Read the October 7 meeting.

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Valerie Amezcua

Mayor, you can go ahead. Thank you so much, Madam Clerk. Wow, that's loud.

Valerie Amezcua

I hereby call the Santa Ana City Council meeting to order. The meeting is taking place with in-person attendance and by teleconference via Zoom. The public may access the meeting via the Santa Ana YouTube channel or the city's website. Please bear with us as the technology may disrupt the flow of the meeting. Madam Clerk, please conduct the roll call. Council Member Becerra.

Phil Bacerra

Here.

Jennifer L. Hall

Council Member Hernandez. Council Member Lopez. She will be joining us via teleconference, so I imagine she'll log in during closed session. Council Member Penalosa.

David Penaloza

Present.

Jennifer L. Hall

Council Member Phan. Here. Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez.

Present.

Jennifer L. Hall

Mayor Meskwa. Present. do you have five members that is a quorum thank you madam clerk are there any additions or

Valerie Amezcua

deletions to the closed session agenda no they're not do any council members need to announce their abstentions on closed session items hearing none madam clerk do we have any speakers for

Jennifer L. Hall

closed session we did not receive any e-comments related to the closed session agenda nor do we have any in-person speakers there are a few speakers on zoom so i will confirm if they for closed session or if they were here for the later regular open session so hold on please eli please unmute and let us know if your comment is for closed session only or if it's a different topic elizabeth elizabeth are you speaking on closed session labor negotiations no no okay Okay, please hold until the regular meeting begins. Thank you.

Jennifer L. Hall

Caller who number ends in 982.

Jennifer L. Hall

Caller 982.

It's not regarding post session.

Jennifer L. Hall

Okay, thank you. Please hold until the regular meeting begins. Louisa. Lisa, please unmute.

Jennifer L. Hall

Mayor and city council, it does not appear that any of these speakers are for closed session, so therefore we have no public speakers.

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you, Madam Clerk. At this time, we'll recess into closed session.

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© transcript Emily Beynon

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© transcript Emily Beynon

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Jennifer L. Hall

Mayor, you can go ahead whenever you're ready.

Valerie Amezcua

I hereby reconvene the Santa Ana City Council meeting to order. Madam Clerk.

Jennifer L. Hall

This meeting is taking place with in-person attendance and by teleconference via Zoom for members of the public and for Councilmember Lopez. The public may access the meeting via the Santa Ana YouTube channel or the City's website. Please bear with us as the technology may disrupt the flow of the meeting. This is a meeting to conduct the business of the City. There's an opportunity to call for a recess or break or even to clear the meeting room if a meeting becomes too disruptive to properly conduct business. Warnings will be provided prior to any action being taken. We appreciate your cooperation.

Jennifer L. Hall

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 any entrances and exits. During city council presentation, guests of individuals being recognized are invited to come to the front to take photos. for roll call council member becerra here council member hernandez present council member lopez present you please confirm if there's anyone in the room with you there's nobody here thank you thank you council member penulosa here council member fan here mayor person vasquez present

Jennifer L. Hall

mayor mesquite present that is all seven members present

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Before we proceed to the Pledge of Allegiance, please make announcements.

Jennifer L. Hall

For members of the public on Zoom or teleconference to request to speak during public comments on agenda or non-agenda items within the city's jurisdiction, you must dial star 9 from your phone now or click the button labeled Raise Hand in Zoom in order to be in the speaker queue once public comments commence. This does not apply to the Housing Authority items for which comments will be heard during that specific meeting. please hold any comments on Housing Authority items until specifically

Valerie Amezcua

called upon thank you Thank You madam clerk the first agenda item first item on the agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance can I have CB from OCA come up and lead us and the Pledge of Allegiance please

good afternoon everyone with your right hand on your heart please repeat after After me, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mayor.

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you very much, Siby. Words of inspiration will be provided by Liz Sanchez. Please come to the podium.

My name is Liz Sanchez, minister at Templo Cavalier Church. Good evening mayor, council members, and members of our city community. Thank you for the opportunity to share a few words of inspiration with all of you guys. Tonight I want to reflect on what it means to serve our community with love. Love in this context is not just a feeling, it's an action. It's the willingness to listen, to care, and to put the needs of others before our own. It's the quiet strength that motivates us to keep showing up

even when decisions are difficult and challenges seem overwhelming at times. When we serve with love, we look beyond our differences and focus on our shared community. We remember that every every person who walks through our beautiful city of Santa Ana, every neighbor, every business owner, every child has value and deserves dignity and respect. As this council meets tonight, may each discussion and decision be guided by the spirit of love,

a love that seeks understanding and promotes fairness and upholds the community as a whole. Let us pray. Lord, tonight, grant our leaders wisdom, patience, and love as they serve the city of Santa Ana. May every decision tonight bring peace and progress for all. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you.

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you very much.

Jennifer L. Hall

Madam Clerk, are there any additions or deletions to the City Council agenda? Yes, Mayor and Council, there is one. Item number five, an appointment to the Community Development Commission has been withdrawn from consideration by Councilmember Fann, so that will not be present when you vote on the consent calendar.

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you very much. First presentation is by Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez, please. To Hugo, Tyler, and Nelson Vasquez.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Thank you, everybody. Hello.

Benjamin VazquezItem 1

SO TODAY I'M HONORED TO PRESENT TO YOU THIS PROCLAMATION. I'M PROUD TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO UGO VASQUEZ AND TYLER NIELSEN WITH THE SAN ANA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT ADULT TRANSITION PROGRAM RECOGNIZING OCTOBER 2025 AS THE NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH MARKING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS IMPORTANT NATIONAL OBSERVANCE. THE RECOGNITION BEGAN IN 1945 AS A WEEK LONG OBSERVANCE TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF of people with physical disabilities in the workforce. In 1988, Congress explained this recognition to include individuals with mental health conditions and other non-visible disabilities.

Benjamin VazquezItem 1

This observance reminds us of how far we've come and how much we can do to build a workforce in society that's truly inclusive. This month is about that celebration. It's about awareness, advocacy, and action. We recognize the incredible value people with disabilities bring to our workplaces our communities and our economy and we reaffirm our collective responsibility to eliminate barriers and ensure equitable access to employment opportunities right here in our community the Santa Unified School District's adult transition program is leading by example serving students with disabilities ages 18 to 22 ATP provides

Benjamin VazquezItem 1

individual instruction community-based learning and vocational training to to prepare students for adult life. The goal of this is to foster independence, build functional and social skills, and support meaningful engagement in our local workforce. Through a strong partnership with the WorkAbility program, students gain real work experience, receive job coaching, and are connected to inclusive employers across Santa Ana and Orange County. These programs give students the tools, confidence, and support they need to thrive, and they represent the kind of community collaboration

Benjamin VazquezItem 1

that makes Santa Ana stronger. Let's continue to support programs like ATP and workability and work together to create a more inclusive future for all residents of Santa Ana. Thank you to all the educators, job coaches, employers, students, and families who make this work possible. We're gonna bring some of the

students and teachers to give a few words. Come on.

Good evening, Mayor and members of the City Council. On behalf of the Santa Ana Unified School District's Adult Transition Program, we are honored to accept this recognition for our Urban Agricultural Vocational Project. Through this program, our students have gained valuable job skills in greenhouse work, gardening, farming, and plant production. We've been inspired by Santa Ana's urban agricultural leaders including Crece, Salsa, and the public garden at Pacific Electric Park whose work helped shape our vision.

This project would not be possible without our partners. Jason Supes from the UC South Coast Research Extension Center, Sam Minetti from the Heritage Museum Gospel Swamp Farm, the school gardens at Taft Carver, Monta Vista, and Moises Palencia from the Farm to School Coordinator for SAUSD. This recognition belongs to our students, our staff, our community partners who help make learning grow in every sense. Thank you for your continued support and for celebrating our students' achievements.

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Thank you. The next presentation is by Councilman Councilmember Becerra for the October 2025 Filipino American History Month. Please come on up to the front.

Phil BacerraItem 2

Good evening everybody. If I could ask Vice Consul Levi Anthony Malayle to join me in front of the dais as we recognize October as Filipino American History Month. I'd also like Dr. Annabel Neri, Geraldine Larson, Kriza Kelly, JT Assis, and Wendy Becerra to join me up here as well.

Phil BacerraItem 2

So Mabuhay everybody. So when Filipinos say Mabuhay, it's the equivalent of saying aloha, which is like long live or cheers. So October is celebrated as Filipino American History Month to commemorate the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States, which was back on October 18, 1757, when mariners under Spanish command landed in Morro Bay, California. Now, to be clear, tonight we're not celebrating Filipino, I'm sorry, we're celebrating Filipino American history, not just heritage, because heritage encompasses culture, tradition, and legacies, while history

Phil BacerraItem 2

provides a more inclusive and comprehensive view, focusing on how our nation was built and change based on the experiences of Filipino Americans. So many Filipinos, including my own Filipino grandfather, came to the United States in the early 20th century. My grandfather moved into Santa Ana on 5th Street, not too far from where Sarayana's is today. Unfortunately, the house is no longer there. Later this month, on October 25th, Filipino Americans will celebrate the 112th birthday of the famous labor organizer Larry Itlion. Larry came to the United States in 1929.

Phil BacerraItem 2

Then in 1965 he was leading the AFL-CIO's Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee or better known as AWOC of which the majority of the committee's members were Filipinos who had arrived in the United States in the 1930s. Then on September 8, 1965, AWOC voted to strike against against grape growers in Delano, California, to pressure them into granting higher wages for their workers and better working conditions. The grape growers responded by attempting to hire Mexican farm workers to have them cross the picket lines and break the strike. Lariat Leong then reached out to Cesar Chavez of the National Farm Workers Association

Phil BacerraItem 2

and asked Cesar if they would join AWOC in the strike. Then on September 16th, 1965, 1965, the members of Chavez's NFWA overwhelmingly voted in favor of joining the strike. So there you had it, Filipinos and Mexican farmworkers officially joining forces together to picket and fight for farm labor justice. AWOC and the NFWA would later merge to form what we all now know as the United Farm Workers, or the UFW. So after working with Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta on the UFW, Larry Etliong dedicated his efforts towards building a retirement facility for the UFW workers in Delano known as Agbayani

Phil BacerraItem 2

Village. I'm very proud of the fact that my grandfather, a master carpenter, worked with Larry Etliong and Philip Veracruz to help make Agbayani Village a reality. And then just for those that don't know, Agbayani Village is just around the corner. It's on the 40-acre site up in Delano, right around where Cesar Chavez ended his 1968 hunger strike. So today the Filipino American community is the second largest Asian American group in the United States and is the third largest ethnic group in California. Like Larry Etlion, Filipino Americans and their families have truly enriched our nation, our state, and our

Phil BacerraItem 2

city through their work and contributions in organized labor, agriculture, their service in the armed forces, as nurses, doctors, engineers, scientists, accountants, teachers, and entrepreneurs, as well as their participation in public office, civic affairs, and community activities. In San Ana, we have some wonderful examples of Filipino Americans who have greatly contributed to our community. So tonight I want to highlight a couple of them. So So first we have Dr. Annabelle Neri, where'd you go? There she is, Dr. Annabelle Neri. She was appointed president of Santa Ana College back in January, 2022.

Phil BacerraItem 2

She has over 25 years of experience in education as a first-generation college student. She was born to Filipino and Central American parents. Dr. Neri holds a doctorate of philosophy and sociology from UC Riverside. And as the president of SAC, I think it's fitting to note that her first degree was an associate's degree. Geraldine Larson. There you are, Geraldine. Geraldine is the current president of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of OC, and she's the proud owner of her own insurance agency, GL Larson Insurance and Financial Solutions. And then we have Kriza, Kriza, where are you? Kriza Kelly.

Phil BacerraItem 2

Kriza is the head of co-work and the Orange County chapter lead for Filipinas on the Rise. Filipinas on the Rise, which provides a platform for Filipino women to connect, build community, celebrate their shared heritage, and support each other's growth and ambitions. And very importantly, she lives in Ward 4. JT, see, where's JT? There he is, JT. JT is the owner and chef of Tayabak by Ducking Grinds, located right here in downtown Santa Ana in the 4th Street Market. Tayabak brings together classic Filipino flavors and American culinary staples with a fresh, unique, and delicious take that shows everybody that Filipino food

Phil BacerraItem 2

is more than just adobo and lumpia. For those of you who know, you know what I'm talking about. So although he was unable to attend tonight, I want to give a shout out to Carlo Evaristo, owner and chef of 6100, which is an amazing bakery on Poinsettia here in French Park that sells Filipino-inspired baked goods like ube cruffins, yes, those are a thing, as well as a variety of European-inspired sourdough breads and pastries. The name 6100 is inspired by the zip code of Carlos' hometown in the Philippines, Bacaload City. And so, of course, last but certainly not least is my favorite Filipino-American, my wife, Wendy.

Phil BacerraItem 2

So Wendy, I'm going to embarrass her a little bit, but I like to call it highlighting. Wendy has her bar card and her oncology nurse certification. She is currently president of the Orange County Oncology Nursing Society. and she also previously practiced law. Now the bad joke I always like to say is she used to chase the ambulances, now she just waits for them at the hospital. So as the former chair of the scholarship committee at the Santa Ana Elks, which she still serves on, by the way, and she's also a proud graduate of Marday High School right here in Santa Ana. So today, the city of Santa Ana declares October 2025

Phil BacerraItem 2

Filipino American History Month and encourages everyone to study and explore the history of the advancements of the Filipino American culture, people, traditions, and values that have positively enriched our city and our nation and will continue to do so. So accepting this proclamation today on behalf of the Philippine Consul General, Adelio Angelito Cruz is Vice Consul, Levi Anthony Melele, who serves in the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles. So here you go. Thank you very much.

Mayor Mezcua, Council Members, especially Council Member Phil Becerra, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz and the entire Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, it is my honor and immense pride to accept this year's Santa Ana City Council's Proclamation commemorating Filipino American History Month. This is an important recognition in view of the presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the city of Santa Ana and their important contributions in your community.

You can be assured that the Filipinos always offer the best of their abilities and they serve with dedication, pride, and purpose in whatever role they are given and wherever they are situated in the United States. I also accept this recognition on behalf of all Filipino Americans who call the city of Santa Ana their home. Your proclamation today does not only honor the Filipinos who have been in Southern California for over a century, but it also honors the important role and invaluable contributions of the Filipino American community

towards strengthening and enriching the economic and cultural diversity of this beautiful city. As we celebrate Filipino American History Month, we want to showcase our vibrant cultural heritage and communities which thrive in this great city. We want to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of Filipino Americans, not just in the healthcare field, which we are known for, and for which we obviously excel, and are patently famous for, but also across a spectrum of fields, of course, as elucidated by Councilmember Phil, and as exemplified by our lovely guests here,

in the arts, business, sciences, politics, among many, many others. We also want to celebrate our culture, our language, values, traditions, and resilience in the face of struggles and challenges, as well as to honor the Filipinos who came before us. So to the Filipino Americans in the city of Santa Ana, while proudly celebrating our Filipino heritage and identity, let us also extend a bridge of understanding to those outside our community. Let us tell our great stories and experiences to the wider American society, so that they may get to know us even better.

So let us foster in each other a shared sense that there is a space for everybody in this diversity. Thank you very much. Long live all of us.

Phil BacerraItem 2

It's like a broken glass.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Thank you for the presentations at this time. Madam City Attorney, do you have anything to report out of closed session?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

I'm Mayor, members of the Council, members of the public. We do not have any reportable action this evening.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Thank you, Madam City Attorney. 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 and we'll have three minutes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Thank you, Mayor. Pursuant to resolution number 2025-004, speakers are requested to address the City Council directly and to refrain from profane language, racial epitaphs, and libelous or slanderous statements that disturb the decorum of the meeting. Pursuant to the Brown Act, the City Council may not enter into discussion at this time. Speakers will have three minutes for their comments. Before calling speakers, I'll report the summary of emails provided as of today. As of today at 2.30 p.m., we had received a total of 25 e-comments, 14 on non-agenda

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

topics, five for item number 10, one for item number 18, four for item number 23, and one for item number 24. Those were distributed to the City Council and posted on the City's website for public review. We'll now hear from members of the public that are physically present in the Council Council Chamber, followed by any speakers at Councilmember Lopez's location, and then the speakers on conference call or Zoom to provide comments on agenda or non-agenda items only. Any comments for the Housing Authority will be heard separately.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

I'll be calling up names, three to five people at a time. When you hear your name, please line up in the center aisle behind the podium so that you're ready when it's your turn to make your comments. And please state your name and the ward or neighborhood that you reside in for the record.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

The first three speakers, Bruce Senator, Mark Spratt, and Phoenix Pineda, please come forward.

Good evening. Bruce Senator from Ward 6. I submitted issues prior to coming tonight. I'll just speak on them briefly. The first thing is the Del High Center Food Pantry Program. Before I said that they needed a refrigerated box truck. They need one more than ever now as the economy contracts and more people are showing up there for food distribution. Through the city or the city residents or city businesses, I'm sure that we can find a good running refrigerated box truck for Del High Center. SECONDLY, ON THE ISSUE OF PRIVATIZATION AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF THE CITY PARKS, I'M AT THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE PROPERLY FORMED IT

BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SAVING OUR SPORTS CORPORATION, OUR PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION. WE HAVE THE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME. WE'LL GET THE TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. TOMORROW WE'LL BE SPEAKING WITH THE CALIFORNIA FAIR POLITICAL PRACTICES COMMISSION. WE'RE DRAWING CLOSER TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN ISSUE THE FORMAL NOTICE TO THE CITY ON THE SPECIFIC wording of a possible petition and therefore looking at the November 2026 election and that would be to amend the city charter and ordinances to prevent privatization and commercialization of

the public parks and then the next thing is the city's responsibility on the issue of the homeless along the railroad tracks under federal law the city does have first and primary responsibility to police the tracks. Secondly, are the railroad police under federal law. The city does need to allocate some additional funds to the police department, which are overstretched. But it is the city's responsibility to police those tracks, and specifically on the tracks running parallel between Standard and Grand Avenue, between Warner and Chestnut. Next is the digital signage. I've noticed that the signage over there on Warner,

corner, if you drive back and forth, it looks like it probably could have been placed further westbound. The reason is that when you're driving westbound coming up on Halliday, you really can't see it very well. When you're coming eastbound, the trees there block a lot of the view. So it's not just placement, it's placement for viewability and then moving other signs and trimming the trees so people have enough seconds to be able to view the signs. And the next one is the acid etched windows from the graffiti. There's an idea that possibly using just window cling, it doesn't even have to be printed

window cling, to have it in various shades and tones to match a window shade, because different windows have different tones to them. Looking at the window cling, trying it out may be a cost-effective way to cover up the damage caused by the window acid etching. And the final thing is regarding the Warner traffic concerns and the Warner widening project. I have issues that I put in on both, and I'd like the city to get back with me as to who in the city is working on those projects together with the county so we can discuss on possible resolutions to get these things resolved. Thank you very much.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Mark Spratt.

Good evening, Madam Mayor, Council Members. City Manager, my name is Mark Spratt. I'm a Ward 3 homeowner in West Floral Park, and I'm here tonight because $2,500 of Santa Ana tax revenue was used by Councilmember Jesse Lopez to sponsor not a Santa Ana event, but an Anaheim event in August. The event was outside of our city and outside of our city policy. It's simple. Our event sponsorship policy requires events that directly benefit Santa Ana residents. Anaheim is not Santa Ana. There is no documented benefit to our community.

And this happened while Jesse Lopez is actively campaigning for California State Assembly in Anaheim. This creates the appearance of using Santa Ana public money for our own political gain. This is not a technicality. This is about trust. Santa Ana families are struggling with affordability, safety, and services. Our city voted to increase sales tax revenue in 2018 so the money would go back helping our community. We can't afford to subsidize Anaheim events. Do you think Anaheim City taxpayers are going to give us money for our events? I don't think so.

All of our public dollars need to serve Santa Ana. Santa Ana is a city of working families, proud, Proud, diverse, strong. But every day, the people of Santa Ana are making impossible choices. Do I buy groceries to feed my kids? Do I pay the rent? We are teetering on a fiscal cliff while Anaheim thrives on tourism and hotel taxes. We can't afford Jesse Lopez to fund Anaheim festivals while kids go hungry in Santa Ana. So here's what must happen now. Number one, accountability. accountability. The city attorney should review this expenditure and issue a compliance finding.

The council should reprimand Jesse Lopez and require a full personal repayment of the $2,500. Number two, transparency. Release the approval forms and payment records for this event. The public deserves to see why and how this was allowed by the city manager. Number three, guard rails. else. Ban funding for out-of-city events that are tied to any political campaigns. If there's misuse in this instance, and if it's confirmed, it needs to be referred to the proper state and county authorities. Council Member Lopez, I know you're not here. Respectfully, I ask you to withdraw your

candidacy for the California State Assembly. Our city needs your full attention on Santa Ana and not Sacramento politics. Jesse, you're my council member. I've emailed you, I've tried to reach out to you on this event and i've heard nothing i've heard zero i want to engage with you on this and i invite you to meet with me and my ward three neighbors in floral park and west florida park we'd love to understand the rationale behind why you use taxpayer dollars for this event you know we just want to understand santa ana tax dollars for santa ana residents guard rails at

work personal accountability not political benefit thank you very much for the time

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Next three speakers, Phoenix Pineda, Brian Leos, Melissa Alberto.

Good evening, city council members. My name is Phoenix Pineda. I am the widow of the former city of Santa Ana employee, Sid Pineda, who served the city for 18 years. Let me start. I know he stepped out, but I want to thank Council Member Hernandez for his touching words about my husband at the council meeting on April 1st, four days after my husband passed away. For those of you that don't know, my husband was released from a position without proper justification in August of 2024, after helping to set up the Solid Waste Division from its inception, never having had a negative evaluation.

Just a few months later, he was put on administrative leave again without justification by a supervisor that had a history of targeting him and others. He was subjected to months of worrying about if he was going to keep his job, wondering how he was going to support his family. He was a dedicated employee who truly cared about the residents of Santa Ana and the businesses of Santa Ana. He is not the only person who has experienced this. This is happening right now. You have employees that are being laid off, that are being terminated, that are being

forced into early retirement without proper justification.

Justice for my husband, in honor of my husband who passed away believing that the city of Santa Ana, his employer of 18 years, thought he was disposable. I plead with you to open your eyes and see all of the unjustified layoffs, terminations, administrative leave, pushing people to retire early. Open your eyes, ask questions. This community, the residents of Santa Ana need these staff members. They're community service oriented people that care about the

residents, that do their job in service of the residents. They're professional, they're dedicated and they are not being being treated that way these staff members like my husband build relationships with the people of Santa Anna those are your constituents the people that vote you into office please open your eyes these employees make a meaningful difference to your city okay and since you just stepped in councilmember Hernandez I want to thank you for your words that you said when my husband passed away so thank you for for your time, thank you for your attention, and I hope you do something about it.

Good afternoon, Mayor and City Council members. My name is Brian Lels, I'm 19 years old, and I reside in Ward 4. Mayor, can you please help us set up a meeting with the City Manager? for the past six months. We called multiple times, we sent several emails, we even tried to reach his secretary and we have not received nothing.

My team, they're from, they're 90% Santa Ana residents, including myself, and we are forced to go to Westminster and Garden Grove to train.

because we do not have access to fields in our own city because we don't have the opportunity to speak with the city manager regarding this issue. And it all started when this gentleman over here, Mr. Penalosa, called us a mafia. I also want to include for the last six months my team has been united and working hard. And we've competed in various tournaments and I am proud to say that we have won three three trophies in a row because we did it for Santa Ana because we are in Santa Ana. So please, Mayor, can you get the city manager to commit to meet with us within the next week or so? Thank you very much.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

The next three speakers, Melissa Huberto, Sue Palak, and Lulia Altamirano.

Hello Mayor and City Council members. My name is Melissa and I reside in Ward 4. I'm here today as well as the rest of the soccer organizations behind me to fight for field security. For our children in the city, the city manager has been ignoring our emails and phone calls. As stated before, we've tried to constantly reach his secretary and we've gotten nothing from him. He was allowed to negotiate a contract to give exclusive access to fields to an organization that makes a giant profit for people who aren't in Santa Ana. It is very unprofessional, and it feels 100% corrupted that we're being ignored.

Thank you for everyone's time.

Good evening, everyone. Sue from Ward 4.

I'm not happy about being here tonight because what I'm going to say is it's not anything that I relish saying. It's very upsetting for a lot of people, but I'm here to address comments and news articles and social media comments that you have made. And I'm very upset about it from the point of view that it just is so much hatred and and the hatred is like a disease. And I'm sorry for you because whatever is inside of you that makes you feel so hatred towards our police, I don't understand it.

I don't hate you. And I just think that because you have so many personal issues with the police, that you should recuse yourself from voting on anything that has to do with the police because it's all you know tainted and I'm sorry for you in this issue and you know you're not standing for the flag it's kind of become passe people don't really see it anymore I think the effectiveness of what you were trying to convey is no longer effective but for me it's personal and for a lot of other people it is too you see my great-great My great-great-grandfather was born in 1797,

and he fought in the War of 1812 when the National Anthem was written, and that was quite a battle. We didn't know if we were going to win or not. And in the 1830s, he lived in Maryland. He was just a lonely shoemaker, and he lived along the National Road National Road that Harriet Taubman had people coming up from the south and he helped eight to ten people a night towards freedom to the north and when he was in his 60s he signed up for the Civil War and he fought for the freedom

of the slaves and when the war ended five years later he passed away so it's personal to me and I feel bad because so many new immigrants here don't understand our history and what we have gone through for the freedom of other people not only just Americans but also throughout the world and so I just think that if you would reconsider I would love to have a conversation with you I'm I'm a person that I guess I'm more of a mediator kind of person and I want to I want to like you. I want to care about you. I want to share with you. I think there's a lot of things that you don't realize

that you and I have in common. But I think that this hatred that you have inside of you has just gotten so out of hand that it's affecting a lot of people in the community. Sue, your time is up. So I want to thank you for the opportunity to come forward and talk to you tonight. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

The next three speakers, !

It's my understanding that the secret negotiations between La Academia and the City of Santa Ana to grant exclusive access to publicly founded fields to a single organization have come to an end for now. I just respectfully want to remind you, Mr. City Manager, that the city cannot cede public land facilities to private entities without open process, by in public hearings, consultations with residents. If they do so in secret like it was happening, it's illegal and voidable. Now that negotiation is over, we will request a new CPRA and we expect to get it within 10 days like the law says.

In a different note, after many months and many meetings, the relationship between Parks and Rec and the soccer community is better than ever. When things, when good things happen we have to say it and when bad things happen we also have to say it. We're not here to disrespect any of our elected officials or staff. We're here to exercise our First Amendment right and if any of you feels offended for what we say I suggest you find another job. We elected you, we pay you, and we have the right to speak up. I also want to

express my deep concern about how our community funds and sources are being allocated, especially in areas such as soccer fields and court enforcement services. Just as we have demanded accountability and transparency in actions for our soccer field situation, we must also ensure that essential departments like court enforcement are properly staffed and supported. Please stop the unjustified terminations. And lastly, I find it ridiculous of the possible censure of Councilmember Hernandez for exercising his First Amendment right.

They say the words he used is defamation. But Councilmember Peñalosa defamated the whole soccer community by calling us mafia and nobody said a beep. Let's not be hypocritical. Thank you all very much.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

The next three speakers, Cesar Gisela Villavarde and Alia Nunez.

Hello, Mayor and City Council. My name is Cesar.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Can you get closer to the mic, please, and start his time over, Jennifer, please? Thank you.

Hello, Mayor and City Council members. My name is Cesar. I reside in Ward 1. I stand before you today. not just as a citizen, but as an active duty member of the United States Army. I'm here to fight for what I believe in and right now that means fighting for my city's future. Specifically, I'm representing my little brother, a proud athlete with MAKINA. They are one of the local organizations here today fighting for field security. I know how vital MAKINA is because I was once one of those players. I'm not just another brother. I live the opportunities they create. I went to traveling games out of the city

and even played in different states and countries. These were experiences that helped me build the confidence and courage to later serve our country. Now I look at my little brother and his teammates and I see those same life-changing moments and opportunities being created for them. We cannot let these opportunities be taken away and given to organizations that profit off people who aren't even part of our city or local organizations rooted here. The people here from Santa Ana are the true investors in our youth. Thank you.

may accompany on a as a new member of a new yoga soul even a new unit of a new unit may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold a new may hold They weren't just sports experiences, they were formative.

They helped develop confidence and courage for the beginning of what they led to make the decision to enlist in the army and serve our nation.

What is fair, demanding what is fair. I'm here to fight for the courts that are safe and dignified. For practices, it's not fair for these kids or for their parents. We are dedicated to their development, but we have to travel constantly to other cities solo para encontrar un campo disponible, invirtiendo nuestro tiempo y dinero en el extranjero cuando deberíamos invertir aquí, en nuestra propia ciudad.

Necesitamos estabilidad y seguridad para que máquina y todas las ligas locales puedan operar eficientemente. We don't want the success and opportunities of our children to depend on... Gisela, your time is up. Okay, thank you. Thank you very much.

Good evening, Mayor and City Council. My name is Gisela. Thank you for allowing us the use of this valuable time. And I'm here to say something about something that is the basis of our community. that it's going to help the future of our children. As a parent, I want to guarantee and offer these opportunities for our youth, and I'm here for two very important reasons. My two sons, the youngest is a very dedicated athlete, and he has a heart for Makina FC Club,

club and my older is here with me as a proud United States Army member and the older one was provided this valuable valuable service due to the local things that happened the local service that was happening not only Makina but he was not not just playing with La Máquina, but he, thanks to them, he got to travel to not only to play, but to go to other states. And this is not only about sports. These were the formative skills

that developed into him deciding to enlist in the United States Army and to serve this nation. And now I'm looking for the next generation to have the youth, including my younger son, to have fields accessible, to have access to these opportunities, to become the person that my oldest is today. And that's the reason that I am here, and only to ask what is fair. accessible fields because it's not fair for the kids and us

parents that we have to go to other cities. We have to invest our time and our money elsewhere. Instead, we should be investing that here. So we need a máquina and the other youth to have access to these fields in an efficient manner. Thank

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

you. The next three speakers, Alia Nunez, Chris Williams, Pedro Magallon.

Good evening. My name is Aaliyah Nunez. I'm from Ward 3 and I'm here to speak on item 21, the possible censure of Councilmember Hernandez. I want to remind the council and everyone listening that due process isn't optional. It's a foundation of justice. justice. Before you move forward with any kind of censor, public deserves full transparency. What exactly are the allegations? Who's behind them? And has anybody been appointed as an independent reviewer? Because from where the committee stands, it looks a lot like one council member who's been fighting to hold this city, especially the police department

accountable, is now the one being punished for it. That's not a coincidence. That's retaliation dressed up as a procedure and if this council allows that who's next who's the next person that'll be silenced for asking the hard questions or standing up to the power this is how corruption grows not from outsiders but from within when good people stay quiet while the with the system eats them eats its own council member hernandez isn't the problem he's the warning sign if you censor him without fairness and facts you're not

protecting Santa Ana you're proving exactly why it needs to be saved are you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

okay there are you okay please continue thank you thank you just making sure

sorry no feel free thank you so with that being said make sure everybody is is aware and accountable of the process in which we have to abide by in the foundations that we live by and the rules and everything, okay?

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Chris Williams and I reside in council members ward six, David Penalosa's district. And I'm the one that's been emailing you guys for about the last six months regarding drug issues and also homeless issues in our area. I moved into the area about seven years ago. I saw all the great things that are happening in Santa Ana. The new architecture coming in, the train coming in, the many events outside my front door. I love it. Totally love it. But in the last year and a half, there's been tons of drug addicts, tons of homeless people up around my front door, you know, up and down Spurgeon Street.

At the businesses that are out now vacant, they've just attracted a ton of people. And I want to stay here, but I started questioning this about a year ago, saying, should I just sell? Because I just didn't see things getting better. But after bugging you guys for a little while I did get David to come out and I really appreciate that and also a city manager came out and then We also had corporal Frank Gutierrez come out and they really listened to us So that was very nice and I've got to say in the last two weeks things have really gotten cleaned up quite a bit

But we're still dealing with problems. So even tonight there was ten people over next to the Rite Aid doing drugs So things are getting better, but we gotta keep the pressure on. We gotta keep people out of these areas. And I think that, I know that we don't wanna arrest people, but we gotta arrest people and we need to save these people that have issues on the street because this is how they're gonna get help. We can't just let them hang around and do what they wanna do.

too. So I'm just appreciative that people are listening in the city. I've lived in other cities that I did not get a response at all, but city of Santa Ana, I really appreciate it. So keep the pressure on and let's make Santa Ana just a great place. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

next speakers pedro magallon johnny a mejia and dale helvig good evening mayor city council

members um we're going to continue to be here to fight for what we believe because of uh since six months ago and we don't get no response from uh the city manager we thought things were going to change because he's homegrown we've known him since he was just a city inspector and i still and i will always say that i hold them in hard regards but either his phone's not working the eighth floor is not picking up his signals because he's not answering anybody's phone calls now i have personally called the secretary we can't get a hold of her we've sent her emails we'll send

of everything so we really appreciate you guys paying attention as of to our um history it's funny because people come and say um how we might not understand the history of the united states we do the land was stolen from us and we live here now and we are proud to be americans here in santa ana california and also we need to hold the police accountable because maybe a lot of people have not encountered incidents with the police but we have and I'm not gonna go into the brown and black in this and that colors I'm just saying the Santa

Ana police needs to be accountable for a lot of things because just as a resident here I had a few incidents of myself going back to the soccer please revisit this whole MLS next I want to believe that you were misinformed because Chivas Chivas USA already tried to bring their franchise here, which is LAFC now, and it didn't work. The stadium, they had a whole plan. I mean, I could go on, but my time is going to be short. But there was already an MLS franchise that tried to come here and couldn't. Not only that, now there's a franchise in San Diego, and now there's two in LA.

So geographically, bringing an MLS team here is going to be practically impossible. But thank you for everything that you guys have done so far. Yes, we are starting to get along better with Park and Recreation through to the leadership here, but we need more of your help. We need you guys to be there more. And for everybody that... We gotta speak our mind. We can't be censored. And I said it here when I came and I exposed that the old Park and Recreation was a racist and she's no longer here. I stand by that to this day. and I will say what I said that day. I'm going to continue fighting on my feet, then live on my knees.

So thank you for your time.

Good evening, Mayor. Good evening, Council Members. I want to take a moment to thank the entire community, the families, the players, the coaches, and everyone who stood up the past few weeks to protect, what we have built together. We were heard that an outside group was taking,

was trying to take over the community fields without going through the proper process. Our people came together, united, and made their voice heard. I also want to thank City Hall members who listened to the community and made sure transparency and fairness stayed in the center of the process. The power of the people spoke loudly through social media, the media news, through our community network, over 206 views on the videos, and every share, every comment, every message of support made a difference.

Even players who grew up here went to play professional, reached out, showing love for the roots and the city it helped them raise. That's what's all about the community. We're not here to fight anyone. We're here to protect opportunities for our kids, stand for recreation, and to community, building positive space for everyone. We're not backing down. We're still standing together for the city, the youth, and the future. City Manager, Santana no se vende, se respeta y se defiende. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

The next three speakers, Del Helvig, Leandro Chaluka, and Joanna Lopez.

Good evening, Mayor, Council Members, City staff.

I'd like to talk about item 10 first. I submitted a letter earlier today, and unfortunately, I just went by the agenda item and the recommended actions in the staff report. What I didn't see was in exhibit one, I thought that $580,000 for a rental registry consultant was extremely high for three years with the two-year extension. What it failed to actually say was that $580,000 is actually for five years. You're going to approve the two-year extension or they can come back and get the two-year

extension but it's really 364 000 for three years with a two-year extension so i just wanted to clarify that up that maybe we can get a little bit better when we have scope information out there

i'd also like to know when the full implementation release and acceptance uh uh requirement is it says in the in the proposal it'll be late 2025 and i'm i'm thinking if you guys approve it tonight are they really going to get this registry up and running by the end of the year so that's going to be a challenge i think i'd also like to know when the city is going to finally know the number of rental units that are impacted by the rso in the meantime we have the fees going out to the landlords based upon what i call a swag single wild ass guess because we

We don't know really how many units are involved. We don't know how much money we're gonna collect. We do know we're gonna spend $580,000 for this registry though. And who knows what all the other charges are. So hopefully that's discussed as well. The other two items I'd like to talk about are, one is Mark Spratt talked earlier about it. The $2,500 for the Little Arabia event, it just doesn't sound right and look right. That money should have gone, as Mark said, to Santa Ana residents somehow, whether it be assistance for immigration, food stamps, whatever.

But it shouldn't be going to another city, and hopefully we do something about that. The last thing is, we hear at a closed session when we have to pay out money to lawsuits. What we don't hear about is when we actually win a lawsuit. And the reason I bring that up is Roman Reina owes the city over $400,000. That's money that can be put to good use for the immigration issue as well. Not that we're gonna ever probably see the light of day of that, but I think we ought to be looking at recouping that money. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Leandro Chaluka, Joanna Lopez, Karen Perez.

Good afternoon, Mayor Mezcua. My name is Leandro Chaluka. I attend Mendez Fundamental Intermediate and live on Santa Ana Boulevard. I'm here on behalf of the rest of these soccer organizations today. I was here last time for field security. Now I am on the verge to accomplishing my dream I dream of being pro, receiving offers from Club Puebla,

Juarez, and Club America, but how can you want other kids to do the same when we don't have fields to practice? Most of the time, I have to travel 30 minutes, close to an hour, to get to practice, and usually I don't have rides, but yet you guys are giving free access to people outside of Santa Ana. Please pay attention to the talent Santa Ana has. Thank you for your time.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. My name is Johanna Lopez. I'm a 57-year resident of Santa Ana. I'm also the mother of Brandon Anthony Lopez. I have a comment in regards to, I believe it's item 21, the possible censure of Council Member Hernandez. So these are my comments. When a law enforcement agency becomes directly involved in complaints or actions against against an elected official, it creates the appearance that police are attempting to shape or punish political speech. That is deeply troubling. The police department's role is to serve the public, not to participate in political disputes.

Any perception that officers or representatives are using city processes to target a council member undermines both ethical standards and public trust. Even if the intent is not political, the appearance of bias can do lasting harm to the city's credibility and community confidence. Before any decision to move forward with censure, I urge the Council to call for an independent review to ensure that all actions have been appropriate, fair, and free from influence. Transparency and accountability must be applied equally to our elected officials and to the

police department as well itself. Santa Ana deserves a government that operates above politics and then holds integrity for everyone who serves this community. Thank you Justice for Brandon Lopez.

Hello everybody my name is Karen Perez. I'm here representing United Latin and a lot of the soccer leagues here in Santa Ana. I had a whole speech made out talking about the secret negotiations that were going on that were recently stopped. We know the reason why they were stopped and it wasn't because the other party backed down, it's because there's a lot of a lot of things that were hit from us. I can't say my speech, I was distracted by the smirks and you know the smiles that Peñalosa had when some of my colleagues were talking about how he called us a mafia.

It's very difficult to concentrate. I'd like for you guys to see the members that he called a mafia. If you guys can please stand. Ricardo Sandoval, Pedro Magallon, Leonel Perez, Tommy Fernandez, Joaquin, Jose. These are just some of the gentlemen that you called the mafia. I would like for you to address it and meet with us i know you're busy looking through your magazines while i'm trying to talk to you it's it's very hard you know to talk to you i see the smirks that you gave when my colleagues were talking about it we've been here every two weeks talking about it i have

asked you guys all to open up your agendas i have emailed you guys including including alvaro i've emailed all of you guys asking for you guys to open up your agendas and meet with us. I would like a reason as to why we're being ignored, as to why the comments from this gentleman are not being acknowledged. Do you really think I'm a mafia leader? Do you think any of these gentlemen here are mafia? Because to me it seems like the mafia is within. It's not out here. Look at them and tell them that they're a mafia again. A few weeks ago you guys stopped all of

this and all the talks to address us why don't you do it again why isn't it being addressed why aren't our emails being heard we asked for public records to be submitted to be relinquished the only thing that we got were emails trying to intimidate us letting us know what we've supposedly have done wrong there's a lot of things that were hid and weren't given to us I'm not asking for a meeting anymore I'm demanding a meeting I want to know I want an explanation as to why all these things were happening back door we have

a great team at Parks and Rec why didn't they go through them why are we expected to go through Parks and Recreation but not your friends can you address those issues I've emailed you I've emailed almost everybody here actually I've I've emailed everybody. Is there gonna be an answer to any of my emails? I just want a meeting. If you're not willing to meet with me, simply reply and let me know, hey Karen, I don't wanna meet with you. That's all I'm asking. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Councilmember Lopez, are there any public speakers at your teleconference location?

Jessie LopezItem 2

No one is here present.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Mayor and City Council will now begin the Zoom speakers. Speakers on Zoom, when unmuted, please announce your name and the ward or neighborhood that you reside in within the City of Santa Ana for the record. First speaker on Zoom, Eli, please unmute and make your comments.

ELI BUSH- Good afternoon, city officials. My name is Elizabeth Mojica and I'm representing Ward 2. I am here today as a concerned resident and community leader in Santa Ana. I am deeply troubled by how our community's funds and resources are currently being allocated.

Misallocated funding has previously eroded public trust and prevented essential resources from reaching critical areas of need. A particularly alarming consequence of this is the growing staffing crisis within our code enforcement division. Division. Several experienced officers have recently departed, citing challenges within management and the internal work environment. This has significantly reduced the capacity to address critical community concerns related to compliance, safety, and quality of life. Among those who left were officers who consistently provided professional, respectful, and clear

service. They excelled at helping residents not only understand violence but also guiding them towards resolution in a fair and supportive manner. This detailed and compassionate approach is a rare and valuable asset in public service and it made a tangible difference for me and many others in the community. Therefore, I strongly urge the city to prioritize the reinstatement of these key former officers. Their return would be a direct step towards restarting community trust and ensuring santa under residence the quality of service they deserve thank you for your time and serious considerable consideration of this vital matter

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

caller whose phone number ends in 982 please unmute and make your comments

Good afternoon. My name is Marilyn and I'm a committee member of Ward 5. I want to begin by thanking the council for the significant investments that have been made in transforming downtown Tanana over recent years. I also want to speak about the importance of how our city's resources are being managed, especially within court enforcement. Over time, several Several skilled and dedicated officers have left the department, often citing challenges with toxic management and an internal hostile work environment. Their departure has left noticeable gaps in how effectively the city is able to respond to code enforcement issues.

What's especially concerning is that many of those who left were the kind of officers who built genuine trust with residents. They were professional, respectful, and solution-oriented. They didn't just enforce the rules, they took the time to help residents understand issues find solutions and feel supported in the process. In my experience, that thoughtful approach made a lasting impact and created a sense of cooperation between the city and the community. When we lose individuals who embody those values, we lose more than staff. We lose connection, understanding, and trust. And that trust is essential for effective public service.

It's abundantly clear from this meeting that I'm far from alone in my concerns. I will not stop highlighting how code enforcement management is a liability for the city and how they're hurting the services residents receive. I strongly urge the city to prioritize rebuilding and supporting our code enforcement team by bringing back experienced staff wherever possible and addressing the workplace challenges that cause their departure. Restoring this department's strength and stability would go a long way toward rebuilding community confidence, making sure residents continue to receive the high quality service Senate AMA deserves

and protecting the significant investments that have been made in our city, including building infrastructure and the overall revitalization of our neighborhood. Thanks for your time and for listening to the concerns of the community.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Next speaker on Zoom, Louisa, please unmute and make your comments.

Good evening, my name is Luisa Burrieta. I'm a member of the community in Ward 5. Today I wanted to speak about our code enforcement department. We the residents have definitely noticed a huge change. When we had good officers, the ones who were fair and built up our trust, our neighborhood started looking much better. But now that they've left, that good work has stopped. problems are piling up again. We need code enforcement to be strong and respectful so we can keep our community a great place to live. Council, please find a way to fix internal problems and get those experienced people back on the job. Thank you for your time.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Next speaker on Zoom, Fernando Devoros. Please unmute and make your comments.

Hello, Council. Can you hear me? Yes, please go ahead. Hi, everyone. I called in tonight to speak on item 21, the attempted censure of Councilmember Jonathan Hernandez. Now, it's my understanding that this censure is in response to complaints filed by three police officers against him, and I just wanted to call in to remind the public that as the Council discusses this censure, I think it's important for people to note the potential conflict of interest at play on the dais. Now, there are three members on this council phil becerra david penalosa and mayor valerie mezcua who have all

received endorsements from the police officers association and together have taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions and i know that phil likes to say that these contributions don't really influence their decision making in the slightest but i respectfully would challenge that notion for example i think residents will remember back in 2023 when these three reps proudly supported the poa's attempted recall of councilmember jesse lopez even when when everyone else in the city knew that it was both BS from the jump.

This recall ultimately failed and ended up costing the city hundreds of thousands of tax dollars, but it gave us all a chance to see just how low these POA-endorsed reps would go to target their colleagues on the other side of the aisle in service of their POA donors. Now, second, I think it's important for people to remember what the goal of Accenture is. Accenture is a government tool used to publicly shame and silence elected officials. And what sort of speech, I'm wondering, might this century be looking to silence.

Since 2020, when Councilmember Hernandez stepped into office, he's been one of the boldest voices in our city championing accountability and transparency. And he's also one of the most outspoken representatives in the county when it comes to incidents of police misconduct, police brutality, police killings. In 2021, when his cousin was killed by Anaheim PD in our city, he helped lead a public campaign calling for justice. And last year, his family received $6 million settlement from the city of Anaheim.

And last year, when officers Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra shot and killed Noe Rodriguez, 30 seconds after arriving on the scene, the family filed a lawsuit against the city and the officers, and Councilmember Hernandez has repeatedly echoed their calls for justice. So I imagine that this is the kind of speech that has put a target on his back for censure. Now, lastly, I just want to say on behalf of the residents that we're tired of the political theater on this dais, the petty back and forths, the cheap shots. Our city has bigger issues to deal with.

with. And if there's accountability to be had, please let the investigations be carried out and stop with the finger wagging on the dice. Vote no on this venture. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Next speaker on Zoom, Nadia Nelly. Please unmute and make your comments.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Nadia.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Next Zoom speaker, Lisa.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Please unmute and make your comments.

Hello. Can you hear me?

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Yes, please go ahead.

Good evening, Mayor, Council members, and city staff. My name is Lisa Tran and I'm calling as a concerned resident of Santa Ana. I want to strongly urge the city to require Union Pacific Railroad to hire a 24-7 security team like the county's flood channel security to provide constant enforcement on their property. This is crucial to protect students, residents, and businesses along and near the railroad corridor from chestnut to flower and hold Union Pacific accountable.

The twice weekly cleanup or maid service has become predictable. Transients wait nearby at parks, businesses and sidewalks, then return immediately to set up camp again. Students walk near these encampments on sidewalks and bike trails. Many residents, business owners and employees witness open air drug use, sales and trafficking of drugs. Adjacent businesses suffer severe property damage and loss of customers. Recently, one business, a large transportation service, relocated after losing hundreds of thousands of dollars after encampment transients vandalized their vehicles.

Neighbors live in fear, with known parolees and sex offenders camped just feet away from homes and businesses. These conditions have existed since at least 2017. Is it too much to ask that this property be kept free of trash, encampments, drugs, and crime every day, not just for a few hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays during maid service? I want to sincerely thank SAPD and the Quality of Life team for doing everything they can to help keep these areas clear. We know how difficult this is, and we truly appreciate their ongoing efforts. Thank you for your attention. We need lasting solutions, not temporary cleanups. Thank you very much.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Mayor and city council that concludes the Zoom speakers that were in the queue when we commenced public comments. We do have one final comment card, Jonathan Hernandez.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

Mayor and council, if I could just make a comment about the comment card, Because we have the item number 21 on the agenda, I did speak with Councilmember Hernandez and advised that he should recuse himself from the conversation. He did ask if he could make a public comment. He is legally allowed to make comments as to his personal situation from down at the podium. And so I understand he submitted a card to be able to do that this evening.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

»» Thank you, Madam City Attorney. We'll be moving the item up. We'll be moving the item up to be heard after he speaks. Thanks.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Next speaker, Jonathan Hernandez.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 2

Hello, Mayor and City Council, City Manager and City Attorney. It's a pleasure to be here today. I'm here in my capacity as a resident utilizing my First Amendment right. At today's City Council meeting, item 21 on this agenda will discuss whether I, the elected, duly elected Councilmember of Ward 5, should be censured due to claims of harassment from Santa Ana police officers. I'm wearing a shirt that I've worn in this Council over many years

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 2

that says, arrest the cops who killed Brandon Lopez. Lopez. I have long used this dais for free speech to champion my constituents during some of the most toughest times of their lives. Long before I was elected in 2020, our police department had a tumultuous and adversarial relationship with the Santa Ana community. From 2010 to 2020, the Santa Ana Police Department has cost Santa Ana taxpayers $24.5 million dollars in misconduct lawsuits and settlements. Santa Ana PD has a scorecard of 36% on police scorecard dot org. 268 civilian complaints have been filed

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 2

related to police misconduct whereas only 3% were ruled in favor of civilians from 2016 to 2022. Since 2013 to 2025 there has been over 20 killings by Santa police officers in the city of Santa Ana today. Today the Santa Ana City Council will consider censoring me. In censoring me, you are also censoring my neighbors and my constituents, your residents. This attempt to silence a dissenting opinion is a violation of my First Amendment right to free speech. As councilmember, I have fought to protect our civil rights and human rights at the dais and on the

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 2

ground. I have remained committed to the values of justice, accountability, and transparency. I do not support the harassment of any of our city employees. I want to be absolutely clear that I support each of our city employees being treated with respect and dignity in their workplace. I strongly oppose this censure because using a censure in response to public criticism risks undermining free speech and the ability of elected officials advocating for their constituents. Two of the three officers that filed complaints against me were involved in shootings

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 2

that are being investigated by the Department of Justice. One of those two officers, 30 days after the first shooting he was involved in on December 1st of 2024, where Noe Rodriguez was shot over 30 times, the officer was subsequently involved in a shooting 30 days later on January 1st of 2025. Fast forward, the third officer that filed a complaint on me is the officer who alleged Brandon Lopez had a firearm. The actions of the Santa Ana police officers to make a be on the lookout document undermined my own family's tragedy. Your time is up. I hope that you guys use good judgment and protect the city from liability by not censoring

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 2

speech and free speech. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Mayor and city council, that concludes the public speakers. Thank you very much Madam City Clerk. At this time we're going to move item 21 up to right now. We'll have this discussion. The consideration of possible censor of Councilman Hernandez.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

Madam City Attorney. Yes, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and Council Members. Can you speak louder ma'am? I'm sorry. Yeah let me see if I can move this over. Is that better? Better for you Mayor? Yes, thank you. So Mayor Pro Tem and Council Members, item number 21 that is on your council agenda tonight was put there after announcing after a closed session on August 19th that you had gone into closed session and that you had voted by a vote of six to zero with City Council Member Hernandez absent that the council had directed the City Attorney's Office to advise the council

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

on a potential censure process with potential legal consequences in response to personnel !

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

You may decide whether to begin the process for adopting a resolution of censure concerning the alleged misconduct. If you do that, we request that you be very specific so that we can take detailed notes and return to you with a resolution if that's what you decide to do. Whether to appoint an ad hoc committee to schedule a hearing for consideration of the censure if you feel that you would need more time to put together the details for a resolution. and then that recommendation would come back to the full council in an open and public setting just as we are doing this evening or whether to engage outside

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

council to advise you on this matter should you feel that you need additional advice so the City Council has been presented with this report you were also presented with an attorney-client privileged legal advice memorandum to guide you in your discussion this evening I'm available to answer any questions that you may have will you discuss this item Thank You madam City

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

City Attorney. Let's start this discussion please. Councilmembers if you'd like to speak

Benjamin VazquezItem 2

please raise your mic and three minutes. Mayor Pro Tem. Thank you. I want to speak up on the behalf on the behalf of Councilmember Jonathan Hernandez who has a First Amendment right to speak his mind from the dais and be critical of city politics and city work and it is our job and our duty to do so.

Benjamin VazquezItem 2

There is precedent where a council member has been sued by a police officer for doing the same thing, and the council member won that litigation. Given that there is precedent that if this goes to trial and Jonathan will win,

Benjamin VazquezItem 2

and it's been shown that he does have his right through litigation.

Benjamin VazquezItem 2

If we do this, Jonathan can sue us because it goes against California law for him to speak his mind in his First Amendment. He could sue the city for the work that he has been doing because it is his rightful law, rightful right to give his opinion on the works within the city. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. Do you know the case you're talking about? Can you share that with us? I'm curious.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Can you turn your mic on, please?

Benjamin VazquezItem 2

Sorry. I looked up. There was one called Green v. Cortez and we were given one, too, by the city attorney in our email. I forget what it was.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Madam City Attorney, can you give the case, please?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

Yes. I'm just going to look in my memorandum which I brought with me. If you want to go on and take other comments, I'll look for it in my materials and provide it to you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Thank you. Councilor Panalosa.

David PenalozaItem 2

Thank you, Madam Mayor, and thank you, Madam City Attorney, for the information list on the staff report. The only questions that I had is I wasn't under the impression that this was just going to be to this. I don't think this is an agenda item to censure, right? You're just asking for recommendations of what we would like to do as a city council?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

Yes. So when you engage in a censure process, it's like a two-step process because the public is entitled to know what the issues are and what your direction is moving forward. So this is the first step. If you even want to pursue the censure, then we would talk about the procedure you want to use to do that. And then there if you decided that you did want to pursue it, then there would be a separate hearing and at that time it would be presented with a draft resolution and then the person to be censured would be given a more full due process opportunity to discuss that in public as well. So tonight the purpose of tonight's meeting

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

and this agenda item is to determine whether the City Council would like to

David PenalozaItem 2

pursue a censure or not okay thank you for that I definitely do not agree with anything that councilmember Hernandez has said regarding this subject but I do believe in due process so I would my recommendation would be that we investigate thoroughly these allegations because at the end of the day they are our allegations made that comments were made about our officers we've heard many times up here from the dais we've seen them we've all witnessed them but i do believe that councilmember hernandez is is afforded due process so i what how would what would you wreck or i guess what would be the

David PenalozaItem 2

the proper way to recommend that these allegations that are made be investigated.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

Okay. So I will mention, I do need to be careful about this. When we receive any type of complaint from an employee, we have a duty internally, if there is an applicable policy, to evaluate a complaint that's made. We have done that. We have a policy regarding harassment and retaliation because in these complaints there were references to potential harassment and retaliation. We processed those complaints under the city's policy. So the HR department working with the city attorney's department, we are doing that. The city council has absolutely no role in that process.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

That is an internal process and we must maintain confidentiality. And because the subject employees are police officers, we need to be mindful of POBAR. that process is separate what's before you as the City Council is your own process because there's an ethics code an ethics code that's required by the voters because it's in your city charter so you as the City Council received complaints each one of you including councilmember Hernandez was copied on the complaints alleging violations of that ethics code so that's really what's before the City Council this evening if you as a City Council say that you want

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

to have these allegations independently investigated under that ethics code you've done that in a previous situation you could do that if you as city council members say we feel we have enough information to pursue something you can do that if you say we don't want to pursue anything at this moment you can do that the city had a former version of your ethics code you had a provision in your charter that was very specific and detailed about how you were going to address complaints. That specific complaint process was removed by the voters in the last election.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

But that doesn't mean that the City Council can't have this discussion tonight, and it does not mean that the City Council doesn't have a way to address that. The challenge is we don't have a formal, documented way to do it, and today's discussion is to give you that ability to address whether you as Council members believe there's been a violation of the ethics code whether you as council members believe you want it to be investigated by a third party whether you want to do nothing further tonight is your chance to discuss those those

David PenalozaItem 2

options okay thank you for that madam city attorney i um don't take any allegations and complaints lodged by our employees lightly i know that last year two years ago it was our number of parks and and Rex employees director Hawk Scott and worked with the city previous city manager to file a formal complaint against the same council member for similar allegations harassment violations of city charter and whatnot and those were investigated I believe that we should take the same route I think they should be investigated because at the end of the day council member Hernandez deserves

David PenalozaItem 2

due process as do the officers that he often criticizes up here also deserve due process so So I would say that we, my recommendation, I guess is the last comment I'll make is that we move forward with an investigation into these because last year was our parks and recs employees, this year it's police officers and next year it's going to be somebody else. So it's just going to keep on happening until we address the situation. So investigation into the matter would be my recommendation.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Thank you, Councillor Cronos. Thank you, Mayor. Councillor Becerra. Mayor?

David PenalozaItem 2

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Phil BacerraItem 2

I think this is awful that we're even having this discussion tonight. I say that's awful because the fact that we have allegations brought to us about one of our colleagues making comments about our police officers. I appreciate the one speaker tonight who said due process is not optional. It is a foundation of justice. justice. It is. In the United States, in this fine country, due process is absolutely paramount. I just wish half the speakers that came in here and had already convicted police officers

Phil BacerraItem 2

for what they believe was an outcome, I wish they also respected due process. I wish that when people made these claims about officers, when an investigation is still ongoing, I I wish they respected due process and allowed the process to go forward. You don't have to agree with the results of it. In fact, as Council Member Palo Alto is recommending, we can do an investigation on Council Member Hernandez. There may be many that agree with the outcome. There may be many that disagree with the outcome. God bless the United States of America. That's our process.

Phil BacerraItem 2

So I want to ask the Madam City Attorney, when Council Member Hernandez was up at the podium speaking he mentioned that censure would be a violation of his first amendment rights i just want clarity because i want to thank you for providing us with a lot of material to consider before we have to have this discussion tonight is a censure a violation of anybody's first amendment

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

rights um a censure itself has been upheld by the california and the united states supreme courts to say that a legislative body can police one of its members by pointing out behavior which they find to either be in violation of their policy, whether that's a violation of your ethics code or in violation of your norms or behaviors which you suggest are not conducive to the way you wanna engage in business in the city. So censures are upheld. I have seen in some cases where individuals have brought lawsuits for violation of First Amendment speech. With respect to our Mayor Pro Tem, if I may, I want to

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

address his question. I was looking at the memo that I did send and I'm not finding the case that he referenced. So perhaps if he wants to say that case again, I can look it up. But I did not see that case. Maybe you had the wrong name or I wasn't listening.

Benjamin VazquezItem 2

You gave us a case before in the memo and I forget the name of that one, but I looked up Green versus Cortez from From 1984.

Benjamin VazquezItem 2

Green versus Cortez.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

Okay, I'll take a look for that, but I didn't see it in my memo. Okay, I'll take a look. Councillor Becerra, go ahead.

Phil BacerraItem 2

Thank you. So what I gather from the censure process, I think Madam City Attorney mentioned the term policing our own. I don't know that censure alone is policing. Censure alone is what I look at as the First Amendment cuts both ways. You can call me a name, I can call you a name, right? First Amendment. You have your right to express yourself and I sure as hell have my right to express myself. So if this council as a majority votes to express itself and express its displeasure with Councilmember Hernandez's comments, with his prejudging

Phil BacerraItem 2

of police officers and their actions, or his flagrant disregard for the verdict of a review of police officers actions. That is the wish of the council and it is our right. So at this point as I mentioned earlier I absolutely believe in due process and so I will be supporting an investigation because again I don't want to prejudge. I don't want to commit the same sin that many others come up to this podium and do. I want to afford our colleague due justice or due process, thank you.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

Mayor, I think I have an answer to Mayor Pro Tem's question. Go ahead, Madam Secretary. Okay, so I think Mayor Pro Tem, if I am understanding you correctly, you were not citing that specific case. I think you were referring to a case that we had discussed, that I had mentioned to you, that's the Miller versus Sawant case that came from the Ninth Circuit. It was in that particular case where police officers had sued a city council member, I'm alleging very similar facts here today. It had a very long history. The litigation lasted for many years. Ultimately the Ninth Circuit ruled that

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

the individual police officers could not maintain a defamation case against the council member. That was that was the case that I believe you may have been

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

referring to. Madam City Attorney, can you give us a name of that case please?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

Yes, Miller versus Sawant. I can give you a case number if you just hold on one second we're going to pull it up again and that is a case in the united states court of appeals for the ninth circuit it's case number two dash one eight cv zero zero five zero six dash m jp m as in michael m is in michael jp and that is the case number thank you so hopefully the next

Phil BacerraItem 2

time it's brought up it'll be red before you bring it up right council besari you have any other

Thai Viet PhanItem 2

comments? No, that's it. Thank you. So I think we're all really tired of all of this fighting, I guess. You know, this was a really hard item because I respect so much each of my colleagues' points of views and why we were each elected, right, to advocate for members of our ward for the policy issues that are most important to our constituents,

Thai Viet PhanItem 2

and to make policies that move the city forward, to be good stewards of not just the city's taxpayer dollars, but also our staff and the programming here. And I think what frustrates me the most is, well, one, when we're talking about politics, I'm the only one not running for something. I'm not running for reelection. I have no intention of running for reelection, not running for higher office. So this really is looking at, you know, how do we treat each other, the public and our

Thai Viet PhanItem 2

staff with respect, even though we're advocating for really difficult policy positions, even though we might disagree wholeheartedly. I have disagreed with every single person on this dais. I have disagreed with staff, and I have made my positions known. Every single person up here has done that. But unfortunately, it seems as though only one of us up here has had multiple complaints by everyday employees again and again, and that puts this city at risk. We can be advocates.

Thai Viet PhanItem 2

We can voice concerns about policing, about parks and rec, about whatever it is in this city, but we have to do so with the responsibility of the power to which we were elected. We cannot say things and think that no one's going to be hurt by that. We can't just say things because we think it'll get a sound bite or get coverage in the news or play really well in social media because at the end of the day we're all people who are working who are trying our best at least that's my belief to make the city a better place I want to see an investigation move forward I want

Thai Viet PhanItem 2

to look into all of these allegations because that is at least what our employees deserve I don't care what department you're in I don't care if you're a part-time employee no one should feel like anyone on this dais or any person with power or authority in the city or that any of their peers are harassing them or making it hard for them to be an employee of this city I work with cities every day my entire personality is about public service and

Thai Viet PhanItem 2

And I can tell you that it is not okay to make any employee anywhere, whether you agree or disagree with their activity, whether they're competent or not, to feel harassed.

Thai Viet PhanItem 2

And for us as electeds, no one else can hold us accountable but the seven people up here.

Thai Viet PhanItem 2

And when I'm wrong, I admit to it. And I think that in order to ensure that all of our employees feel like they can be heard, when the most powerful people in the city are doing something that they feel is wrong, we have to pursue an investigation. And when the investigation is concluded, whether my colleague is exonerated and found not to have done anything wrong by an independent investigator, or if he is found to be wrong, We have to accept the results of those investigations. We can't keep saying that, you know, when the result does not align with what we believe in,

Thai Viet PhanItem 2

that it's somehow rigged or wrong. That's how due process works. So I really hope that my colleagues, whether or not you support Councilman Hernandez's message, or whether or not you agree with him, that you agree to pursue this investigation, because if you believe he is right, If you believe that he is innocent, if you believe in his message, then you would say that he would be exonerated. There would be nothing to hide. So that would be what I would support today and I look forward to seeing that everybody who is involved in these allegations be interviewed. I look forward to having a

Thai Viet PhanItem 2

thorough report and I look forward to coming back to this dais and making sure that whatever the result of this investigation says that we all do a better job that we all bring down the temperature that we all disagree on policy but not personally that we all stop taking jabs just because just because we think it'll win us a point because it doesn't it doesn't win us anything because at the end of the day we're all in the same boat this is all residents. We are all working for the city of Santa Ana and none of this is good for us. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Thank you. Councilmember Lopez, are you on?

Jessie LopezItem 2

I am, Mayor.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Would you like to make

Jessie LopezItem 2

comments? I have a question for our city manager.

Jessie LopezItem 2

Go ahead. Oh, city manager, can you just clarify for me because I'm looking at my notes from when we originally discussed this in and closed session. And it's my understanding we have already, the city has already done an investigation.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

Council member Lopez, city manager Nunez is going to have me answer that question. So as I mentioned-

Jessie LopezItem 2

Can I just ask why, if I'm asking my city manager?

Jessie LopezItem 2

Okay, I'm sorry, I didn't hear that. CAN I ASK WHY YOU'RE ANSWERING IT WHEN I ASK THE CITY MANAGER A QUESTION? I CAN ANSWER.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

OKAY. HE WILL ANSWER.

THANK YOU.

Alvaro NuñezItem 2

YES, YOU ARE CORRECT. SO THE H.R. DID CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THESE ALLEGATIONS.

Jessie LopezItem 2

THANK YOU. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I REMEMBER. AND I ALSO REMEMBER WHAT WE DISCUSSED IN closed session that the outcome of the investigations were um and so for those reasons for the reasons we discussed in closed session i'm going to be voting no thank you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

so

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

okay thank you councilmember lopez so i just want to be clear um madam city attorney when this was discussed in closed session there were six of us in the room is that correct Yes. Six of you with Councilmember Hernandez absent. And there was a discussion, there were some recommendations made, and then you shared with us that it would need to be out. We would have to have a public, we'd have to do this publicly, is that correct?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

Yes. I explained to you that there were two processes. One was internal and was being processed under the City's policy regarding harassment and retaliation. And that there could be a second process that was directly under the purview of the City Council under the Ethics Code.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

And again, I want to repeat that all six council members that were in the room voted to bring this to the public to censor Councilman Hernandez. Is that correct, Madam City Attorney? Or have a discussion around the censor of Councilman Hernandez?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

Yes, specifically it was to bring this matter back in public to determine whether you wanted to pursue a censure.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Okay. I just want to clarify that because I think some people will say otherwise, but all six members of this council were in the room and they voted to bring this forward. So this censor and what I've read and what you have sent us and the research I've done, this resolution of censor, it's essentially a public statement repudiating certain behaviors. It's not about our opinions, it's about behaviors and the behavior of Councilman Hernandez.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

As Councilman Penalosa said, we were just here not too long ago, conducted an investigation around allegations from Parks and Rec staff, and three of the four allegations were sustained against Councilman Hernandez. The code of ethics that we have, even though they were our last election and we were voted differently, we still have not changed them. We need to bring them forward. It says, I treat my fellow officials, staff, and the public

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

with patience, courtesy, and civility, even when we disagree on what is best for the community. I agree with Councilmember Phan that I too would love to get away from the politicking and really get some work done up here. We have quality of life issues that need to be addressed. We have potholes to fix and sidewalks, and we have soccer issues, we have youth issues, we have crime issues. You know, one of the comments that Councilman Hernandez made up here, attacking police,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

was he made the comment, and I don't want to misquote him, but I believe it was, the Santa Ana Police Department is waging war, has waged war on his ward. From January 1st of 25 to August 19th of 25, in his ward, there were approximately 12,274 calls for service. Let me say that again. 12,274 calls for service. What that means is the community

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

called for service, not the council members, not the police officers, but actually the residents of Ward 5, 12,274 times. And out of those 12,274 times, only 325 people were arrested. You do the math. That is not waging war. So again, this is, it's dangerous to us as a city because it can end up costing us millions of dollars.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

And we have a responsibility as a council to address these matters. And we, as stated up here earlier, are the only ones who can police each other. And I, too, do not want to use the word police each other. I will say hold each other accountable. And our constituents can as well by voting. and and that is a beautiful ability that we have to vote but this is coming before us and again all six in closed session voted to bring this forward and there was a very hardy discussion about what consequences people wanted to give

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

it's interesting that we come out in the public and it changes because we play play politics and we don't want to be honest about what was said in that room and then say it out here because you're afraid to lose voters or you're afraid that people will attack you or you're afraid that your group of people will say oh my gosh you turned on one of your own because I vividly and I know all of you up here remember the conversation in closed session and too bad that we can't share it because we'd be having a completely different conversation right

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

now um and that is why i keep saying that all six of us voted to bring this forward and there was great discussion with the city attorney and thank you madam city attorney for the emails and the legal memos that you have sent us that as policy makers so again this is not about our opinions it is about behaviors that are dangerous to us as a city. They're dangerous to the council. They're dangerous, they're dangerous for everybody. You need to stop.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

It's my time. I don't interrupt you. Please do not be disrespectful. I do not interrupt you. So this is about city

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

can we please ask him to leave the room if he cannot stop and I'll take a break and then we can have him escorted out. We need to finish this please. So please. Okay thank you let me finish. So this is about disrupting the council. This is about making dangerous statements. You know, we talked about the council members shared the number of homicides, and from 2012 or 2008, and I didn't write them down, I apologize, I will get that information from our city attorney. But as of December of 25, we have a new police chief.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

And so there's been changes, and I'm happy to see them. We have a new city manager. we have a whole new leadership team and so people are being held accountable but at the end of the day

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

the police officers that filed the formal complaints they are thank you they are city employees they are city employees just like park and rec staff staff for city employees and filed a formal complaint. Just like everybody who works for a city manager run city, they are employees. And so as a council, it is our responsibility, and again, I will not use the word police one another, I will say hold each other accountable because we need to make decisions up here

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

that are truly beneficial to our constituents. Instead of spending 30 minutes hearing about the hate and just vile comments about police. You know, sometimes council members and even myself, maybe I've made comments about staff, I don't know if I have, you know, apologize. But I haven't seen anybody else up here attack attack in such a vile way city employees and so I'm sorry that investigation cleared me of all wrongdoing so I want to be clear on that so Councilman Hernandez you're disrupting this

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

meeting and we're trying this shows your behavior sir this is why we're having this discussion because it shows your type of behavior so we want to be mature adults and really get through this So I'm trying to get through so that we can move on to the rest of the agenda and you can come back up and join us. And let's be adults, okay? So I would really like to ask you to be an adult because everybody sees you in here. And if that's what you want, you want everybody to see you. And it's very immature, your behavior right now. So, again, this sensor is about behavior, not opinions.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

and our job up here as a council is to ensure that you know we don't end up in additional lawsuits by the three officers that have filed the complaints and then we end up paying millions of dollars again and again and again so I will support the investigation as well and Madam City Attorney and Mr. City Manager I would ask it to be back to be brought back to us before the end of the year if not the first meeting in January so I'm going to make them I don't know if I need to make a motion or if the council can agree that we conduct a formal investigation and we bring it

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

back to the first meeting in January if not sooner um we have investigators I think city attorney knows and can hire so they have experience with the city of Santa Ana but I just want to be clear that again this is not about an attack personally on Councilman Hernandez he has a right to feel the way he does he suffered a loss a constituent came up earlier and said you know he should recuse himself for all matters surrounding Santa Ana Police Department I feel the same way because when you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

personally lose somebody maybe you it's a hard thing for you to have a discussion about law enforcement. So I'm going to support the investigation. I'm going to ask it to be brought back before the first meeting in January, but I want to be really clear that we have a responsibility up here on this dais, the Council, the entire Council, to look at this. It is not about Councilman Hernandez. It is about his behaviors, his actions, his vile words that will cost us as a city millions of dollars if it goes to court and I know Mayor Pro Tem said well this case you know the city lost a city attorney said

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

they're still in trial in some cases we can do a lot of what-ifs with court cases we can be in a lawsuit for 20 years 15 years we have a lot of cases that we're fighting currently cases before I even came on here as the mayor So I'm going to support this because again I want the council, I want the public to hear again because the blogs and the so-called reporters will write you know terrible things because the three years I've been sitting up here I

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

could tell you stories. This was voted on in closed session by all six members to to bring this sensor forward. And again, I cannot disclose what was discussed because it would be a violation, but that conversation was healthy and hearty with a lot of recommendations. And so that is why we are here today. This is not a personal attack by one council member or the mayor, all six of us in that room voted to bring this forward.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

and with that, Mr. City Manager, Madam City Attorney, do you have clear direction?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 2

Yes, and I just would need a vote because it's going to require actually engaging someone and then the city manager would either have to use his purchasing authority or I'd have to use mine. So we would reach out and work with HR. HR does also keep a list of individuals or knowing people that we could do an investigation. So could we get a formal motion?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

I'll make a motion that we conduct a formal investigation and that it be brought back by the end of the year. We only have one meeting in December, so I would say actually the first meeting in January.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Okay.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

I just need a second.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

I'll second. Thank you, Council Member Farron. There is a second.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Madam City Clerk? Yes. motion by mayor mesqua seconded by council member fan to direct staff to perform a formal investigation and bring the results back to the city council at the first meeting in january council member becerra yes council member lopez no council member penulosa yes council member fan Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

No.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Mayor Mezcua? Yes. Votes is four ayes, two nays. Nays by Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez and Councilmember Lopez and a noted recusal by Councilmember Hernandez. Motion carries. Thank you. Let's get back into the calendar here.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

items three through 18 it looks like Madam Clerk. Yes that's correct. And so any council members want to pull an item we'll go through it at this time. Mayor Pro Tem.

Benjamin VazquezItem 2

No items to pull. I'll make a motion to approve.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Second. I'm sorry I haven't gone through the whole thing. You just hold on a second, please. I know, right? Thank you, Councilor Penalosa, but there's other council members up here. Council Member Phan?

Thai Viet PhanItem 2

None for me, thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Council Member Becerra?

Phil BacerraItem 2

I would like to go ahead and pull item 10.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Councilman Hernandez, well, he's not up here yet, yet so if he joins us if there's other if there's an item he wants to pull I guess is there yes oh I'm sorry Councilmember Lopez no item thank you there was a motion and a second to approve just

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

have a motion by Councilmember penulosa seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez to approve consent calendar items number three through 18 with the exception of item 10 pulled for separate consideration and and item five, which was previously withdrawn from the agenda. Council member Becerra?

Phil BacerraItem 2

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Council member Lopez? Yes. Council member Penalosa?

David PenalozaItem 2

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 2

Council member Phan? Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez? Yes. Mayor Meskwa? Yes. Vote is six ayes, no nays with a current absence by council member Hernandez. Motion carries. Mayor, the first item pulled is item number 10 by council member Becerra. Councillor Becerra. Councillor Becerra, please.

David PenalozaItem 2

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Really quick, and then you said, Madam Clerk, item number five was withdrawn, right? That's correct. Yes, correct. Thank you. Yes.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

Go ahead, Councillor Becerra, please.

Phil BacerraItem 3

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I was gonna say Mr. City Manager, but I see our director, Mr. Garcia. I have a question for you if you can come up to the podium.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

Our deputy city manager is also here to answer questions. I can answer the question, Councilmember.

Phil BacerraItem 3

You guys can pick. I don't really care, just as long as I get the answer. How much has the city collected this year in rental registry fees? Approximately $2.2 million. You've collected $2.2 million in rental registry fees?

Yes.

Phil BacerraItem 3

Okay. And that's just for this year. And how many folks paid into it? I mean, I'm sorry, how many units were accounted in that? I don't recall that number. But the amount is in the two millions?

Yes.

Phil BacerraItem 3

Okay. And is that expected to be the amount that we're going to be collecting on an ongoing basis?

Yes. We should be around 2.2, 2.3 million every year.

Phil BacerraItem 3

And so this contract that's before us tonight is coming solely from those funds. In other words, you're not continuing to borrow from all the different other funds as you had done before? That's correct.

This is all rental registry fee revenue.

Phil BacerraItem 3

So this is self-sustaining? Yes. Okay, I just want to make sure. With that, I'm happy to move the item.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

Second. Thank you.

Phil BacerraItem 3

I second.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

You second? Okay, Madam Clerk, go ahead.

Jennifer L. HallItem 3

Motion by Council Member Becerra, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez, to approve the recommended action for item number 10, an agreement with Ptolemy for a rental registry portal. Council Member Becerra?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 3

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 3

Council Member Hernandez? Yes. Council Member Lopez? Yes. Council Member Penaleza?

David PenalozaItem 3

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 3

Council Member Phan? Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez?

David PenalozaItem 3

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 3

Mayor Meskwa? Yes. Vote is 7 ayes, no nays. Motion carries. That concludes the Consent Calendar, Mayor.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

Thank you. Let's go to the Business Calendar. Item number 19, naming the park located at the southwest corner of Bristol and Tolliver Streets. This item was continued from the last meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez? Vasquez and Councilmember Becerra pulled it for discussion. Do you have any comments? Go ahead, Mayor Pro Tem.

Benjamin VazquezItem 3

Thank you. Thank you to the city and the staff for bringing this park to Central City. It is now the neighborhood in which I live in. So I'm very happy we have a park to go to and I'm excited. And I would like to change the name of the staff recommendation or the Parks and Rec to Salvador Quintana Park. Salvador Quintana, if you remember, I brought the family up, was a farmer, a farm worker. There was a farm down the street from the Nita family during World War II and pre-World War II. The Nita family were Japanese and they had taken in Salvador Quintana in.

Benjamin VazquezItem 3

This is one of our histories of Santana where there was this love and they taught him jiu-jitsu, They taught them the language. They made them family. Salvador Quintana was from Del High community. And the Nida family, unfortunately, during World War II, they were taken to concentration camps

Benjamin VazquezItem 3

because they were Japanese. And they asked Salvador Quintana to take care of their farm for them. Salvador took care of the farm. And upon them coming back home, he signed back over the deed to the family, to the NIDA family. This just shows the love, the history of love that Santa Neto's have for each other and how we care for each other. And I think it would be great for us to name this park after such a beautiful story and the values that we have in Santa Ana being united of having Latinos and Asians coming together

Benjamin VazquezItem 3

and really enjoying Santa and being part part, Santa Neto's together, and that is who we have become. So I'm gonna recommend that we name this the Salvador Quintana Park.

David PenalozaItem 3

Thank you. I'll second your motion, Mayor Pro Tembaskes.

Benjamin VazquezItem 3

Thank you, sir.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

Council Member Becerra.

Phil BacerraItem 3

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I wanna thank Mayor Pro Tembaskes because when I saw the recommendation, I was like, why call it that? Why don't we just call it El Parque, right? You know, it's like, I don't know, for those of you, and I'm gonna age myself here, ralph's used to have these t-shirts they sold and on the front it said t-shirt i mean that's what it reminded me of it was like what a generic terrible name so thank you mayor pro tem because i remember councilmember hernandez and i having the conversation about uh ed carruthers and you

Phil BacerraItem 3

know it was something where same thing we just did not have a what i would consider a suitable name and our city's history is so rich how could we not personalize the name of the park especially with with so many people worth memorializing. So with that, I'll go ahead and support Mayor Pro Tem's motion. So thank you for doing that research and thank you for bringing that forward.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. I'm gonna support the item also. Mr. City Manager, if we have another park, I'd like us to bring a little bit more diversity. I know we have the Carruthers Park and the Aguilera. I know she had some questions about the name of the park. the Aguilera Artista Park, and now we'll have this park, the Quintana Park, which I'm good with because my side of the family and my maternal sides are all Quintanas, so I'm good with that. But I'd like us to have some diversity, right? There's some history around the API community, and there's some history around, lots of history around the Caucasian community,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

so other communities that live in the city. it's not just Latino names. I think there's so much history, right, Councilman Phan?

Thai Viet PhanItem 3

Yeah, Tyviatt Phan Park sounds great.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

Sounds good to me too. All right, do you want me to make that motion? I'll second it. Thank you. We'll make that motion for a bougie park for her. So I just think we need to look at, you know, using, you know, looking at different groups of people and the names and the history that they have brought to our city. So and I'm going to support this item as well. So there's a motion in a second. If there's no other comments, let's prepare to vote, please.

Jennifer L. HallItem 3

Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez, seconded by Council Member Penalosa to approve the naming of the park located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Bristol and Tolliver Streets as Salvador Quintana Park. Council Member Becerra?

Phil BacerraItem 3

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 3

Council Member Hernandez? Yes. Council Member Lopez? Yes. Council Member Penalosa?

David PenalozaItem 3

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 3

Council Member Phan?

Thai Viet PhanItem 3

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 3

Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez?

Thai Viet PhanItem 3

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 3

Mayor Meskwa? Yes. Vote is seven ayes, no nays. Motion carries.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

So just for clarification, because I know there was confusion about another park we had, the park will be named Salvador Quintana Park. Park. It was a big sign for us, Mr. City Manager.

Alvaro NuñezItem 3

Understood.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

All right. Okay. Item number 20 is the amendment for rotational towing and storage service agreements. It was an item continued from the last meeting. I actually am the one that pulled that item. I don't have any questions.

David PenalozaItem 3

Madam Mayor, I just have to recuse myself from item 20 due to campaign contributions from MetroPro Road Services. Okay, thank you. So I'll leave the room.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

Thank you. And as he's leaving, I'll wait until he's done to...

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

So it is the rotational towing item, and that was my item that I pulled. and I received my answers so I don't have any questions or comments so I'll make a motion second thank you no other comments or questions let's prepare to

Jennifer L. HallItem 3

vote please a motion by Mayor Mezquez seconded by council member Becerra to approve the third amendment for rotational towing and storage services for the police department as listed on the recommended action for item number 20 councilmember Becerra yes councilmember Hernandez yes councilmember member Lopez no council member fan yes mayor proton Vasquez yes mayor Mesquita yes vote is five ayes one nay nay by council member Lopez the noted recusal by council member Penalosa motion

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

carries okay item number 22 is a requested item by council member Lopez this is also from the previous city council meeting council member lopez the floor is all yours thank you um so i wanted to

Jessie LopezItem 3

bring this item forth um because i realized in having conversations with the chief of police and with different residents of our city that we actually don't have any um in car video recording systems and as the attached council member requested item states and i hope that everybody everybody on the dais and not the dais took the time to read it. It's not that long. I think that it can be beneficial to our city. And so I'm hoping that this will be an opportunity for all of the departments to work together and to figure out what is going to be the best practice for the

Jessie LopezItem 3

city if the city council believes that this item can help reduce litigation, can help improve relationships in the community and can can help provide more accountability and clarity. That way events are recorded and the council isn't necessarily put in the middle trying to decipher what actually happened or what didn't happen. And so, yeah, I hope that the departments are able to continue to work together to figure out what the final policy and implementation plan is going to be.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

Thank you. Councilmember comments. Councilmember Becerra.

Phil BacerraItem 3

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I won't be supporting this item. And the reason being is that, honestly, it's a redundant item. We already have body-worn cameras on our officers. If there is for some reason a belief that the cameras are not being turned on in time, or there's some sort of problem with the policy regarding the existing infrastructure, then then perhaps we should kick that down to our police oversight commission and let them provide their input for us to consider or for the city manager and the police chief to consider. If there's going to be a discussion about allocating resources for cameras, my advice

Phil BacerraItem 3

would be looking at actually surveilling criminals. So for instance, maybe deploying cameras on East First Street where you see rampant open drug use. That would be a much better use of our resources. Heck, I'd be happy to get some over along the UP right away because as you heard from many folks tonight, there's a lot of criminal activity taking place along the Union Pacific Railroad right away in our city. That's where we would need cameras. Our officers already have cameras, so I do not see the need to have redundant cameras. Thanks.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 3

Council Member Hernandez.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 3

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I am fully supportive of this item. I think that this item is important to establish trust with the city and to improve best practices. This is something I fought for in 2022, given that the city's paid out a large number of lawsuits related to hit and runs that have occurred within police issued vehicles. There's a number of public lawsuits that we've had to pay out over the course of my career here. I believe that for us to build public accountability and trust, we need to have an objective record.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 3

We need a record that is clear and unbiased, and having dash cams at the front of the vehicle and dash cams in the back of our vehicles also enhances transparency. That allows us to have the presence of cameras, you know, and that allows officers to better perform their duties. In addition to that, this also reduces misconduct and complaints.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 3

Knowing that actions are recorded, you know, and it goes both ways, you know, for people who are detained in a police vehicle and those who are driving the police vehicles, it ensures and it encourages officers to act professionally, ethically, and within the law. and this also decreases the number of complaints and allegations of misconduct by having a very clear record of transport you know somebody being picked up and ultimately we can have from point A to point Z you know covered and accounted for and furthermore this is also going to provide a clear evidence

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 3

collection for the city it's going to be able to help us with getting to the bottom of you know what happens when somebody is taken from point A to point point B, sometimes we've had officer involved incidents where people went into cardiac arrest on transport to a police department. This helps us ensure that we can have the highest level of incident review. So I'm fully supportive of that and those will be my comments, thank you.

Benjamin VazquezItem 22

Mayor Pro Tem. Thank you, I'm gonna support this item as well. It's to build a public trust. It also not only protects the public, It protects the police from false accusations and it's a verifiable evidence for trial. I'm going to support this. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

I don't know. Are you going to take an hour?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

Go ahead, Council Member Fitts.

Thai Viet PhanItem 22

Well, now that I have an hour, no, I'd love to see this come back, the fact that LAPD and our own Sheriff's Department already have this. I'd love to see how it could be implemented. What are the benefits of this? What are the cons? How much would it cost? You know, how much would it cost to retrofit all the cars? Let's get some data and see if it's going to be something that is going to be helpful for us because you know, there are so many times when a body, you know, body cam is so close you might not see everything. I think it could either exonerate activity or it can, you know, ensure that we fix any shortcomings.

Thai Viet PhanItem 22

So I'd be supportive of getting more information on this and let's see where we can go from there. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

Thank you, Council Member Fener. I have a couple questions. Who will be the one to answer them?

Alvaro NuñezItem 22

Since it deals with police, I would delegate it to the Chief of Police. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

He's gotta earn this. Thank you, Chief.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

So we're now in the era of body-worn cameras, right? Right, so they go on, 30-second delay. Can you talk a little bit about that, please?

Yeah, so all our officers in the field are equipped with a body-worn camera that when turned on, there's what's called a 30-second buffer. It does record, but it goes 30 seconds prior to turning it on, and it records from there moving forward to when they turn off the camera.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

And so I see here, and Council Member Phan mentioned it, and I see as well that LAPD and the Orange County Sheriff's Department, did they have that prior to body-worn cameras?

I believe they did have. I can't confirm for sure, but I believe those agencies actually had dash cams before they had body-worn cameras.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

So when it comes back, can you please get that information for us? My next question is, so the cameras on the cars, what is the coverage? Right. So there were comments about, you know, safety inside a car. So it's not inside a car. It's outside. Or can you explain?

Yes, there's systems that are more most commonly referred to as dash cams. Those are cameras that are either placed by the rear view mirror forward facing and it captures a field of view of, you know, forward of the police vehicle. There are some cameras that can be put on top of the police vehicle that cover a 360 view, somewhat of a 360 view. That's a different type of camera. So there are various systems. I'm not familiar with any agency who has a full camera view of inside the vehicle, but I'm sure we can research and bring that back.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

And so Mr. City Manager, when it comes back, there is a cost. I mean, there's a huge cost. And Chief, how many patrol cars would we need to purchase cameras for?

It's approximately, from what I remember, approximately about 50 plus vehicles, 54, somewhere around there.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

Around 54, give or take a few vehicles. Yes. Okay. And so even, do our detectives, when they go out and interview, their body-worn cameras turn on as well, correct?

Yes, they have body-worn cameras if they go out in the field.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

this okay so mr city manager what i would like and from the chief is more data and so when you bring it back you know what agencies use it what year did they start using it because are they now all focused on body worn cameras that's a priority because that's how when officers get out of their car it activates and they're engaging with the community and i agree that the body worn cameras have been good for the community they've also been great for law enforcement because if they do something good we see it if they do something bad we also see that um so i i would like to know

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

the exact cost because you know and where is that funding going to come from um you know i meet every month with the neighborhood association leaders there's about i'd say 50 different leaders in the room that i meet with them in the community policing room i know councilman becerra and councilman penn and those who pretty much join me on a regular basis and the community leaders that attend the neighborhood association meetings with myself and city staff that are present including the police department their request is for drones especially because of the fourth

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

of july they want to they want to look at it from that aspect because other cities are using drones which is helping our police department in a multitude of ways and so it's been so beneficial for law enforcement and I'm not saying I won't support this but what I'd like is I'd like more information you know where what is the cost going to be where is the funding can it come from because sometimes up here people like to say well pull it from police well you can't pull the funding from police all the time if we are asking Colt to be out there seven seven days a week from sunup to sundown. You can't pull it from the police

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

if we're asking our Director of Patrol to address the criminal element in our community. You can't pull it from police when we have constituents coming here saying, the gentleman, I thank him, that moved into Councilman Panaloza's ward said he lives off of Spurgeon and the officers have responded to his request. And so if we keep pulling money, or that's the recommendation up here by a couple council members is we'll just take it from that pot well if you keep taking it from that pot eventually that pot's going to be empty and so to me it's very important what agencies

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

use these cameras on their cars now in 2025 who is investing their money in in the cameras on the cars and is it better to invest in better body worn cameras i mean i'm not the expert you are our chief and your staff and Mr. City Manager. And then also, you know, maybe there's a discussion with the neighborhood association leaders when I meet with them at the end of this month to say what is it that you guys are looking for as well? And I'm gonna ask them at the next meeting, what are they looking for? Because we sit up here and we say that we wanna hear from our constituents. And you're talking about neighborhood leaders who,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

I think if the council members say, you know, hey mayor i'd like to join you at this one and they can hear from them what they really want as neighborhood leaders i think it would be great so i will support it after i hear i mean i'll hold my support so after i get a full report i think we're all asking for that and then again 360 or you know 90 degree angle or full you know i mean those are all the things that we have to look at and correct me if I'm wrong chief you said that they're not recording what's

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

happening inside the car correct so that would be a separate device to put inside

a car correct yes that would be a separate system if we wanted something to record inside the vehicle that's a complete separate system and all these cameras would also need some type of infrastructure for storing of data which which is another associated cost.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

And that is stored in the police department here in the city, and that's a cost, right?

Yes.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

So the body-worn camera video, we store that?

Yes.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

And how much is that? Do you know roughly?

I would have to find out the actual cost. It's on evidence.com, so it's evidence cloud, so it is stored in a cloud.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

So can you make sure to include that in the report, please, that you bring back to us?

David PenalozaItem 22

Yes. Okay so if there's a councilman panelist. Thank you Madam Mayor I just want to thank my colleague I am supportive of seeing more information come back to us kind of along the lines of Councilman Murfan and seeing the data of what this looks like what this how this we could implement this into our police department and I think there's creative ways to not only help to ensure police accountability and continue on that path but in partnering with just like license plate recognition cameras I know that we a couple months ago brought that on as a city as a police department and I think there's ways where we could do all of

David PenalozaItem 22

the above kill two birds with one stone if we're gonna move into this investment down this route if we're gonna have dashboard cams I think we should see what else they can do right to ensure the public safety so very supportive of of seeing this data come back to us, this research implementation, rollout plans, all that good stuff. So yeah, let's see what you guys could bring back. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

Mr. City Manager, can we have this back either the first meeting in January? Would that give you enough time?

Alvaro NuñezItem 22

How about second meeting in January?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

Second meeting, I see the chief saying yes. Second meeting in January. Everybody's good with that? Mayor, it does look like Council Member Lopez

Jennifer L. HallItem 22

would like to speak again.

Jessie LopezItem 22

Go ahead, Council Member Lopez. oh thank you city clerk um and i actually like councilman pañalo says uh i uh i guess uh requests of seeing what more can the cameras accomplish if we're gonna make this investment um i'm supportive of that and so making sure that when you come back with the city report or a report out you include what are the capabilities of of having dash cameras I'M SUPER SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. AND ALSO I WOULD SAY TO COUNCILMEMBER BUSERRA THAT YOU ALREADY VOTED TO INSTALL SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS. YOU DID THAT IN MAY WITH THE FLOCK CONTRACT. SO NO WORRIES THERE, COUNCILMEMBER.

Jessie LopezItem 22

THANK YOU.

Phil BacerraItem 22

MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY RESPOND. YES.

Phil BacerraItem 22

I REALLY WONDER IF COUNCILMEMBER LOPEZ UNDERSTANDS WHAT THOSE CAMERAS DO. THEY'RE LICENSE PLATE READERS. THEY DON'T DO FULL BODY SCANS. THEY DON'T DO HEALTH CHECKS. they're literally just looking at license plates so I know that you send out a newsletter where you claim that there's something to do with immigration mass surveillance all kinds of conspiracies but I mean chief if you wouldn't mind just to clear the air because I'm not the law enforcement professional but when we approve those no I think if there's a conversation

Jessie LopezItem 22

I'm sorry, nobody asked, I was asking the Chief.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 22

Hold on. Mayor, if I just may.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

Hold on, hold on. I just want to make sure Councilmember Lopez can hear me too. We're not going to interrupt each other. Thank you. Thank you very much. I got it. All right. Let Councilmember Becerra please finish.

Phil BacerraItem 22

No, go ahead, Chief.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

The question was to you, Chief, or Council.

Alvaro NuñezItem 22

I think, so yes, understood, Mayor, your meeting. We just want to stand within the parameters so we don't expand more the discussion. Do I understand what the intention is here?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 22

So the discussion on the agenda is we can do this. I think I heard direction go back.

Phil BacerraItem 22

Yes. So, Madam City Attorney, I'm not asking for action. I'm asking for clarification. What do the flock cameras do?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 22

The flock cameras are not the subject of the item. I just want to make sure.

Phil BacerraItem 22

They were brought up. And so for clarity, I would like to know what they do.

Thank you. Don't jump at once. Yes. Thank you, Council Member. For clarity, the flock cameras, all they do is capture license plates. Nothing else? They read a license plate on vehicles.

Phil BacerraItem 22

Nothing else?

Nothing else.

Phil BacerraItem 22

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

Thank you. That was really simple. We just wanted clarification. He wanted clarification here. so okay so mr city manager i think you have direction is that correct

Valerie AmezcuaItem 22

yes okay so second meeting in january it will come back and if the council members want to have further discussion with you they can meet with you and the police chief and talk about um what they're requesting additionally is that correct yes okay perfect all right so item number 23 was requested by council member panelosa councilman panelists the floor is yours

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

Sorry, your time is up now.

David PenalozaItem 23

So item 23 is, two seconds everybody, patience. So item 23 is basically a, to discuss and consider providing direction to the city manager to prepare a resolution in support of California Prop 50 also known as the Election Rigging Response Act. Proposition 50 known as the Election Rigging Response Act will appear on the November 4th 2025 special election ballot. This measure is not just another policy question it is a direct response to the dangerous trend the partisan manipulation of congressional districts

David PenalozaItem 23

districts most recently seen in the state of Texas where maps were redrawn mid-decade to tilt the balance of power if left unchecked these practices threaten the very foundation of our democracy and representative government um I asking my colleagues for support to bring this back but I did want to uh Madam City attorney and if because the elections already happening and ballots are already in the mail if i wanted to to uh is there a way where i could make this an emergency resolution or what would be the protocol and and vote on that today i mean just yes or no i mean it no because we don't

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 23

have a resolution i mean you can take a it is on the agenda yeah the resolution supports uh i'm sorry yes um we don't we don't normally do that in the resolution if it's released in the agenda agenda report, it would be a big departure from how we usually do things. I think I'd really look to our chair to see if that's something she would entertain. So legally it is in the packet.

David PenalozaItem 23

It's fine. A couple residents asked me that question and the resolution is on the agenda and we have done that once or twice on my time on the city council. So I was just asking if that would, it's yes or no, it could come back in two weeks, no big deal.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 23

Yeah, I think because it's in the agenda packet, it is not something that's being, you know, it's not a surprise to the public, I would look to our chair to see whether she would entertain that. And it is, and I would want the whole council to know it's out of our normal process. But I think because it's there, if the city council wanted to adopt this resolution, there's not like an ordinance where we do a first and second, it's just a statement of policy.

David PenalozaItem 23

Okay.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 23

And it's on a support issue that I think is consistent with your legislative platform. I think those are the reasons what would make it different. Right. And would allow you to take action on it if you'd like to do that. Okay, fair enough.

David PenalozaItem 23

It could come back in two weeks. I was just trying to.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 23

Oh, I know, but if the chair would like to do that,

David PenalozaItem 23

that is there so it's up to you okay but yes asking my colleagues for support on this resolution thank you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

yes we're supportive of it and we can bring it back we can bring it back in two weeks councilman

Benjamin VazquezItem 23

um i'm sorry mayor pro tempasco's thank you i'm part of this as well and uh thank you for bringing it up councilmember penalosa i appreciate the work we got our ballots yesterday we're ready to vote please vote as you will to the public. We as many people need to vote as possible. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

Councilman Hernandez.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 23

Thank you. Fully supportive of the item. Thank you very much.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

Mr. City Manager, you have direction?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 23

Yes, I do.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

I think there was one, two, three. Anybody opposed? All right, we're good. Councilmember Lopez? No comment? Okay, great. Thank you. Okay.

David PenalozaItem 23

So I'll be at the next council meeting, Mr. City Manager. Perfect. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 23

Item number 24 is discuss and consider providing direction to city manager la la la. Council member Lopez the floor is all yours.

Jessie LopezItem 23

Yes. Thank you. So the purpose of this item is to really alert the council and also our residents about the problem of algorithmic price fixing in the rental housing markets which is responsible for driving that problem. up rents for our constituents and to offer solutions to combat it. Because across the country, private equity firms are now turning to a new tool to raise rents and further exacerbate the housing crisis, which is the software algorithms. And people might have

Jessie LopezItem 24

heard of this already because the Attorney General of Arizona really brought this to light a couple months ago and so third-party services offer recommendations um to corporations that promise to boost their profits while driving up housing costs and these recommendations are based on sensitive proprietary data or publicly available data sets um regarding local housing markets and in some metro areas the use of rent fixing uh software algorithms has played a significant

Jessie LopezItem 24

INCREASES AND THAT'S NOT A CONSPIRACY, THAT'S INFORMATION THAT'S AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. AND SO THE DANGER HERE OF ALGORITHMIC RENT SETTING IS AGAIN EXACERBATED BY A TREND TOWARDS CONSOLIDATION IN LOCAL HOUSING MARKETS AS MORE UNITS ULTIMATELY WIND UP IN THE HANDS OF LARGE INSTITUTIONAL CORPORATIONS, PRIVATE EQUITY. AND SO THESE SOFTWARE ALGORITHMS CAN REALLY FACILITATE THEIR USE OF rent increases even in less concentrated housing markets. There are pending lawsuits if I'm not mistaken. Actually, I think the lawsuit was settled recently

Jessie LopezItem 24

in regards to this issue. And so some of the things that are really concerning are some of the facts and statistics that have come out in terms of like, for example, in Phoenix, Arizona and Tucson, you know, they have been able to show the overcharges of 12% and 13%, respectively, across tens of thousands of units. And so rent setting algorithms also lead to higher rates of eviction, which is something that the city would feel and continues to feel in terms of people

Jessie LopezItem 24

being unlawfully evicted. And that's a major issue because one of the main concerns of the city that that we hear from our constituents that we heard today is addressing the homelessness issue in our city and how do you reduce people entering homelessness, which is much more costly and time consuming to get folks back into housing or other services. And so when, for example, when these corporations

Jessie LopezItem 24

adopt some of these rent recommendations, recommendations, the increased turnover rates is 15 percentage points, which is significantly high, meaning that tenants have to find new places because of the unattainable rent increases. And that's actually something that we're already seeing here in the city, particularly with seniors. And so part of how this works is that essentially these corporations, private equity equity firms across local markets share private data regarding their rental properties, including current rents, available square footage, vacancy levels.

Jessie LopezItem 24

And then they use that data in publicly available data sets to estimate supply and demand for rental housing specific to particular geographic areas and unit types. And so there's a lot of information that I really encourage all of our constituents to to read through because in November of 2023, the District of Columbia Attorney General filed suit in the District of Columbia Superior Court. And also, as I mentioned earlier, the Arizona Attorney General filed suit in 2024. And part of why this case became so, or gained so much attention was, you know,

Jessie LopezItem 24

essentially these businesses not allowing the free market to be what the free market should be and really conspiring to fix prices for renters, not just in California but throughout the entire state and so I really urge my colleagues. I hope that they were able to read the information included in the staff report, and I encourage our residents to also read the information because I think that this would be beneficial for us to have. have and uh and i'm happy to answer any questions that anyone in the council um may ask

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

are there any comments by the council councilman hernandez thank you madam mayor just wanted to be on the record i'm fully supportive of this item city manager thank you

Phil BacerraItem 24

councilman becerra thank you madam mayor um the councilwoman mentioned uh pending lawsuits and i I would ask our Madam City Attorney to clarify. I literally just last night looked online and I saw that Berkeley is still going back and forth with the company RealPage. So my understanding is they may be working towards some sort of resolution. The City of Berkeley, and correct me if I'm wrong, Madam City Attorney, the City of Berkeley has hit pause on the ordinance that they have right now, or their restrictions, because because they want to explore possible resolution of this lawsuit.

Phil BacerraItem 24

But as of right now, Berkeley does not have this proposal active because again, this pending litigation, correct?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 24

That is correct. And when, as you know, I consult with all of you when you bring these items. I did send, Council Member Leau has an email that described that situation and I shared with her a copy of the staff report. You probably saw that staff report if you went online, in which the city council, they adopted the ordinance, There was a lawsuit and then staff went back. It was from the city attorney's office to the city of Berkeley council saying, we would like you to like rescind or put your ordinance on hold while we see what we can do with this litigation. And that was as of mid August, I recall.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 24

So there's been no further progress.

Phil BacerraItem 24

Okay, and here we are just at the very beginning of October. So thank you for that clarification. I don't know that I would have any issue with the proposal. What I do have an issue with is jumping on the bandwagon and falling off the cliff with another city. I'd rather not do that. I'd rather be patient and wait for the resolution of this lawsuit with the city of Berkeley. So my ask of my colleagues right now would be to hold off and let's wait and see what the outcome is of this litigation with the city of Berkeley and the company RealPage. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

Thank you, Councillor Becerra. and thank you for bringing that up because if we all recall we waited for Costa Mesa to settle the lawsuit they spent I believe 15 million dollars around the sober living homes and I see all the noddies had I believe was 15 million and so once that was complete because to me so one city of Santa Ana and many other cities just took that ordinance and we copied it and so we like doing those things we don't want to spend 15 million dollars in our own

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

lawsuit so I have to agree if there is pending litigation I support this but I would like to wait to see what happens and did you say in San Francisco Madam City Attorney and in the city of Berkeley if we can wait councilman Lopez if you're okay with that and look once once they get through their court case and we bring it forward and and move it through um I I would support that um anybody else comments um I'm

Benjamin VazquezItem 24

sorry go ahead Mayor Pro Tem thank you so much um I I as well wanted to bring this forward and thank you Councilmember Lopez for bringing it up ahead I I do appreciate it and San Diego did have have a strong enforcement on it. Laws must include meaningful enforcement measures like penalties and an ability for tenants to sue violators as San Diego has enacted. So I'll be in support and I do like the wait and see and we can move forward when it comes again if it's good with Councilmember Lopez because I do support this wholeheartedly and let's see what happens in Berkeley as we move forward.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

So Mayor Burcham, thank you. So what I hear you saying is we're all in support but we'd like to wait for Berkeley, is that correct? Your mic, sorry.

Benjamin VazquezItem 24

We can agree and tell the staff, hey, we're agreeing with this, let's move forward. When Berkeley goes, we go with it.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

That's great, I think that's, no objections up here?

Phil BacerraItem 24

I would say let's wait to see what happens with Berkeley before we jump in the pool.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

Correct, that's what you said. Is that what you said? Yeah, we gotta wait to see what happens in Berkeley.

Phil BacerraItem 24

Oh, because I heard that, what I heard you say was we're gonna just jump right in. It's like, well, let's wait till we have a decision before we say what we're gonna do.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

No, he said we'll wait for Berkeley. I'll clarify it for you. Okay, all right. Okay, so Councilman Panalosa.

David PenalozaItem 24

Yeah, thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Councilmember Lopez, for the item. I think it's an important item, and it's just one of those, when we start realizing how fast AI and automation is just moving in every aspect of our lives, and housing isn't an exception, and the rental market's no exception. And I know there's a lot of changes

David PenalozaItem 24

UNKNOWNS, RIGHT? IN HOW THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT THE WORLD AROUND US. SO THEN BE SUPPORTIVE OF SEEING INFORMATION COME BACK OF WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE IN SAN ANA, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, MOVING THIS SLOWLY UNTIL WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THESE OTHER CITIES. BUT SUPPORTIVE OF JUST THE ITEM IN GENERAL OF MOVING SOMETHING FORWARD BUT WAITING FOR THAT LITIGATION TO PLAY OUT AND SEE WHAT THAT'S LIKE.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

Thank you Mayor. Thank you. Council Member Finn. I agree with everyone. Thank you. All right. Any last comments Council Member Lopez?

Jessie LopezItem 24

Yes, thank you. I appreciate everybody's openness about the item and you know I understand the concern with Berkeley. It's one of the things that I discussed with the city attorney when we met and discussed this item. them and just for the council's knowledge and the public's knowledge as well they're not the only city that has you know discussed implementing this other cities in California have already implemented this and so one of the things that I had discussed with the city attorney was for her to reach out to the other city attorneys divisions in those cities to figure out if they were also

Jessie LopezItem 24

SO BEING SUED, IF THAT WAS JUST A TACTIC TO TRY TO INTIMIDATE CITIES FROM PREVENTING THEIR CONSTITUENTS FROM RECEIVING THESE RENT SPIKES. SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL COME BACK TO US SOON. THANK YOU.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN LOVAS. MR. CITY MANAGER, I THINK YOU HAVE DIRECTION.

Alvaro NuñezItem 24

YES, UNDERSTOOD.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

GREAT. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 25 IS A WORK STUDY SESSION. IT IS THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING INSPECTION WORK STUDY. Mr. City Manager, may we have the presentation please?

Alvaro NuñezItem 24

Yes, Council Member, Secretary Director.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

I'm not a Council Member, I'm the Mayor.

Alvaro NuñezItem 25

You're right, you're the Mayor, excuse me.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

I just want to clarify.

Alvaro NuñezItem 25

Yes, Mayor, absolutely, my mistake. This is just a follow-up to the May 6th meeting regarding concerns and oversight on permanent supported housing here in the City of Santa Ana. Our Secretary Director of Community Development, Mike Garcia, will make the presentation. Thank you, Mayor.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Thank you. Mr. Garcia?

Mr. Thank you, Mayor, City Council.

As the City Manager mentioned, this is following up from the May 6th City Council meeting. We're going to be providing an overview of permanent supportive housing in the city, going over our current inspection and monitoring processes for these properties, providing providing information on the responses and concerns from city council members on May 6th, and also going over options for enhancing our inspections and monitoring of these permanent supportive housing projects.

The work study back is following up from, as I mentioned, concerns on public health, safety and welfare and permanent supportive housing communities. and we also wanted to highlight the importance of addressing legal and privacy concerns for tenants. Additionally, concerns were brought by the City Council, and they focused on how future inspection actions must comply with HUD's federal regulations and supported through legal review. We've been working with our staff in the City Attorney's Office, the Santa Ana Police Department, and code enforcement staff.

We're also going to provide additional information on the number of units affected or included within our permanent supportive housing projects in the city.

So over the last 10 years, the City Council has approved the development and funding of of 488 permanent supportive housing units that are housed within 11 different developments. Permanent supportive housing projects and communities serve chronically homeless individuals. These are some of the hardest to serve homeless individuals who have disabilities and they have the highest acuity levels and most barriers to maintaining housing. And so we're happy that we do have housing projects that are helping this population.

These communities provide long-term housing and wrap around supportive services to residents that really need these supportive services to maintain their housing and not lapse back into homelessness.

The following table gives an outline of the different housing projects within the city and highlighted with a little asterisk are the properties that have 100% of their units funded with permanent supportive housing individuals that are funded through our project-based voucher program. There are six of these projects in the city. They include The Orchard, Here's Landing, Casa Querencia, Estrella Springs, Wise Place, and FX Residences.

These projects were approved by City Council from mid-2016 to mid-2022. For example, there was $1.2 million in home funds that were provided from HUD to convert the formerly dilapidated guest house motel on East 1st into the Orchard. In 2017, of mid-2017, the City Council awarded 56 project-based vouchers for the Aqua Motel, which is now Casa Carencia on 17th Street near the 5 Freeway.

And recently, $5.2 million was awarded for Wise Place with 25 project-based vouchers to convert Wise Place into permanent supportive housing for women.

The federal requirement for the housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development requires public housing authorities to conduct inspections of a sample of 20% of the permanent supportive housing units every two years. In Santa Ana, prior to 2025, we were doing every unit every year. And in 2025, we converted to change those inspections to twice a year.

When our inspectors go into these properties, we're looking for physical damage, structural integrity, that the essential utilities are functioning, the safety and security of the property, such as looking at carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, sanitation and proper ventilation is present, and that there is no presence of or storage of hazardous materials that are unsafe. We also perform complaint-based and special inspections when health and safety issues are reported from tenants.

We looked at what other jurisdictions are doing. Three large public housing authorities that we looked at, Orange County Housing Authority, Anaheim and Long Beach Housing Authority, they do the required 20% inspection every two years of their permanent supportive housing units. And so we're happy to say that St. Anne exceeds those HUD requirements. We also wanted to look at the calls for service at our permanent supportive housing projects.

What you don't see here is Archways, Estrella Springs, FX Residences, Wise Place. These were not included because we were looking at the timeframe from July 1 of 2024 through June 30th of 2025. and these were newer projects that don't have data for that one-year timeframe.

Of note, and what was of note for us especially, was the calls for service at the Orchard, Casa Querencia, and Heroes Landing. And these, among those that we looked at in that one-year timeframe, are the 100% permanent supportive housing projects.

We're going to continue to follow our new 2025 model of inspecting every unit twice a year. We have stepped up the number of meetings we're conducting with The Orchard and Casa Carencia property managers. We're going to be tracking monthly calls for service from Santa Ana PD at all 11 project sites.

We're also looking at ways that we can issue notices to comply when there are concerns brought not only from maybe code enforcement violation issues, calls for service, or from tenants.

Something that has happened lately is we are increasing communication with property owners. We are making our concerns about access onto properties and other security concerns like people propping open doors and gates onto the property. And what we would like to do is to increase the amount of community activities, so we're making these suggestions to property managers and seeing if that will help like create a sense of community within these properties if maybe neighborhood watch programs from tenants

could be implemented saha the santa ana housing authority will assign a staff member to focus on coordination with property managers and we hope that these type of preventative maintenance preventive measures can go a long way toward improving the quality of life of these projects We've been speaking with Santa Ana PD. They are ready to conduct visits at each of the non-100% project public PSH projects and on a monthly basis, Santa Ana PD to do a walkthrough of each of the 100% permanent supportive housing projects.

We're going to be working through those details. We have funding in our housing division to be able to help with those inspections. And they would be looking at doing walkthroughs on site in coordination with the property manager and the onsite service provider. And we'd like to do, this is what we're looking at right now, is randomly selecting five of the units within the 100% permanent supportive housing projects and entering upon, given the right to enter to inspect from the tenant. Another example that we want to look at

modeling is the HACLA, the Housing Authority of the City of LA. They have a memorandum of agreement with their LAPD and LAPD has a community safety partnership program that they implement and it's a relationship based program these are actually conducted on hacklas four of their public housing sites so they are different from Santa Ana they actually own and operate their public housing a a few of their public housing sites. And so the MOA helps cover inspections and activities

by the Community Safety Partnership Team from LAPD at Jordan Downs, Imperial Courts, Nickerson Gardens, and Ramona Gardens.

I wanted to go back to the calls for service and what activities we have been doing since March of 2025. After seeing the number of calls for service, Santa Ana Housing Authority issued a notice to comply, which included two major changes, changing out property management as well as bringing on 24-7 security to the Orchard. Community Development Partners, the owner, did do that, and they switched out to FPI management brought in quality management group and they started 24 7 security

service at the site at the orchard starting April 7th and quality management group actually changed to doing property management at all of their properties in Santa Ana which include not only the orchard but casa carencia as well as la placita Cinco and the archways there are no permanent supportive housing units at casa cadencia but it was easier for them to go with one property management group and we looked at the different types of calls for service and in particular we're concerned about the narcotic investigations and so based on that we issued two different notices

to comply we've been working with mercy house and they've been con which is their on-site services services provider, providing wraparound services. They've been conducting monthly inspections with a form checklist. And we've been trying to work on a monthly meeting, which is going to start October 14th, with myself, my housing manager, manager, community development partners, Frank Gutierrez, our commander, and communicating clear expectations that we want to monitor progress and have coordinated follow-up meetings,

including access to their security cameras at the orchard.

Some additional ideas we have working with the orchard would be how we can do preventive maintenance, preventative measures, sorry, the property manager might be able to implement. There are different programs that have worked at different housing projects, including like having community film parties where they can watch films as a group. They can watch, do attend coordinated Super Bowl parties, holiday celebrations. These are the types of things that help create a sense of community on a project and we think that would help at those sites

in speaking with the city attorney's office we reviewed the different agreements that are in place for permanent supportive housing projects these are hud form agreements that follow different federal regulations they are provided to us by hud the agreements are really based on how physical The physical condition of units and publicly accessible areas can be maintained and must be maintained by the developer and the operator. As a housing authority, Santa Ana Housing Authority can

fill a property and in particular a unit if they do not meet high quality standards provided by HUD. HUD, and we can actually work on canceling a tenant's voucher. At this point, Santa Ana has never, however, removed a project-based voucher from a landlord per their HUD agreement. In addition to the original agreement on property maintenance, we also have a home loan agreement,

And these home loan agreements, again, focus on the developer maintaining the property and providing a reasonable amount of time to cure deficiencies in the property. But in addition to these property maintenance agreements, we can be looking at things like title 24 subtitle a part 5 subpart 1 which talks about what what the authority the property owner has for evicting drug activity folks that are

doing drug activity on their property and we will be following up with our city attorney's office as well as Santa PD to see how we can help with issues issues occurring at different properties and in particular the orchard in our city. Again another part of our property maintenance agreements include the home loan agreement section 12.1 and it provides a written notice process for and a process for resolving those issues with the city.

and I wanted to open it up for the City Council to ask questions we want to hear what additional activities we could be conducting as a housing authority and what suggestions we could relate to the property owner and Mercy House at the orchard we do have representatives from Community Development Partners and Mercy and staff is ready for any questions or comments from council.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Thank you, Mr. Garcia. We appreciate the presentation. I'm sure a few of us up here were looking forward to this presentation, if not all of us. Council Member Becerra.

Phil BacerraItem 25

Thank you, Madam Mayor. So, yes, this item is before us because our council received notice that the orchard was being served a warrant for a narcotic investigation. That warrant resulted in the seizure of crack cocaine,

Phil BacerraItem 25

heroin, methamphetamines, fentanyl, and quite a bit of cash related to the narcotic activity. So that was back in February of this year. So in your presentation, thank you for it Director Garcia, so you talked about some, I use the term improvements, right? So you guys are doing twice a year inspections instead of once a year and and and there's a pivot in property management etc etc so that first well at least the one that got on the council's radar that first instance was in February of this year in September of this year per the

Phil BacerraItem 25

staff report for this item SAPD conducted two separate narcotic investigations on September 3rd now when we say two separate investigations we We don't mean February and September. We mean two in September, right? Related to criminal investigation for warrants. So my question for you is, so your improvements that you've done, are they working?

I would say that having the Santa Ana Police Department doing undercover investigation and surveillance is helping to solve the issues at the Orchard.

Phil BacerraItem 25

I'm going to bet you that everybody up here has not had that kind of activity near their home. So I'm going to ask you again, is this working? So in other words, you have where the community development partners, you met with them, sternly wagged your finger at them. They changed property management. And the result was another two warrants. They doubled it. Two warrants being served on this property.

That's right.

Phil BacerraItem 25

So again, I'm going to ask you, do you think things are working?

I'd like them to continue to solve these type of issues.

Phil BacerraItem 25

I'd like a lot of things, but is this working? Is this approach working?

I would say yes, sir.

Phil BacerraItem 25

So you think double the warrants being served on this property for criminal activity, that's your definition of things are working?

I would say it's working on our side of the, let me clarify, on our side of the ledger as far as wanting to monitor, provide oversight. That's a good partnership right there between Santa Ana Housing Authority and Santa Ana PD.

Phil BacerraItem 25

Look, I'm not going to keep belittling what you're saying. My concern with this whole item being brought forward, I don't care if you do one inspection or 100 inspections, the numbers that I see here, 336 calls for service, that's on par or very darn close to being on par with the properties that we are pursuing abatement action on east 1st street

Phil BacerraItem 25

right yes sir so my concern is these are folks these aren't market rate units these are folks that are in permanent supportive housing they need this support you're basically telling me it's okay that the aa meeting is next to the bar no big deal we've had meetings with the bar we're good. No, there is serious narcotic activity happening in here. I have some serious concerns. And by the way, when this item first came up, when I brought this item forward, my concerns were at one level. After reading the staff report, they are much more elevated

Phil BacerraItem 25

because I didn't know at the time, I don't think any of us knew the level of calls for service. The Orchard, 336. That's on East 1st Street and Ward 3. We've got Casa Carencia, 306. Now, whether it's police being in those units, I don't care what I want to achieve, which by the way, I'll just, I'm not gonna ask you, I'm just gonna tell you, I don't believe what you're doing is working. I don't believe what community development partners is doing is working at all. Because if it was, we wouldn't see these numbers. These numbers for calls for service, and we wouldn't see the level of criminal activity.

Phil BacerraItem 25

So what I would like to see tonight, and I'll defer to my colleagues what they wanna see, What I'd like to see is for staff to come back with something that is not the, oh, well, we increased our inspections from one to two a year. We're going to have a movie in the middle of the project while narcotic activity is still going on. I want these folks to feel safe. These are our most vulnerable. We are out there as a city. I tell people all the time, we don't lead with enforcement. We lead with offers of service. But this is the offer of service we're giving them?

Phil BacerraItem 25

Here's a unit. Oh, by the way, you're recovering from drug addiction? Ignore the narcotic activity that the police are going in serving a warrant on next door to you. That's not right. It's not fair. That's not what I'm up here to do. That's not what I think my colleagues are up here to do. I'm not going to accept what you've told me tonight, Director Garcia. I want you to go back to the drawing board. I want you to figure out how we can get these calls for service down. These are our most vulnerable in this community. They deserve that. I had a couple who were in, what's the one on 17th Street, the old Aqua Motel.

They-I was gonna say Cadencia.

Phil BacerraItem 25

So they came all the way down to my office hours at Sandpoint Park, took the bus. It was a couple, a husband and wife, to tell me what they were going through in that development. That was before we got that email from PD that told us the activity that was happening at the Orchard. And now looking at the staff report, seeing that the Orchard and Casa Carencia are having very similar levels of calls for service, it is awful. Director Garcia, this is awful. This is, in fact, this is unacceptable. So tonight, I refuse to accept what you've presented to us. You need to come back to us with something that's results-oriented,

Phil BacerraItem 25

not process-oriented. I don't want you to come back with, oh, well, now we're going to do three. inspections a year. No. I want you to tell me how you're going to reduce the level of calls for service. I want to know that PD doesn't have to go out to these sites because there isn't the same level of narcotic activity. Whether it's the property owner, the property managers, something needs to be done. This is not acceptable. Last thing I'll say, Mayor, and I'll relinquish the floor, but one of the items in the staff report talks about public nuisance abatement action.

Phil BacerraItem 25

perhaps that's the path we need to go i i think it's insane that this city puts money towards these developments to have these sorts of results for those folks that's not right it's not fair it absolutely isn't

Phil BacerraItem 25

yeah we we've got to do better this is not acceptable so and the last super duper last thing I swear and that is on the vouchers I know you mentioned something about we've never canceled vouchers before let's be clear here this is we've got to figure out a way to help these people that are in those units so when it comes to the vouchers now you said there are project based vouchers correct that's correct okay so in other words these folks if the vouchers are taken away they can't take that voucher to another project correct that's correct then you better figure out a way if these folks need to get out of these

Phil BacerraItem 25

developments we need to figure out a way for them to land somewhere they signed up there's a lot of folks out in our city that don't accept services these folks have these folks are trying to get better we can't let them down thank you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Thank You councilman Becerra mr. Garcia thank you so much for the presentation I know we had talked about it months ago and so thank you mr. city manager City Manager and we talked about this and I appreciate it. So

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Councilman Becerra brought up counseling vouchers. I believe we talked about that Deputy City Manager. Can you elaborate a little bit on that? Or City Manager? I'm sorry. I know you or Mike or somebody.

So the Permanent Supportive Housing does have project based vouchers which are tied to the unit. So if somebody is taken that voucher stays within. We do have agreements and I know there's ways of moving forward to remove them under certain circumstances but I can let Mike elaborate on those. Ms. Garcia?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

So what I want to hear is, I want to hear from you, and again, thank you for the presentation, is canceling the vouchers. So if somebody is arrested for dealing drugs on site, there's, you know, search warrants served in their room, they get arrested, they get released, and then they go back, do we cancel vouchers at that time?

You can counsel vouchers with that tenant and that council can have their voucher taken away. The deputy city manager is correct. The voucher would stay per the agreement with community development partners at the unit.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Sorry.

At the unit.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Councilman Penalosa was trying to hit me with something. Sorry, go ahead.

Go ahead. following a conviction or in this case their lease agreement at the orchard has clauses related to like crime-free housing and so in the case of the individual from February they were evicted for violating that crime-free policy their voucher was cancelled with the city but the project-based voucher stays in that unit in that case unless we amend the agreement with community development partners

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

so the voucher stays but not the person that's correct okay so i'm okay with that so what i hear you saying and so for the community is let's say i live there and i have a voucher and i get arrested for dealing methamphetamine and fentanyl i would lose my voucher but the resident would would still, the residents would still be there for another person to come in?

That's correct.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Okay, so I just want to be clear on that. And so the people that are living in these permanent supportive housing, it's the homeless that have asked for assistance, it's those that need mental health services, any, what, who else? Seniors?

Yeah, they can be seniors, folks that have high levels of acuity issues and disabilities. These are folks that have been on our coordinated entry system with the county, sometimes the longest. So these are folks that really need the assistance in these units.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

So thank you for sharing that. And I know for me that's why it's really important. And I'm so glad that you gave this presentation. And again, thank you to you and your staff. I know it takes a lot of work. But I want to go to the calls for service. Again, thank you Santa Ana PD Chief, thank you so much for your officers assisting in this. Again, we see why we have a need for officers because they're not just out there, you know, doing patrol and doing other things. They're actually, they have a lot of projects that you guys all work on and people don't

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

even realize what you're doing, whether it's attending community meetings, school site, council meetings helping Mike and his team here at these different areas so the orchard 336 calls for service Mike you want to go Mr. Garcia you want to go

back to that please yes and I pulled it up it's a slide 8 and it's a so the

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

orchard heroes landing in casa carencia and again who is the property management

The Orchard and Casa Gerencia are both managed by Quality Management Group, QMG, and it was developed and it's owned by Community Development Partners.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

And you've met with them and had conversation?

That's correct, as well as with Mercy House who helps provide the wraparound, the supportive services on site.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

So Casa Gerencia has 306 calls. Chief or Mr. Garcia, can you tell us what those calls are for? Just give a sample.

Is there a slide? Yeah, let me go to that. So here's an example with the Orchard. There were 83 calls for service for trespassing, 69 calls for service on narcotics, disturbing the peace. Okay, here we go. I see it. Slide 13. Slide 13. So

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

So 336 calls for service at the Orchard from July of 2024 to September of 2025. So trespassing, narcotics, disturbing the peace, suspicious, welfare check.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

So we're talking senior citizens, those that need mental health services, those who are homeless. There's a whole array of people that live here, correct? that have different needs and need services. So when we say welfare check, do you have any ideal or chief, does anybody, what are we doing? What are we checking for?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

What are the calls?

A welfare check usually typically is a call. It can vary, but it usually depends on usually whether a neighbor or a family member calls. They haven't heard from their family member and they request that we do a welfare check to see if their family member or relative is okay. But it could also include just checking in on each other's neighbors.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

So thank you, Chief. I know the definition of welfare check. I'm more concerned, and maybe you don't have that information. And if you can send that, Mike, over to me, Chief. When you say welfare checks at these properties, I'd like to know what type of welfare checks.

Okay, yes.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

And I don't expect you to have that tonight. I am trespassing, I understand narcotics. 69 calls for service of narcotics. Can anybody elaborate on that?

We just documented the type of narcotics calls. Most of the time, based on what I see here, it's probably gonna be narcotics use, narcotics activity in the location or at the facility.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

So when you drive by, you see them in the front using drugs, because I've driven by, And so you get a call for narcotic use and then the police department responds?

Correct.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Okay. And so Mr. Garcia, whose responsibility is it to ensure that that type of behavior is not occurring at these sites?

In addition to their onsite security, it would be important for the property management at the property to keep their eye on activities, to make sure that it's not easy to enter onto the property that tenants are not propping open doors to let other folks in they're not hopping the block wall from the north or getting into the garden area from the north at the orchard

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

so is that mercy house and community development partners uh yes as well as uh qmg quality management UMG and Community Development Partners and Mercy House.

And Mercy House is really there to provide counseling and case management and different other supportive services for staff. But we'd like them to serve as additional eyes and ears on site as our inspectors will when they're doing their HQS inspections.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

So you will be meeting now, from what you said, with Commander Guterres. and then your staff will be meeting on a regular basis starting this month?

That's correct.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

And how often?

We're going to determine in the first meeting, October 14th, what the schedules will be, if there are going to be Zoom meetings. My staff had already been meeting on a frequent basis, monthly in fact, to talk about vacancy and occupancy issues at units at the Orchard and at Casa Carencia. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Mr. City Manager, I would just say I thank you again for this presentation. There's a lot of really good information in here, especially the calls for service which are very concerning to me when it's that vulnerable group of people who need the services but also need the protection. So again, I want to thank Santa Ana PD and Mercy House for the wraparound services that they're providing. However, I'm very concerned on the calls for service so it's kind of like when we say up here well we need more parks i love parks in our city but if you have the homeless and the criminal element living in them

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

and shooting up drugs and committing crime no and we don't have enough police officers or security to provide protection for our families then no i'm not supportive of that it's the same thing for this type of housing um it's great that we're providing this and giving vouchers in my opinion and I'm speaking just for myself, and Ms. Garcia, you and I have had conversations about this and I appreciate you taking time to meet with me about this. But when we're talking about a vulnerable population like this, I would hope that we would take a very strong position on not allowing this type of behavior to occur

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

because we're really not helping them, we're housing them. We're not helping, we're housing. And so I look forward to hearing from you in the future of what the meetings that you're going to be having, what is the outcome? Is Santa Ana PD still serving search warrants there, or they have to, is there still the drug use, and what are the property management companies doing to assist, because how much money do we invest in this?

In this project, it was $1.2 million in home loan agreement, and the project-based vouchers for these 72 units added up to 7.9 million over i think a 20-year period so seven point what million nine million in rental assistance that's the you know we're filling the gap there on the 7.9 million

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

in rental assistance yeah imagine what we could do with that money to help our community so mr city

Alvaro NuñezItem 25

manager i think i've been pretty clear so we work with city staff to work directly with property management, especially with the orchard. He was landing in Casa Carencia to ensure we minimize the cost for service and any of the drug activity. It's to make sure there's not just the, when we say partnership, this is the whole point of saying a partnership. So we understand what that means. So it's not just the city's responsibility to ensure we provide the assistance, but the property manager we contract with ensures that the services with Mercy House are successful. And so that's what we'll try to mitigate. Thank you. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

That word partnership is always very interesting because the city ends up doing most of the work and so in a lot of different areas. So thank you, Mr. Garcia again. Santa Ana PD, thank you for your assistance with that. Any other comments? Mayor Patel.

Benjamin VazquezItem 25

Thank you. Thank you so much for your comments, Councilmember Posada and Mayor for yours as well. When we talk about community partners, I also want to include that we do have the residents come in, have them have ownership. I don't know if we're discussing having meetings as a housing group so they could have ownership of the place and they'll support the work that we want to go forward with and have the meetings including the police and the department to make sure we have that trust in there and create a community-like atmosphere so we're supportive of each other and clean this place up. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Any other comments? Councillor Becerra.

Phil BacerraItem 25

Thank you, Madam Mayor. One thing I'd like to ask staff, let's show the progress that you guys are gonna make. I'd like to see quarterly reports placed on the PD and the Housing Division's webpage showing what the calls for service are at these units because I think it's important for folks to know what they're getting into. to. I think it's also important for us to be able to hold you and the property owner accountable. So I'm going to tell you, you know, when I first opened up this can of worms, oh my God, I did not expect to see the numbers I did. This is awful. So hopefully these numbers are going to improve.

Phil BacerraItem 25

Hopefully in collaboration with our PD, I like what Mayor Pro Tem said, engaging the residents. I don't think you're going to do that via Zoom. So I think you're probably going to have to to go down there and have to go in there. And, but I would like to see the, on a quarterly basis, I'd like to see the breakdown by month of the calls for service so we can see what progress is being made, if any. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Thank you. Just for clarification, I heard you, Mr. Garcia, say you'll be having football parties and parties with them and engage the communities. I did hear you say that.

We wouldn't. It would be something that we would like to recommend But we would recommend. To the property managers.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Right, so that would fulfill what Mayor Pro Tem is asking for.

But I think what the Mayor Pro Tem is saying is if we could visit, then we could, and conduct community meetings and be there to let them know that we're here to serve and to help. But we would want to put the onus on the property managers that have day-to-day contact, especially Mercy House.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

so and i would say that i agree with you that we can go however it's not on us we're like mikey we take on everything and then we end up paying all the money like when you know the city manager talks about a partnership or collaboration we take the the carne asada the potato salad the rice the beans and you just provide the barbecue pit that's not a partnership or collaboration so So we need to hold people accountable. So thank you. All right, let's move on to the next item. Okay. Mr. City Manager, you're good, right? Okay, end of business calendar. We're going to recess the City Council meeting

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

and convene to the Housing Authority meeting. We're recessing Council convening to Housing Authority. I hereby call the Housing Authority meeting to order. Madam Secretary, please conduct the roll call. Authority Member Becerra.

Phil BacerraItem 25

Here.

Jennifer L. HallItem 25

Authority member Hernandez.

Jennifer L. HallItem 25

Authority member Lopez. Here. Authority member Penalosa.

David PenalozaItem 25

Present.

Jennifer L. HallItem 25

Authority member Pham. Here. Vice chair Vasquez.

Benjamin VazquezItem 25

Present.

Jennifer L. HallItem 25

Chair Meskweth. Present. Six members present, that is a quorum. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Do we have any speakers for the items

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

within the Housing Authority agenda?

Jennifer L. HallItem 25

We do not have any speakers in person. We did not receive any emails related to the Housing Authority item. if there's anybody on Zoom that wishes to speak on the Housing Authority items only. Please raise your hand, I have one hand. Let me see, Nadia Nelly.

Jennifer L. HallItem 25

Would you like to speak on the Housing Authority agenda?

Yes, hello, can you hear me?

Jennifer L. HallItem 25

Yes.

Yes, hi, good evening everyone. I've been wanting to speak to you guys. we have the same issues that you guys just talked about at First Point Apartments. It's located on First Street, 2110 East First Street. The homeless situation has gotten a little bit better, but we're still struggling with many, many issues in this property. I actually came across a density bonus program packet that they had signed, and they're not complying with it. The major issue right now is the parking space. We have no parking space, you know, in our community. We have one parking space.

We were renting a second parking space behind the abandoned building next to our property for $150 a month. And, you know, July 17th, we got a two-week notice that that's it. As of August 1st, we were not able to use the parking. So we have no parking. And, you know, I already got three parking tickets for parking on the street. So can someone help us, please? We're struggling with parking issues, homelessness, the mailroom packages being stolen from the mailroom. I mean, the property is pretty much open. It's not gated.

Yeah, management is not doing anything. I don't know what else to do. I contacted housing. I spoke to Mr. Brown, and he said that someone would get back to me, but no one is doing anything. and we're the ones who are struggling with all these issues. Trash everywhere.

The dumpsters are being put away every day at 5 o'clock. Weekends, we don't have access to them. So, I mean, I have pictures of everything. It's just horrible. You know, the situation is horrible, and no one is doing anything about it. Can someone please help us?

Jennifer L. HallItem 25

Does that conclude your comment, ma'am? Yes. Thank you. Council Member Lopez, are there any speakers at your location for the Housing Authority? There are no speakers, Clerk. Thank you. Mayor and City Council, that concludes the public comments for the Housing Authority

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

agenda. Does any Authority member wish to make a motion or a second?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 25

I'll make a motion to move the item.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Thank you. Is there a second? I'll second.

Jennifer L. HallItem 25

Go ahead, Madam Clerk. A motion by Authority Member Hernandez, seconded by Chair Meskwet. to approve the recommended actions for consent calendar items one through three. Authority Member Becerra? Aye. Authority Member Hernandez? Aye. Authority Member Lopez? Yes. Authority Member Peñalosa? Yes. Authority Member Pham? Yes. Vice Chair Vasquez? Yes. Chair Meskwa? Yes. Vote of seven ayes, no nays. Motion carries. Thank you. The Housing Authority

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

authority meeting is adjourned. We'll reconvene to the city council meeting at this time. Mr. City Manager, can we please hear your comments at this time?

Alvaro NuñezItem 25

No comments tonight.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

No comments. Okay. Council members, let me start. Mayor Pro Tem.

Benjamin VazquezItem 25

Thank you so much. As many know, I have called on for the Department of Justice to investigate the Police Officer Association.

Benjamin VazquezItem 25

for health benefits that we, the city, give to them and give or pay for the benefits. These are public funds that we have and we had an audit and it came out that there was $6.5 million in a trust. It's in a trust that had no oversight. Now it's normal to have $3 to $5 million in a trust of this kind held by the Police Officers Association. it is not normal to have no oversight for over 30 years. These are public resources, these are public funds, and there has been no oversight on these funds.

Benjamin VazquezItem 25

And now we see what happened in the last few days where the POA went back to the auditor and had the six and a half million trust fund erased from the audit, and now there's no transparency. And for this, I called the DOJ, especially now, to investigate, go back 10 years. The monies that we give for health benefits, but we also give police officers 2% for retirement funds and those are not overseen by anybody. These are public funds and it is not normal.

Benjamin VazquezItem 25

It is not normal to not have these have oversight by us, the City Council. This has been going on for 30 years and this is why I'm calling for an audit from the DOJ that goes about 30 years. The reason I'm calling for this is that there is, I find, and the public finds no trust and the ex-president of the POA, Jerry Serrano, who ran the Police Officer Association for many years, he said he would burn the city down to reach his agenda of getting his retirement funds increased.

Benjamin VazquezItem 25

He went after the jobs of city, of the police chief, not one, two, of city managers. He went after people's jobs to do this. He had a recall. He had an illegal recall of a council member who dared question him. So for this, I am calling the Department of Justice to investigate because this has been going on for 30 years without any oversight. There was a POA president who said he would burn the city down if he did not reach his his agenda. He not only took down the city, but he dragged the police department along

Benjamin VazquezItem 25

with him. So that's why there's a call for Bonta to do an investigation. On another note, I want to let the city know that I have been appointed to the commission to address homelessness. I'm a new commissioner for Orange County. And I want to congratulate my niece. I had left the city. I want to congratulate my niece, beautiful Carissa Hernandez. She She married a really great man, Christian, that we like. All my family members are in love with this guy. And I also want to congratulate, there's love in the air. My cousin, Nico Romero, married Julie Alvarez as well. And we're so grateful to have good people joining our family.

Benjamin VazquezItem 25

But my cousin, Nico, also a beautiful person. And I'm looking forward this week to the wedding of my niece, Alicia Vasquez, who will be marrying Dylan on Friday and will be getting, and she'll be married here at the Green Parrot. I also, and last and more importantly, I want to congratulate my godson, Max. Now, Max started playing Jiu-Jitsu. This guy's a brain. He's smart. He's articulate, but he took first place at the San Diego Regional Championships for Jiu-Jitsu. He had three fights and three submissions, and he brought home the gold. Congratulations, Max. I love you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

have a good night Santana thank you thank you madam mayor I just want to

David PenalozaItem 25

thank city manager Alvaro Nunez for his work in the downtown area and I called him on his day off poor guy was picking up his dry cleaning and made him come meets me and some residents in the downtown so thank you for showing up on a whim to address the various issues going on our downtown there's a lot of businesses that have closed down a lot of big brick and mortars that have closed down and that vacancy is causing a lot of issues in the surrounding area so i would implore on our police chief and our city manager to continue staying on top of that area and and any area in

David PenalozaItem 25

the city that that is uh looking at that um vacancy and the the blight that comes with it So thank you city manager for your leadership there and that is it. Madam

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Mayor I have no other comments. Thank you. Councilmember Fan. Thank you Mayor. I just

Thai Viet PhanItem 25

wanted to report that last week as your director for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California I hosted a trip to the Hoover Dam and the Colorado River as well as Copper Basin and to learn about how water is imported from the Colorado River to Southern California. For those of you who don't know, Metropolitan Water District imports water to 19 million Southern Californians, including here in the city of Santa Ana. But luckily, the city of Santa Ana, thanks to our wonderful Public Works Department and Deputy Director, Cesar Barrera, 80% of our water is actually pumped

Thai Viet PhanItem 25

from the wonderful aquifer right underneath us, managed by OCWD where the mayor sits and only 20% of our water is imported which means that we are pretty self-reliant compared to a lot of communities but it is truly a wonderful thing to be able to host Santa Ana residents so that more people learn about where our water comes from how water is used and what is going to happen as the negotiations on the use of water in the Colorado River is is ongoing.

Thai Viet PhanItem 25

I also just want to give, really not a shout out, but just to raise awareness. Both Madam City Clerk and I are wearing pink today in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You might not know who's been impacted, but there have been many people in my life who have been. Some I didn't know until much later. And so cancer is a terrible thing, and just keep your family safe. With that, I will see you at the next council meeting. Thank you, everyone.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Thank you very much. Councillor Becerra.

Phil BacerraItem 25

Thank you, Madam Mayor. So on August 19th, our council approved an agreement with Kaboom to provide updated playground equipment over at Sandpoint Park. That installation is finally happening. So October 11th, which will happen to also be the same day I'm going to be hosting my monthly community office hours. So that'll be office hours at 10 a.m. at Sandpoint Park. And Director Scott, when will the folks be out there beginning the building of the new playground?

8 a.m.

Phil BacerraItem 25

8 a.m. So folks will be out there at 8 a.m. I want to thank Kaboom and the Pacific Life Foundations for their contributions towards this project and making parks better in Santa Ana and, very importantly, in Ward 4. This collaboration is not the first, though. they've done a couple others in Santa Ana. Speaking of improvements in Ward 4, I want to thank Crystal who took the time to inform me of the need for a new light over on Diamond between Harvard and Camden. I want to thank Rudy Rosas for making that happen. These are the small things, I say small,

Phil BacerraItem 25

but it's important improvement for that area. It's one single light, but that area was very dark and and a lot of activity that was not desirable was happening over there. And hopefully with that light, just a simple improvement of a light, that'll hopefully help make that area that much more safer. And in regards to the call for the Attorney General of the great state of California to take the time to come in and do an audit of many, many years of the POA's Medical Insurance Trust. As Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez admitted in his interview with KCAL 9, He didn't even bother to read the audit before calling for it.

Phil BacerraItem 25

The Attorney General is quite busy. I think he's got a lot of other things to do. So you probably should read the stuff before you make the calls. And if you read that in addition to the MOU, you would see, yes, you're absolutely correct. There weren't audits being done before. There weren't. But the Council said, we need to have those, right? We need to have those. And so on a 4-3 vote, this council voted to adopt an MOU that had audits in there. Nobody called for the audit. That was a part of the MOU. Nobody overpaid into the trust. Those were funds that were part of the MOU that you, Mayor Pro Tem, voted against.

Phil BacerraItem 25

You voted against accountability. You voted against transparency. The audit is already in the MOU. Nobody called for it. Let's be clear. Nobody called for it. It was already being done. And you took an email. you couldn't even bother to read the audit. I came into City Hall, I plopped my butt down here on the eighth floor and I said, hey, I want to see this audit. And I spoke with professional staff to get an understanding of what the audit meant. In the meantime, you're busy doing interviews on KCAL 9, right? It's frustrating because it's political theater and you bring up Jerry Serrano. I don't

Phil BacerraItem 25

know if you realize it, maybe you didn't read the website either. He hasn't been the POA president for a very long time, okay? So I know that probably doesn't help your political narrative for re-election, but so does, or so doesn't attacking our cops. So does posting pictures that deface police officer memorials. Those don't help either. So maybe you should stop attacking our cops. Maybe that would help you when it comes to re-election instead of making up these baseless claims and not doing your homework. Just do your homework and you would see that what you

Phil BacerraItem 25

you said was not even necessary. With that, unfortunately, our last council meeting, we didn't have a chance to properly adjourn. And I know it's because we were coming up on our 11 o'clock hour. So I would like to read something for Lydia Salveda. We adjourned in her memory. And when we conclude that meeting, I wanted to be able to say that, you know, Lydia was a resident of Santa Ana for over 50 years. She was a beloved community leader who dedicated her life to service and civic engagement and the advancement of her community. Every neighborhood has that, you know, that go-to person,

Phil BacerraItem 25

the one that people call and they say, oh, she'll fix it. And that was Lydia. Lydia was that for the Republic Homes neighborhood, so much so that she was awarded the Neighborhood Hero Award. And the accolades don't stop there. She was recognized through numerous awards and honors, including proclamations from city leaders, such as when I recognized Lydia back in 2022 for her outstanding contributions to our community. community. She also received certificates from the State Assembly, State Senate, and the prestigious Athena Award and the National Hispanic Businesswoman Award. She faithfully

Phil BacerraItem 25

served as treasurer and later as board director of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the National Hispanic Businesswomen Association, chair of the Southland Economic Development Corporation, and vice president and human resources director for the South Coast Commercial Bank. In these roles, Lydia worked tirelessly to strengthen partnerships, promote business and ensure the well-being of her community. Her legacy will live on through the many lives that she touched, the institutions that she strengthened, and the example that she set of what it means to serve with heart. So please keep her family in your prayers.

Phil BacerraItem 25

Have a good night, everybody.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Thank you. Council Member Lopez, please.

Jessie LopezItem 25

Yes, thank you, Mayor. First, I wanted to request, as is on the agenda, and I did request that we conclude tonight's meeting in honor of Andrea Zender, a woman who I have the privilege of knowing and, you know, who is known to be such a fearless fighter and fought so, so fiercely for the betterment of our communities. Andrea was compassionate and a fierce labor leader with a commitment to improve the lives of workers. And so for so many of us,

Jessie LopezItem 25

This is a devastating loss, an unexpected one, and in her honor, we will continue to champion and fight for better working conditions for all of our workers. I would also like to request that we adjourn formally, including the minutes, the memory of immigrants who have died in immigration detention centers this year. Ismael Ayala Uribe, Jaime Alanis, Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez, Lorenzo Patrez Vargas, Chow-Feng Jing, Tin Tan, Isidro Perez, Johnny Noviello, Jesus Molina-Vea, Abelardo Avellano Delgado,

Jessie LopezItem 25

Marie Blaise, Non Nguyen, Brian Ryo Garzon, Sarah Wee Tejin, January Reyes-Guyen, and so many who have died at the hands of a very violent government.

Jessie LopezItem 25

And moving on to other news or other public comments, I do want to clarify that over the years, our city has proudly supported a wide range of cultural events, both within the city and outside of our jurisdiction, including the TET Festival in Westminster, which we were all at, Orange County Pride in Costa Mesa, which I have pridefully supported and attended. The Anaheim Black History Parade, which I personally had the honor of joining for consecutive years in a row now alongside other members of this council.

Jessie LopezItem 25

And so these events really reflect the diversity that exists in our city and our community abroad and they are meaningful to our residents. And I know that not everybody values diversity. And I think that's a real shame because I get to hear directly from my constituents when they see me at these events, when they themselves are there and they thank me for being there. And so, you know, I think that when council members support events that celebrate other communities, I personally think that that is a good thing.

Jessie LopezItem 25

I mean, that's the work that the 2021 city council took on here, trying to provide more culturally relevant events for our own communities that have not seen themselves represented or reflected on these diets. And so I don't necessarily understand why there is a double standard now when I extend that same support to the Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian community. Now that wants to be questioned. And I just want to also clarify that as a standard practice,

Jessie LopezItem 25

city staff will receive these requests, and ultimately they get to have a final say in whether our nonprofit qualifies or doesn't qualify with our internal policies. And I just want to also be very clear that my commitment to inclusion isn't going to be selective. collective. War Three is home to many residents from these communities, whether people realize that or not. And my office is always going to support these communities, just as we do with all diverse residents from War Three and the broader city. And so I want to thank all of the Santa Ana residents actually that were at the Little

Jessie LopezItem 25

Arabia events. I think that their presence there is a reminder, not just for myself, but for other people that we are stronger. It is my personal and professional belief that we are stronger when we honor all of our cultures, not just the ones that make some people comfortable. And that we as residents don't just stay in our city, we go wherever we want and really wherever we see ourselves reflected. And so I thought that it would be important to provide clarity to that internal process that currently exists and that all of us

Jessie LopezItem 25

have abided by. Moving on, I do on a much brighter note want to share that my office has worked extremely hard to keep our parks and trails clean with the support of OC Habitats and I'm really thrilled to share that with my colleagues, city staff, and the community abroad that thanks to the work of my office in partnership with OC Habitats and our incredible volunteers that get up early on the weekends or during the week to come help us clean the creek or the park. The city of Santa Ana has earned the Clean California Communities designation from Caltrans,

Jessie LopezItem 25

which was an initiative that got started, that was rolled out by the state and the governor's office a couple years ago. And so this recognition really is a testament to the dedication of our community and reducing litter, enhancing public spaces, and inspiring pride in our neighborhoods. I want to congratulate all of the residents that have taken time to help our team, you know, pick up trash from our creek, from our park, all the local organizations, the volunteers, and the partners whose teamwork and commitment has made this achievement possible.

Jessie LopezItem 25

If I'm not mistaken, only three cities in Orange County received or earned this recognition. Irvine and Anaheim, I believe, are the other two cities. And so we're really proud of our work and we want to thank the Public Works Department as well for supporting those efforts and the city manager's office. And we look forward to celebrating this milestone with you soon as soon as the city receives the plaque that they're going to be sending us. I also just lastly want to encourage everyone to attend the 10th annual Taste of Santa Ana.

Jessie LopezItem 25

Come check out our eateries and beyond the event, please support our downtown area and our small businesses throughout the entire city. They're one of the reasons our city is so beloved. People really look forward to the authentic dishes, the tastiness of the dishes. And it's one of the reasons why people move to our city. So shop local and support your local businesses. Thank you and have a good night, everybody.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Thank you. Councilmember Hernandez, please.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 25

I want to thank members of the public who came to today's meeting as well as our city staff for preparing a balanced agenda. agenda. I really want to highlight the phenomenal work that has been happening across our city. We recently had two exciting library expansions at Delhi and one at Jerome Park as well. So I want to thank our library director and Parks and Rec for doing such a fantastic job. My office has done our due diligence to make sure that these places are respected, that they're activated by residents, and they are. I'm really impressed with how residents have

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 25

Jerome are respecting these new amenities. It's immensely clean and it's always utilized and that's what we want to see more of. So for residents who live in that community, please continue to take care of your new amenities. This upcoming weekend we have an OCFA open house at Station 75 at 120 West Walnut Avenue. We invite members of the community to come on out. This is in the Casa Bonita neighborhood. We also have the 10th annual Taste of Santa Ana at the Main Place Mall. And Willard Neighborhood Association is hosting a trunk or treat, which I'm very excited to be a part of. And this is gonna be for this upcoming Saturday.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 25

So for residents in the Willard community, please come on out. We invite you to come out. Whether you have a costume or not, we're gonna have some candy to give away to your family. And lastly, I just wanna thank the residents of our community for being engaged in our city council meeting. You all have a wonderful night, take care.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

Thank you, Councilman Hernandez. Okay, before I get into our recent community highlights, I wanna start with something that's at the core of this council and public service in general, integrity. Everyone in this dais, including myself, holds a responsibility to lead with honesty and accountability. That means speaking the truth, whether that is in person, in print, or on social media. We were elected to serve our residents, not to be self-serving, and that means we must hold ourselves accountable for our words and our actions.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

No campaign race, no headline, and no number of social media likes are ever worth losing the trust of the people who put their faith in us. Unfortunately, I must address a serious matter. This whole CDSS grant keeps coming up. It's like they don't want to let it die because apparently there was money given back. A false and misleading statement was printed in a councilwoman's recent newsletter claiming that I, the mayor, along with the city manager, returned $6.9 million of a state grant. That is simply not true. I cannot do that. It's an

Valerie AmezcuaItem 25

administrative job duty. It's not mine as the mayor. That is true. That is factual. That is simply not true. In fact, we addressed this directly from the dais on on September 16th, prior to that newsletter being released on September 30th. Despite knowing the truth, the councilwoman still chose to spread misinformation to our residents. Disagreements are part of democracy, and as we can see what's happening right now in our country, there's a lot of disagreements going on, and some people are actually mean and terrible and vile and just hateful. But spreading deliberate falsehoods is not. It undermines public trust.

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it disrespects his office and ultimately harms the very community we are here to serve we have a city manager that's been here for 18 months and this is my comments not his so I would be very clear on that in the 18 months that he's been here with his team he has been able to accomplish things that have been sitting on the shelf for 10 15 20 30 years he works with all seven of us not one he doesn't favor one of us over the other so I want to be really clear about that. But let me end this on a note of optimism and purpose. I believe that people of Santa Ana know the truth, that the majority of us are up here on this

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dais. We believe in honest leadership, in working together, and in the power of community trust. We serve with heart, integrity, and truth because that is what our residents deserve. Deserve each and every one of them and a good quality of life and with that I want to say when grants come before us as the council we should stop think and ask better questions because as councilmember Phan said this item the CDSS grant came before us with a one-page staff report one page I guess we should have caught it so we did it and it went through and

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And this didn't even come up during the budget. If it was so important, then someone on this council should have made a statement during the budget saying, hey, we have the $6.9 million. We're going to have to create a whole new division in order to implement this grant, and we need to put this in our budget. And nobody brought that up. So was it that important? And children are very important to me personally. I sat on the school board for eight years, did a lot of work there, and I'm very proud of what I accomplished there and the legacy that I left there with the wellness centers and the family

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and community engagement staff. So I want to be really clear when we talk about things up here or we make accusations we're going to call it out for what it is because it was stated that Santa Ana Unified could not apply. However if I go back three years I could see Fresno Unified, Santa Barbara, Waterford Unified, Baldwin Park Unified, let me see Savannah School District, Riverside County of Superintendent of Schools, Los Angeles Unified, Madera County Superintendent of Schools, Merced County Superintendent of Schools, Nevada County Office of Ed,

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Bellevue Unified School, and the list goes on and on and on on school districts that apply for the CDSS grant. You do not see cities in here unless I'm missing them. So I want to put this to rest because again it was a very bold move by this city manager and the city staff whether it's cat to say we can't do this we don't have the financial ability we don't have the bandwidth to create a whole new department so I just wanted to make my statement very clear because I get phone calls from different blogs and

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different people who want to find something that gotcha oh my goodness the the mayor doesn't care about kids. And when a newsletter goes out to whatever, however many people, that says the mayor and city manager returned $6.9 million or $7 million, you know, I never saw that with the previous city manager. I personally never attacked the previous city manager like that in public because I don't think it's a professional thing to do. If I disagree, I'm going to do it in private because that's what adults do, and that's what we do as professionals. So when you send out a newsletter accusing, and again this is me, this is

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not the city manager making these comments, this is me as the mayor, when you send out a newsletter to people saying the city manager and mayor

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returned seven million dollars, that's false statements. It's bold lies. Bold. So I want to be really clear about that today and there's been some very interesting things that happened tonight and this is one of them because I'm gonna put it to bed. I'm not answering any news media questions. I'm not gonna answer phone calls about this. I'm gonna talk to people about this because all they have to do is watch the council meetings and listen and they will hear. So when people say well the mayor doesn't care about children, that is not true. What the mayor does care about is the financial stability of this city. We are going to

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sunset in a few years, Measure X, we're going to be having a whole different conversation up here. And come January, I believe Mr. City Manager will be meeting and discussing how are we going to generate revenue, how are we going to protect our city from having to experience what other cities around us may be experiencing, like bankruptcy. We are responsible up here to look at every single penny. And so what I would recommend to the council members that are up here and that have questions is dig deep into the grants, ask questions, ask a lot of questions so when it comes before us,

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we're not having this discussion and we're not being falsely accused. And it is political season. It always has been. For the three years I've been sitting here, it's been a political attack on me because I'm not supposed to be here, somebody else is. And I don't believe in certain things the way other people do. And I'm with Council Member Sarah that Jerry Serrano has been gone a long time. He lives in people's mind like the boogeyman for free and that is absolutely ridiculous. For the first time in a long time in this city, the city manager, the police chief, POA,

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and everybody gets along and what people want is chaos because they thrive off of that and it makes the community think about what's really happening. Oh my god, all this cheese mail, all this gossip. You know what's happening? Is things are getting done. And you saw it tonight. When you hear Mike Garcia talk about how Santa and Police Department is working with him and his staff to address these issues where the most vulnerable live, yeah, let's give a round of applause. So we can go on and on, but I just want to be really clear that people sit up here and say, don't pick on me. I get bullied. I'm being mean. You're mean.

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The boys up here are mean, or the men, excuse me, are mean. Guess what? Don't lie. Don't lie. I do not have the authority to return 6.9 million dollars. And Mr. City Manager, at some point I want to know who's responsible for that grant. Who was responsible that did not discuss it with the city staff, city leadership, and the financial department, the finance department, to say, hey, why do we have this and what are we going to do with it?

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And is it a disaster for us? Who? And you don't have to tell me. I don't want to know. That's your business because city staff work for you. They don't work for us. The only three people that work for us up here is you, the city attorney, and the city clerk. That's it. Everybody else works for you. I've said it three times tonight. This is a city manager-led city. So I just want to be very clear about the newsletter that was sent out. It was false, and it was dishonest, and it says a lot about the person who sent it out. So with that, on a positive note, I will close. It wasn't me. Excuse me.

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We had classics with Santa and a PD car show. For the very first time, thank you, Chief, and the police department and everybody who helped with that and all the car clubs that came out and the vendors and the food and the live music and ishmael and everybody who worked together it was wonderful we had a big you know councilman becerra councilman panalosa and myself we uh donated some of our funds to this and so thank you so very much for everybody who made this happen this weekend on saturday i'm having my third annual influencer girls conference there are only 10 spots left which is wonderful by i could tell you by probably

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Thursday will be at full capacity. Thank you Santa Ana College and Girls Inc. and to Claudia, my chief of staff, for always making this such a great

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experience for our girls. And finally, actually two, coffee with the mayor on October 18th at the Dalhite Community Center. Rudy, I'd like us to talk about the first street project at that meeting and then PD can go over what they're doing with our homeless and cult again. So and I want to thank all the city staff that's always there to answer questions, whether it's a police Chief or the Deputy Chiefs and all the staff that come out. And finally Santa and NPD is having their trunk or treat on October 16th and that is always the best event. I don't know 5,000 people come there's so much candy you have to

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fill your cars up with tons of candy. The kids come dressed it is absolutely wonderful. So I hope to see all of you on October 16th for trunk or treat and the The holidays are fast approaching. And as stated earlier on the agenda, it is here to close in honor of memory of Andrea Zinder. She's an amazing woman, did a lot of great work, and she will be missed by many, and so I'd like to officially close the meeting in her honor, and this meeting is adjourned.

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