Read the April 21 meeting.

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Valerie Amezcua

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

Jennifer L. Hall

call councilmember becerra councilmember hernandez councilmember lopez councilmember fan here councilmember vasquez president mayor pro tempino here mayor mesqua president four members that is

Valerie Amezcua

a quorum thank you madam kirk are there any additions or deletions to the closed session agenda there are none do any council members need to announce obsessions on any closed session items hearing none do we have any speakers madam clerk for closed session we do not have any in-person

Jennifer L. Hall

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Good night, everyone.

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I'm going to use a brush to paint the background. I'm going to use a brush to paint the background. I'm going to use a brush to paint the background. I'm going to use a brush to paint the background.

I'm going to use a brush to paint the background.

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Valerie Amezcua

You can go ahead, Mayor. Thank you so very much. Good evening, everybody. 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. 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. For everyone's safety, per the Fire Marshal, please do not stand or place objects in the

Jennifer L. Hall

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 presentations, guests of individuals being recognized are invited to come to the front to take photos.

Jennifer L. Hall

For roll call. all go ahead thank you councilmember becerra here councilmember hernandez present councilmember lopez here councilmember fan councilmember vasquez president mayor pro tempano present mayor mesqua

Valerie Amezcua

present all seven members present thank you madam clerk before we uh proceed to the pledge of

Jennifer L. Hall

allegiance please make your announcement for members of the public on zoom or teleconference to request to speak during public comments on agenda or non-agenda items you must dial star star 9 from your phone or click the button labeled raise hand in Zoom now in order to be in the speaker queue once public comments commence. This does not apply to public hearing item numbers 25 and 26 or the Housing Authority agenda for which comments will be heard during those specific public hearing or meeting. Please hold your comments on those items until specifically called upon. Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON WONG.

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you very much. The first item on the agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. Can I get Carlos from the OC Labor Fed please to come up and lead us in the pledge?

Right hand over your heart. Ready begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you very much, Carlos. Appreciate it. Words of inspiration will be provided by Chaplain Vega. Please come to the podium, sir. And thank you so very much for joining us.

If you would please bow your heads.

Gracious Heavenly Father, we come before your Holy Throne, giving you honor, glory and praise. Lord, you are the source of all that is good. And we are blessed and grateful for all you have bestowed upon us. Lord, we thank you for our incredible city of Santa Ana, our Honorable Mayor, City Council, City Staff, and all courageous first responders. Lord, we are grateful and we thank you for our freedom and the opportunity to gather, unite this day. We ask for your hand of blessings to be upon tonight's meeting and proceedings. We thank you for your amazing grace, your unending love and wisdom.

We ask that you would guide and direct tonight's meeting and that it be of your divine wisdom, that it be productive with integrity, accountability, and with respect towards one another. Lord, we thank you for helping us accomplish our work and our goals this day. City of Santa Ana, I leave you with a scripture bound in the book of Numbers, and it says, may the Lord bless you and keep you and protect you. May he sustain you and guard you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you with favor and be gracious to you, surrounding you with his love

and kindness. And may the Lord lift up his face and countenance upon you with divine approval and give peace to you and give you a tranquil heart. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Amen.

Valerie Amezcua

Amen. Thank you very much.

Valerie Amezcua

Madam Clerk, are there any additions or deletions to the City Council agenda? No, there are not. Thank you very much. We're gonna change things up a little bit because I hear that Valley High School students have homework to go do. Councilman Vasquez wants me to pull you guys up first so you can go, he specifically says so you can go home and do your homework. So, all right, let's do, Councilman Vasquez, you want to come on up please the valley high school boys soccer team come on up here in the front and join us please

Benjamin VazquezItem 5

I am so proud of these boys as they went through their CIF journey and the whole time they They were fighting and coming back. Many times they were down a few points and like real men, they grew up. They grew up during a game and they were resilient and came back. And I was proud to hear of them being down like zero two or was it zero three at one time? It was two zero and they came back. So today we are proud to recognize these group of student athletes, the Valley High School soccer team. This season was not just about winning games,

Benjamin VazquezItem 5

It was about discipline, teamwork, and representing our school with pride. From the very first match, this team demonstrated focus, resilience, and commitment to excellence. They faced tough opponents, overcame setbacks, and continued to improve with every game. Their dedication and practice translated into outstanding performance on the field. What sets them apart is not just their talent, but their character. I know half of them are my students. I know they're really just great, funny kids and I enjoy having them in class. They supported one another, held each other accountable, and played as a unified group.

Benjamin VazquezItem 5

Their worth, ethics, partnership, and respect for the game reflect the very best of Valley High School. The highlight of the season came with their incredible run in the CIF playoffs. With determination and composure, they rose to the challenge and achieved something truly remarkable, earning the CIF championship title. first since 2006 and semi-finalists for the state regionals. This accomplishment is a testament to the preparation, teamwork, and belief in one another. We also want to recognize the coaching staff. I really appreciate the work the coaches put in, their leadership, the guidance,

Benjamin VazquezItem 5

and commitment to developing these young athletes. Thank you to the families, teachers, and supporters who stood behind this team every step of the way. To the players, you have made your school and community incredibly proud. Your success will be remembered not just for the title you earned, but for the way you earned it. Congratulations Valley High School boys soccer team on an astounding season and your CIF championship victory.

I just want to thank my coaches, my teammates for making this a great season and go Falcons.

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

all right next up councilmember becerra with the modern day high school girls soccer team come on up

Phil BacerraItem 5

You know, I think the reason why they didn't come up so quickly is we didn't say it right. All right, the state champion modern day girls soccer team.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 5

Oh, I apologize, Council Member Becerra. State champion modern day.

Congratulations, ladies. Girl power in the house.

Phil BacerraItem 3

So today, here we are. Santa Ana has been modern day's home since the school began over 75 years ago back in 1950. Today, we are proud to recognize the incredible achievements of Santa Ana's own state champion, modern day girls soccer team. This season, the Monarchs delivered an extraordinary performance, finishing second in the highly competitive Trinity League, advancing to become CIF Open Division finalists, and then going on to claim both the CIF Open Divisional Regional Championship and, as I've already said, the CIF State Championship.

Phil BacerraItem 3

Now, notably, this historic season marked the program's first-ever state championship. And that state championship came in the very first year that a state title game was played, an accomplishment that will forever be a part of modern-day history. Their dominance did not go unnoticed, as they earned recognition as the number-one ranked ranked team in California by Max Preps, solidifying their place among the elite. This team's success is a testament to their discipline, teamwork, and commitment to excellence.

Phil BacerraItem 3

We also would like to recognize several of the standout student athletes on this team. So Valentina Labouchagne, where's Valentina?

There she is.

Phil BacerraItem 3

So Valentina is a senior who earned first team all Trinity League and first team all CIF honors recording 24 goals 24 24 goals and 21 assists so it wasn't just all goals 21 assists and was named Excalibur MVP then we have Addie Rodriguez where's Addie she just went to practice ah see See, she's so committed, she couldn't come here. She had to go to practice. So Addie's a junior who was honored as the CIF Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year while also earning first-team All-Trinity League and first-team All-CIF, contributing four goals and eight assists.

Phil BacerraItem 3

Next we have Kendra Hansen. Where's Kendra? Gosh, we've got some dedicated Monarchs here. Kendra is a sophomore. Obviously, there's going to be some good things for her to come. She's on the U-17 US National Team. She received first team All-Trendy League and first team All-CIF honors with seven goals and eight assists. And then, do we have Natalie here? She is. All right, where's Natalie? All right, Natalie. Natalie, Natalie Goodwin is a junior who earned first team All-CIF recognition and contributed one goal and one assist. So these accomplishments reflect not only athletic excellence,

Phil BacerraItem 3

but also leadership, sportsmanship, and dedication. It is my honor to present the certificate of recognition on behalf of the city, of the Santa Ana City Council to the entire Mardi Gras soccer team in celebration of what has been a truly historic season. Coach, congratulations.

So coach, would you like to say a few words? uh thank you so much it is an honor and privilege to be um in santa ana just want to thank the city the council uh mr visera and um you do so much for modern day and we just want you to know how much we value the city of santa ana and we love bringing positive energy and recognition and so So thank you. And I would also like to, we have a daughter, Sophia Montiel, whose dad is a retired law enforcement officer.

Phil BacerraItem 3

I think I see him somewhere. Yes.

And so...

Carlos is true and true Santa Ana. He went to Monterey. He's raising his family in Monterey. And this year we got a chance to give back to the community. And thank you for introducing us to Illumination. and it's a homeless shelter. The girls were incredible and we're just so grateful that we could be a part of it.

Good evening everyone. My name is Chloe Mix and I'm a senior and midfielder on on modern day girls soccer. Tonight I have the privilege of speaking on behalf of modern day girls soccer and we are so grateful for this invitation. I for one can say that according to history, I'm having one of the coolest senior years ever. This soccer program has shaped us into who we are and who we wanna be and for us to be able to go so far and have this experience together has been so fun and so rewarding. I'm so proud of my team and the hard work we put in this season and it was a true show that every single person mattered

and made a difference on and off the field. We owe some huge thank yous to our families and everyone who came out to support us, and a few special thank yous to Mrs. Claire, our principal, who made the trip out to Sacramento with us, and Ms. Bergeron, who was our rock solid this whole year. Of course, thank you to our coaching staff for never giving up on us and pushing us through the whole way. We also would like to give a small shout-out and thanks to Boyce Soccer, because we were in a huddle and we told ourselves that if we lost and we had to never hear the end of it

from boys soccer yeah so I know we're all so excited to be able to represent modern day in Santa Ana by making history and bringing home number one

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

Next one is by Mayor Pro Tempano-Losa, recognizing modern day's high school boys soccer team. Come on up.

David PenalozaItem 2

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Mayor. All right. Thanks, congratulations. Gentlemen, how you doing? Welcome. Come on down, just scooch down, all the way down.

David PenalozaItem 2

All right. So, is this all of you? All the way down, all the way. Double up if you need to. All right. Good evening, everyone. Today, we are proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of Ward 6's own modern-day boys soccer team, an exceptional group of student athletes who exemplify excellence, determination, and true championship spirit. That's all of you guys, right? This season, the Monarchs reached the pinnacle of high school soccer, earning the title of Trinity League Champions, followed by an incredible run to become CIF Open Division Champions.

David PenalozaItem 2

Round of applause for them, please.

David PenalozaItem 2

CIF Open Division Regional Champions and ultimately CIF State Champions. Their success extended beyond the state as they were recognized as MaxPreps National Champions, a remarkable distinction that places them among the very best teams in the country. The championship run marks the second CIF Open Division title in the past three years, highlighting the sustained excellence and strength of this program. In addition, this season's victory secured the program's first-ever CIF state championship achieved during the inaugural year of the state title game, making this accomplishment even more historic. We would also like to recognize

David PenalozaItem 2

several standout student-athletes. Now please step forward when I call your name James Oblera, midfielder, Trinity League MVP and CIF player of the year with 12 goals and 14 assists and OC Varsity County Player of the Year. Santiago Chalero, forward Trinity League offensive player of the year with 17 goals and 8 assists, all CIF and all county first team honoree. Nathan Enriquez,

David PenalozaItem 2

Oh, he's at practice.

David PenalozaItem 2

Who's a goalkeeper, who is the goalkeeper, Trinity League Defensive Player of the Year with 14 shutouts, all CIF and all county first team selection. Matthew Miranda. Not here. Midfielder, Trinity League first team selection with 11 goals and six assists and all county second team honoree. Isaiah Covarrubias.

David PenalozaItem 2

Defender, Trinity League First Team and All-CIF honoree with six goals and seven assists, also named to All-County Second Team. These achievements are a testament to the team's hard work, resilience, and commitment to one another both on and off the field. Congratulations to the Mater Dei Boys soccer team on a truly unforgettable and historic season. Your community is incredibly proud of you and we look forward to all that you will accomplish in the future. Thank you for putting, helping put Santa Ana on the map. Would the team captain or anybody else want to come up?

I'm James Obleda. I'm one of the team captains on here and I just wanted to come and say I wanted to say how proud I am of my boys and how well we did this year and making history for our school and Santa Ana. I'm extremely honored, We're extremely honored to represent modern day and the city of Santa Ana in such a positive way. I want to thank all the parents Modern day the facilities everybody you guys your actions don't go unnoticed And then I also want to thank Santa Ana for all you do for us. Thank you

David PenalozaItem 2

Thank you one of the coaches And thank you for thinking the parents too because oftentimes they get forget forgotten and they do a lot

So thank you. I wanna say again congratulations to all you boys. These are not young men that are just soccer players. These are young men that achieve off the field as well. Many of them attain a GPA of 4.0 or higher. Many of them are gonna go on to college and do incredible things outside of the soccer field. So I'm proud of each and every one of you and enjoy this moment because it doesn't come around every year. Thank you again to all our parents. Thank you to our administration, to Mr. Miller, Ms. Clare, Mr. Brennan, and everybody that supported us in the city of Santa Ana,

especially that's gotten behind modern day since 1950 thank you I just want to

David PenalozaItem 2

say a special shout out to Ash Jones here when I first met him he was like this tall so it's insane to see how much you've grown so congratulations to all of you guys let's gather up

Thank you.

I don't know. Mr. Chairman?

David PenalozaItem 2

I don't know.

And does the City Council want us back? Yes. I was going to say, it might come down.

Do you want to come down? I don't know. That'll do. You can put it together on the back of the bus. I want to come to the back of the bus.

Thank you.

Squeeze in a little bit.

One more, one more. Ready? One, two, three.

Perfect, thank you.

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 2

All right. The next presentation is mine. and it is to the apprenticeship career fair volunteers partners and staff for the exceptional contributions to the community come on up and join me please all of you all of you everybody that's here for this it was a huge success huge Huge success. Come on up. Did some leave? Some people leave. Sorry. They had to work.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Okay, so some people had to leave because, you know, we ran a few minutes late. But before I start, I really want to say thank you you know, to the city staff, because they worked very hard to do this, and to our partners that are here here tonight and our partners that are not here. So let me start off with our partnership. We're grateful for the partnership and participation of the labor organizations, training partners, and community organizations who helped make this event possible. Labor 652.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Yes, round of applause please. Western State Carpenters, the Orange County Labor Federation, SEIU United Healthcare Workers, the LA Orange County Building and Construction Trade Council, Laborers Training School, Santa Ana College, UA Local 582 Plumbers and Pipefitters, Operating Engineers Local 12, and IBW Orange County. Thank you. Thank you all very, very, very much. I always say we're a family. Now let me talk about city staff. We have Adesali Delgado. Yes, yes. Yes. Jeannie Mercado, Sandy Barba, Carlos de la Riva,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

Janine Salgado, Nay Buen, I'm sorry, Deborah Sanchez, Jesse Hernandez, Ivory Medina, Juan Cazares, Gabriela Garcia, David Gonzalez, Jessica Guerrero, Rochelle De Jesus, if I say your name wrong, I apologize, Waldo Borella, Edward Rios, Katie Ho, Daniel Garcia, Julie Castro, Arianna Rodriguez, is Savannah Spicer and Fernando Chevarria. Those are city staff members that made this all possible. So thank you all very, very much.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

And I wanted to recognize all of them because our partners and our city staff, because this is the second annual apprenticeship career fair. And I remember when I went to the city manager and our deputy city manager, and I had met with the laborers and the carpenters, and I was, can we do this? And they said, yeah, let's do it, let's do it. it so but we're gonna turn it over to the work center okay that's good we come up with the ideals and you all do the work so thank you so very much and we had about 300 people give or take the first year and I have to say that this

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

year we welcomed more than 1,000 we say that number again more than 1,000 attendees from Santa Ana Orange County and across Southern California Demonstrating a strong demand for career pathways that provide stability, opportunity, long-term growth, great pay, medical, dental, retirement, all those wonderful things that they give and a great job. So my son works for one of the trades and he is extremely happy with his. The apprenticeship career fair connected residents directly with hands-on opportunities in skilled trades by offering access to training programs,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

mentorship and careers that led to family sustaining wages. These are not just jobs, they are pathways to economic mobility and brighter futures. I want to specifically again recognize the Santa Ana Work Center for your leadership and organizing this very impactful event. And we're looking forward to next year and it'll be even bigger, maybe we'll have 2,000 people. people. And because we've done such a great job, another city where Mickey Mouse lives wants to join and have a career fair as well. And then the people across the street, the

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

county, they also want to have one, but they want us to move ours to Anaheim. And we said, no, we did it first. You're going to come here to Santa Ana. So if they want to have their own, they can, but they won't get a thousand people. I just want you to know that. So, but what does this reflect? This reflects our commitment to investing in people and creating opportunity for everyone. And I wanna emphasize how proud Santa Ana is to stand alongside our labor partners. Unions have been long at the heart of protecting workers and creating pathways for prosperity. And I know that because I was a member of a union for 30 years.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

They fight for fair wages, strong benefits, safe working conditions, and dignity on the job. Just as importantly, they invest in people through apprenticeships that allow residents to earn while they learn and build lasting careers. So I just wanted to say, to recognize each and every one of you, trying not to fall here, I wanted to recognize each and every one of you and say thank you. And I know there's a lot of people that are not here, so please thank them from all of us in the City of Santa Ana because a thousand people, successful, successful. So now what do we do next year or the end of this year?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

I keep looking at the deputy city manager like we do another one in October, right? But we're just gonna make it bigger bigger and better and offer people jobs and a future So with that anybody want to come up and speak? Yes, please

What an honor to receive this award on behalf of the Santa Ana Work Center. Thank you mayor for all your support city managers office and everyone who helped out to make this event a success. Our unions, it was a pleasure working with all of you. I know for a couple months we were going back and forth, emails, just coordinating this wonderful event that brought so many opportunities, real, like you were saying, Mayor, real career opportunities to our Santa Ana community. So I do wanna thank everyone who supported us, and thanks again. Thank you, thank you.

Thank you for the support. This is a true partnership with the City of Santa Ana and I'm Adam Elliott, local 582 plumbers and pipefitters, and we've taken in several century high school pre-apprenticeship from the Building Trace Pre-Apprenticeship Program. These kids are doing a great job for us and so it's a real thing with no student debt. I just wanted to throw that out there.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

yeah thank you thank you anybody else

carlos camacho orange county labor fed just thank you mayor for partnering with us and exposing uh exposing your community to good union jobs thank you thank you all very much again and

Valerie AmezcuaItem 1

thank you for staying and being here tonight with us and let's take a photo thank you

Thank you.

Everyone come a little closer together.

Then I have to touch him.

I'll tell you. Right here, please. Good.

Thank you.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Hi, may I please ask the representatives of Bangla Viet to come up?

up. No, up here.

Oh, it's leaning. All right, well, I lean left.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Hi, everyone. Thank you so much for being here. Today I'm doing the proclamation for Black April, recognizing April 30th as Black April, and it's being presented to Nguyen Viet Daily News. For those of you who don't know, on April 30th, 1975, South Vietnam fell to communist forces, marking the fall of Saigon. The event not only led to one of the largest mass exoduses of Vietnamese refugees in modern history, excuse me, of refugees in general in modern history,

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

but also signaled the beginning of a new chapter for Vietnamese people, both in Vietnam and abroad. The fall of Saigon, though a time of immense tragedy, also marked the birth of the vibrant Vietnamese American community we know now. Every year on April 30th, the Vietnamese American community comes together to commemorate Black April or Tang Tu Dinh. This day marks the fall of Saigon, the end of the Vietnam War, and the fall of South Vietnam. It is a bittersweet moment for the Vietnamese diaspora mourning the loss of our country, the hardships

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

endured, the lives lost, but it also reflects the incredible strength and and resilience of the communities that emerged from such tragedy. Between 1975 and 1995, over 3 million people fled Vietnam to escape the ravages of war and political persecution, including my parents and myself. The majority of these refugees found new homes in the United States, with Southern California emerging as a central hub for our community.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

The area is known today as Little Saigon and serves as a symbol of resilience, heritage, and the hope of the Vietnamese diaspora.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Little Saigon in Orange County is home to over 200,000 Vietnamese residents. It is the largest concentration of Vietnamese people outside of Vietnam. And according to the recent U.S. Census Bureau data, approximately 25,000 Vietnamese Americans reside right here in Santa Ana, which is a testament to our community's strength and growing influence. This neighborhood represents both the history of our past and the bright future that we continue to build. And for those of you who don't know, Santa Ana was home to the first Vietnamese American grocery store, and the home where a lot of Vietnamese people in Southern California still live.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

In fact, if you leave California, Orange County, Vietnamese people in other states as well as other countries refer to coming to Little Saigon as coming to Santa Ana. So sometimes if you watch YouTube videos, they'll say, hey, I'm going to Santa Ana, and they really mean Little Saigon.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Ngo Viet Daily News was founded in 1978. It is the first Vietnamese language newspaper in the United States. Upon immigrating to the United States three years prior, journalist Ngoc Yen Do saw there was a demand for Vietnamese news source in the United States due to the influx of Vietnamese immigrants. Do started the paper with his wife and children in their home garage with $4,000 in savings. Over the last 47 years, Nguoi Viet Daily News has become a cornerstone of Vietnamese American news outlets. With its focus on preserving and promoting the culture, Nguoi Viet, as it's known, has played a pivotal role in uniting

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

generations of Vietnamese Americans. The paper continues to cover local matters in Little Saigon and to report on issues relevant to Vietnamese communities. And it's actually read worldwide. And they have a YouTube channel that is also watched worldwide. What happens here in Little Saigon is something that the Vietnamese diaspora all over the world pays attention to. In the five decades since the fall of Saigon and the remarkable journey of the Vietnamese American community in this country, we have built families, families, businesses, and legacies that continue to shape our collective future.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

As a proud Vietnamese American refugee myself, I am honored to present Nguyen Viet Daily News with the proclamation to declare April 30, 2026 as Black April. With this, we commemorate the lives lost during the Vietnam War era and honor the resilience and contributions of the Vietnamese American community.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, the city council, and especially to the councilwoman, Tai Viet Pham.

I'm very grateful that the city recognized this event, and I think she said it all for us about the situation that happened to our country 51 years ago. But in a few days, a few more days, we will commemorate this event in our community. But I would like to say this. This commemoration is not only limited to the Vietnamese American community. I would like to extend also this commemoration to the 58,000 U.S. service members who sacrificed their lives

to our sect in defending the freedom in our country during those wars. And untold, service members who came home physically and mentally injured because of the war. I also want to express our gratitude to our community to the welcoming of this country to our immigration, you know, in this country in the first days when we escaped the war. And I want to thank you, this country,

who gave us a second chance of life in this free country. And just forever we are grateful. And I will share this kindness to our community. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 4

Thank you very much. Great presentations. At this time, Mr. City Manager, can we please have the presentation? Thank you.

Alvaro NuñezItem 4

Yes, Mayor. The Senate Police Department is going to present a 2025 year-end update and our Chief Robert Rodriguez will help us with that.

Good evening, Mayor and City Council. I appreciate the opportunity to provide an update of what your police department accomplished in 2025.

At the core of everything we do is simple, our mission to protect life, preserve peace, enhance the quality of life, community trust, constitutional policing, and neighborhood focused strategies. What that means is that we use a neighborhood based approach to address specific concerns in each community, not a one size all fit strategy.

This slide represents our calls for service throughout the year. Your department responded to over 435 calls for service. That includes emergency calls, non-emergency calls, and officer-initiated activity. As you can see, we received 109,606 911 calls for the entire year 2025. And I know these are large numbers, but what's important here is to understand that behind every number, it's a community member that requested assistance and that we responded. responded.

In regards to workforce and staffing, we also made progress. We hired 32 officers in 2025 and reduced our vacancy rate despite the challenges that a lot of agencies are facing today. In 2025, we started with 45 vacancies and we ended up with 31. What that means is it strengthens our service delivery and it makes us more responsive to our community.

Our investigations division, they closed 2800 cases, closed 3000 cases and they opened 2800 cases were assigned. What's important to notice is that this past year we closed more cases than we opened, which is rare. We had 161 arrests from investigations divisions and there was a lot of support from our forensic and crime scene support.

Our crimes against person, this is our section that involves our homicide team, our gang gang enforcement and they investigate the most serious crimes. We The majority were solved and there were 10 arrests made in those 13 homicides. The Crimes Against Persons Division seized 72 firearms and made 395 arrests in 2025. This slide also shows a graph of our gun seizures. Even though 72 firearms were collected by the Crimes Against Persons Division, overall

Overall we collected 295 firearms removed off the street in 2025. What's important to see here is the relationship between 2024. We removed more guns in 2024. However, even though we removed fewer guns in 2025, the increase of juveniles in possession of firearms increased. East. Our Special Investigations Division, they conducted over 320 operations. They focused on gangs, narcotics, and organized criminal activity. Through target operations, they removed dangerous

drugs, illegal firearms, and disrupted criminal networks operating within the city. These are proactive efforts to design to prevent crime before it impacts our community. A lot of these drug seizures were obviously a collective effort by all officers and detectives involved, but more importantly we got to give credit to our canine narcotics dog, Poppy, who is present here today with Corporal Marshall.

She's a black lab, so it's a friendly dog. So don't, you know, they're all friendly. I'm a dog person. They're all friendly. But canine poppies here, if anyone wants, you know, to hang out with canine poppy.

Our quality of life team. This is an area where many of you have most likely seen the most impact from. They made over 2,300 arrests, 748 citations. They addressed repeated offenders and did a citywide cleanup operation. It's a balanced approach. They also obviously did a lot of, they did shelter placements and reunifications with families. families.

Our directed patrol is in addition to cold. They focus on more specific problem areas. These are locations identified through our community feedback and data. Places where issues persist by targeting these areas, we create immediate improvements and long-term solutions.

And of course, we wouldn't be a department without community engagement. engagement. We had over 104 community events. Over 35,000 residents were engaged. This builds trust and partnerships with our community. On the traffic side of the house, our traffic division investigated 29 fatal traffic collisions. They did numerous DUI enforcement and education education, and focus on reducing fatalities.

In closing, what you see here reflects a department that's committed not just to enforcement, but also to service, accountability, and partnership.

And that concludes my presentation.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Thank you, Chief. We really appreciate that. And thank you, because I know Mr. City Manager, I had asked for the end of the year presentation. I think it's important for the community to hear from you, Chief, about all the things that are happening and the many, many calls. So if there's any comments by any Councilmember? Councilmember Hernandez?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

»» Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you, Police Chief Rodriguez for your report. A lot of information that was shared today. My question pertains to traffic safety. So you list 29 fatal collisions investigated. How many of those collisions involve law enforcement?

That we investigated? None.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

Do we have law enforcement officers who may drive a vehicle who have ever hidden a car being driven by a civilian? Yes. Are any of those numbers included in the traffic safety?

No, because those were investigated by us. That's a personnel matter.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

Okay. I just, I think when we talk about traffic safety, I want to not separate the police department from the issues that we are experiencing in the community because they're not isolated. My concerns are there's 29 fatal collisions and they were rightfully investigated by the police department. I am also very worried about residents who may be driving. I experienced this last council meeting I called the city manager literally leaving the city council chambers an Officer was speeding on Civic Center in Bristol passed by me without sirens without any of that

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

That could have easily been a collision on Civic Center and and Bristol so I was interested in learning because I know that This has been an ongoing topic for the city is reducing liabilities reducing accidents occurred by police officers. So I wasn't sure what that 29 entailed, so I'm very thankful for you clarifying. Although that remains a very important liability for the city to address, I hope that we continue to train our officers. With respects to reducing liabilities as it pertains to accidents, what type of preventative measures has the department taken

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

taken to ensure that we're reducing liabilities in the areas of, let's say, car accidents?

Yes, thank you, Councilmember, for the question. So our officers receive advanced officer training, which includes driving. It also includes pursuit driving. And then in addition, what I have done is we send every officer in our patrol division Division and also in our Investigations Bureau back to hands-on emergency vehicle operations and driver training.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

That's wonderful, Chief Rodriguez. Do you have an idea how many officers have been trained within our department since you've made this decision to get them retrained?

I don't have the exact number, no. Okay.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

Would you say it's a majority of the police department or do you think in terms of a percentage percentage-wise of 100%, would you say we're at 30%, 50%?

I'd say at least about 75% to 80%.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

That's a very high threshold. Thank you. That right now remains the top questions that I wanted to ask you. I think you broke down the special investigations well in terms of the narcotics and the enforcement, the quality of life team. I know that a concern that I have is going to be making sure that we are effectively solving crime. I see that you shared that you guys have closed a number of investigations. So I think that that's a positive. If there's something that I would like to see more of is Santa Ana PD having a more community-based approach to the policing that they do.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

do. I think it's important that officers start to become more familiar with the residents and the communities that they serve. The Artisa Pilar Neighborhood Association, long before was a council member, we would have the opportunity to meet with an officer, share our concerns, what have you. But over the last several years, I've been seeing maybe lesser engagement from our police department with neighborhood groups. I think that that would be helpful in repairing sharing the relationship with the community, seeing them where they're at, hearing them out.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

In addition to sharing these great statistics that you've shared, I also think it's important that our department listen to the community. Maybe we have a forum on listening to the community in areas where we can make improvements. I think that that would be healthy. I think that can potentially improve relationships with the community. Given that the community feels very disenfranchised by this department, I want to be adamant that I want to see that work happen. I want to see a better working relationship with our residents. And that will conclude my comments for this round. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

VICE CHAIR HARDIN. Thank you, Councilman Herndon. Any other comments?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Chief, I just want to close out and say thank you. I know under SB 43 that your officers have been placing people that they're picking up in hospitals under SB 43. CHAIR POWELL.

Yes. VICE CHAIR HARDIN.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

And I believe in the first quarter just of 2026 there's been eight people that have been placed in the hospital. CHAIR POWELL. Yes. So thank you as well as the 2025-2300 arrest. The SB43 has come in very handy. Can you talk a little bit about that?

Yes, SB43 is the new legislation that came into place where if someone's gravely disabled we can place them as long as there's a bed available for them. We place them in a bed space so they can get us some help.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Thank you so very much. And I would just like to say that I have a Neighborhood Association Leaders Meeting every single month at the Police Community Room or here in City Hall. And all neighborhood leaders are invited to attend so that that way they can interact with the City Manager, the Deputy City Manager, Parks and Rec, Budget, the Directors, and as well as you, Chief, and about all three of your Deputy Chiefs and the both Commanders members come so the community leaders have an ability to meet you there and also invite you to come out to their meetings. So thank you for doing that.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

And to all the community leaders that do come out to the Neighborhood Association leaders meeting, thank you for doing that because you are present at all of those meetings. And that says a lot because previously we did not have that type of interaction. So thank you. No other questions or comments? Thank you, Chief, so much for your presentation.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Madam City Attorney, do we have anything to report out of closed session?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 6

Mayor, we do not have any reportable action.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

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

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Yes, 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 at 2 p.m. We received a total of 18 e-comments, seven on non-agenda topics, and 11 regarding item number

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

27. Those were distributed to the City Council and posted online for public review. We'll now hear We will hear from members of the public that are physically present in the Council Chamber followed by those on the conference call or Zoom to provide comments on agenda or non-agenda items. Please state your name and the ward or neighborhood that you reside in for the record. I'll call three names at a time here in the Chamber. If you could please line up behind the center podium in the aisle way. Sue Palak, Karen S., and Abe Q. These are the first three speakers. Sue, Karen, and Abe.

Jonathan Hernandez, let me tell you something. The gentleman that called to talk about the Vietnam War, he's the reason why you should be standing for the flag. And I'm going to tell you right now, I'm from that era. I am 80 years old, and I go back to those 51 years. So I'm calling you out, shame on you. Tonight I'm going to, I'm Sue from Ward 4, you all know me. Councilwoman Lopez, I'm addressing you tonight.

What I'm hearing is that you spent $20,000 for a one-week business seminar trip to Harvard when you didn't think anybody noticed.

You found a legal way to do it, but was it morally right for the taxpayers that you serve? The look that Councilman Panellosa's face when he discovered this at an open council meeting said it all. He looked disgusted, he was shocked, and he was upset. Maybe $20,000 seems like an inconsequential amount to drop in the bucket when we are dealing with looming $19 million budget deficit, but think about this. Do you know what $20,000 could buy that would make a difference for working people, students, and seniors? Let me break it down for you.

It could provide for 898 senior bus passes or 434 student bus passes or 289 regular bus passes. Then you have the audacity to go and spend $3,000 of Santa Ana taxpayer money on the Anaheim Latino Muslim Unity EID Fair. In my opinion, it sure looked like trickery and bait and switch because you held it in Anaheim when the city signed off on the fair that was to be held at 1610 East 1st Street, but it was not. What's the source of your payback money? You know, I'm intrigued now.

I really would like to know how you're paying this back. Are we taxpayers just supposed to forget about this as we go to the voting booth?

I cannot trust you with our taxpayer money. I will never vote for you to represent us in the city, county, or the state. And I will write in dog catcher instead next to your name. And I vote no for a 1.5% permanent tax increase. And the reason why is, is because I don't know where that money is actually going to get spent or how it will end up being repurposed. You should apologize to your constituents and to the entire city. I think that this issue is going to follow you all your political career. I will be back.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Karen S., A.Q., Giovanni Chavez.

Good morning. Good evening, council members and mayor. My question is very simple. I want to address it to Ms. Valerie and Ms. Phan. I would like to know when I can meet with you in private. I'm giving you the opportunity in private first about a matter that I wrote Ms. Valerie about 10 months ago that hasn't been resolved regarding the grant program. So when would you be able to meet with me? I would like to resolve it in private. If it can't be resolved, then I will make it public.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

I can't respond to you other than my chief of staff will meet you outside, okay? I'm giving my card and she'll help you.

Okay, because I've tried the…

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

No, no, I can't. We can't have a discussion.

No, I understand that, but I have tried other avenues, so I want to definitely watch.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

She's right there. She'll meet you outside.

That resolved. Thank you. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Abe Q, followed by Giovanni Chavez and Emma Gottfried.

Good evening, City Council and staff and fellow Santaneros. My name is Abe. I also live in Ward 3 and I'm a member of the Police Accountability Committee of CSO Orange County. We're here tonight to defend trans- to demand transparency around the anti-ice protests that happened on June 9th and the following days. We demand a detailed report and a public hearing on those anti-ice protests. Item 10 on the agenda is a three-page summary that justifies the violence SAPD unleashed on protesters, not just Santa Ana residents, but adults and youths from all over Orange County.

County. The summary states that all uses of force were, quote, applied in accordance with legal and department policy, but many people disputed those claims at the June 17th city council meeting. The truth is that officers deployed tear gas and fired rubber bullets indiscriminately into crowds. They injured a school board trustee and a woman with a baby stroller. Someone even filed a claim against the city and there has been no updates on that. Lawrence, Tony Lawrence Olson, give us some updates on his case. Officers damaged They damaged a small business in a video that went viral before the city addressed it, and

they shot people in the head and torso with 40mm launchers. Again, go over the comments on the June 17th city council meeting. Someone was struck in the jaw by a 40mm projectile. Shame! I was there on the 11th. I was marching with hundreds of people on Main and 5th, and we saw an SAPD armored military vehicle driving south on Main Street. There were officers hanging off to the side. They were dressed in full tactical gear carrying rifles as if they were entering a war zone. zone. That vehicle ended up turning around and leaving in less than two minutes. Because

the truth is that the department's response to these protests was disproportionate and aggressive and the people who were there that day, myself, some of the council members here, even Supervisor Sarmiento, everyone believes in the fact, we are all united on the fact that SAPD were the ones to escalate to using violence. According to the report, there were 27 arrests made and only five protesters injured, but this is all the information we get. That's it and we wanted a full detailed report the department has reportedly refused to publish any body camera footage from these protests and these specific

incidents but the public has a basic democratic right to know what happened and to determine for itself if the department's use of force is justified we have a right to determine who is policing us and how they do it especially when over 24 million dollars of taxpayer money has been spent on police misconduct settlements over the last 10 years like Sue said think about how that money could go towards working-class people. Let's not give more money to Santa Ana PD. They're getting 160 million of this year's budget. We spent only 17 on community development and our

libraries programs. That shows where where our priorities are. CSO fights for community control of the police and that is what we need to get real transparency and accountability from Santa Ana PD. We need to expand community involvement in the police oversight commission. We need to increase the commission's powers and budget so they can investigate killer cops like Luis Casillas and isaac ibarra and so we can hold the department accountable when they brutalize protesters who are standing up for our communities these protests are not going to stop they're going to keep coming

they're going to keep getting bigger fire killer cops luis casillas and isaac ibarra justice for

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

noah rodriguez next three speakers giovanni chavez emma gottfried jrc good evening mayor and city

council i'm giovanni chavez santa ana resident in ward six and i'm here to speak in favor of item Item 27. I first want to thank Council Member Phil Becerra for agendizing this item, which would encourage our state legislators to amend the legislation adding Santa Ana the Speed Safety Pilot Program under AB645. The safety of our kids should always be our main and most important priority. I have spoken to hundreds of residents, many of which have expressed concerns about the speeding that happens near school zones and highly populated areas in the city. These are real concerns.

concerns. No one should have to raise a family or build a life here looking over their shoulder. For years we have been told that we cannot add speed bumps on all streets where speeding occurs because they would delay emergency response times and cause safety hazards. This proposal would be easier to implement, it's efficient, and it will deliver faster results for our residents. This speed safety pilot program focuses specifically on school zones and high injury areas, the areas most in need. It builds an automated fine system in the the most dangerous speeding areas. The revenue from these fines will go directly to building

safe street infrastructure, so as we're dealing with the looming budget deficit, we can address speeding while funding safety at the same time. It's a win-win for our communities. Therefore, I encourage the Council to approve this item. The safety of our children is not political and this is a common sense proposal we can all unite behind. Together, we can make a positive impact for the present and the future of our city. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Emma, followed by Jair and Yohan Lopez.

Before I start, I notice that y'all keep changing the camera angles to not show the banner back there. That's shameful.

But good evening, City Council. My name is Emma Gottfrieden. I'm a member of community service. Community Service Organization, Orange County, and its Police Accountability Committee. We're here to demand a detailed report and a public hearing on SAPD's actions during the anti-ICE protests on June 9th. This very room was filled with hundreds of people right after these protests, people lining out the door, speaking for hours about the city's, how frustrated they were with the city's response to ICE and the National Guard's presence here in the city and how SAPD responded, and we haven't forgotten what SAPD did.

While our community was out here protesting ICE and the National Guard and trying to protect each other, SAPD brutalized us. They fired over 250 less lethal munitions and 35 chemical agent munitions. That's not protection, that's not the actions of a police force trying to protect public safety and promote de-escalation, as the report on this item says and that presentation just given. This response by SAPD is one of countless situations that shows that SAPD is not here to protect our community and still refuses to be transparent with us and it requires real oversight and accountability. At a time when we need more transparency,

the city manager and city attorney's office reached out to council member Phil Becerra and our mayor to attack Santa Ana's Police Oversight Commission to try to remove its ability to independently investigate to investigate situations like this. If Santa Ana's Police Oversight Commission was fully staffed and empowered at the time, they could have conducted independent investigations in the incident. When people were injured, they could have submitted these complaints to the Oversight Commission.

And in this report given on this item, they stated that all the operations are conducted in accordance to department policy, which means that that policy needs to change. change. And the Oversight Commission should have the power to change it, should be one of many things that have the power to change it, and every resource to pursue that. We need a stronger Oversight Commission, not a weaker one. And we're demanding, and once again, we're demanding a full detailed report on this incident and a public hearing on SAPD's response. And also, the police year-end update that was just given was filled with very vague

cherry-picked information that report did not promote any transparency or give any context to SAPD's actions that's just shameful thank you for your time and justice for Noe Rodriguez

greetings council members mayor my name is Jair and I'm here today to not only voice my support for the Santa Ana residents of the Coach Royal Mobile Home Park, but I am also here to talk about the blessings and responsibilities, and you'll see how this connects in just a moment. This week, I've thought a lot about the prayers and the blessings that were given to me by Creator, by God, and in my eyes, many of our community members, there is a knowledge that I'm sure you're aware of that there's a conviction that the Creator does not let us down, even in our hardships.

And when he answers our prayers and pours us with those blessings, we practice gratitude. And how do we practice that gratitude as believers? As human beings abiding by the law of community, we take responsibility, right? But what does that mean? Regardless of whether you believe in this creator or other entities, you've been given a blessing of sitting on those seats. You ask for that. So you have that responsibility. You ask for that responsibility. And your responsibility, as I'm sure you've experienced, can be tiresome, stressful, and

it feels like you can't satisfy everybody, compassion fatigue, but regardless, you've been given this blessing because you asked for it. You asked for this responsibility. Remember that. One question I do have in regards to this matter is how money distorts blessings and responsibilities. responsibilities. Does money distort blessings and responsibilities? Yes, of course. It's not a secret that financial contributions that have an influence on the direct action of political leaders. It is why institutions such as the Santana Police Officers Association

donates to your campaigns. It is why entities like the Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association donated a thousand to fill, two thousand to Amesqua, donated sixty thousand in a campaign against the RSO, the rent stabilization and just cause eviction ordinance, why manufactured housing education trust PAC donated almost $7,000 to Phil, $12,000 to Amesqua, about $2,000 to Penalosa, and another $49,000 to the campaign against the RSO again. So the second question, two parts, is, is this what's influencing your frequent responses that

that there is nothing you can do to enforce what you know is an unjust and illegal acts by Kingsley against the cultural mobile park home residents? Or is it the fact that in the RSO regulations, policies, and procedures handbook, which provides just cause eviction protections for most tenants to occupy a residential real property or mobile home under the enforcement section of page 14, check it out it's left blank who enforces that so if an ordinance is not being implemented and enforced when they're supposed to be designated bodies like the rental housing board then there should not be some kind of audit on this

ordinance and its enforcement so remember it's your responsibility to the people you asked for this responsibility so take it up

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Next, the next three speakers, Johan Lopez, Hector Bustos, and John Ramirez.

Good evening. My name is Isabella, and I'm here to voice for Johan Lopez on behalf of Johan Lopez with Affordable Dentists. Good evening, council members and Mayor Mezcua. We are here to address a critical and preventable public health issue in Santa Ana, limited access to basic dental care. In partnership with Affordable Dentists, our community initiative provides free dental screenings and oral health education to under-deserved families, focusing on prevention and early intervention to reduce long-term health costs. This effort is supported by faculty from the UCLA School of Dentistry and student volunteers

volunteers from Santa Ana College, University of California Los Angeles, and University of California Irvine, bringing together experienced clinicians and future providers in a unified community effort. Untreated dental disease remains a leading cause of pain, miss work and school, and preventable healthcare costs. By delivering care directly into the community, we remove barriers and provide immediate impact. We would welcome the opportunity to partner with the city to expand this initiative through the following. Community events and city facilities, public health outreach coordination, community awareness efforts.

We respectfully request a brief meeting with your office to discuss implementation and alignment with city priorities. We thank you for your leadership and commitment to the health of Santa Ana residents. and we look forward to working together to expand access care. Respectfully, Mia Amaya, Johan Lopez, and Jaime Fernandez from Community Health Medical and Dental Care Clinic. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Hector Bustos, John Ramirez, Carla Alvarado.

Thank you. Good evening, Mayor and City Council. My name is Hector Bustos and tonight I'm here to speak on behalf of CHSPA. CHSPA provided a letter via email outlining concerns that the organization has over item 27, seeking that the City of Santa Ana become a part of an automated speeding ticketing program through AB645. Nearly 100 petition signatures were collected in less than 24 hours from Santa Ana residents concerned about this item. so Chispa is urging the City Council to pause this item and not move forward with requesting changes to AB645 until there has been deeper research, clear information, and meaningful community

engagement. I want to be clear that Chispa supports safe streets and effective solutions that can reduce speeding and make streets safer for all, especially pedestrians and cyclists. If our goal is to truly make our streets safer and reduce traffic related injuries and deaths, then we should be consistently investing in solutions that are proven to work. There's strong evidence that infrastructure-based improvements, things like speed humps, race crosswalks, bulb-out sidewalks, and safer street design are effective at slowing down traffic and preventing harm before it

happens. These approaches address the root of the problem. They change driver behavior in a consistent and preventative way without relying on punishment or data collection after the fact if the council chooses to move forward with the request to be included in the automated speeding ticketing program then we strongly urge you to begin an intentional community engagement process now a process that not only gives community members the ability to share their position on this but also understand this program and how it will impact them people deserve to understand how these systems work what data is being

being collected and how it will be used and what safeguards are in place. That level of engagement has not happened yet. If the Council decides to move forward in exploring this, the next step must be a highly publicized study session that is accessible to the public with clear information, community education and opportunities for meaningful dialogue. That study session should be proactive, multilingual and designed to reach the communities most most impacted, not just those already engaged in the process. So again, CHSPA's request to the City Council is simple and reasonable.

We're asking you to pause this item and not move forward at the time, but if you choose to move forward, that you direct staff to conduct a more comprehensive analysis of how these programs have worked in other cities, including costs, timelines, effectiveness, and any other unintended consequences, as well as directing staff to present all of this information in a work study session that is that is accessible to all residents thank you

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

next three speakers john ramirez carla alvarado diana t

good evening mayor city council members and city staff my name is john ramirez and i've been a resident in santa ana my entire life and currently reside in the piccolo neighborhood i'm here tonight I'd like to speak in favor of agenda item 27 that requests state legislation amend AB645 to allow our city of Santa Ana to establish a speed safety system pilot program. This is pretty self-evident why we need this. We obviously have people speeding left and right in our city. It's led to injury and even death. And that needs to slow down. In a perfect world, the speeding will stop completely, but that ain't ever going to happen.

so getting people getting speeding to drop considerably is the next best thing and I believe this program can definitely help in that regard I was at my own neighborhood Association meeting in piccolo recently and a majority of residents that sorry a majority of residents at that meeting stated they want they wanted more police enforcement due to illegal parking and speeding in our neighborhood and I promise it's not me being biased towards having more enforcement my neighbors actually stated this at our meeting and i bet the same sentiment of

support resonates among the majority of residents throughout our city because as it's well known for anyone paying attention public safety is at the top of the list among residents surveyed when we take the budget survey every year the bottom line is if we all care about public safety we should all be supportive of this agenda item that councilman becerra has brought forward and And thank you, Council Member Becerra, for bringing it forward.

Please support agenda item 27. Doing so means a safer Santa Ana, which is what we all want, but more importantly, what we all need. I hope all of you support it. Thank you, Mayor, Council Members, and city staff, and to our police and fire personnel present tonight, thank you for all you do, and please stay safe out there. Have a good night.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Next three speakers, Carla Alvarado, Diana T., Frank Bahena.

Good evening. I come here once again to talk about our situation in Coach Royal. I want to be very clear of what we're dealing with. It doesn't start or end with retaliatory baseless evictions, harassment, threats, intimidation, What we're experiencing is real estate theft, systemic loss of people's homes, their equity, and everything they have worked for over years and decades. These are not just residences, these are people's lifetime investments.

Through coordinated pressure, abusive process, and strategic displacement, residents are are being pushed into losing their homes, including myself and a lot of other residents that are sitting behind me. Under deeply unlawful circumstances, not in isolated incident, but as a part of a pattern. The city of Santa Ana has already met with 45 residents who can testify to this, 45 residents and counting. We have spoken to people across multiple parks. The stories are consistent, the tactics are consistent, is consistent and the outcomes as well. That is the definition of a systemic issue.

At that point, this is no longer a private dispute as you guys try to sweep it under the rug and have me just litigate my case. It is a matter that warrants referral and investigation at the appropriate enforcement level, including the California Department of Justice and the District Attorney's Office. And yet, despite repeated requests and begging you guys to do so, this has not happened. I have begged each and every one of you guys for that. So I will ask this clearly because the people of Santa Ana, not only ourselves, deserve clear responses. At what point does this threshold for action get met?

How many residents need to come forward? How much more damage are we waiting to see? Before this is recognized as a pattern requiring enforcement because when dozens of residents, hundreds of residents are present in consistent accounts over displacement and loss of property, and the response remains inaction or deflection, that is not neutrality. That's failure to intervene when intervention is warranted. We did not come here asking you to litigate our cases. We came here because you have a responsibility to this community to ensure that when there is credible evidence of a pattern of harm, it is not ignored.

This is not complex, it's not unclear, and it's not going away. Ignoring it does not make it disappear, it enables it. So today we're just asking you to acknowledge it, and we're asking for a formal referral to the appropriate agencies, recognition of this systemic issue affecting multiple residents, a transparency on what steps this city will take, and the audit of the RSO because the enforcement is unclear, so it's not being implemented and defeats the purpose of it. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Next three speakers are Diana and then Frank and Rain Mendoza.

Hi, my name is Diana and I'm a resident of the Pacific Park neighborhood. I'm here in support of the Coach Royal mobile home park residents and to support the demands of Kingsley Out. I'm a proud member of the immigration committee of CSO and I'm here to talk about why this is important to our organization. The residents of Coach Royal have faced years of mistreatment, harassment, and home theft at the hands of Kingsley management. The residents of the mobile home parks are primarily immigrant and working class. They work hard and sacrifice a lot to be able to have these homes.

As you all know, the Trump administration has created an atmosphere of fear for immigrants. A lot of people are already afraid to go grocery shopping, drop their kids off at school, or or even go to work due to the potential to be picked up and brutalized by ICE. Generally, people feel the most safe at home during these times. That is their refuge. Kingsley Management has ruined that for these residents. They are no longer safe even at home. They face harassment and threats of calling ICE on them. A lot of their homes have even been taken. So imagine working so hard and sacrificing so much to buy a mobile home.

It becomes your refuge during these times and then it is stolen from you. Shame! This is a disgrace and an injustice to the immigrant community of Santa Ana. We have a sanctuary city ordinance that states that immigration is the cornerstone of Santa Ana. It states that the city welcomes, honors, and respects residents regardless of their immigration status. That the city wants to address the fears and concerns of its immigrant residents. Kingsley's actions go against the spirit of this entire entire ordinance. They are exploiting the fear of the immigrant population in Santa Ana. They are hoping the fear will be enough to force

the residents to keep their heads down and their mouths shut. They are exploiting this community and their fear to increase their profits by stealing their homes. This is a multi-million dollar corporation from Utah. Why are we allowing them to exploit Santa Ana like this? Why are we allowing them to create more fear in the community alongside Donald Trump. I'll repeat that this is a disgrace and injustice to the immigrant community of Santa Ana and we demand Kingsley out now.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Next three speakers, Frank Bahena, Rayn Mendoza, Guadalupe Baragon.

Hello to the City Council.

AI. I don't know if you guys have seen the YouTube videos of Iran mocking us and trolling our current president. Which while it might be a bit embarrassing, you cannot deny has been effective to use AI in those instances. Today I'm here to talk about the item number 27, about the ALDRs, and why we should not continue moving forward with this item number. For three reasons. One, AI is unreliable. Two, it is basically mass surveillance for people and residents living here. And three, the cost.

So to start off, we want to use these cameras for safety, which is an honorable goal, and who doesn't want safety for their community? The truth is, according to the ACLU in 2026, a grandmother, Kimberly Williams, from Maryland Maryland, no, take that back, from Oklahoma, was arrested on a warrant that was basically – I'll take one sec.

Kimberly Williams, a grandma, was arrested wrongfully for six months because AI was used to wrongfully arrest her for a warrant in Maryland even though she lived in Oklahoma.

And this isn't a one-off case. This has happened constantly throughout the years. According to the ACLU and others, the error rate of these cameras are around 10%

and they tend to have bias towards low-income and minority groups. Second, mass surveillance. It doesn't just catch crime, it tracks everyone. which according to the ACLU has led to abuses in its data, which not with being shared with out of state, such as Texas, to be able to enforce their abortion bans, as well as ICE, the same ICE who has terrorized the residents of our city,

and to even people outside of the police department to be able to follow their exes or whomever they find fit to be able to follow.

And number three, the cost. According to the OC register in 2024, it cost around $400,000 for a two-year contract to install and maintain these cameras. And I'm sure it will go up as the time goes by. And not only that, six days ago, the Institute for Justice in San Jose has filed a class last auction lawsuit against these cameras due to privacy and due to privacy and the Fourth Amendment violations which will which will

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

increase our cost to this city thank you next three speakers rain Mendoza Guadalupe Barragan Carlos Barragan

You guys don't want to show the banner. I don't know why. Maybe you support Kingsley. You don't support the residents? What's going on here?

You can restart my time. This meeting started like an hour late or something, like an hour of awards. Anyway, I'm Rain. I'm with the Immigration Committee with CSO and I'm here to make a public comment in support of the Santa Ana residents that the City Council has done everything to neglect. When the Coach Royal residents have come to make public comment or reached out to individually to some of you, like you Mayor Mezcua, there is always the same tired answer that nothing can be done. First of all, you have an ordinance. The rent stabilization and just cost eviction ordinance in place to protect renters, including

owners of mobile homes. There is section 8-3122, which includes the provisions on anti-harassment, repeated acts intended to drive out residents, and threatening to report immigrants to the authorities. These are all things Kingsley Corporation has done to countless residents in Coach Royal that violate this law. City Council claims to be unable to do anything due to this being a private property. However, just as recent as last year, the Orange County Superior Court granted the city's requests for a preliminary injunction against the property and business owners of Royal Roman Motel,

Royal Grand Inn and Marisco El Tapatio y Antojitos located on East First Street. So this city council can step in and do something even if it is against private property, so we see an example of this. You do so when it comes to the issue of homelessness which many of which some of you in this council have never hid your disdain for. Again we see the same example with the city stepping with taking El Centro Cultural de Mexico to court back in 2021 for the homeless encampment. So you sued El Centro, a pillar to this community, so you can use your cops to toss homeless people's

belongings into the trash and put them out of a place where they were allowed to stay there by the property owners. So you can do all that and you can use the courts and the police and all your resources to terrorize a very vulnerable community but you can't lift a finger when there is a company that operates in san anna that acts like thugs that harasses evicts and even in extreme cases causes the suicide of one of the residents yes that did happen shame on you you have existing laws and resources at your disposal and we demand kingsley out now also i wanted to fill in some

gaps for your 2025 sapd review you forgot to mention the murder of freddie washington and henry gonzalez jr and also the brutalization of the anti-ice protesters and killer cops isaac ibarra and luis casillas still being on the payroll shame

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

The next three speakers, Guadalupe Barragan, Carlos Barragan, Sylvia Ayala.

but here we are again and we are not going to let him take his finger off the bar. All of you have told us to demand and that we demand. You already know that we demand the Kinsley Corporation, we already demand it. We do not need you to give us an education of what has to be done. It is your responsibility to do this. You have to sobrepasar la línea y si se sienten incapaces de ayudarnos mándenlo al fbi a una a otra otra categoría necesitamos ayuda no sé qué van a hacer que están

haciendo en esas en esas asientos que se les ha puesto necesitamos que respondan hay familias enteras con niños ustedes son una ciudad santuario que lo que están haciendo que es lo que van a hacer por la comunidad de santa ana vivimos We are here. They need to respond. Phil Becerra, you wanted to intimidate us when we came to your office. What are you going to do? We need you to respond to us too, Jonathan Hernandez. You went and you supported us. We need more of your support. City Manager, we need your help. Please, Valeria Mezcua, I know my presence doesn't please you

because you scolded my daughter. I don't know what you were thinking when you said you were going to come with the big guns. We are waiting for you.

And even if you laugh, that is a lack of respect. One last thing. We don't want reprisals. Do you know what I mean?

Good evening to all the members of the Santa Ana community. I know that you don't like my face. You don't like seeing my presence here, but I'm here again. We are not going to move from this topic. You're all telling us that we need to sue Kingsley. You don't need to tell us what to do. You don't need to educate us on what we need to do. You need to respond to our needs. You're telling us that you can't do anything. Well, then take this to the FBI. Take it somewhere else. I'll stick it to a higher category. We need your help. What are you going to do? You're there to represent us. You're sitting there.

Our families are being affected. Children are being affected. We have a sanctuary city in Santa Ana, so what are you going to do? Santa Ana is the community. You need to respond to this. Mr. Becerra, you intimidated us when we came to see you. Mr. Hernandez, you came to visit us, you came to support us, now we need you to support us even more. Mr. City Manager, we need your support. Valerie Emescu, I know you don't like me, and I know that you scolded my daughter, I don't know for what reason, and you said that you're going to be bringing the big guns. What do you mean by that?

We are here waiting for you. You're laughing at us, or you're smirking at us, and you're saying that you're going to do something. We're waiting for that.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

The next three speakers, Carlos Barragan, Silvia Ayala, Patty Cabada.

They're not going to let us do what we came here to do. You know what? We're not happy that we've been robbed. We're not happy. We don't agree. We're dealing with a corporation that is a white collar mafia. And you know what? We need help. If you don't give us help, I understand. You've already said that you can't help us. They sent us a man named Saulo Mesquite, something like that, and he made us do some They have USB drives. We are people of 70 years old. We are from the old school. We don't even know what that means. And you know what? They make us waste time. Just say, we can't.

We have already passed, in any case, with the county. The county also told us the same thing. We can't help you. It's okay. We passed with the state. It said the same thing. We can't. It's very good. You know what? We are going to go, we are going to talk, to escalate more, more from here on, with the Department of Justice and as the lady just said, I think if not, to get to the FBI, because you know what? These people cannot continue coming from other states to steal from us here, to take away our properties, to take away our money. We have done it to the right.

We have worked decades to buy our properties to the right, without doing anything illegal, like they do. You know, I feel horribly bad for all this. There are 10 children who took me out of there, 10 of my grandchildren, my two daughters and my two grandsons. You know what? It's very bad. We have 30 more houses that were taken from them and stolen. Here they are, many of them are present. You know, I need to write a book about this, so that the truth can be seen.

They are trying to say that César Chávez raped and that he didn't rape. You know what? The truth, that doesn't concern me. It's 70 years, 80. If he raped, if he didn't rape, he would be before a Supreme Court and he would go to trial.

Carlos, your time is up. Magia al rojo vivo en Santa Ana. May God bless you. Excuse me.

Good evening, my name is Carlos Barragan. And we are here to talk about this issue. They have stolen, this corporation has stolen over $500,000 of our property. We're here to ask for your help. You say that you can't, but when somebody takes candy from a kid, the kid is crying. That's what we are here to do. We are not happy that they have stolen our properties. We are dealing with a corporation which is white collar mafia. We are here to ask for your help, but now you say that you can't.

You sent us some guy named Saul LaMesquita, and he brought some USB drive. We're 70 years old. We don't know anything about USB drives or anything like that. If you can't help it, just tell us. Just tell us that you can't. We went to the county. The county told us that they can't. Fine. We went to the state. The state also told us that they cannot help us. That's fine. Now we're going to have to go higher. We want to escalate this. Like the lady said, we might need to go to the Justice Department, go to the FBI, because they are stealing our property. They're stealing our money. And we've done everything right.

We've done everything work for decades. And they want to take this away. We haven't done anything illegally. We've done everything right. And now it's terrible. Ten of my kids, ten kids are displaced, ten of my grandkids, two of my daughters and their husbands. There have been 30 homes that have been stolen. I think I'm going to be writing a book that exposes the truth, that is what is going on.

and we we need to work work on this there's the talking about Cesar Chavez and that Cesar Chavez raped someone that was 70 or 80 years ago and he will be judged by the ultimate judge they talk about Christopher Columbus in school they told us that he discovered this country we were here in this country before. I guess I'm going to write a book. The title of the book would be something like the book, The Boot on the Neck or Rediscovering the Truth or What's Happening in Santa Ana. God bless you.

I am one of the people who came to complain about the problem that they made with us, that they took our house. I am one of them. Almost three months ago and until today, nothing has been solved, and no one has said anything. On the contrary, they are telling us that the city of Santa Ana cannot help us.

is otros ayudarnos a recuperar nuestras casas porque nos quitaron nuestras casas hasta hoy es una pregunta que nadie respondido porque nadie respondido porque nadie le importa porque si fuera uno de ustedes dos de ustedes tres cuatro cinco de ustedes ya se hubieran vuelto locos todos ustedes para recuperar sus residencias porque ustedes viven en residencias no en casas morocon como nosotros y es una pena que nadie de ustedes esté disponible ayudar nos como dijeron ellos pues ya se habló mucho a ustedes que son la ciudad que son los

gobiernos que son todo lo que dicen ser ustedes pero nada más son para ustedes no para el pueblo tengo 40 años aquí y nunca ha recibido una ayuda de ustedes porque ustedes no se preocupan por el pueblo ustedes se preocupan por ustedes When you take a check from the entire people, you certainly work, but we have to work even more than you. The humiliation that you make to us, those who have money, is not worth it. It is not worth it because we are human beings. We are made of flesh and blood like you. It hurts.

le duele entonces no entendemos porque nadie está disponible ayudarnos a solucionar el problema no sé porque no han desnudado a la persona que nos ha quitado nuestra casa yo al igual que todos se vienen a quejar del mismo problema me dieron un mensaje hoy de que la ciudad no está disponible de que el condado no está disponible. Entonces, díganos abiertamente si no están disponibles a hacer nada por nosotros, para como dicen ellos, ir a hablar con el FBI, buscar otras

personas que sean más altas que ustedes para ver si están disponibles. Porque yo creo que aquí con ustedes ya no hay nada que hacer. Gracias.

.

I was here three months ago when this thing started. I was one of the people who came here to, they took our house away. We want to know why they took our house away. We don't even know why they're taking our house away. Three months ago we came here. We're here now and there's still no solution to the situation. You're saying, the city of Santa Ana is saying that they cannot help us. It's very sad, it's very sad that you, being Mexican like us, cannot help us. And if you cannot help us, you know, this is sad.

And if you that are Mexicans need to hear us, and for the people who do not speak Spanish, they need to translate for them. It's not fair that you're not doing anything for us. They're taking away our homes. We don't even know why they're taking away our homes. There is no answers. There is no explanations as to why this is happening. You are not doing anything. If this would happen to you, you would go crazy trying to get your property back. but because you live in nice homes you don't live in mobile home mobile homes

like we do you don't care the city is you are the city you're the government you're not doing anything we need to to help us you need to help us you're not helping the people I've been living here for over 40 years and you have not done anything for me we pay for you we're you're paid by the people and we need to work even harder because to support to help you to support you and we have been humiliated by people who have money we are human beings just like you we hurt

just like you and if you're not going to help us solve this issue we need to this we need to find out why we these people you need to reveal why these people took took our property, why these people took our homes, and I received a message from the city that they cannot help us. They're not available to help. The county is not available to help. Then if we do not get help, then we're going to go up higher to the FBI to more people who can actually help.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Patty, go ahead.

Good evening. My name is Patrice Acabada. I'm a former resident from here.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

I'm here in support of the residents from Kingsley Mobile Home.

I'm not a lawyer, so I have questions for those of you that are, and you have some at your disposal. It seems that the residents that are undocumented have been going through a variety of things. Now my question is, does fraud and extortion, if you look into it, would it help those undocumented documented residents that have been victimized, would they be able to apply for a U visa? Have you looked into that? Have you asked the district attorney to look into the situation there? I keep hearing from the residents there, because I am speaking to the residents there. I keep hearing the same things,

and that's nobody here can help them. But all of you have relationships relationships with different people within our county at county levels. So if crimes are being committed, why is the district attorney not being called to investigate? At least to open an investigation. Because if a woman who is legally allowed to be here with a residence card kills kills herself with her son finding her, I would think that that would make you want to put a little bit more effort than what you're currently doing to help the residents there.

This is not a situation that should just be tossed to the side. These are your constituents. This is an election you're, I need to remind all of you, all of you, your public servants, As easily as you were put there, you can easily be voted out. Those residents that are behind me, they have a lot of support, not only from this city, but from surrounding cities and counties. So I would think that it would be wise of those of you that are running for a seat this term to take the time out of your day to invest with these residents.

and not erase their comments on your social media, not to ignore phone calls because your actions speak louder than words and if you are currently sitting at this position and you're failing them then what are you going to do to your constituents once you move up to a higher position? You will fail miserably because you have a woman who committed suicide and I think that's the part that that is bothering everyone so much is that her suicide, a working mother, has been disregarded as if it means nothing. But it means everything to her son, everything to her family.

So I urge you, please use your resources to help your constituents that are coming out to you, asking you for your help, because again, you're public servants. Patricia, your time is up.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Mayor and City Council, that concludes the public speakers that are currently present.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Mr. City Manager and Madam City Attorney, can you please give us an update on the work that the city has been doing around the mobile home police? I know I spoke to Assemblyman Avellino-Valencia's office this morning as well. So can you please give an update? Thank you.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 6

Mayor, if I could just start. I know the last time we had some speakers, we also offered a brief update. So I just want to make sure that the speakers understand that there is a state mobile home residency law that HCD ‑‑ Can you speak louder, ma'am? I'm sorry. There is a state mobile home residency law. The law is administered by a state department called HCD, Housing and Community Development. The city is preempted from enforcing those rules. So that's one set of laws that are on the books that the residents can pursue. pursue, but we cannot pursue for them.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 6

They will have to individually, just like they've come here before you, they would need to petition or bring those complaints before HCD. The last meeting, I did read into the record, so if those individuals would like to go back to that last meeting, I did read into the record the law, the contact information and what they could do. So that's one level. The second thing is, I do just want to state, I think it is extremely unfair to accuse us of not doing anything i know that when people get emotional we talk in absolute statements but it's

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 6

just not fair our housing staff and the attorney and the city attorney's office who's assigned to do work on housing issues has been looking at our ordinance has given staff direction on what petitions can be filed and we are working we have met with with the residents and we are right now have the petition process going through the process under our ordinance. It may not be giving the results that they want immediately, but that ordinance can only do so much. So we have the state law, we have the city law. I also understand, and

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 6

maybe City Manager's Office can expound on this, that there have been suggestions of who to contact at the state level. So I think those are three things that that we've done. What I'd like to do for the city council, and I think this is a little bit unfortunate, we've done some extensive, extensive review and legal research to determine the whys, how did this happen? Like to also just state that I'm not, as your city attorney, a particular fan of Kingsley Management. They sued us twice, they tried to challenge our ordinance, they've been difficult to work with at best, and quite frankly, they don't have the best reputation

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 6

in the state of California when it comes to mobile homes. That's just true. So as I want the residents to understand that as a city attorney I understand that and I will do everything we can to enforce the laws and make sure that the management company complies with the laws But at the end of the day when we research this for every resident that's come forward They all have different circumstances Some of them were subject to legally enforced eviction laws once that's happened quite frankly there's nothing we can do when there's a court order that has evicted them in other cases there was a court order they were legally

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 6

represented by attorneys these people had legal representation and they exhausted their remedies under those legal issues there were orders to sell some of those molehomes and we can't undo that so what I'd like to do is work with staff to maybe get you some of those things in writing I've been hesitant to do that because I did not want to violate their personal privacy privacy. Because for many of them, some of them signed agreements and took cash. But you know, if that's what we need to do to make sure that the other residents in the city understand that we're not do nothing people, that we are dedicated to helping them

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 6

and that we've tried, I will work with staff to get you a written response on those issues. But that's what we found. Legal and legally enforceable orders in the court, settlement agreements that were signed, and court orders to sell some of the units.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Thank you, Madam City Attorney. I really appreciate that. and it sounds like we've done some extensive work and I know some of the families walked out and are outside talking to Councilman Hernandez but I would hope that they can hear what you are saying right now so yes I think it would be great if you could get something together and we can have a copy of it and then we can share it as as as we need to Mr. City Manager you need you would like

Alvaro NuñezItem 6

to add anything so in addition to that right so we work with both you know county um supervisors to try to medicate, as you hear one of the comments, they were also unable to provide any additional assistance because again, the law's very specific as far as who can assist and where the legality as far as assistance falls into. So again, as the city attorney Carvalho said, it's not that we don't want to, we're limited by the parameters that the state law prescribes. So we have reached out to Avelina Valencia through your office. We've done it through county supervisors. I've met with Senator Tom Umberg.

Alvaro NuñezItem 6

And as a last resort, and only because again, we wanna make sure that our residents understand that we're doing the best we can, given the parameters and legal standings that we have. We probably reach out through our Townsend Public Affairs to coordinate a meeting with ACD ourselves to see how we can facilitate. But in the end, again, we're limited by the prescribed aspect of what's been done legally and how the laws just limit our ability to provide any additional assistance. Again, it's not like we don't want to. It's just a state law.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Thank you for clarifying that. And thank you, Councilmembers, for allowing me to just bring that up so that they could give an update. And we'll finish with the rest of the comments that we have. And then we'll come back for the—because we have five Zoom calls that we—I was hoping they would all stay so they could hear what we've been doing. And so, again, all the work, we all up here appreciate it. And so, we'll get back to it. We'll get back to it. So, go ahead, Madam Clerk.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Madam City Attorney, can you just make sure that when you present the information to us, it's a public presentation? So it's right at the beginning of the meeting, so that way those that are here present can hear and get informed. Again, as you had indicated, it's not that we don't want to help. It's what we are limited to do. We did speak to Avellino Assemblyman Valencia's office. They did refer them to the Department of Justice. They've been referred to the FBI. So there's been numerous things going on. And they reference rent control. I would please put that in as well.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

And because, yeah, I know you all, the staff have done, I think all of us up here know you've done, you've gone above and beyond. And so we care, but we just want to make sure that we're also showing what we've done so that we can share the correct information. So thank you.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 6

And last thing I would say for anyone in contact with the residents, if they would please share with me the contact information for their attorneys, I would be happy to reach out to those attorneys and speak to them as well. We are committed to trying to help where we can. We haven't gotten that information from them.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

Thank you, Madam City Attorney. Thank you, Mr. City Manager. Madam Clerk, go ahead with the Zoom calls, please.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Yes, thank you. We will now begin the Zoom speakers. When unmuted, please announce your name and the ward or neighborhood that you reside in within the City of Santa Ana for the record. heard. Linda Yabuki, please unmute.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Hi, good evening. Are you able to hear me? Yes, please go ahead.

Hi. So my name is Arlinda Yabuki. I am here to speak in regards to Ward six is specifically. Good evening, Mayor and members of the City Council. What comment the city's Council's recent efforts to extend the moratorium on new and expanded industrial projects And to introduce the neighborhood initiative and environmental services, I must emphasize that our work is far from complete. The health, well-being, and future of our residents depend on decisive and immediate action. The legacy of pollution in our neighborhoods is just an abstract issue. It is a tangible crisis that is impacting the lives of countless individuals.

individuals, higher rates of respiratory disease, cardiovascular issues, and mental health struggles are linked to industrial activities that have become the norm, particularly for those living in near industrial zones. The Orange County Health Care Agency reports alarming statistics such as children in Santa Ana face significantly higher asthma hospitalizations rates compared compared to the county average. In 2023, the Orange County Fire Authority revealed a 7% increase in health-related services calls in areas plagued by industrial pollution, a stark indicator of rising health crisis in our own backyards. The evidence is clear.

Living near industrial facilities exposes residents, particularly low-income communities of color, to harmful pollutants that jeopardize their physical health and amplify mental distress. stress. This is not just a health concern. This is an issue of social equity and justice. It is time for the City Council to take bold and targeted action. I urge you to invest in comprehensive environmental health assessments of our most affected neighborhoods. By implementing proactive measures such as rigorous air and soil quality monitoring, we can identify the

specific pollutants threatening our residents and develop effective interventions. I implore the council to prioritize initiatives that mitigate pollution and foster cleaner environments increasing tree planting community gardens and recreational spaces it's not just environment it's not just beautification it is vital component of healthier more vibrant community that enhances air quality and fosters social interactions our community's well-being should be our highest priority by taking these necessary steps we can foster a safer healthier santa ana for everyone

one. Let us send a strong message to our residents. Their health matters and we are dedicated to equitable solutions that uplift our entire community. Together we can transform Santa Ana into a place where health and well-being are not just aspirations but realities for all. Thank you all for your time and attention to this matter.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Next speaker on Zoom, Victor Mendez.

Hi, can you hear me okay?

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Yes, please go ahead. Okay.

Item 10, the report on the anti-ice demonstration, you know, as people say, it has some limitations, but that's not surprising because of the pending legal claims that surround the situation at this time. You know, there's only so much you can disclose, so much you can write about. I do feel it was a tactical mistake to not have the independent director just pursue this and come through their own objective conclusions.

But it is what it is. And it's interesting that those who are criticizing this report don't realize the persons that are so-called pro-police union are the ones that wanted the independent director to do this in the first place. So it's a very confusing situation, and I really just hope you revert back to letting the independent director do his job in the future and allow the process to move forward. You know, the conclusions may have been the same as the police chief, but we don't know. The process just didn't allow for that type of endeavor. I will say there seemed to be some data that's not evident.

You know, we don't know how many officers were deployed each day. We don't know how that measures against the protesters each day. and I'm interested to know if the cost included the workers compensation expenses for the injured officers you know as well as the overtime expense to backfill them while they're out of duty because of the injury so this is a real cost to the city you know and also cost to repair vehicles or any damages incurred you know it's ironic to me that a time when groups are asking the city for more funding for legal and living expenses for our immigrant families. The city had to spend

$460,000 to protect the right of those who advocate for them. You know, frankly, I think some of this could have been done a lot better and more effectively, and I would have liked to have seen that money spent on the families who really need it versus trying to de-escalate a tense situation. Something we should all learn for the future in our democracy. I saw a Facebook post on Measure X. I just feel that while it's compelling, I just feel that what I'd like to feel education on in the future is just how well the city is spending the money in terms of efficiencies and economies.

These are the stories I think people want to hear about. We know you do a good job with our policing, our services, but how are we spending that money? What type of savings are we getting? What are you doing to make that dollar stretch out like we all have to do in this economy? These are the types of things that are going to be very compelling stories as we move forward into a Measure X decision. And I certainly would like to see it. And if it's not there, it'd be very difficult for myself and the public to support Measure X going forward. So hopefully we'll see more, you know, more education about how well the city is spending

their money and what improvements they're making. I fully support the Speed Safety Pilot Program. You know, I personally witnessed a lot of exhibitions of the speed. I saw a guy in one of our malls, our malls in the parking lot, do donuts. It's just kind of a little bit without control and I think something needs to be done.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Victor, your time is up.

All right, thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Next speaker, Yesenia Marujo.

Yesenia Marujo speaking. Yesenia Marujo speaking.

Yesenia Marujo speaking.

I am here to express my disappointment with the update of the zoning code of the city of Santa Ana. So far, we have not seen proposals that benefit our neighborhood.

Various community organizations have joined together to successfully promote the inclusion of 77 environmental justice policies in the update of the general plan in 2022. Many of these policies could help address the problems of our community. These policies promise, for example, to create areas of damming between polluting facilities and schools. They also promise the creation of open spaces and the participation of the community. unfortunately no memos visto nada de esto en el código significación

utilizaré mi tiempo para enfatizar las numerosas oportunidades que tenemos para mejorar nuestra comunidad a través de la actualización del código significación la zona industrial cerca a nuestra comunidad nos expone a una contaminación peligrosa esta área podríamos ser rezonificada to reduce this contamination. We understand that property rights must be respected, however, there are many properties in the area classified as industry that are currently open spaces, !

sustancios en nuestra comunidad a través de una serie de reuniones con nuestros vecindarios planeamos la siguiente demanda primer demanda rendición de cuentas respecto al plan general las 17 pólizas de justicia ambiental incluida la actualización del plan general de deben verse reflejadas en la actualización del código de zonificación número 2 un borrador completo de actualización del código acompañado de un cronograma claro que permita la participación and contribution of the community. The expansion of what is currently proposed as an industrial park in order to cover the

entire industrial area located between McFadden and Eddington streets. The community also has questions about whether an industrial park constitutes the best option for zoning for our area. Your Florida Florida

! Your Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida

Florida Okay, muchisimas gracias.

Good evening. My name is Yesenia Marujo. I'm from the Cornerstone Village Neighborhood Association and also with the UCI Community Justice. And we're talking about the zoning code in Santa Ana. We reviewed this, and this does not benefit the neighborhoods

where it proposes the things. and we like to include for you to include the 77 issues of environmental justice and we are here to to help we're asking you to help this this this issue and we would like for you to promise that we are going to have community COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THAT THE ZONING CODE IS GOING TO BE INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THE UPDATE OF THE

ZONING CODE UPDATES. AND NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE TO ENGAGE INTO DEAL WITH THE POLLUTION AROUND THE AREA AND THE REZONING. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROPERTY RIGHTS HAVE TO BE be protected. So in addition to that, we have to look at the industrial areas and we are looking at vacant lands so that we can rezone those to better serve the community and the community of Santa Ana. We don't see, we met and we don't see any proposals that are going to benefit

the community so we are we have some demands from our meetings that we like to present to you and that is one that they 77 environmental justice areas need to be included in the rezoning the we need to have a copy of the full draft of OF THE REZONING OF THE CODE AND TO HAVE FULL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND WE PROPOSED TO HAVE THOSE BUSINESS PARKS BETWEEN MCFADDEN AND EDINGER TO HAVE THE OPTIONS FOR THE BEST

OPTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND NUMBER FOUR TO HAVE THE BUSINESS PARK TO HAVE THE OVERLAY IN THE SPECIFIC ZONES FOR AROUND THE

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

cornerstone village next speaker on zoom sandra de anda please unmute

hi good evening please go ahead yes okay good evening mayor mesquin and council members my name is sandra and i'm speaking on behalf of the orange county rapper response network as the director of policy and legal strategy and i'm also a ward 4 resident i'm here today to express my strong concerns with item 27 which proposes advancing a resolution to amend ab645 to allow santa ana to implement a speed safety system pilot program i want to be very clear we support safe

safe streets. We want to see fewer injuries, fewer deaths, and safer conditions for pedestrians, cyclists, and families. But we believe we can and must get there without expanding surveillance. The proposed program relies on automated cameras and radar systems that capture images of vehicles and license plates. While this may be one approach to traffic safety, it is also an expansion of surveillance infrastructure that deserves careful scrutiny when ab645 was originally passed it faced significant opposition from organizations like the human rights watch

black lives matter california and the aclu california action these groups raise concerns about privacy data collection misuse and the disproportionate impact on low-income and immigrant community communities and those concerns are not theoretical in chicago speed cameras issue tickets in majority black and latino neighborhoods at twice the rate of white neighborhoods in washington dc drivers and black segregated areas were over 17 times more likely to receive a moving violation than drivers in white areas these patterns show us that automated enforcement enforcement does not operate neutrally.

It often reflects and reinforces existing inequities. This is especially concerning in Santa Ana where the city already has the license plate reader technology through flock safety.

And given Santa Ana's reported 19 million budget deficit, how will the city ensure that this program program does not become revenue driven enforcement how do we guarantee that the expansion of automated ticketing is not shaped by the need to generate revenue rather than by genuine public safety goals we also want to highlight that there are proven non-surveillance solutions that make Street safer these are strategies that slow traffic without collecting data and without placing additional burdens on communities so today we are asking the council to pause we We urge you to conduct comprehensive research

on how other cities have implemented AB645, including cost, timelines, and unintended consequences. Engage in meaningful community outreach, especially with immigrant communities and those most likely to be impacted. Sandra, your time is up. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Next speaker on Zoom, Emilio Ramirez. Please unmute and make your comments.

Hello, good evening, the members. I would like to express my opposition to item number 20 for the street widening of Warner between Oak and Grant. I'm very thankful and I respect what the public works department at Santana has to do amazing work. And I am aware that that this project would also have protected bike lanes. However, this project would not increase the safety of our streets. If you look at the proposed project, it is right next to the Dale High Community Center with the outdoor library.

And there is barely any fence. There's a section that actually doesn't have any fence between the park and Warner. Warner is already a very busy arterial. And let's remember, this is an arterial highway, and even that protected bike lane does not protect those bicyclists from high-speeding cars. We have item number 27 today, which I also have concerns because there is an issue with having incentivization of getting revenue, as the previous speaker talked about. And this is a clear example of something that can be done to reduce speed.

The best way to reduce speed is through infrastructure, which has been repeated on numerous occasions. And I'm sure the council is aware of this. So I want the council to reconsider this project. It is $25 million. I understand it is, you know, it doesn't come directly from the city. Some of it is from other funding. But just because we have the funding, that doesn't mean that this is not going to cost us in the long term. We're going to have to maintain this road as it is widened and as it increases capacity with more cars. Lastly, I would really encourage you to look at the map.

There's a bunch of houses with driveways on Warner Street.

We already made the north side of Warner for this project a long time ago, which was a huge mistake. big and now the neighborhood on the south side is gonna have a highway literally on the doorstep if you just go to google maps and look at it it's just right there there's no uh buffer or anything and i don't know if there was any outreach to the people that live on warner but this would definitely affect me as a homeowner in a very detrimental way and i would be very scared for my family to go out on the street thank you

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

mayor and city council that concludes the public speakers in zoom that were there when we begin

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

speaking thank you madam clerk we appreciate it thank you to all the speakers that came out tonight at this time we're going to go to the consent calendar items consent calendar items 7 through 24 before us council members please announce items that you'll be abstaining from due to a conflict and if there are any requests to pull an item for further discussion please let us know I am gonna pull item 23 councilmember Vasquez any items item 10 please 10 yes councilmember Lopez thank you

Thai Viet PhanItem 6

councilmember Becerra item 13 only thank you council member Phan I'd like to recuse myself from item number 19 as all-american asphalt is a client of my

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

employer rattan and tucker thank you thank you and councilman hernandez is not present so go ahead madam clerk i'll make a motion to approve the remainder of the item i'm so sorry mayor okay

David PenalozaItem 6

i would like to pull item 20 and just record a no for item 16 madam clerk please

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

thank you mayor great i'll make a motion to approve the remaining items is there a second second thank you madam

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Motion by Mayor Mesquite, seconded by Council Member Becerra to approve consent calendar items number 7 through 24 with the exceptions of items 10, 13, 20 and 23 pulled for separate discussion and consideration.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

If you don't mind, Councillor Vasquez, I know you pulled item 10 and the rest of the Council.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

I'm sorry, go ahead. Sorry. I'll go ahead and do a roll call vote. Please. Council Member Becerra?

Phil BacerraItem 7

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Council Member Hernandez? Absolutely. Council Member Lopez? Yes. Council Member Phan? Yes. Council Member Vasquez? Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Penalosa?

David PenalozaItem 7

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Mayor Meskwa? Yes. Vote is six ayes, no nays with a recorded absence by Council Member Hernandez and a recusal on item number 19 by Council Member Phan and a no vote on item number 16 which will pass 5-1-0 and with the absence by Hernandez. Motion carries. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

I would just like to ask if we can do item 23. I don't know if he's still here, Chief, with his doggy. I shouldn't call him a doggy, but was it Poppy?

No, Mayor. Poppy had to go home.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

He had to go home. Okay. So that's what I figured. I'm sorry. So I'm going to move the item for approval.

David PenalozaItem 7

I'll second.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Thank you. Prepare to vote, please. Madam Clerk, do you roll call?

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

call? Item number 23. Yes. And moved by Mayor Mesquita, seconded by Mayor Portempeñuelosa to adopt a resolution of the City Council of the City of Santa Ana authorizing the agreement between Corporal Patrick Marshall and the City of Santa Ana relating to the purchase of a police canine. Council Member Becerra? Yes. Council Member Hernandez? Council Member Lopez? Yes. Yes. Council Member Pan? Yes. Council Member Vasquez?

Benjamin VazquezItem 7

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Mayor Pro Tempino-Lizzo?

David PenalozaItem 7

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Mayor Meskwa? Yes. So it is six ayes, no nays with an absence by Council Member Hernandez. Motion carries.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Okay. And then the next item is Council Member Vasquez, do you mind if we wait on ten because it's going to be a long discussion? I'm hoping maybe not, but I'm hoping it might be.

Phil BacerraItem 7

so item 13 councilman Becerra go ahead thank you madam mayor so this is the item it's a appropriation adjustment and lease agreement with Aldridge Electric for office space at the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center as far as the item is concerned I want to thank staff for negotiating a higher rate from the tenant but since we are talking about the train station my My question for you guys is what are we doing to bring in some other businesses to that site?

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

So we are working with Public Works Agency and Economic Development to enhance our facilities and bring more staff. So you're going to be seeing probably an RFP coming up soon so we can expand some of the uses down there.

Phil BacerraItem 7

I mean, I don't know how long we need it to be vacant before we get, you know, try to get some interest out there.

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

We're moving on it. Yeah, we're moving on it.

Phil BacerraItem 7

Okay, great. I'll move this item then.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

I'll second. Go ahead, Madam Clerk, a roll call.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Motion by Councilmember Becerra, seconded by Mayor Meskwa to approve the recommended actions for item number 13. Councilmember Becerra?

Phil BacerraItem 7

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Councilmember Hernandez? Councilmember Lopez?

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Councilmember Phan? Yes. Councilmember Vazquez?

Benjamin VazquezItem 7

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Mayor Pro Tempagnoloza?

Benjamin VazquezItem 7

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Mayor Meskwa?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Yes. Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

So it is five ayes, two no nays with two absences by Councilmembers Hernandez and Lopez. Motion carries for item 13.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

We're going to go to item 20 now, Madam Clerk.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Item 20 was pulled by Mayor Pro Tempagnolosa.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

That's correct.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Go ahead, Mayor Pro Temp.

David PenalozaItem 7

Thank you, Mayor Misku and thank you, Madam Clerk. Item 20, I pulled off the consent calendars to award a construction contract to Los Angeles for the construction of the Warner Avenue Street Improvements Projects in the amount

David PenalozaItem 7

of basically $25 million and change. Thank you. Mr. City Manager and staff, I'm sure you can imagine why I pulled this item. There's been, as representative of the Doha neighborhood and Madison Park and that industrial area, there's been a lot of concern. I'm concerned over the last five plus years now of the delays that we've been seeing and experiencing just like the delays we've been seeing on Bristol Street and every other major arterial that's been under construction in the city for my entire life.

David PenalozaItem 7

With item 20, and Mr. City Manager, you let me know if you want me to defer to you or public work staff or who I could ask. i have a couple questions just on so the public could get an understanding of how we got here and where we're coming from when it comes to warner street so let's see let's hear the questions right

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

and then uh uh director of public works uh rui rosas will assist in also responding okay um so

David PenalozaItem 7

So can we briefly explain to the residents that are listening why this project has taken more than 10 plus years since the first, even the exhibit shows that it was first approved in 2015. We're now in 2026. And I know there was property acquisitions, which take a long time. And I believe the last property was acquired in 2021, 2020, I believe. I believe, but since then it's still, that's been five years already. And we've seen, like Bristol Street, vacant lots for years and years. So what has caused the delays?

David PenalozaItem 7

Why are we not seeing any completion on this project as of yet?

Mayor Patan, Mayor of Council, thank you for the question. There are a number of factors that have gone into why this project has taken so long. Firstly, I'll address the phase of Warner that has been under construction that we had a terrible contractor. Terrible contractor and delays from Edison and the communication companies in getting their utilities underground. Since then, we've taken action against the contractor. Who's that contractor? The contractor is Lone Rock is the name. and we are in active litigation lawsuits with them.

Since removing them from the job, city staff have taken proactive steps to bring in various contractors, and I hope the public has seen some progress. We have had traffic signals completed, street lights installed. Very recently, landscaping was installed. We are moving inch by inch on Warner trying to get this project through.

more broadly speaking to warner corridor it is as you said as you identified a 25 million dollar construction contract for this second phase it takes time to acquire the grants to execute the paperwork to get to this point but we're happy to finally be here and with council's approval hopefully of this item today we are on track to finish the warner improvements completely by October of 2027.

David PenalozaItem 7

Okay. I guess I'm trying to help the public understand why these delays happen. I always get frustrated at the idea of piece milling these projects with a grant here, a grant there, and we still need another 10 million to complete the project. You know, I think of someone's private home. If a house needs a new roof, you know, and someone only has half the cost saved up, you don't remove the entire roof and just do the half and be like, well, you know what? Maybe in a couple years I'll save the other half to complete the rest of it, right?

David PenalozaItem 7

So, and I say that because the delays we see, I mean, we're all representatives and live here in Santa Ana, but as many of our residents, we don't just stay here in Santa Ana, right? We venture out into other cities, into neighboring cities, into Irvine, into Tustin, into Anaheim. And we see this construction, this level of construction in other cities where these delays don't seem to occur. As frequent visitors of these other cities, we see how quickly these construction projects start and complete.

David PenalozaItem 7

So what, and I know you're not an employee of those other cities, but what would cause that fast track approach in these other cities to get these projects completed? Sure. Great question.

Funding, having it all in place. And to your point, Mayor Pro Tem, we in Public Works with current leadership are no longer buying into a phased piece-by-piece approach. And so some of these other cities, you name them, Irvine, Anaheim, they fully fund the projects and get them done out and quick. With this item here today, we are fully funding the remaining piece of Warner. and this team is dedicated to get this done because as you and other members of the council have pointed out these projects have been long delayed and long

been you know asked for by the community to complete but that that's the answer

David PenalozaItem 7

to the question so are we move as a city and as a public works agency and as a municipal government moving away from phase 3 construction is that what you're telling me correct we're not going to build half a bridge so um moving forward let's say first street for example which is on the horizon and i hope the residents are paying attention to that is that going to be when that comes to us is that going to be a 100 funded phased construction or not phase construction but from start to finish i mean no phases just one full our objective when it

comes to first street if council approves the project is to begin and deliver it fully once

David PenalozaItem 7

funding is fully acquired okay so with warner and and i i realize that this is the same contractor and i'm still trying to understand the delays on the utility pole removal uh i realize that this is the contractor that did phase 3a of the bristol street project between civic center and washington which is still not completed. We all see them across the In-N-Out. There's multiple utility poles that are now barricaded with orange water barriers that Public Works put up so cars don't crash into them.

David PenalozaItem 7

It's been about a year since, or about six months since we saw construction finish, but those utility, when can we expect those utility poles to be removed and that area finished.

Thank you. I'll address two things.

David PenalozaItem 7

Which is the same question for Warner, because those utility poles are still there. Correct.

So LA Engineering did a fantastic job in constructing the elements of Bristol that they could construct. The poles are in the way, fact. We are working with, at this point, Charter and the communication companies, AT&T, so they can come in, finish their work, and get these poles removed. We are still about three to four months away from that happening. It is unfortunately the same situation that we're in on Warner, working with AT&T, Verizon, Charter, Spectrum, so that they can finish their underground work and we can get Edison to take the poles out.

But we are confident in this contractor's ability to work around the poles to deliver as much of the work, LA Engineering for Bristol, I think while there were a lot of traffic disruptions, really focused on getting work done in a timely manner.

David PenalozaItem 7

And I appreciate that Director Rose has about that, what this contractor's ability to work around, but the residents dealt with two years of construction on that phase of Bristol between Civic Center in Washington and the delays and the narrow one lane in each direction on random times throughout the day usually traffic hour and rush hour um what we're gonna have to deal with it again when these polls because it's not just they're not just going to come in and remove these polls in 30 seconds in the middle of the night i mean i can imagine that it's going to be a couple days maybe weeks when

David PenalozaItem 7

these polls are removed and those areas where those polls were in now need to get fixed so we're talking more lane closures so would it not make more sense to i mean i guess what's so the utility the private utility companies is what we're waiting on for these poll removals what what is i mean what is the delay what is the reason they're giving us that they can't remove these polls tomorrow i mean would it make more sense for one of our heavy duty public works trucks to accidentally back into one and knock them down? I mean, it's a serious question, because at this point it's been years.

Fair question. I often share that same sentiment of I hope, you know, the poles were just getting knocked down. They, the utility companies, operate on their priority, on their schedules and their projects, and it is as frustrating to anybody else as it is to us because it is not a surprise. We've been in communication with them since 2018 that these projects are coming, prioritize accordingly, but yet here we are. So at this point, we're doing everything we can to get them to finish the job.

David PenalozaItem 7

Have we thought about pursuing any legal remedy against these private utility companies?

There are matters with the CPUC and legal paths that we are definitely exploring.

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

Okay. If I may, Councilmember, and I appreciate the Public Works Director being so nice, right? But again, so utility companies, Edison, Verizon, AT&T, Charter, if it was just at the local level, we would do it a lot faster, a lot quicker. But some of these restrictions, some of these limitations, the aspect he's talking about, the CPUC, state legislating requirements. So they don't have to rush. Today we authorized my city manager to ignore the government affairs from Edison, find out who the boss is, send him a little email, hey, what's happening to my digital sign on

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

North Main? When am I going to get activated? When am I going to get my stuff from my third and Broadway private sector component? So, and so I appreciate the language that ValuWare's director, Rosas, does his collaborating, partnership, contact, but when these utility companies and the state relations do not allow the local municipality, even a county seat like Santa Ana, right, to show some level of fortitude, we're limited to emails, possible litigation, that even the city attorney's

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

we do need changes that allow that level of limitations because for us, you said it yourself, the council members get frustrated, our public businesses get frustrated, our residents get frustrated, and so for us, like Rudy who lives here in Santa Ana, I myself live in Santa Ana, as the city council, we get frustrated because in essence, those level of delays not only raise costs for us, right? We're not allowed to finish our projects on time, but we're looking competent, which is even worse. And so, whoever, if we have an opportunity for a new legislator, right, from our dais here,

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

those are the things that we'll be looking at to change so that if we get more power, then that's the case. Thank you for that, city manager.

David PenalozaItem 7

So can we, as a city, in any way, shape, or form, go in there and remove these utility poles ourselves and do this work and bill these utility companies for that work that we did no okay and i just wanted to make that clear because they're members of the public that have also you know this is the number one thing is they come up and they're like well why can't you just do it you know and and and it's and i know there's many areas that we the city we just we get frustrated with the delays and we just do the work ourselves ourselves and we bill. So that is something we cannot do in this situation. Not in this situation.

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

Councillor Neill. Councillor Neill. Just one more. Just so that Warner doesn't get lost. What was the two-year relief? When did Edison come and tell us after two years that they faced it, they could not do it?

I believe the timeframe was in 2021 they were supposed to have plans done and that's when they came back and said, sorry, we need to redesign everything. After two years, correct?

David PenalozaItem 7

two years yeah well i i hope our city attorney is listening and exploring avenues i just discussed

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 7

this with our public works designated attorney last week okay thank you for that so the last

David PenalozaItem 7

final question i will ask and just in regards to the specific contractor not the contractor but just the way this this uh contract is written it says actual completion date will depend on the the contractor's schedule, 350 working days. So can you explain why are we depending on the contractor's schedule? If I'm a contractor, if I'm a private business and I'm taking on this workload, I would expect that I have the capacity to do this work. But if we're now relying on this contractor's schedule, what is, do we have an anticipated start time?

Thank you for the question. In the staff report, we identify a couple of things. A number of working days. Contractor must complete the work within a number of working days. That means a non-rain impacted Monday through Friday, they are working in our inspector's count. They can't, if they decide they're not working on a day like today, sorry, that's a day you lost. If they don't complete it within, in this particular case, it's 350 days, we start assessing penalties.

For this contract,

I apologize, I don't see the, but it's in thousands of dollars a day of penalties that we assess. When we say dependent on the schedule, it's simply because before we start, we say contractor, submit your schedule, and we lock in a start and an end. And that is the end that is dependent. So in the staff report we say October because that's about what 350 working days get us. But before we start, we lock in a schedule with that contractor and that is the official end date

David PenalozaItem 7

from that schedule. So in this case, what is the completion date? Anticipated October 27 based on

the 350 working days after if Council approves, we have a meeting with the contractor next week

David PenalozaItem 7

at which point we settle on that schedule okay so I would appreciate if I mean I know I know you guys are have been doing night and day difference from what we had a couple years ago so thank you Rudy for your leadership and trying to move this and the city manager for moving this ship in a more appropriate direction when it comes to these heavy projects that seem to go years and years and very wasteful. I mean, you're talking millions of dollars in waste with these delays in mind. I mean, so whatever we could do to have control

David PenalozaItem 7

and ensuring that these projects are completed in a timely manner, and if there's delays, I mean, let's go, whoever the problem is, let's go full force, Sonia. I mean, it's just frustrating. And it's a never-ending joke in our community of these projects. So I would hope that we, you know, help expedite these whenever we can. With these, so do we have a start date for this contract?

David PenalozaItem 7

Well, I know, but hypothetically, if it's approved today, what's the...

If approved today, we would start our notice to proceed within two weeks, which is essentially that's when we start counting days. The contractor has to proceed to execute the project. Two weeks from tomorrow? Correct.

David PenalozaItem 7

Okay. And that's when the 350 working days start? Correct. And that's minus weekends, minus holidays, and minus any rainy days? Correct. Okay. So, all right. Well, those are the only questions I have, and I hope, can we include other neighborhoods aside from the Del High neighborhood? Because I know I appreciate that you're notifying the Del High neighborhood with notifications, but I would hope that we are notifying Madison Park, we're notifying Memorial Park, and many of the residents in Ward 4 that use Warner to get to that side of town. I mean, it is a nightmare every morning, and I don't like the idea of just notifying

David PenalozaItem 7

neighborhood right next to it because this is a major thorough fare that many residents throughout the city use. So what does that look like in increasing that 1,000 foot radius to 5,000 feet? Consider it done.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Mayor Pro Tem, can I make a recommendation? Go ahead, Mayor. They actually sent out a notice or some sort of social media as well to the entire city regarding the construction. Are you good with that?

David PenalozaItem 7

Yeah. On the social media thing, a couple years ago we allocated, budget is tight, but we allocated funding for sponsoring social media posts from the city about these certain situations. It was mostly done during the pandemic. Just geographically sponsor over the city so that anyone in the city sees what's going on, some important information. Is that? We can expand on that.

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

It was in close session. Some of the stuff that was we're actually done by adding a bigger team to our social media communications team, excuse me, allows us to do that. So we can work public works, we can share more information, we're a little bit more active, as you see in the social media platform, so we can provide that

David PenalozaItem 7

easily. Yeah, it's a lot cheaper than postage, I could tell you that. Yes. So you'll have a further

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

reach. And again, any meeting that we go to, right, those are the type of aspects that we're also presenting with neighborhood associations and leaders wonderful thank you mr city manager

David PenalozaItem 7

thank you mayor those were my comments you make a motion no i'll make a motion

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

i'll make a motion to approve thank you councilman hernandez let's do a uh rule call vote motion by

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

mayor mesqua seconded by councilmember hernandez to approve the recommended actions for item number 20 construction contract to los angeles engineering inc for the construction of warner avenue street improvements councilmember becerra yes councilmember hernandez yes councilmember lopez yes councilmember fan yes councilmember vesquez yes mayor pretend penulosa yes mayor mesquite yes vote of seven

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

ayes no nays motion carries thank you at this time we're going to go we are going to go to if you allow me to there are people waiting for us here to do some business here before we go the next one And I'm going to close the consent calendar and I'm going to open the public hearing at this time. Madam Clerk, please provide instructions to the public. Would like to make a comment on public hearing items only. You're going to reopen it.

Benjamin VazquezItem 7

I'm sorry? You're going to reopen the consent. Correct.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Yes, I will. That's why I looked at you and you were getting the thumbs up. Okay, yes. Go ahead.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 7

Madam Mayor, I just wanted to record my votes. I am no on 21 and 22 on the consent calendar. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

CHAIRPERSON WONG. OKAY. SO WE THAT WAS CLOSED. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND OPEN IT. HE SAID NO IN 21 AND 22 COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 7

YES MA'AM.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

OKAY. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK NOW MADAM CLERK TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.

David PenalozaItem 7

I WANT YOU TO VOTE TO OPEN IT. YEAH I WAS GOING TO SAY RIGHT. YOU HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE TO OPEN THE CONSULTATION. TO REOPEN THAT VOTE.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

OKAY. LET'S.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

I'M SORRY. I WAS TRYING TO BE COOPERATIVE. I'm violating some rule here. No worries. Let's take a vote so Councilman Hernandez can reopen and he can vote.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

So are you moving to reopen the consent calendar?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Yes, I'm moving to reopen the consent so Councilman Hernandez can vote.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Okay.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 7

Thank you, Madam.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

And with a second for that vote?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 7

I'll make a motion to move the… Okay.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

I need a second.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 7

Okay. Second.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Second. Okay. So this is to reopen the consent calendar vote to allow Councilmember Hernandez to record his votes on items 20 and 21. one um councilmember becerra yes reopen thank you councilmember hernandez yes councilmember lopez yes councilmember fan yes councilmember vasquez

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

mayor patempany yes mayor mezcla yes that is six eyes no nays with the absence by councilmember VASQUEZ, WE CAN REOPEN TO CONSENT CALENDAR FOR VOTING PURPOSES. NEW SPEAKERHANDER HERNANDEZ, GO AHEAD.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 7

NEW SPEAKERHANDER HERNANDEZ, NO ON ITEM 21 AND 22. NEW SPEAKERHANDER HERNANDEZ, THANK YOU.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

NEW SPEAKERHANDER HERNANDEZ, THANK YOU. NEW SPEAKERHANDER HERNANDEZ, WE CAN REFLECT THOSE VOTES WITH THE ADDITIONAL VOTES THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ALLOCATED ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. SO THAT WILL JUST MAKE THE VOTES ON ITEMS 21 AND 22. EXCUSE ME WHILE I GET THERE, PLEASE. NEW SPEAKERHANDER HERNANDEZ, NO. Will be 6-1 with the recorded no votes by Councilmember Hernandez and the other items 7-0 with his yes votes recorded.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Thank you, Madam Clerk. At this time, we're gonna close the consent calendar of the public hearing. Before the public hearing item number 25, Madam Clerk, please provide instructions to the public who'd like to make a comment on this public hearing item only.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Yes, thank you. Members of the public joining us by way of Zoom or conference call who would like to make a comment for public hearing item number 25 only which is a public hearing relating to the bellaterra residential community and temple project please dial star 9 from your phone or select raise hand from zoom in order now in order to be called once the public hearing is opened thank you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

thank you item number 25 is public hearing relating to the bellaterra residential community and temple project do you need a presentation i don't believe so no okay great at this time are any questions about from the council i now open the public hearing for members of the public that would like to provide their comments in person and virtually madam clerk do we have any speakers

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

mayor and city council we do not have any speakers in person for this public hearing nor on zoom nor did we receive any e-comments related to public hearing item number 25.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

thank you no further comments i hereby close the public hearing any council members have any Any additional comments or questions? Hearing no further discussion, is there a motion and a second, please?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 7

I'll make a motion to move the item.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

I'll second.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Prepare to vote, please. Motion by Councilmember Hernandez, seconded by Mayor Meskwa, to approve the recommended actions for Public Hearing Item Number 25, inclusive of adopting a mitigated negative declaration and mitigation monitoring and reporting program. Environmental Review Number 2023-25. First reading of zoning ordinance amendment number 2026-02, an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Santa Ana approving an amendment to specific development number 53 to update residential development standards and allow places of worship subject to approval of a

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

conditional use permit for property located at 4006, 4010, and 4018 West Hazard Avenues. Adopt a resolution of the City Council of the City of Santa Ana approving CUP conditional use permit number 2026-03 as conditioned to allow a place of worship located at 4006, 4010 and 4018 West Hazard Avenue, and adopt a resolution of the City Council of the City of Santa Ana approving tentative track map number 2026-01, county map number 19332, as conditioned to subdivide the project site into 13 develop allots and one common area lot to accommodate the proposed Bellaterra residential community and place of worship development at 4006,

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

4010 and 4018 West Hazard Avenue. Council Member Becerra? Yes. Council Member Hernandez? Yes. Council Member Lopez? Yes.

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Council Member Phan. Yes. Council Member Vasquez.

Benjamin VazquezItem 7

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Mayor Pro Temponulosa. Yes. Mayor Meskwa. Yes. Vote of seven ayes, no nays, motion carries.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Madam Clerk, you are skilled. All right. Before hearing public item number 26, Madam Clerk, please provide instructions to the public who would like to make a comment on this hearing item only.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Members of the public joining us by way of Zoom or conference call who would like to make a comment for public hearing item number 26 only, only which pertains to the annual action plan and budgets for CDBG home and ESG funding. Please dial star 9 from your phone or select raise hand from Zoom now in order to be called upon once the public hearing is open. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

»» Number item 26 related to the fiscal year 26-27 annual action plan and budgets for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. I don't believe we need a presentation. We all read thank you very much. Are there any questions by the Council? Seeing none, I now open the public hearing for members of the public that would like to provide their comments in person and virtually. Madam Clerk, do we have any speakers?

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Yes, we do, Mayor and City Council. While we did not receive any e-comments related to this public hearing and there is nobody on Zoom, we do have five speaker cards. If you could please line up behind the podium. Sammy Park. Uzma Islam. Esther Yee.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Speaking time is three minutes.

Good evening. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to let me speak. Dear Mayor and Council Members, my name is Sammy Park, and I'm the financial councillor with the Cambodian family in Santa Ana. We're a nonprofit organization that's been helping and serving the community for over 40 years. I'm here to ask for your support in approving the CDBG funding. Our financial education and empowerment program predominantly serves low income, limited English

proficient parents and seniors in Santa Ana, but this program is also open to youths and families. We help community members overcome systemic economic barriers and build a more secure financial future. We provide workshops, both in person and virtual, covering basic banking, credit, budgeting, savings, and home ownership. Partnership. Participants also receive one-on-one coaching to set and achieve financial goals, along

with referrals to trusted, low-cost banking and community resources. A key focus is asset protection, including education on how to prevent scams, identity theft, and predatory lending that often target vulnerable populations. For example, we recently assisted a senior from Santa Ana who lost $10,000 to an online scam. So, through a program like ours, we aim to prevent these situations through education and support. The Cambodian family of Santa Ana respectfully ask you to approval of the CDBG budget so

we can continue serving and protecting our community in Santa Ana. Last but not least, just thank you so much for your attention and happy Cambodian New Year from our community.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Thank you. Next speaker, Uzma Islam.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Esther Yee.

Dear Council Members, excuse me. Thank you so much for this opportunity for a public comment. And I know it's a very late night, so I appreciate your attention and your commitment to tonight. My name is Esther Yeh. I am a staff attorney at Community Legal Aid SoCal's Family Law Unit here in Orange County. I've been there since 2024, where I specialize in working with domestic violence survivors, including City of Santa Ana survivors under the CDBG funding. I wanted to come tonight just to say thank you for investing in this work since 2017 and for considering the recommendation for continued funding for our free legal services.

Over the past nine years with your help, we have served dozens of domestic violence survivors every year, assisting them to obtain family law services and protective orders that help them find safety and well-being. Because of this funding, the City of Santa Ana has been a leader in Orange County in in providing legal solutions to its domestic violence survivors. We have more family law clients from Santa Ana than any other city in Orange County. Last year we closed 206 family law cases for Santa Ana residents. And because of this grant, we were able to provide extended service, including representation to half of these clients.

Thank you again. And please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you so much.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Sarah Bemmerwald to be followed by Claire Braeburn.

Good evening, Mayor and Council Members. My name is Sarah Bemmerwald and I'm the Chief Operations Officer at Human Options where I've had the privilege to work for the past 12 years. I want to sincerely thank you for recommending the CDBG funding for our agency. This is more support than we've ever received from the City of Santa Ana, and we deeply appreciate your commitment to survivor safety. Our co-deployment model where our advocate responds alongside Santa Ana Police Department to 911 calls for domestic violence assistance has received overwhelmingly positive feedback

from survivors over the past decade and has helped more Santa Ana survivors get connected to lifesaving services such as emergency shelter, counseling, and legal advocacy. We're grateful for the city's partnership in helping sustain this important work. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Claire Braeburn.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members. My name is Claire Braeburn. I'm the Executive Director and Co-Founder of America on Track. and I will keep this very brief. I just wanted to say thank you to city staff for their hard work on the annual action plan and for recommending support for our Brighter Futures for Children of Prisoners program. We know that this federal funding is meant to reach the most needy residents and our Brighter Futures program is doing that by working with youth who are impacted by parental incarceration. And we know their risk factors are higher.

they've got more chance of academic challenges, trauma, and future justice system involvement. Your past investment is doing great. We're seeing 80 to 90 percent of the youth seeing advances in engagement and behavior and overall progress, so we know that prevention services work and we thank you for the current recommendation and for your partnership in helping us continue this important work. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Mayor and City Council, that concludes the public speakers.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Thank you. No further comments I hear by close of public hearing. Do any Council members have any comments? Councilman Hernandez?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 7

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I want to thank the public speakers for showing up today. Your dedicated services to Santa Ana is duly noted and greatly appreciated. We have a list of wonderful organizations such as America on Track, Community Health Initiative, Community Legal Aid, Human Options, Lutheran Services of SoCal, Mary's Shelters, Moms OC, Mosaic Movement, Nati's House, OCTAQ, Project Hope Alliance, Straight Talk, and the Cambodian Family in Wise Place. A very diverse array of funding of $1,240,000. I'll go ahead and make a motion to move this item.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Thank you. So second. Second by Mayor Patan. Hearing no other discussion, we'll move to the next item.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

There's a motion and a second. Motion by Councilmember Hernandez, seconded by Mayor Pro Tempagnolosa to approve the three recommended actions for Public Hearing Item Number 26, approving the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Annual Action Plan and Budgets for the Community Development Block Grant, Home Investment Partnerships Grant and Emergency Solutions Grant for submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Councilmember Becerra? Yes. Councilmember Hernandez? Yes. Councilmember Lopez? Yes. Councilmember Phan? Yes. Councilmember Vasquez?

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Mayor Pro Tempagnolosa?

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Mayor Mezcua? Yes. So it is six ayes, no nays with an absence by Councilmember Phan. Motion carries. All right. Thank you. Let's go to Item 10, please.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Go ahead, Madam Clerk. I'm sorry?

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

About which one? I'm sorry.

Thai Viet PhanItem 7

My apologies, everyone. I recuse myself from the public hearing item due to an abundance of caution after doing discussing with the city attorney as there was a conflicts check issue and I'm not sure if my firm may have represented any of the nonprofits and so just to avoid any type of issues I have recused myself from that item thank you

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

madam attorney city attorney similar to councilman Hernandez we had closed it so

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 7

do we need to reopen it no because she's she's public hearing nobody can say

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

there's something wrong I just want to make sure so thank you thank you thank Thank you, Council Member Fann. I appreciate it. Item number 10, Madam Clerk.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

Yes, Mayor. Item number 10 was pulled for discussion by Council Member Vasquez.

Jennifer L. HallItem 7

And it pertains to the update on Santa Ana Police Department response to June 2025 anti-ice demonstrations.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

I believe we have our presentation. Mr. City Manager, Chief.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Who will be doing the presentations?

Alvaro NuñezItem 7

Chief of Police, Robert Rodriguez.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 7

Perfect. Thank you.

Actually, it's going to be Commander Lopez, my Executive Officer from Internal Affairs, will provide the presentation.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 10

Thank you. Commander Lopez, if you can come up here to the podium. You need to sit there or can you come up here to the front, sir? Can you do it from here?

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

Yes.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 10

Perfect. Thank you.

Give me a second, Commander. Mayor Weill.

So, Mayor and City Council, before we begin the presentation, I just wanted to acknowledge that today's presentation is intended to be a high-level overview of the Department's response to the anti-ice demonstrations. Due to pending civil litigation and ongoing internal investigations related to these events, events, the department is constrained in the level of detail we can provide at this time. These limitations are necessary to preserve the integrity of the investigative process, ensure compliance with applicable laws, including personnel confidentiality, but more importantly to protect the city's legal position.

As a result, we may be limited in our ability to respond to specific questions. We appreciate the council's understanding on this matter.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 10

Thank you, Commander Lopez. What we'll do is you'll give your presentation and then at that time I'll open it up for questions.

Okay.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 10

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor Mesquite and members of the City Council. In tonight's presentation, I will provide an overview of the Santa Ana Police Department's response to the anti-ice demonstrations that occurred back in June of 2025. This presentation outlines a summary of our operational approach, resource deployment, operational actions, use of force, and the overall impact to public safety and the city resources. Our goal throughout these events was to balance the protection of First Amendment rights with the need to maintain public safety and order. As previously mentioned, due to the open litigation and open internal affairs and

administrative investigations, the video that I'm about to present has been and shortened.

However, these short videos provide a small glimpse of the context for the conditions officers faced during several of the demonstrations throughout the June anti-demonstrations. While many individuals exercised their First Amendment rights peacefully, there were moments where activity escalated into unlawful and unsafe behavior. These situations required police intervention to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure. Our role was not to limit speech, but to ensure that demonstrations remain safe for participants, officers, and the broader community.

The Santa Ana Police Department's response was grounded in state law, department policy, and established department procedures. The department operated under Policy 429, which governs First Amendment assemblies, and Procedure 3004, which outlines the use use of 40 millimeter less lethal launcher. In addition to several California Pena Code sections guided enforcement decisions related to unlawful assembly, incitement of riot, failure to disperse, and refusal to disperse after a warning. Command staff utilized the incident command system and coordinated through the Emergency Operations Center. This allowed for real-time assessment,

resource coordination, and adjustments based on evolving conditions. At every stage, our priorities were safety, de-escalation, and the protection of civil rights consistent with national best practices.

As demonstrations evolved over multiple days, the Santa Ana Police Department developed and implemented incident action plans to ensure organized and consistent responses. Officers were directed to use measured, policy-driven actions. The focus remained on preserving lawful expression and maintaining and or restoring order while minimizing harm to those participating in the demonstration. Prior to any enforcement action, clear dispersal orders were issued in both English and Spanish using amplified sound systems to ensure they were audible to all individuals present. present.

Additionally, officers were required to be equipped with and activate body-worn cameras during enforcement actions to promote transparency and accountability.

Under California Penal Code 407, an unlawful assembly occurs when individuals gather with the intent to engage in violent or unlawful conduct. For Santa Ana Police Department Policy, Department Policy 429, peaceful gatherings were monitored without interference. During the June 2025 demonstrations, when public safety risk emerged, officers first attempted voluntary compliance through communication and de-escalation efforts. If those efforts were unsuccessful, a formal dispersal order was issued. These orders included clear instructions, identified exit routes, and provided reasonable time for individuals

to leave the area. Enforcement actions were only taken when individuals failed to comply with lawful orders.

So the enforcement activity, during the dates of June 9th, 10th, 11th, and 14th, a total of 24 arrests were made. This included 20 misdemeanor arrests and four felony arrests. These arrests were based on observed violations of law during the incident.

More specifically, for June 9th, our department responded We responded to anti-ice demonstrations stemming from federal immigration enforcement activity occurring throughout Orange County and throughout California. These events drew hundreds to over a thousand participants in Santa Ana area and surrounding communities reflecting both the scale and community impact and concerns of the issue. With the support of multiple regional partners, we coordinated a unified mutual aid response consistent with the size and complexity of the event. Our estimated crowd size within our operational area was approximately 1,500 individuals.

Our primary objectives were to facilitate lawful First Amendment activity while maintaining public safety and protecting property. Despite de-escalation efforts, enforcement action became necessary due to both unlawful and unsafe behavior within the crowd. A total of 10 misdemeanor arrests were made on June 9th. Regarding less lethal force, personnel deployed 105 rounds of 40-millimeter less lethal munitions and 29 CS chemical agent munitions. These tools were used in a targeted manner to disperse individuals engaging in violent or unlawful conduct.

On June 10th, demonstrations continued at a smaller scale, with a more limited number of assisting agencies. agencies. Our approach remained consistent, prioritized communication, issued clear dispersal orders, and allowed lawful activity to proceed whenever possible. Nonetheless, our estimated crowd size within our operational area was approximately 1,000 individuals. Enforcement actions resulted in one felony arrest and three misdemeanor arrests. Less lethal options included included 19 bean bag rounds and 23 rounds of 40 millimeter munitions and six CS chemical agent deployments.

The reduced numbers reflect both a smaller crowd size and early compliance by many participants following dispersal orders.

On June 11th, demonstrations continued with an increase in attendance with the crowd size growing to approximately 1,500 participants. We maintain mutual aid support and continue to emphasize a measured coordinated response. Our strategy remained focused on de-escalation, high visibility deployment, and structured crowd management to reduce the likelihood of conflict while preserving ability for lawful expression. Enforcement actions resulted in two felony arrests and one misdemeanor arrest. Less lethal force included 28 beanbag rounds and 42 rounds of 40 millimeter munitions.

Notably, no CS chemical agents were deployed on this date, reflecting our commitment to using only the level of force necessary based on the conditions and behavior observed on the ground.

On June 14, the activity was more limited, with an estimated crowd size fluctuating between approximately 500 to 2,000 individuals throughout the event. Operations were supported by two assisting agencies. agencies. While the crowd size was reduced compared to prior days, there were still instances that required enforcement action to maintain public safety and order. Officers made one felony arrest and six misdemeanor arrests. Less lethal tools deployed included tall beam backgrounds and 45 rounds of 40 millimeter munitions. Across all four days of activity, our department remained committed to balancing the protection

of constitutional rights with the responsibility to maintain public safety. All enforcement actions and use of force were conducted in accordance with department policy, applicable legal standards, and under consistent supervisory oversight.

There were five reported injuries among arrestees and three injuries to Santa Ana police personnel. Due to the scale of the duration of the events, Santa Ana PD coordinated with multiple partner agencies through mutual aid agreements. The agencies included but not limited to Anaheim Police Department, Brea Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Costa Mesa Police Department, Fountain Valley Police Department, Fullerton Police Department, Garden Grove Police Department, Huntington Beach Police Department, Irvine Police Department, Laguna Beach Police Department, Newport Beach Police

Department, Orange County Sheriff's Department, Orange Police Department, Placentia Police Police Department, Tustin Police Department, and Westminster Police Department. This collaboration ensured sufficient staffing and enhanced public safety capabilities.

Officers assigned to these events wore standard uniforms and equipment with protective gear available as needed. They were trained to maintain situational awareness and apply officer safety tactics consistent with department policy. Any use of less lethal tools or chemical agents was conducted in strict compliance with Department policy, post guidelines and California law.

Each use of force was evaluated based on necessity, proportionality and the opportunity for de-escalation. All force used during these events was documented in compliance with Department policy and Assembly Assembly Bill 48, as well as PINAA code section 136.52.1. In accordance with state law, Santa Ana Police Department completed and published a public report within 60 days detailing the use of less lethal and chemical agents during these incidents.

The majority of force used involved less lethal options. There were 215 deployments of 40 millimeter less lethal rounds and 59 beam bag deployments. Chemical agents were used 35 times. Lower level control techniques such as control holds and take downs were also used in limited numbers. There were no taser or wrap restraint deployments during these events. This figures reflected reliance on tools intended to reduce the likelihood of more serious bodily injury. injury.

Senate Police Department implemented sustained multi-shift staffing across key areas including downtown and high traffic corridors. This increased staffing allowed for rapid response, improved escalation efforts and effective crowd management. We also utilized mutual aid partners when necessary and implemented rotating schedules schedules to reduce fatigue and maintain performance and safety standards.

The response to these events required significant personnel and resource investment. Total expenditures for June 9th, 10th, 11th, and 14th were approximately $399,257. These costs were primarily driven by overtime for sworn and non-sworn personnel, as well as necessary materials such as protective equipment restraints and operational supplies

in closing santa ana police department remains committed to protecting constitutional rights while ensuring public safety we continuously evaluate our responses to events like these to improve our practices strengthen community trust and ensure transparency

Valerie AmezcuaItem 10

thank you commander lopez councilman vasquez so i because i kept asking you to wait you go right I'll go right ahead first, sir.

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

Thank you. Thank you, Commander Lopez, for that thorough presentation. I was there on June 9th, the Monday I went after school, and I joined Councilmember Hernandez, and there was peaceful protests. Unfortunately somebody left a case of water bottles at the edge by the federal building, building and there was one guy throwing water bottles up against the federal

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

building. Like an hour after I got there he started throwing water bottles and

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

the it would have been easier I believe for the security to go to go indoors and and let the water bottles hit the side of the building.

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

But the police department came,

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

and this one person was chased off by the other protesters. I saw him as he headed down towards Ross. From there, the protesters chased him out, and we were being hit by tear gas. Yes. Myself and all the other protesters there because of this one person's actions.

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

On the first, can I ask you a question? On that first day, the mutual aid was called on by the guards at the federal building?

Yes. Well, at some point, they contacted the SENA Police Department.

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

And on the other days, did they also call for mutual aid, or is that?

Well, they weren't necessarily calling for mutual aid. I believe the department ourselves, we were protecting the rights of the demonstrators in our city, so we called for the mutual aid.

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

From the other departments? Correct. Okay. Okay. And is this normal for our protests, for us to call for mutual aid like May Day or any other protests? I've been involved in protests for the last like 25 years, and I rarely have seen other departments. Let me know if I'm wrong.

It's situational dependent, depending on what, how the demonstrations are going, the amount of people. Again, it could be several different factors that may provide us intel that we will request for mutual aid.

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

And did the federal building security call for mutual aid every, on the four days, or did we ever call?

Again, I'm not familiar if they ever actually called for mutual aid from us. Okay.

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

Many departments have different thresholds for different actions. Are we aligned with them on using less lethal munitions or for using tear gas? Are we equally aligned or does every department have different thresholds?

I would say that all agencies in the state of California abide by the same state laws as it relates to the use of chemical agents and munitions. We also adhere to the post guidelines mandated by the California State Peace Officers Standards. It is possible that every agency may have more limited access to different actions or munitions.

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

Okay. And, you know, when we, this was June, and I go back to May 1st of that year, and we had a May Day with more people at May Day than we had at this event, I feel, at a May Day protest. And the May Day protesters were like, why aren't the police in our face? you guys stayed away, you allowed people to march, and I was just wondering, what's the difference between May Day and June 9th through the 13th?

I can answer that. The difference between previous protests or demonstrations, in this specific case in June, we were requested by the federal officers at the courthouse. The unknown variable was the actions and response from the federal officers, which they requested our mutual aid, and we responded. In May Day incidents, it's our city, our residents. We have the experience and the practical experience of engaging and allowing our community to

exercise their First Amendment rights. And unfortunately, in June at the onset, that's what had occurred.

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

Right. And I have seen the professionalism from May 1st to this.

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

And it is in my opinion that this day set it off. Our actions set off the next three days. when you have peaceful protesters and one person was not following direction and the use of tear gas and you know calling other departments in and a set the table for what was to happen on this day

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

day, which was we were going to use munitions and we were going to use tear gas. It seemed like that's a new, it was new for Santana that I hadn't seen before. Me having protested in many protests for the last 20 years. You get me? So it just seems like that day was not only about one day, but it was about four days. So we did have issues and I really want to take any lessons we learn and I want to apply them. And when we call for mutual aid

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

and what's it even i would like the police oversight commission to look into what departments we want to call in for police over for mutual aid like not everybody's friendly to brown and black people and being a young man a latino mexican kid growing up in santana we were pulled over many times in many cities across the county and we were told we pulled you over because you're mexican when it was allowed to say we pulled you over for these reasons right uh so i i want the police uh

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

oversight commission to look into possibility or or yourself or the department looking at which departments are safer to work with to support to not incite uh this kind of work with people now. We deployed tear gas on the first day and then we a few other days.

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

I didn't feel it was affected. Did you guys feel the tear gas was affected when it was deployed

on May 9th on that day? Did people disperse? I wasn't on the scene. So just to clarify, Councilmember, you mentioned the deployment of tear gas not being a common practice or other munitions on on the first day of the onset i just want to uh for the council and for everybody listening that first day of the demonstrations um if i'm not uh mistaken there commander lopez we did not deploy any munitions until later at night those were all federal officers who deployed those munitions so that was not triggered by the san adam police

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

Okay, thank you. And then, perfect. I appreciate that. And then when we do use tear gas, because I know there were children present, and what effects does tear gas have on children? I was going to ask this question, but you cleaned it up for me. They were present when I was there, but do we use tear gas when we see children present? presence, because we don't know the effects of tear gas on children and as they're growing with their respiration system, what effects it, there's no study because nobody wants to study that, right? It's inhumane.

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

But do we make sure there's no children around when we use that kind of a weapon?

We definitely take all safety considerations and that's why we before we deploy any less lethal, we declare an unlawful assembly and we give plenty of time for the crowd and the demonstrators to respond. We provide egress routes so they can egress from the location and only when there's a you know, continued criminal activity, and we balance that to ensure that it does not impact public safety in regards to children or innocent bystanders.

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

Okay, thank you. And then we use, we call them less lethal munitions, but if not lethal, what kind of damage can they cause on a person?

So they obviously could cause damage. Prior, many years ago, they used to be called non-lethal. Then the vernacular changed to less than lethal or less lethal, because at times, depending on how it's used or if it's a wrongful impact, it can cause serious bodily damage.

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

We have to be very careful. But many protesters reported indiscriminate firing into the crowds. And I'm worried that we were doing indiscriminate firing into the crowds. And does that seem something that came out of the report?

You know, in regards to what committee members allege, I can't uh give an assessment on that with pending litigation and pending internal investigations because we do also have some internal affairs complaints from those incidents so i understand the community's uh request for transparency on that but they're still ongoing civil litigation and once the civil litigation is completed in the internal investigations there will be more

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

transparency on that. Thank you. And when you're doing your investigation, I would also like to see what us using these weapons, less than lethal weapons does when you indiscriminately shoot if it was indiscriminately shot into crowds because it feels like that's agitating the crowd when you just happen to be somebody within the area used by the PD or the federal government, with the federal guards would be good to know because I would be agitated as I could have been

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

shot I know I did get tear gassed or if I was hit by some tear gas and hurt by it that would agitate people that weren't agitated before did we receive any complaints we did receive complaints obviously there's how many complaints did we receive from the police oversight and uh

and for the department do we have those numbers i believe we received anywhere from three to five complaints uh through our our you know our department i don't recall if we actually received any through the oversight?

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

Oh, we don't know. Can we find out?

Just one from the oversight.

Benjamin VazquezItem 10

Okay, so they have one to work with. And then Andy, I just want to ask, when the investigation is done, can we release all the body camera footage to PRAs as we can legally do so, and also the report for the basis of each arrest to any PRA?

We can do that as long as we're applicable to all laws and all litigation is resolved, yes.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 10

Thank you. Councillor Faisal, I'll come back to you. Thank you. Councillor Hernandez, your mic's up.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you, Police Chief Rodriguez and your staff for answering these questions, preparing today's presentation. I think that this is a good faith effort to listen and to work with our community. So I want to say thank you to you both. So in today's presentation, the first slide was freedom of expression. And you showed a video of a young man on what appears to be like a mini bike burning donuts. Nobody condones that. You showed another video of a young man appears to be standing on a street light

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

Nobody condones that either. That's dangerous. These people are putting their lives at risk, but they're not putting the lives of others or any officers in that video lives or any ICE officials lives at risk. I don't see on these videos any acts of violence. I don't see a single piece of evidence that was included in this presentation of a water bottle, a firework, a brick. And I think that that's the type of information I want to see when my department fires over 200, you know, variety of different chemical agents,

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

bean bags, what have you, at the public. And that's where I think the public came out in such large numbers because many of those members like myself like councilmember vasquez we showed up with nothing but our voices many of us didn't have water bottles to we weren't throwing that we didn't condone it you guys had a drone i'm sure you guys have body cams you probably saw people like myself telling people to stop but yet people like myself were still shot with beanbags I was tear gassed and whatever the stuff that leaves white residue when it hits you pepper balls I was hit with at least

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

eight of those I kept my shirt and I remember when I I didn't understand what was hitting me because it happened so quickly and they don't really hurt until you get home and you see maybe what the hell happened to my back and when I started seeing other people carrying that white residue on them that's when I started doing my research on well what is that residue because whatever I have I got several of them on my back and it wasn't until I saw other people being shot at and it was thanks to journalism from the santanero where you had journalists taking pictures of people that were

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

shot by these chemical agents or beanbags or not less not non-lethal rounds and that's when I I learned that some of these rounds will leave prints on your clothes. In this case, the example I'm providing is white markings. The decision-making foundation on slide three I found to be very informative as the first bullet point talks about law, policy, and procedure-driven decision-making guided in the department's response to the anti-ICE demonstrations, prioritizing safety, de-escalation, and civil rights and aligning with national practices for managing civil unrest so we are

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

one of the only departments in orange county where our our policies are public on san anna pd's

website correct chief i believe other agencies are also because that also became uh legislation and into law so other agencies have their policies and that's that's a step in the right direction

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

And one of the policies that we do have on our website is a use of force policy, correct?

Yes.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

Can you tell me, do we have a de-escalation policy?

I believe there's a section in de-escalation, our use of force policy.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

I looked at our policies and I didn't see a section on de-escalation. But de-escalation is listed here as the first bullet point. So I'd like to know, what are these officers referencing in terms of de-escalation? Is there a training that they may have attended? Is there a series of trainings you maybe send some of these officers to?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

If they see a situation and you have a bunch of people who are unarmed and they're protesting, what are they going off of if you tell them to de-escalate?

So obviously they're going to practice de-escalation based on certain levels of threshold depending depending on the actions of the demonstrators. You mentioned in your statement, you started off with, we only saw videos of burnouts. Yes. And of someone climbing a traffic tri-light. So our intent tonight was not to create an adversarial presentation, us against the public, but we have plenty of videos of actual law violations that we also didn't include also because of this ongoing civil litigation. and they're removed for that fact.

So our officers take into considerations the totality of the circumstances, you know, public safety also, and there were acts of brick throwing, which, like I said, there is evidence of that, but we just didn't want to bring it forward here today because we wanted to have some dialogue.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

Thank you, Chief. And part of why I think this dialogue is so important, gentlemen, is when we look at the enforcement activity, your first bullet point mentions the policy-driven actions to restore order while minimizing harm. We are a department that has militarized equipment under Assembly Bill 481, which requires law enforcement agencies to gain approval from their local governing body. This city council did approve the use of militarized equipment. At the time of this protest, we were still not in compliance with AB 481. Is that correct?

That is correct.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

Thank you, Chief, for your honesty. Now, on the day of the first protest of June 9th, can we confirm that we received a call from U.S. Attorney Bill Asali requesting mutual aid? Or in the event that we don't have mutual aid, that the feds would be sent out to our city and they would control the perimeter? and they were essentially were going to use their own mutual aid. Was that a call that our city received? Yes. Thank you. I think that the public should know about that.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

And the reason I wanted to mention that is because Santa Ana initially was not at the scene and it was just the federal agencies. And at some point. The U.S. attorney called the city of Santa Ana and essentially demanded that our officers showed up. So I want to give the public the transparency as to why Santa Ana PD showed up was because of the fact that we wanted to protect our residents from the feds and the potential violence escalating. When Santa Ana PD did show up, there was a large number of protesters.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

And from what I saw, many of whom were utilizing their First Amendment right within the law. There were some people standing on federal property, some people standing in a federal parking lot. And there were people who were doing things that the public just simply doesn't support. Burning donuts, climbing poles. And so when I saw the violence begin to escalate, I saw people being shot at with pepper balls, tear gas, chemical agents. And at that point, that's when I saw the public throwing water bottles in response.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

I was at the protest for several hours and was tear gassed at least three times. I didn't leave because I live in that district. I live in Ward 5. My constituents live there. I went to Santa Ana High School. My family lives not too far around the corner. And I didn't feel comfortable leaving my residence there knowing City Hall is right here. I know that there was a number of assisting agencies, but my concern is going to lie with Santa Ana PD. Not only did I see the members of the public indiscriminately be shot, I saw youth, young kids.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

I worked with the city manager to potentially identify a student's backpack who was 14 years old. I saw an elderly woman be tear gassed. I'm sure body cams will show that elderly woman just sitting down onto the section of the street that divides City Hall. She was just sitting right in between it. And those were things that you don't ever forget when you see that type of violence take place in your city. My concerns were you listed that there were five arrestees who were injured. What is the extent of these injuries?

I don't have those injuries with me today.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

Okay. As a result of some of these injuries, did the city receive any claims due to the police misconduct? Or the police conduct, rather?

Yes, we received a civil claim, which is now a civil litigation, and we received the complaints that were mentioned earlier.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

Thank you, Chief. And then, no officer should be injured on the job. I saw that three officers experienced injuries with respect to them and their health. I want to be adamant that no member of the public should attack our law enforcement here in Santa Ana. These individuals should be given the same respect to make it home safely. And so I want to be firm that I don't support the public harming any of our officers. Do you know to what extent these officers were injured? Was it because bricks were being thrown? Was it fireworks? I'm just trying to get an understanding of where the threat or the potential risk of

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

a threat came from.

I believe at least one of them, I don't know about all three, at least one of them was struck by whether it was a brick or a water bottle or something was thrown at them.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

Thank you, Chief. And in summary, I just want to close on the use of force summary. you mentioned SAPD approved force options are control hold 16. And as we know, a control hold excludes a carotid artery choke, correct?

That is correct.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

Thank you. And then takedown, that's pretty traditional. I mean, we see takedowns are part of police, you know, business. They're able to do that. Zero tasers were used on the public. Zero wraps were used. There were 215 less lethal 40-millimeter rounds. I'm interested in what triggers our department to decide to use those less lethal rounds. Is it the size of the amount of people that may be in front of this protest? I want to know what the threshold is once our officers decide, okay, we need to use non-lethal rounds.

So when you're using a less lethal round such as a beanbag or a 40 millimeter, it's intended to be specific to an individual committing an act of violence or whatnot or a threat to the community. It's not what's considered an area dispersal or indiscriminately deploying less lethal such as a beanbag or 40 millimeter.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

Thank you, Chief. And have we as a city, given that we use these 215 rounds of less lethal 40 millimeters, do we as a department to reduce liabilities check body cams on those 215 rounds that were shot to ensure that these officers were following protocol and that they were using reasonable force?

Yes, like any other use of force, whether it's in a demonstration or whether it's a regular day-to-day contact on an arrest, we review all evidence to include BWC or to include any cameras from nearby businesses or any evidentiary value that we may gather.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 10

Councilman Hernandez, can I come back to you?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

Yes, Madam Mayor. I'm just going to close very briefly. Go ahead. The last question I have, Chief, is going to pertain to there is four punches listed. And I know in the state of California, police are very limited to be able to punch somebody unless it is deemed objectively reasonable to gain control or a situation or to an effect an arrest. An example would be if somebody reaches for an officer's firearm, an officer at that point, is able to justifiably use a fist, open palm, to that extent. How are these officers able to punch on four different occasions

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

if they had non-lethal rounds and all these other munitions they could have used? What were those situations where somebody was punched four times?

In regards to punches, is that under strikes? I believe so, yes. Okay, so we list them as strikes. It doesn't specify there were punches. It could have been when an officer is pushing a crowd back with a baton. We have to document that, too. So I'm not sure if it was a punch, but I can't speak to the specific incident in regards to a punch. But we will look into that.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 10

Thank you, Chief. And just with respect to times, I just wanted to share in closing that the expenditure was $399,257 in public monies being used for overtime for costs sworn and non-sworn. Materials dates June 9th, 10th, 11th, and 14th. Those will be the end of my first round of questions and comments. I thank you both for your answers. Thank you.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 10

CHAIRPERSON WONG. Thank you, Councilman Hernandez. Are there any other Councilmembers that have not had an opportunity to speak? Councilmember Lopez? Thank you.

Jessie LopezItem 10

Let's see.

Jessie LopezItem 10

So, I mean, I think that this report is important. I think everybody can agree that it is long overdue and people have wanted transparency transparency into the process and also hearing some of, I think, the train of thought that you're presenting makes me want to ask more questions.

Jessie LopezItem 10

When I hear you say that you were concerned about protecting the rights of demonstrators and so because of that concern you invite other agencies into the city to deal with does that doesn't quite click right like if if you're concerned about the first amendment the civil liberty uh or the constitutional rights of sanana residents the question is why would you invite other agencies to help suppress those constitutional rights so i i can respond to that

Councilmember Lopez. So when it comes to mutual aid request and we have information that there is a demonstration or based on previous day events that there's an ongoing demonstration that's going to continue, we have to plan for it and make those requests in a timely manner. because if we fail to act and don't have those requests, those can have some very unintended consequences and compromise public safety for our entire city. So those requests are done in advance

and are held, are drafted and submitted to our mutual aid partners, because we can't wait till the last minute to request those mutual aid responses.

Jessie LopezItem 10

so is it fair to say that without knowing you know the response to a rally or a demonstration the city will go ahead and say well we need mutual aid because we don't know what will happen and so mutual aid is placed without fully understanding what's happening no so what happens is we we have

to it's almost like making a reservation because obviously there's other demonstrations throughout throughout the county, throughout other counties, right? So we have to plan accordingly. And when we set certain things in place to ensure if it meets that threshold, then we request, earlier there was a comment about can we pick and choose which cities we can't? Because it's what's available at the time of the request.

Jessie LopezItem 10

Okay. And when it comes to gatherings, demonstrations, rallies, protests, what triggers that mutual aid concern or call or reservation?

It's usually based on the size of what we expect, the size of the demonstration. We look into the issue also. And a lot of times, as mentioned, the May 1, we're very familiar with May 1. It's two, what I refer to as two known variables, us, the city, and our community, which I think we work great together. But when we have a known variable like an outside entity, which is a federal agency, I don't know what their policies, protocols, or procedures are. So I have to be prepared for that.

Jessie LopezItem 10

Got it. Okay. So the report tells us what was deployed.

Jessie LopezItem 10

It doesn't tell us why necessarily. And so one of the questions that I have that I know many people have had for many months is when you're talking about the chemical that was released into the air, what chemicals were released into the air?

Andrew, can you provide that one? Yes. So to answer your question, your last question about what chemical agents it's a ccs gas or chemical agents typically it's through a handheld

Jessie LopezItem 10

hand-delivered canister so that was the only gas that was used yes yeah and can you tell us why that gas what it does like why do you release it excuse me what what the purpose of releasing it into a crowd?

So again, the only times that, you know, per AB48, the only times that the department can actually utilize either chemical agents and or less lethal munitions is in defense of great bodily injury or a threat to life to either officers or to anybody else in the community. So those are the only times. So when we report that 215 less lethal rounds were deployed, that means that there was 215 incidents where someone was committing an act of violence.

Jessie LopezItem 10

And that can range, right? Is it fair to say that can range from... Do you categorize as an act of violence someone climbing a utility pole?

No.

Jessie LopezItem 10

Okay. So what are the acts of violence?

Again, throwing water bottles, concrete, fire extinguishers, any things that can hurt officers or anyone else.

Jessie LopezItem 10

Okay. And then what does the chemical do?

It's just an irritant. It causes irritation to the eyes, essentially like OC spray.

Jessie LopezItem 10

Like what?

OC spray.

Jessie LopezItem 10

Okay, got it. And then I also wanted to know, because the reporting, we heard this from public comment, right, it's not as robust as what the council member had asked. He had asked about, if I'm not mistaken, like including some footage, you obviously chose what footage to include.

Jessie LopezItem 10

And, you know, I remember Council Member Vasquez asking for more information, detailed injury injury reports, command decision documentation.

Jessie LopezItem 10

And so can you just let us know why some of that was not included in this report out in the attached report?

Yes, absolutely, Councilmember. And that's exactly what I mentioned before the presentation, that a lot of these decisions are going to be mitigated in litigation. litigation and any statements we make today on why, how, and what we did can compromise our legal position for the city and liability and also in our internal affairs investigation and to allow the due process on both ends to take place before we provide a detailed report as requested.

Jessie LopezItem 10

So our community could be waiting 10 years?

It depends on litigation. I'm not sure.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 10

I just want to clarify, Mayor and Councilmembers. So the city has received four government tort claims and one lawsuit in which the city and the county and our chief were personally named. So we have four tort claims that could turn into lawsuits and then the one lawsuit. So one of the things that we would just caution this evening is that we not discuss the specific liability.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 10

liability. And I think where how the department was approaching this is that we want to make sure that none of us are called to be potential witnesses, you know, in that litigation or in those tort claims. But I do think the distinguishing factor and I think Council Member Vasquez referenced this is while we do what we need to do to defend the city and we're just going to caution that we're not going to have a conversation about the liability because that shouldn't be done here in open session. We have other avenues, for example, the case that's filed, we could do a

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 10

a closed session report because that would be the proper venue proper arena and that wouldn't and i just want to say this because this is the law and my job as city attorneys to make sure everybody understands is for transparency there are other laws councilman vasquez i think you referenced this that might be subject to public disclosure under a public records act or in the discovery process so that is not to say that that material is not available to members of the public or to to our Police Oversight Commission, but what we wanted to do today is make sure that we

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 10

didn't initiate a conversation in which we were discussing that liability. That may have been the reason why they did not include that information for today's presentation, so that they wouldn't have to discuss it and we'd create a forum for that. But if other laws applied during that discovery process, then we will be fully transparent. We will follow the law, and if a Public Records Act request is made, then we'll follow the law.

Jessie LopezItem 10

Yeah, and logically, I understand what you're saying, right? There are claims against the city because people were injured that day. And so you're saying that there are things that cannot be discussed, but they haven't been discussed in months, since last June.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 10

And as I said, there is a proper venue arena for that. And now that we have the lawsuit that's been filed, we can schedule this for a closed session conversation so that the decision makers here of all of you can be privy to more of that information. But what we wanted to do is make sure that we did not open up the forum and cause any of this information to be used in the litigation.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 10

»» I don't know, Chief, I think, were you going to say something? Okay.

Jessie LopezItem 10

»» Council Member Lopez, anything else? »» No, but I know my three minutes are up. So I don't know if you want to move on.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 10

No, go ahead. Everybody's gone over. Can you just do three more?

Jessie LopezItem 10

Thank you. So I wanted to know how communication with DHS happened.

Jessie LopezItem 10

I'm sorry, what was the question? How communication with DHS happened? Because they called the city, right? So was it just via phone?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 10

Yeah, I'll answer that question because I was actually the one that received the initial phone phone call. And so I took in that phone call and I reached out and calling the city manager and the police chief just to communicate and say, it is my understanding that there is an incident that is occurring downtown and I've gotten a call from the Department of Justice individual requesting that we get some law enforcement support. I think there was one or there was more than one phone call. That phone call was then followed up with with a second phone call that said, it's getting very, very serious.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 10

We are very concerned for the safety of our individuals and the federal property. And quite frankly, if your department, and it wasn't in a threatening manner, but it was basically, if your department cannot provide the security that we need, then we're gonna bring in federal resources. And we had a discussion about what that might look like in terms of safety for our community, and what that would mean to people in our community. And so a decision was made at that point. But yes, the communication came in initially directly from an attorney at the federal level to me.

Jessie LopezItem 10

And so how many conversations happened besides the two or three?

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 10

It was just the two. I got the two phone calls. After the first phone call, I made an attempt to reach out to the chief. He was busy, obviously. And so that first phone call wasn't answered. So then I tried the city manager and had a brief conversation. and after the second phone call, I recall I called the city manager, and I think he was with the chief at that time, and so I communicated that, and then I had no further contact with them.

Jessie LopezItem 10

And so then I'm assuming contact stayed with you in the department predominantly.

Yes.

Jessie LopezItem 10

And how many other calls did you all have?

Those are the only two calls or the two calls or the call that I had, but there was some coordination between whoever my incident commander was and their incident commander at the federal courthouse. So there was dialogue between those folks at the operational level, but this call came from higher up, hence why it came through the city attorney, city manager, and myself.