COMES BACK, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NICE.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

THEY ARE NOT TACKY AND IT'S ADA COMPLIANT. WE ARE GOOD? ALL RIGHT.

Alvaro NuñezItem 24

SO JUST FOR DELIVERING FOR TIMING COMPONENTS, BECAUSE WE ARE, WE HAVE QUITE A BIT FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF 60 DAYS. SO AGAIN, WE CAN DO IT AROUND AUGUST, IF THAT'S OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL, 90 DAYS WE CAN BRING SOMETHING TO THE EXTENT. WE'LL FOCUS JUST ON A-FRAMES. WE CAN ADD SOME MINOR LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TEMPORARY SIGNS, KIND OF LIKE FOR STUDENTS IN BANNER, WE'LL TRY TO DO THAT. BUT AS FAR AS THE OVERALL SIGNS COMPONENT, AS WE UPDATE OUR ZONING CODE BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT SHOULD ADDRESS MOST OF THE SIGN CONCERNS ALSO. PERFECT.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU.

Jessie LopezItem 24

just quick um question fine with me if staff is super busy but i would request a pause on the enforcement ticket for a signs because these are not in the middle already in the mix already done

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

thank you already done thank you mr city manager okay i think you got direction for that one we're We're going to go now to work study session, item number 25. Madam City Clerk.

Alvaro NuñezItem 24

So Mayor, for your consideration, given the time, and that's okay if you're amenable and you're able to do it, or we can postpone this agenda to the May 15 meeting.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

I'm fine with continuing to the May 15th. Everybody else is? I am too.

Alvaro NuñezItem 24

Right, given the length of the-

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

I have a question.

Benjamin VazquezItem 24

CAN WE EXTEND THE SURVEY FOR ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO? WE ONLY HAVE 1,000.

Alvaro NuñezItem 25

OKAY. WE ONLY HAVE 1,000. WE CAN DO THAT ALSO.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

CAN WE DO A CAMPAIGN, GET IT OUT THERE, HAVE OUR PIO AND EVEN THE PD CHIEF SEND IT OUT, FILL OUT A BUDGET SURVEY, TELL US WHAT'S IMPORTANT. PARKS AND RED CAN DO IT. THEY ALL HAVE INSTAGRAM, SOCIAL MEDIA. THEY SHOULD BE ALL SENDING OUT.

Alvaro NuñezItem 25

YES.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

YES DO THE BUDGET SURVEY DO THE BUDGET SURVEY DO THE BUDGET SURVEY TALK TO THE PRESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS TOO OKAY YES ALL RIGHT THANK YOU THEN WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE AND THANK YOU MAYOR PROTAN FOR BRINGING THAT UP OKAY SO AT THIS TIME MR. CITY MANAGER DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS YES

Alvaro NuñezItem 25

THIS WEEK WE'RE CELEBRATING PUBLIC SERVICE WEEKEND NATION WEEK I WANT TO THANK OUR CITY EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO PROVIDING SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY Also, this is National Business Week, so please shop local and support Santa businesses. In addition, we celebrate Asian Pacific and, excuse me, Asian American and Pacific Islander communities during this month. The Santa Ana Public Library has many fun events and activities for AAPI month, including an author talk and a documentary screening at the Frida Cinema. WE HAVE QUITE A BIT THIS WEEK. THIS MONTH.

Alvaro NuñezItem 25

THE SAN ANA FUN RAISER IS THIS SATURDAY, MAY 10. YES, MOTHER'S DAY IN SOME COMMUNITIES. WE WON'T DO THIS NEXT YEAR. TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. PLEASE PURCHASE. THE SAN ANA FUN RUN IS ON SATURDAY, MAY 17. YOU CAN STILL REGISTER FOR THE 5K AND 10K. THE KIDS STATS IS FREE AND NO REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

Alvaro NuñezItem 25

again as far as the community surveys you indicated we're gonna extend the deadline for a couple of weeks up to maybe before what five days before consummating May 15 all right we'll do that and we'll try to publicize with our social media components one of the key aspect that I do want to mention last week the at the city of Santa won the sustainability award from the southern california association of governments for our environmental justice action committee so that's a big deal for us right because what it shows is our planning department and our government

Alvaro NuñezItem 25

components as far as you know doing things that um no other city has been doing in in southern california so for that that's a big highlight and we're very happy for our planning building agency uh to win that that award and uh we'll mention the other awards we won at the next council meeting

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

that's good that's all for me all right may I pro tem actually councilmember

Jessie LopezItem 25

Lopez please yes where do I start there's so much going on well first I want to thank all of our public employees whether you work for the city or a different agency I just want to thank everybody for the work that they do and for doing the work with the best interests of people's well-being even though sometimes public service employees often get attacked and now more than ever and so I really want to thank them especially those that are my constituents and always reach out I really appreciate the work

Jessie LopezItem 25

that they do we're also hosting a park cleanup this Saturday so everybody's invited we will be sharing that information via our social media channels we are additionally hosting public works our incredible public works department a cabrillo park cleanup um also this upcoming week if i'm not mistaken and more information will be shared um i want to wish everybody a happy mother's day thank you to all the mothers in our community that do everything that they can to provide for their families and to protect their families. And May 10th, which is a Saturday, we're hosting an additional,

Jessie LopezItem 25

actually that is the weekend park cleanup. And we have three because there's a lot of demand. Often people can't do them during the week. So we're doing one on the weekend with Orange County Habitat restoration, and then the dumpster day at Cabrillo Park. and then the following week, Wednesday the 14th, we're having our regular creek cleanup. And I want to thank everybody that consistently comes out to these events that gets involved and that helps us pick up trash from our parks. And so I think that's all that I have for now. Thank you everybody.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Council Member Hernandez.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 25

Thank you very much Madam Mayor. I just want to thank our city staff FORMAL FOR TODAY'S COUNCIL MEETING. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO TOOK TIME FROM THEIR DAY TO COMMENT AND REACH OUT TO OUR CITY. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FOR DOING A GREAT JOB WITH ENSURING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE BUSINESS THAT IS IMPORTANT TO RESIDENTS OF WARD 5 IS BEING CARRIED OUT. WE'RE SEEING CONSTRUCTION AT EL SALVADOR PARK COME TO A CLOSE FOR THE BATHROOMS AT EL SALVADOR PARK. EL SALVADOR PARK WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PARKS IN THE CITY TO and it was the first community center that the city introduced was in 1960.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 25

Those restrooms have been there since and it took our city manager being here for less than a year to get to work on those restrooms and so that that is a reflection of all of us here at the City Council but more importantly our city managers willingness to listen to the needs of our constituents. So I want to personally thank you because residents have reached out to me at a high number THANKING THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND SAYING THANKS FOR HEARING THIS OUT AND I NEEDED TO RELAY THAT TO YOU. I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE SAN ANA COMMUNITY.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 25

ON MAY 5, 2025, A JOURNALIST BEN COMACHO PUBLISHED DATA RECEIVED THROUGH A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST. WHAT THE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST REFLECTED WAS AT LEAST 42 COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, DHS, AND OR IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, ICE. to the Santa Ana Police Department regarding their then upcoming presence in the city of Santa Ana. The data yielded from Camacho's records request includes times, dates, and addresses of potential federal immigration enforcement activity, which Camacho has shared in his piece with Inadvertent.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 25

As a sanctuary city, Santa Ana City's departments and agencies, including SAPD, are prohibited from facilitating federal immigration enforcement since it is not the responsibility of local jurisdictions. However, this recent report will create distrust within our community. I think it's important that we as a community work in tandem with those who are impacted, which is why I am working with Mayor Pro Tem Benjamin Vasquez and our impacted community members in both the immigrant community and then the refugee community. I am working with our city manager's office and our city attorney to introduce a council requested

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 25

item on may 20th directing our city staff to prepare a policy that mandates automatic release of information regarding known dhs and or ice presence within the city of santa ana i believe that the freedom of information is one of the one of the strongest things that we can do at a time where many of our residents are fearful i hope that when this item is on the council agenda that that it provides us an ample opportunity to protect our residents and more importantly, an opportunity for us to come closer together. Thank you everybody and I hope you have a good night.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Thank you, Council Member Fan.

Thai Viet PhanItem 25

Thank you, Mayor. It's been so many weeks, it feels like, since our last council meeting. So first of all, I just wanna thank our public work staff for Arbor Day and Earth Day. That was such a wonderful time at Centennial Park. and I think we planted three Italian pines. Ooh, I'm gonna get the name wrong. They're gonna be so mad at me. We're gonna find out if those pine nuts are edible and then we're gonna make some pesto out of it. But we had some wonderful soccer players helping us plant some trees. And Mr. City Manager, I think you do recall some of those wonderful young soccer players reminding you that we need some lights.

Thai Viet PhanItem 25

That's right. I got it on video, so. I also want to say that, you know, this past week, I was in San Diego on the USS Midway for the Legacy of Hope from Operation Frequent Wind to Vietnamese Refugee Resilience, and heard from Admiral Lawrence, Clarence Lawrence, I'm sorry if I'm getting his name mixed up, and a Vietnamese American pilot, General Le, LA, talking about how Americans saved thousands of Vietnamese refugees on April 30, 1975,

Thai Viet PhanItem 25

and the type of courage that it takes to flee your country with the hopes that whatever the ocean has to offer, whatever other country has to offer, is better than staying at home. And, you know, with that, I know that there has been so many news articles, so much information, so much fear mongering, and there's just so much going on and attacking our immigrant community. I hope that as we get this information, my colleagues, our communities, as well as all

Thai Viet PhanItem 25

the professionals working to ensure that due process is protected for all members of our community and that we are sharing whatever information is necessary for people to protect their rights but also protecting the city's responsibility and duty and ensuring that we are able to continue to obtain whatever grants services and support we need from both our state and federal partners and finally i want to say congratulations to my cousin kathy she gave birth to my nephew charlie two weeks early and he was born on may 4th so congratulations kathy and

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

charlie have a wonderful night thank you councilman sarah please thank you madam mayor um i hadn't

Phil BacerraItem 25

planned on starting my comments like this tonight but i'm going to and that is we had a person call in earlier resident in my ward who I appreciate her passion I appreciate that she believes that she wants to help the community what I don't appreciate is the inaccurate portrayal of our interactions especially when and I want to thank our city manager and and various staff who were there when we had a meeting down in the south coast and Sandpoint neighborhoods to share all the wonderful things that we've been doing down there to improve the quality of life for those

Phil BacerraItem 25

two neighborhoods. This particular person has a very strong belief that we need to have an oversight committee for the expenditure of the funds that we have not received yet. To be clear, we have not received yet, but at some point down the road we will receive for the approved Bristol related project. For those of you that were here, for those of you that actually watched the meeting, you know that I fought for an oversight committee and that was not supported by the majority of this council and that's okay because it is not without oversight that these funds will

Phil BacerraItem 25

be spent let me repeat that it is not without oversight that these funds will be spent in fact may 15th we're having our budget meeting correct that will not be in a cloak room that will not be in a cave that will be right here with cameras and an open chambers for everybody to come and witness and participate. Let me say that one more time. Witness and participate. So nothing is being done in the shadows. We are very open and transparent and for those of you in my ward know I'm very passionate about fighting for as much resources as I can for our ward. So rest assured there's nothing to be worried about in

Phil BacerraItem 25

that regard. The other thing that was mischaracterized was that my I guess answer to her that this oversight committee was discussed and I appreciate my colleagues for discussing it during that item but her her portrayal was that it was aggressive and i have to clarify something and i don't i didn't want to have to say this in public but i am going to say it the only aggression that was ever displayed was when i reached out to try to set up a meeting with her to discuss some of these items and she responded by calling back our staff and screaming at them and i say that because i don't appreciate that we all disagree with each

Phil BacerraItem 25

other you don't need to scream at each other and she called city hall and screamed at staff that all they were trying to do was set up a meeting so i do not appreciate the false portrayal of what you call aggressiveness which was really not the case the only aggression that came out was when you called our staff and screamed at them again not appreciated with that being said with ab1234 disclosures um actually no let me take one step back another thing she mentioned was a remark remark about going and spending city funds from the project in Vegas. Everybody else in the room seemed to laugh at it. It was a joke.

Phil BacerraItem 25

Obviously, she did not understand that that was a joke. So let me just say it for the record so that everybody understands it. I hope she will. It was only a joke. Only a joke. And it was a joke to say, hey, we're being transparent. We're talking about things as crazy as that. Again, it was only a joke.

Phil BacerraItem 25

AB1234 disclosures. I had the opportunity to go up to Sacramento, the city paid for my travel and boarding for the Cal Cities Conference. I want to thank Connor Medina and Cal Cities for setting up meetings with various state legislators. There was some very, very impactful bills that we had an opportunity to talk to our legislators. I know the mayor had the opportunity to testify at a hearing that Senator Upberg had a bill regarding sober living homes. So I want to thank the Senator for being so gracious with his time and for having us at the hearing before the mayor got to testify.

Phil BacerraItem 25

By the way, speaking of Senator Umberg-Neville, you know what I'm going to say. Thank you for getting that clock fixed in the courtyard. It seems like it's kind of a big deal for him. So again, thank you for getting that repaired. And of course, it's important for all the patrons that come to our train station. I also attended the Skag Regional Conference out in Palm Desert and the city manager got a little ahead of me there. Yes, we won an award and it was great to have all of our planning staff and all the folks that worked on that to be able to come up on stage in front of the entire region.

Phil BacerraItem 25

That was awesome. So the entire region got to see that. that. And then also just this past weekend, I attended with the mayor Romano, you know, talk about just tugging at your heartstrings. There's a moment of pride when you see the Santa Ana police honor guard come through. But then you just see the the impacts of these families that have lost, you know, folks that, you know, they risk their lives for us every day, but thankfully they all go home. But but unfortunately not every single one of them goes home. And this year we were there while they recognized and memorialized, I believe it was,

Phil BacerraItem 25

was it four or five officers?

It was three officers from 2024 from last year and then two add-ons from previous years.

Phil BacerraItem 25

Okay, great. Thank you for that, Chief. And yeah, the Santa Ana PD and Santa Ana Police Officers Association, Thank you guys for showing us around and introducing us to the folks there. It was, again, a very, very impactful ceremony.

Phil BacerraItem 25

Segerstrom High School baseball, it is a shame. It is an absolute shame that they will not be able to go into the postseason because the mayor and I got to go out there last week and I was like, all right, I gotta see the hype. Are these kids really that good? They are that good. It is a shame that they are not gonna be able to win CIF because because they would, they would, in my humble opinion, they would absolutely crush it. But unfortunately, politics being what it is at another jurisdiction, not here, has unfortunately prevented that. But I was out there for the senior day for Seggestrom High School baseball,

Phil BacerraItem 25

and it was great to see all the seniors participate in that. And last but not, well, almost last but not least, I wanna wish all the nurses out there a happy Nurses Week, and especially to my favorite nurse my wife Wendy I know it's a little early but happy anniversary good night all the women Oh councilmember

David PenalozaItem 25

Penalosa please Thank You mayor Emescu I just want to start off by my a b 1 2 3 4 disclosure as well and with on April 23rd through the 25th I had the honor of flying to Sacramento as not only a Santa Ana council member but vice president of the Cal of the League of California cities to advocate for many of the bills there were some good some bad but I'm gonna highlight the good ones that we were up there for and on meeting with many of our legislators Senator Lomborg Senator McGuire Assemblymember Valencia and and one of the bills in particular

David PenalozaItem 25

THAT WOULD HELP THE CITY OF SAN ANA WAS AB 476 BY MAR CONZALES.

David PenalozaItem 25

IT'S A CAL CITY SPONSORED BILL AND IT WOULD BASICALLY CRACK DOWN ON THE THEFT OF COPPER AND METAL, WHICH WE KNOW CITY MANAGER NUNEZ HOW EFFECTIVE THAT COULD BE HERE IN SAN ANA WHEN WE HAVE PLACES LIKE BRUCE'S METALS AND OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE CAUSING A LOT OF THE HARM WE'RE SEEING IN THE CITY. SO VERY HAPPY TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT. THERE WERE A LOT OF GOOD MEETINGS WITH THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER BACERRA AS WELL AND AND MANY OF THE LEGISLATORS AND TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WHAT BILLS ARE BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY AND WHICH ONES AREN'T SO HAPPY THAT I WAS ABLE TO BE THERE AND ON WANTED TO CORRECT THE RECORD MADAM CITY

David PenalozaItem 25

CLERK ON THE AGENDA IT WAS ORIGINALLY LISTED AS MAY 4TH THROUGH THE 5TH BUT I WAS ONLY UP THERE MAY 5TH WENT UP THE SAME DAY CAME BACK THE SAME DAY FOR THE PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL WAS HAPPY TO also be there joining our chief and my colleagues, as well as Deputy Chief Chuck Elms was there as well. So it was a very somber event and heartbreaking. I mean, you look at many of the officers that have lost their lives in the line of duty, and you see the families that they leave behind. There was a, I think it was Officer Swanson,

David PenalozaItem 25

who his wife and three little boys under the age, I think the oldest was like four years old, and the youngest must have been two, walking up to leave that rose because her father died less than a year ago. And I think one of the officers, what was the saddest thing is that one of the officers said, unfortunately we will be back here again next year with another list of officers that we will lose over the next year so I want to thank the Santa Ana Police Department for your work and your leadership in our city and and know that we constantly think of you and we pray for you and pray for your safe return

David PenalozaItem 25

home with that said I do want to wish all our mothers a Feliz Dia de las Madres this Saturday May 10th there's a great event going on at the zoo brew fest so please celebrate the L as mother is there I don't know if it's sold out yet it might be sold out so bring your mother seat us to the zoo on Saturday I want to wish my mom Paula and my wife Kim a happy Mother's Day I was gonna say first Mother's Day but no it's a second Mother's Day for my wife on that topic penny I have to now I'm gonna make it a thing to document all her her

David PenalozaItem 25

MILESTONES HERE AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING SHE IS A WALKER SHE'S FINALLY WALKING UH THIS THIS WHOLE WEEK HAS BEEN UH JUST THE CUTEST THING TO SEE JUST HER STUMBLE AROUND LOOKING DRUNK UH BUT SHE'S UH IT'S CUTE IT YOU KNOW BUT UH SO SHE'S A WALKER NOW AND UM I I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK CITY STAFF FOR ALL THE EVENTS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING WHETHER IT'S ARBOR DAY WHETHER IT'S THE OTHER NINO THESE ARE ALL COOL EVENTS. IT WAS WET. DIRECTOR STERNBERG, IF HE'S STILL HERE, IT WAS A VERY WET EVENT, BUT WE WERE OUT THERE AND FAMILIES WERE OUT THERE AND IT WAS NICE TO SEE.

David PenalozaItem 25

SO WITH THAT, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY AGAIN TO ALL THE MOTHERS THAT CELEBRATE, INCLUDING YOU, MAYOR, MS1, AND OUR APPOINTING CITY CLERK. I'M NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN OUR CITY HALL THAT ARE MOTHERS. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY AND WITH THAT, GOOD NIGHT. THAT IS IT.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEMVASKAS, PLEASE.

Benjamin VazquezItem 25

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK THEY'VE DONE AT THIS MEETING. YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB FOR THE EVENTS WE HAD. I WANT TO DO A SHOUT OUT TO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL TEAM FOR WINNING LEAGUE FOR THE FIRST TIME. AMAZING GIRLS WENT OUT, PUT IN THE WORK AND CAME OUT CHAMPIONS. LOVE THEM. Also, I was lucky enough to visit Century High School, and Mireya Vasquez, the counselor of the century, as she's called, graduated 32 students with an AA. So they're gonna go on, graduate high school and become juniors in college at UCLA, Cal State Fullerton,

Benjamin VazquezItem 25

UCI, and now they're juniors, and 32 of them had gone through that, SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF THOSE 32 CHILDREN AND MY SISTER, COUNSELOR OF THE CENTURY. I WILL BE GOING TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS FOR PACIFIC PARK AND HEDINGER PARK. WE'RE TRYING TO ORGANIZE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHES THERE AND INCLUDING PICOLO NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO DO THAT. WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING TRASH BINS TO ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN WARD TWO, regardless if they have the active neighborhood association or not we're working with the community and seeing what we could do with that I want to

Benjamin VazquezItem 25

thank Joessa Hernandez for bringing me know Joessa Hernandez who's my commissioner has an art space and at the Grand Central and he invited me to bring my student artwork and we showed it off and I had a good time explaining the artwork to anybody who came by I want to tell piccolo and central city to come and speak if you live in those areas and you want a fully funded park on tolliver street we need 700k to get a skate park and basketball court so come and speak let everybody know that we want a fully

Benjamin VazquezItem 25

funded park if you live at a pico lower central pacific park you have the cypress fire station that is not in the budget and we need to start and compounding there's a pow program that's not going to be built because it's not funded so we need to make sure you come and pound it we need five million dollars for cypress park to have our our our pow program running there true story true story um i also i want to wish a happy birthday to my baby boy donatio who's half german at fitbull

Benjamin VazquezItem 25

he's going to turn four years old i love him i'm his mama so happy mother's day to me because i raised him since he was four also to all the real moms other real moms happy mother's day to my mom who's very special to my sisters and my sister-in-laws you're special women and you raise beautiful children to all the mothers here and staff happy mother's day and uh especially happy mother days to my fiance claudia karina vega diaz uh you have beautiful children and i love them and I want to congratulate her. She just got promoted to coordinator at Corona Norco, so she's becoming an administrator

Benjamin VazquezItem 25

and it's a big step for her and I want to tell you I love you Karina and Claudia Karina Vega Diaz because you did an amazing job to get to this place and that's all I have. Have a good night.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Thank you. Happy Mother's Day to you. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Okay, first let me start off with, the this week is teacher appreciation week correct councilman panalosa yes so i want to you know say big thank you to all the teachers all the work that they do at our charter schools and our schools here at sausd and especially our schools here at sausd as we all know they're still going through issues with layoffs and a lot of them are um they just need a lot of support so i really want to say thank you for all the work and we do appreciate you here at the city so you see a teachers say thank you for this teacher appreciation week. First of all, AB 1234 disclosure. On April

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

23rd, I flew up to Sacramento, came back the same day to speak in support of SB 35. It's a bill aimed at accelerating action against unlicensed addiction treatment facilities. And I want to thank Senator Umberg and my colleagues, Councilman Becerra and Panellosa that were there joining me to show support this will definitely make a difference here in Santa Ana and that's why I went up there because we do have them here in Santa Ana and again we want to take care of our constituents and the quality of life and we want to make sure those homes are run well legally and appropriately

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

and that people are not pushed out onto the streets and when there's a complaint that we could actually do something about it so that was my first one my second one is that April 26th to the 29th i was in chicago for the 2025 u.s conference of mayors and police chiefs and again i was joined by the chief of police city manager and the deputy city manager we had the honor to speak at this conference with over 40 mayors and police chiefs talking about best practices on public safety and community policing police reform emerging technology as we talked about earlier

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

for first responders and strengthening collaboration and relationships with the community and how we do that we shared how we do that here in santa ana and we heard from other cities as well the other one was may 4th through the 5th i was home i just stayed one night for the california police memorial um i think it was said by councilman um becerra it's uh and councilman panelosa it's an honor to join our police department um i would recommend that our council if you get an opportunity to go that you go um because you get to see

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

you know you hear and people say oh you know this and that and chicken fat about cops and i know somebody's going to quote me because i do say that it's that and chicken fat but i'm going to tell you that when you go to the police memorial and you hear and see the families um it's it's it's a very very hard thing and it brings you to reality of what happens and i've said it many times up here that our officers have families and significant others and children that they go home to and the families that were there in sacramento they didn't their spouses or their fathers or

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

their grandfather didn't get to go home um and one very powerful moment i never leave there the dry eye one powerful moment was when it was shared with us that when they showed a picture of one of the officers the little boy his son pointed up at him and said that's my daddy

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

let me say that again he was I believe four or five comes up and Lhasa most adorable little boy in a blue suit standing there at the memorial and they shared with us that he said that's my daddy he knows but that's his daddy and he's never gonna forget that and even though he's so young he's he's never gonna forget that um our honor guard was there for sanity and our chief and uh deputy

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

chief alms and um you know i hope we don't have to be there for any of our officers anytime to anytime um and when you are you're watching at home or you're here i want you to think about that tonight when you go home and you have children and families that that little boy when he looks at the picture of his dad in uniform he always says that's my daddy so

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

okay those were my trips um i want to take a moment to recognize CIVA Collective. They're a wonderful organization. It's a Santa Ana-based nonprofit, and they're celebrating their fifth anniversary, and it's a really incredible milestone for them. They've served over five million meals. They've distributed over five million meals from their food pantry right here in our city, so I want to thank them for their support for for our community. That's a big deal, five million meals that they have given out. And I often go with them, myself and Claudia,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

and I know Council Bessera and Panelozo joined me and where they're distributing food with them, especially on the holidays, but they pass out food at Via Intermediate. As Mayor Pro Tem asked that the budget survey be extended one more week. So Mayor, I mean, Mr. City Manager, I hope that we let people know that and all of our departments put out information on their social media that we're gonna extend the budget survey for one more week because if it's only a thousand people cat only a thousand somebody's at a thousand that's less

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

than last year what are we doing wrong mr. city manager

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

don't know we're doing too good maybe we're doing too good okay all right well um i take that back apologies i just we can't have just a thousand people in the city our size fill out the budget survey we just can't so whatever it is we got to do and i know we did the postcard because i think i got one you know um we got to do more it would be a shame we sit up here next week for a council Council meeting to discuss the budget and only a thousand surveys came in so I don't know what we can do but we really should be doing more and hopefully it's in Spanish English and Vietnamese

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

yes okay and Jack the app is coming out at the end of this month right RIGHT? WE'RE STILL SHOOTING. MR. CITY MANAGER, THE END OF THE MONTH IS WHAT YOU SAID. MAY 31. MAY 31. THERE'S NOT 31 DAYS OF MAY, IS THERE?

Alvaro NuñezItem 2

MAY 31.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

THERE'S 31 DAYS. OKAY. PERFECT. EVERYBODY KNOW MAY 31 THE APP WILL BE IN SPANISH, ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE. I HAD THE PLEASURE ALSO OF TAKING PART IN THE ARBOR DAY TREE PLANTING EVENT. WE PLANTED 12 TREES AT SONI Santiago Park and I want to thank Iker Reyes for donating the very first tree and it was because of Iker that we did this Arbor Day celebration and he kept asking and asking and that's how we came up with this tree planting day and yes he planted his oak tree and it's going to grow to a big beautiful strong tree and Iker always says he's going to be the mayor when he grows up so So I'm going to watch him do that.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

I want to say thank you to the Girl Scouts Troop 3132 and Troop 4289 for their beautiful donation of a lavender plant that we also planted at the park. And all the people who came out to the tree planting ceremony with me. It was wonderful. We had fathers out there and city staff and my husband and my kids and my grandson. And so many of you came out. So I want to thank you all. It was wonderful. I also want to thank the Santa Ana youth soccer team. They came to the office here at City Hall to visit with me. Lots of questions. Thank you Gaston and Mr. City Manager for speaking with them and answering their questions.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

It's nice that they have male role models that they can look up to besides their coach and that's very important for our youth. I have an upcoming coffee with the mayor on Saturday, May 10th from 10 to 12 at the Salgado Votto Recreation Center, 706 North New Hope Street. Council Member Phan, is that your area? Wow, you're welcome to join us, please. Saturday from 10 to 12, please come out. City staff will be out there, the police department,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

and the Bills team and the police department are always the most popular there. So please come out and ask all those wonderful questions. And don't forget to bring, Mike, don't forget to come with Juan Matiá and answer questions about the homeless and what we're doing.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

In closing, happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, whether that is you're a tia, you're a nina, you're somebody's mother, and I'm a mom. And so I treasure Mother's Day with my children. And so So it's an honor to be a mom and a grandma now. And so with that, I'd like to wish all the mothers a happy Mother's Day. And to all the people that spoke today, thank you for coming out. Chief, I know there's going to be some questions, and Mr. City Manager, around the stories that have come out about immigration.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

I trust your leadership to address those issues. I have no doubt. And my support does not waiver. You have a job to do. And we are in compliance with SB 54. And we will always be in compliance. And so but I do know there will be questions. And I know you will answer them. And so I'm good with that. And you know, somebody had indicated that a woman went in to report for her appointment and she didn't come out. she was not from santa ana she was from anaheim either way it was very sad i don't know the

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

circumstances but um you know we have no control over that but i just i want the community to know that you know when people say you know the i was disingenuous or there's not leadership here in this city as a council member to say that publicly or in a story um i find that very hypocritical

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

because if you're a council member and you sit up here and you talk about I'm here for my constituents and I have to count every penny and I respond to my constituents' needs and desires, but yet I voted to place on the ballot a raise for myself for $75,000 a year, and it didn't pass because the voters were smart. They said no because we serve up here. We don't serve to get paid that amount of money. We serve. We should never be self-serving. And so when somebody puts out there that we're disingenuous or there's not good leadership, I take offense as the mayor because in the short time, Mr. City Manager, that you have been here,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

things have happened that some people have been waiting for 25, 30 years. We have five ordinances coming. I mean, we are working. This council is working and you and your staff are working. Chief, you're making changes in the police department and you've been doing it since you arrived, you're sending officers to training, you're addressing, you're disciplining, you're doing what you need to do. And so I am looking forward to those questions being answered, but nobody's hiding anything here. And I love when the blogs come out and say that we're being disingenuous, or a council member actually said that,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

but yet she votes for a raise for herself.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

she's running for office or people up here running for office so we want to pontificate and sit up here and say we're doing amazing things we've had years some people up here have had four or five years to address issues in this city and they have not been addressed but they are now they are being addressed now and that is because there has been a change in leadership and a change in the mayor and a change in support and so whatever it is that you need to address chief i know you will honestly and i know you will mr city manager you don't how you guys do not both hide behind anything and neither do i um and so

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

there are really important things out that are happening right now with our families we all know that it's a scary time right now for some of our families and whatever we can do to help them you've had the website up with resources for them and so I welcome that I get phone calls I'm sure other people up here get phone calls where do I go what do I do but we can't change what's happening in DC he's the president and I'm not running scared but I am smart and let me tell you why because if you You want to scream and yell about how we are Santa Ana

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

and we're going to stand up to the man when he puts out that letter, and I don't think we got one yet, about being a sanctuary city and how he tries to take all of our funding. I want the council members up here that are banging their chest really loud about we're going to stand up to him. And he takes away millions of dollars. And he'll start with HUD money.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

and then we have to lay off city staff. I want you to keep pounding your chest because I will look at you and say you caused this. You caused this council member because we haven't been on any list and again I don't run scared but I do run smart. Maybe it comes with age 30 years as an officer with the Orange County Probation Department, a mom, a homeowner. I've been to hell and back and I'm still standing. But guess what? People in this community, they need to have services, fix our potholes, cut our trees, have police, have fire,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

be able to have staff to call at this city. And if he starts to take our money, I don't even mention his name, and if he starts to take our money again let me repeat it i'm going to look at the council members up here that were pounding their chest saying we're not afraid well you better be then you better be then because you're going to start laying off 80 city employees 100 city employees then you're going to have to decide do i do i not hire police officers what happens to our fire department because we give them money to the county what happens to our hud money what happens

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

to our shelter for our homeless so if you want to pick pick a fight yes help our community but also pick the right fights too we've fought the needle exchange we're fighting right now some of us up here with senator umberg about sober living homes we're going to dc and sacramento and talking about how we need money for for our homeless we need money for housing we need money to help our police department so they can do good with the resources the limited resources they have

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

So no, I'm not going to scream from the mountaintop and attract attention to us because I'm hoping we don't get that letter saying, you're a sanctuary city and we're coming for you next. And again, let me be clear. I am the people's mayor and I'm not afraid. I'm not, but I'm smart. And some of us up here are smart. We do not want to pound our chest. Even Congressman Correa said, Mayor, stay on the down low. He said it to me. He said it to you. He has said it to you. Stay on the down low. And you know he's a wise man.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

He's been in office a long time. So I'm taking that advice. But just know, I'm not running scared, as the mayor said, Anna. But again, let me just tell you, I'm smart. I'm very smart and I will continue to do my best up here with the council members that work with me to do what is best for this city and the families that are being affected by immigration issues please reach out please look at our website please go to those agencies that are helping you even call the chief he gives his number out to everybody he sits here knowing what what it feels like to be undocumented.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

He knows what it feels like. I don't, so I can't tell his story. So with that, I want you to know that there are people up here that we're not hiding behind anything, and we're not telling lies. And some people love to do fear mongering and tell stories and do PRAs because they're gonna catch you doing something. You know what we're doing with this new city leadership? We're doing work.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

We're working, and that's what we're going to continue to do. Thank you. Have a nice evening.

Do it.