City Council - Regular Meeting

There it is. Mayor, you can proceed. Perfect, thank you. I hereby call the Santa Ana City Council meeting to order. I apologize for starting late. We were waiting here. 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 roll call.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Are there any additions or deletions to the closed session agenda? There are none. Do any council members need to announce their abstentions on closed session items? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, do we have any speakers for closed session?

Thank you, Madam Clerk. We'll now recess this portion of the meeting to consider items in closed session. Thank you.

You can go ahead, Mayor. Perfect. Started the meeting. I hereby call the Santa Ana City Council meeting to order. Madam Clerk?

Thank you. Madam Clerk, before we proceed to the Pledge of Allegiance, please make an announcement.

Thank you. The first item on the agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. May I have the... Badass Carpenter Christy come up. I apologize for the word, but I had to introduce her like that.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you so very much, both of you, for coming out. At this time, the words of inspiration will be provided by Shane Parr. Please come to the podium.

Thank you very much. Madam Clerk, are there any additions or deletions to the City Council agenda? There are none. Thank you. This time we're going to do presentations. The first presentation is by Council Member Becerra, recognizing the OC Bomberos for outstanding contributions to the community. Please come up. Come on up, people. OC Bomberos, come on up. Come on up.

Good evening everybody. So tonight it's my great honor to recognize the Orange County Bomberos for their dedication to our youth and our community. Founded in 2020, the OC Bomberos are a nonprofit organization comprised of firefighters throughout Orange County. So not just OCFA, but throughout. And they provide scholarships and mentorships to aspiring firefighters and emergency responders. Their mission is to help youth from low-income households who are motivated to pursue their dream career of becoming firefighters. There are many kids who are simply unaware. of the possibility of working as

I'm not going to ask the city manager because him and I were in the same place. We were watching you kick butt up there. Yeah. Same here, right? Same here. So, no, we had a blast. I know you were there as well, Sylvia, and we had a couple of other folks. So a couple of the deputy chiefs, although the chief was the one that got, I think, the farthest of the city group.

Oh, that's right. That's right. Sylvia's husband. That's right.

I know, I didn't know about how good he was. Well, scholarship recipients who benefit from those tournaments have gone on to work for such agencies as the Los Angeles County Fire Department, CAL FIRE, the Los Angeles City Fire Department, and the U.S. Forest Service. Beyond financial support, OC Bomberos also provides mentorship, pairing interested youth with a mentor to provide them with more information and share their experiences on careers in fire service. When the youth are old enough to apply for academies and jobs, OC Bomberos also assists them with test prep, scheduling ride-alongs, an

All right, next presentation is by Council Member Lopez, but she is not here. So the final presentation is by Council Member Hernandez, declaring August 2026 as Chicano Heritage Month. Council Member Hernandez.

Thank you very much, Madam Mayor. And thank you to members of the public for tuning into today's City Council meeting. Today is August 4th, 2026. And as it is a tradition every year in the month of August, today we are celebrating Chicano Heritage Month. I have the honor of presenting this proclamation to two individuals who could not be with us here today. Those individuals are Danny Silva and Richie Miranda. They're not with us today for good reason. Danny Silva unfortunately had to pull out of a fight. He had a fight coming up August 22nd. Richie Miranda has a fight coming up this Saturday.

Thank you, Councilmember Hernandez. Is La Colmena here, the organization? Because Councilmember Lopez is not here. I can give you the recognition, I have no problem with it. Come on now, let's do it. Thank you for coming. Okay, first of all, I apologize. I didn't want you guys to leave without getting this recognition. So good evening, everyone. Tonight I'm proud to recognize La Colmena, a truly, did I say that right? Colmena, okay. A truly unique community space that embodies the spirit of Santa Ana by bridging together urban agriculture, local entrepreneurship, cultural programming, and comm

Each of these businesses represents the very best of Santa Ana through innovation rooted in tradition, entrepreneurship driven by community, and a shared commitment to lifting one another up. Together they embody the spirit of La Colmena, a place where collaboration creates opportunity and where community is at the heart of everything. These organizations embody the spirit of Santa Ana through collaboration, innovation, cultural preservation, and deep commitment to serving their neighbors. We are grateful for their work and look forward to seeing their continued success in the years ahead. And

Thank you very much, Madam City Attorney. At this time, we're going to the public comments. This is the time of the meeting for the City Council to receive comments from the public on agenda and non-agenda items. Madam City Clerk, please explain the public comment procedures and call the first speakers and ask them to please line up.

All right, thank you, Madam Clerk. At this time, we're going to go to the consent calendar items four through 30 or before us. Councilmembers, please announce any items that you'll be abstaining from due to conflict. And if there are any requests to pull an item from the consent calendar for further discussion. Councilmember Vasquez, would you like to pull an item, sir?

Yes, thank you. 20 and 30, and I'm on no on 27.

20 and 30, and you're a no on 27. Thank you. Council Member Hernandez.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I would like to pull item 27 and as well as item 11.

I was going to pull item 30, but it's been pulled. Thank you.

I'd like to recuse myself from item number 30, as I did last time, as Watermark and Ms. Cepedal are clients of my employer, Rattan and Tucker. So I will leave the room while that's being discussed. And out of an abundance of caution, my firm does represent or has represented Think Together on a pro bono basis, but out of an abundance of caution, I will also leave the room when that is discussed. Thank you. Thank you very much. Mayor Pro Temp?

Thank you, and I have no items to vote this time. Can I get a motion and a second to approve the remainder item?

I'll make a motion to move the consent calendar, Madam Clerk.

I second. Thank you, Council Member Hernandez. Thank you, Council Member Vasquez. Madam Clerk?

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'll be very brief with this item. I wanted to pull this item because August is Chicano Heritage Month and, um, We're very fortunate that Council Member Phan took the lead on this item that is before us here. What we are going to be doing today is honoring Frank and Irene Palomino, who were among the plaintiffs in the 1947 Landmark-Mendez et al. versus Westminster, which saw them successfully desegregate our schools here in Santa Ana and this school in particular. pertains to Garden Grove. The Palomino family has a long-standing connection to the surrounding neighborhoo

Mayor Pro Tem second. Any other comments? Council Member Fang.

Thank you, Mayor. I actually first would like to thank the Garden Grove Unified School District, particularly Trustee Muñeton, for bringing this item to my attention. And, you know, I think that I think maybe it was you, Council Member Hernandez, and we brought up the discussion of the et al. of Westminster, Mendes v. Westminster, and I think it's just really wonderful that in the last six years or so that I've been here, we've worked really hard to unearth and relearn and remember a lot of the history in Santa Ana that was I don't think it was forgotten, but I think it was obscured. And I thi

All right, there's a motion and a second. Do you require to vote, please?

Thank you. I'd like to ask the Council if they could very much help me out with this. We have four vendors on here, and one's from Costa Mesa. But there was five vendors, the fifth one who raided in the 90s as well, so an A. 7th Street Garage Inc. is actually in Ward 2. And it's part of our economy and part of the supports our families in Ward 2. They're one mile from the BD. They're on the 800th block of Walnut Street. So I'm gonna motion to add 7th Street Garage Inc. onto this list of five, that is a Santa Ana vendor, and it is a family-run business, and especially, if you can help me out, i

Are you done, sir? Councilmember Becerra?

Thank you, Madam Mayor, and thank you, Council Member Vasquez, for pulling this. Staff, I don't know who would be the appropriate person to answer this. The one that's listed from Costa Mesa, I think I've talked to somebody in PD about this, but just to confirm for everybody, they have a Costa Mesa address listed, but in order to qualify or to be recommended, they had to have had a Santa Ana location. Is that correct?

And I understand that, Chief, but what I'm saying is the one that is listed in the report as Costa Mesa, they actually do have a place where they can store cars within Santa Ana.

Well, if we vote for it, sir, it'll move. Thank you, Council Member Vasquez, for bringing it up. I really appreciate it. It's important that we support our businesses here in the city of Santa Ana. There's a motion and a second. Let's prepare to vote, please.

Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Vasquez, for bringing that to our attention. Next item.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I want to thank members of the public for their feedback, their comments, their emails, their public comments today. All of that is taken into account when we make decisions here at the dais. I want to be very clear that Santa Ana is a city where we need to make proactive changes to ensure that our pedestrians and our drivers are safe. I do believe that there are some present day challenges with utilizing technology to enforce traffic laws. Where I think that those challenges lie are in the fact that this is, for one, a pilot program. This is very much still a test, whi

Thank you, Councillor Haynes. Councillor Becerra.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Mr. City Manager, if I could ask Rudy a quick question. Rudy.

Can speed humps be installed on Segerstrom Avenue?

Are you sure, because everybody tonight seems to think that we can just slap them on every arterial, Harbor, Bristol, Sagerstrom, and I'm not trying to trivialize their request or their thoughts, but I just want to make sure that we fully flush it out, that that is not an option. Okay, so no speed humps, no matter how many applications you receive, we're not going to get speed humps on Sagerstrom.

Okay, thank you for that, Rudy. If you guys look in the staff report, the city of Santa Ana experienced 3,487 total collisions in 2025, including 1,943 total injured and 26 fatalities, with unsafe speed determined to be the main factor in many of those collisions. Five of those 26 fatalities, as I've said before, included five young folks that died on Saturday, April 5th, 2025, when a car was racing down Sagerstrom Avenue at a dangerous speed and collided with a tree in the median near Grisette Place in my ward, not too far from my house. It is impossible to deploy police officers to all of th

So no need for additional studies, no need for extensive legwork. It was really just like we would on anything within our current existing legislative platform, engaging with our state legislators, advocating on our city's behalf, correct?

Okay, perfect. Thank you for that. Now I know, I respect that there are differences of opinion on this dais when it comes to continuous monitoring done by the automated license plate readers that we do have today in the city, but speed cameras are not automated license plate readers. So when everybody starts using the phrase surveillance, surveillance would mean that there's continuous monitoring. That is not what speed cameras do. In fact, according to the staff report, another thing we were talking about, or at least I heard up here as far as the idea that we don't want to test something out

Thank you. Any other comments? Council Member Vasquez.

I'm gonna second Councilmember Hernandez and I am worried with surveillance. There are capturing images regardless of what department is holding that information. The federal government has ways and we've seen it across and we've seen studies not only in California but across the country of people being tracked down by camera use and its data. I don't believe right now is the right time. Our residents are not trusting of these cameras. Our families are not trusting. This is the ICE, STREETS AND STILL COMING OUT AND THEY ARE GETTING MORE INTO MORE DATA AND JUST USING THAT DATA TO PINPOINT WHERE

Thank you, Council Member Vasquez. So I'm gonna second Council Member Becerra's motion, and let me ask Mr. City Manager or Chief, with any of the flock, drones, is there any release of information to ICE?

Do we cooperate in any way, shape, or form with them?

Right, thank you. I just want to make sure. So I really appreciate everybody coming out tonight. And Irma, I think she already left. Irma came up with her cell phone. So I hear a lot about surveillance. And yes, in some areas it's very real. And that's why on Saturday I had my coffee with the mayor at the community police room and the police department gave a presentation regarding the drones. So for those of you who didn't make it, it was a great presentation. Lots of questions were asked and concerns were answered. So I think some people should have really been there and attended to see what

So Rudy, what I hear you saying, and correct me if I'm wrong, it was the speed. The speed is the issue when our constituents or our visitors or whoever's driving down that street is driving at a very high rate of speed. And I just want to be clear, Mr. City Manager, if this item moves forward and we are approved for it at the state level, it will not be under the police department, is that correct?

I want to be really clear on that. It is not under the police department? Okay, thank you. And what is the cost, Mr. City Manager, if any, to just, I heard Rudy talk about there's been already some initial work done. So is there, what is the exact cost or roundabout, please?

So what I hear you saying is that we would request funding from the state. And we can also request funding from our congressman, is that correct?

Okay, thank you. So I just wanted to clear up a few things because, again, people come up here and I appreciate the comments. And I appreciate that 150 community members signed the change.org. There's almost 400,000 people in this city. I want you to think about that for a minute. So I know when I go door to door and I speak to the community or I have my coffees with the mayor or faith base or business leaders or community leaders, whatever it may be, their priorities are public safety, homelessness, How do we stop people from dying on our streets? And this is just one way. And again, it's a p

Thank you, Mayor. So, well, first, thank you, Councillor Becerra, for bringing this item forward. Mr. City Manager, maybe it's police chief, you don't have to answer if we can't. Was speeding the sole reason for that accident, as far as we're aware?

Okay, because I definitely agree that speeding is an issue in this city. I think that we need to slow down throughout the city. I support changing our speed limits throughout the city. Everyone's always in a rush. We hear residents or maybe businesses complaining about the bump outs on South Main Street. We hear about residents complaining about the bump outs on Hazard Street. But those bump-outs are to slow people down. It's to create an environment that is safer for pedestrians, for students, for cyclists. Those are all a part of it, and people find it inconvenient because that's what happen

Thank you, Mayor Meskwan. Thank you, Council Member Becerra, for bringing this item forward and for everybody that spoke regarding this item. I am going to be supporting the resolution just because it is simply that, a resolution which, if anyone's been paying attention, the resolutions that this city votes on are essentially DON'T CARRY ANY TEETH, I MEAN, THEIR RESOLUTIONS JUST SAYING, HEY, STATE LEGISLATURE OR, HEY, COMMUNITY GROUP, THIS IS WHAT THE CITY OF SAN ANA AGREES ON. WHEN THIS RESOLUTION IS APPROVED, IF APPROVED, IT'S SIMPLY LETTING THE STATE LEGISLATURE KNOW, HEY, THE CITY OF SAN A

Thank you very much. Jennifer, you wanna call the vote, please? I'm sorry, Madam Clerk. Oh yes, Councilman Becerra.

One last comment, and I just wanna be clear because it was mentioned up here that it would not be clear if these speed cameras at some point when installed would be effective. San Francisco, let me repeat again, San Francisco had a 73% reduction in speed violations at camera locations. 73%, not 7%, not 3%, not 7.3%, 73%. It's working. It is saving lives. If we don't even want to ask staff to take the resolution that we already have written and just give it to Senator Umberg and Assemblymember Valencia, wow. That's all I can say is wow. We would really just not even want to ask them to embark o

All right, thank you. Council Member Phan, I believe we're going to item 30, ma'am.

Can you hold on one second, please, Madam Clerk? Yes. All right, Madam Clerk, go ahead.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I want to thank staff for disclosing who is actually involved with this project, which, by the way, for those keeping score in the audience and at home, this is the density bonus agreement for a mixed-use development at 200 East Sandpoint Avenue. Again, I want to thank staff for disclosing who's actually involved with this project because the July 7th staff report for this item did not state who the actual people were from the various LLCs that were actually interacting with our staff. One of those listed is Pam Cepetto. For those of you that may not remember Pam Cepedo

Okay, perfect. That's all I have for you. Thank you. So in order to satisfy our city's AHOCO ordinance, it was almost as dramatic as Alvaro's, right? But he actually walked up there. It was a little, yeah. But in order to satisfy our city's AHOCO ordinance, building a project with 100% market rate housing, the applicant would have to build affordable housing units off-site or pay the in-lieu fee. According to San Adam Unicode Section 41-1904, a project proposing 20 or more units, which this project is proposing 400 units, and opting to pay the in lieu fee must also provide the city with an exe

Perfect, thank you for that. It's interesting that this proposed project is proposing to provide 20 affordable units, essentially 5% for extremely low income households, instead of 5% for very low income households. Now, why does that matter? The difference between very low and extremely low is that very low income applies to households earning between 30% and 50% of the area median income, or AMI. Extremely low income applies to households earning less than 30% of the AMI. So why 5% extremely low instead of just 5% very low? Because 5% extremely low, correct me if I'm wrong, Ali, 5% extremely

And that would allow the applicant to not pay the in lieu fee, correct? And also then not build the project with the skilled and trained workforce, is that correct?

Okay, perfect, thank you for that, Ali. So as I mentioned before, the project proposes to utilize the parking standards set forth in government code section 65915 for which this project is only gonna provide 516 spaces if approved. Also, the staff report states Actually, I'm glad you're still up here, Ali. The project is not anticipated to have any parking impacts. So let's think about that. They're gonna provide 40% less than what is required, and there's gonna be no impact. So Sandpoint, they'll have no cars coming over and parking in their neighborhood. So I guess, Ali, I'm just kind of con

I appreciate that, Ali, and I respect your opinion and your staff's opinion. I'm just going to disagree with you on this one. I do not think it would. So I would say with the impact that this project is providing 40% less parking than needed and Pam Cepeda's efforts to not use a skilled and trained workforce, I won't be supporting the item in front of us tonight. Thank you.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. WHEN THIS PROJECT FIRST CAME OUT, I DID GO TO THE FIRST SUNSHINE ORDINANCE MEETINGS AND THERE WAS A PROMISE TO HAVE AMPLE PARKING IN THIS AREA AND I WAS WORRIED FOR SANDPOINT PARK AS I VISIT SANDPOINT PARK EVERY SUNDAY. and I visit my mom and we see Watermark and other buildings over there come and park two streets over from Main Street and take up all the parking and now we see that there's much less parking than at first promised and I asked many questions and they tied the pole and threw glitter on it and promised us skilled labor as well through these conversations that

I'M SORRY. DID YOU MAKE A MOTION? YEAH. FOR HOW LONG?

WOULD YOU BE OKAY WITH EXTENDING IT UNTIL OCTOBER MEETING? Okay, thank you. Councilman Hernandez?

Perfect, great. Go ahead, Councilman Hernandez.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I just wanted to echo very similar sentiments in that when the meetings were being held for the community, there were very clear asks that the community did not want to budge on. Parking was one of those commitments and something that I believe is important to all of us here is having quality work. A skilled and trained workforce is something that I don't want to see us waver on. I think that by extending this into October, it gives our community the best opportunity to have a project that really is going to suit the needs of Santa Ana. I think that right now we are not

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you, Councilman Hernandez. Mayor Pertem.

Thank you, Madam City Attorney. We always appreciate your advice and your guidance when we need it. I think there's other issues than just, you know, the information that, and it's what he read, it's public knowledge, you know, about Pam Cepedo and whatever. This to me, and Councilor Hernandez, I didn't mean to cut you off. I'll be really quick. This to me is really about the 20 affordable units, the parking issue. I mean, where's Ali? Can you come up, please?

So Councilman Becerra asked about parking. I can't tell you how many times I'm contacted by the community regarding parking issues. Even in my neighborhood, right, people that live at the condos right there on the corner by Morrison Park, they park all the way in my street, which is the last, the very last street in Morrison Park, and they walk over because I believe they have like two parking... It fits two cars in their garage. And then they can't park at the church across the street because the church locks it. And bless their little heart, they lock it up. And nobody, they'd make some good

Thank you for sharing that because I often share with the community how it is from the state, right? So we should be very mindful of who we vote for because the city has no control. I think the city manager reminds me that all the time about parking when we're at coffees with the mayor. So now let's go to the 20 affordable units. Okay, so extremely low income households and you talked about the 30%, less than 30% AMI, is that correct? Correct. And so how many bedrooms

Okay, can you tell us a little bit about, so the community that's listening and those in the audience, can you tell us a little bit about our community workforce? We don't want to call it a PLA, but what do we have in place in the city of Santa Ana?

And so when we have a project, we use skilled workforce, correct? Skilled and trained? And those projects turn out pretty good, right? They're actually really good projects.

Okay, and that's why it's important, I think, to all of us sitting up here that we have a skilled and trained workforce and that we work with them on a daily basis when we have projects here in our city. They volunteer in our community. They have their members that live in our community. They may have people who end up living in some of the projects that they build, right? So I heard Madam City Attorney when she said, you know, it can only come up five times, so... You can hear it five different times, is that correct? I'm good, Ellie, thank you.

Right, and I think it's important because each one of us could, thank you, Ellie, I think each one of us could sit down with you, Madam City Attorney and Mr. City Manager, and have this discussion about what our concerns are, and so, yes, I would like to take it to, I think you made a motion for the last meeting in October, the only meeting, we have two in October?

Are you good, Council Member Vazquez, with October 20th?

Okay, so we'll take it to October, and according to Madam City Attorney, this would be the last stop. I'll call you right now. This would be the last stop, and so with that, let me let Councilman Hernandez finish his comments. Mayor Pro Tem, and I'll come back to you. Councilman Hernandez?

Thank you, Madam Mayor. For many of the reasons listed, that'll conclude my comments. I'm ready to vote, Madam Mayor. Thank you.

Thank you. We're going to let Mayor Pro Tem go, and Councilman Vasquez will be back before we vote, I hope. Go ahead.

thank you mayor and and I imagine madam city attorney and thank you for that information that the the four hearings also includes the planning commission hearings correct okay um with that the the only question I had and you know I want to thank council member Sarah for raising the questions but I just now I'm just it gives me pause on why would city staff omit the the applicant information from the first staff report is that something that we could answer The first time this came around.

Yeah, and I think it's important for any project that comes before this council is to make sure that we're as transparent as possible and offer more information than we need to. I think that's always the best practice when it comes to any of these. That's how Public Works projects now have the resume of these people that we're awarding because that was a request, right? So thank you, Ali. Similar concerns that my colleagues have brought up as far as THE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN THE CITY IS ENSURING THAT A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS ARE BUILT RESPONSIBLY AND ARE BUILT WITH, YO

Thank you, Mayor Patel. Let's prepare to vote at this time. And go ahead, Jennifer.

I'm sorry, can you do it a little slower? Sorry.

Thank you very much, Madam Clerk. At this time, that's the end of the consent calendar. We are now going to go to the business calendar. Item number 31 is the nomination, Councilmember Phan, oh there she is, the nomination and appointment of a representative to the Metropolitan Water District. I don't think we need a presentation. Do we need a presentation? Anybody, no? I'd like to make a motion for Councilmember Vazquez to be appointed to the Metropolitan Water District Board. Are there any comments by Council?

I would love to, but I nominate Councilmember Hernandez.

Okay, so Councilmember Phan, this is your seat, correct? Yes, Mayor. You had a comment?

Yes. So the Metropolitan Water District, it is the largest water importer in America, serving 19 million residents in Southern California, including importing water from the Colorado River and the State Water Project. This is a massive entity. I work with public entities in many places. There are, I believe, 36 board members. and it's a lot of work. You're looking at two full days of meetings every month, a number of committees, and you're dealing with a lot of very technical water issues, infrastructure issues, and a lot of personnel matters. Given that, as well as just me realizing that I ca

Yeah, I would make a sub-motion. Sub-motion, excuse me. To appoint a member of staff. It is not the first time to have a staff member appointed to this position at the Met Board. If I recall correctly, prior to Councilmember Jose Solorio, we had a staff member in Santa Ana who attended those meetings. And currently, I believe in San Diego County, the San Diego Water District, they have a GM. a general manager who's a voting member. When we're talking about MET, we're talking about billions of dollars, not tens of millions of dollars. We're talking about highly technical water issues, financing

He just got a raise. I gave him a raise and you gave him an extra raise, okay.

Oh, this is a reminder. The MET board does not, as a voting member of the MET board, you do not have any salaries or stipends or anything like that. I believe either CSER... or Armando or one of our staff members already attend the meeting because they're nerds and they like water. And they talk about things like pipe sizes. I don't know. But that is my, I guess my motion.

Madam City Attorney, in front of us, we have the City of Santa Ana's regional board and subcommittees. And the MET board is listed here. And it says mileage reimbursement from MWD. But as Council Member Phan had indicated, we have staff already there.

Perfect, okay. Is there any other comments or questions? Go ahead, Madam Clerk.

Thank you. Madam Clerk, mine says item 34. Mine says waiting.

You want to do a roll call, please? It's your roll call.

All righty. We're going to go now to item number 32. It's regarding amended chapter 30 of the Santa Ana meeting code. Do we need a presentation, Council? I don't think so. Do we need one? Yes, no, maybe? No, I don't think so. Okay, let's prepare. Is there a motion?

Motion to approve. Second to your motion.

Thank you. Are there any questions, comments? Actually.

Okay, then I'm gonna go along with it and I'm gonna do it in honor of my historic commissioner, Janelle Hardy. Happy birthday, Janelle, this one's for you.

Yeah, she's on vacation right now, celebrating her birthday. Okay, Council Member Becerra, you have a comment?

Actually, a couple of questions. Maybe, Ali, if you could. Naturally. Step up, of course. So in this item, so I only have two issues. So one is the notices for the public hearing. So I appreciate the thoroughness of what you require on here. One thing that I didn't see, and I'd like clarification from you, in regards to physical posting on the sites, or in this case, it would either be the historic property or a proposed historic district. I didn't see any language in there. Could you clarify if we have, physical posting requirements for, say, items going to public hearing at a planning commis

Okay, perfect, thank you. And then the other item that I wanted to ask you about is proposed section 30-10F states that the decision of the commission in concerning an appeal of a decision or recommendation of planning department staff shall be final. Maybe this is a question for our city attorney. are we allowed to codify something that has finality at the Planning Commission? Because just thinking of an appellant's ability to exhaust their appeals, right? In other words, you wouldn't just jump over the Planning Commission and file a lawsuit, right? Like you would go through Planning Commissi

I would, I mean, just because we're talking about property rights here, I would like to ask my colleagues, and I don't, Madam Clerk, who made the motion?

So Mayor Pro Tem, I'd like to ask if you'd be willing to amend your motion so that we could amend Section 30-10F rather than have the decision of the commission be final, allow the decision of the commission to be appealable to the council. I think it's important that the council retains final decision-making power.

I'm okay with that amendment. I'm supportive. Okay. All right, that's all I have.

Let's prepare to vote if there are no other comments.

I'm always so impressed by Jennifer. Let's vote. You want to do a roll call, Jennifer? Because it looks like we're all just playing.

All right, thank you. Let's go to item number 33, Santa Ana Five-Year Strategic Plan. Mr. City Manager.

We all did a gender review. No, it looks like we're good. Mr. City Manager, we all have it. Thank you. I think it, when you, because it says draft, but once you finalize everything, we'll get the final copy, correct?

You're not making any changes to it? No. Okay. Perfect, thank you. Let's prepare to vote, please.

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

Mine just says waiting, so if you want to do your roll call. I can't vote. I'm a yes, but.

All right. That's the end of the business calendar. Let's go to the public hearing. Before the public hearing, item number 34, Madam Clerk, please provide instructions to the public who would like to make a comment on this public hearing item only. You need to recuse yourself?

Yeah, I actually mentioned it during the consent calendar item, but for item number 34, out of an abundance of caution, there was a pro bono item relating to Think Together as a client for my employer, Lieutenant Tucker, so I will leave the room while this is being discussed.

Thank you, Council Member Fann. We'll wait until she leaves the room, please. Go ahead, Madam Clerk.

So item 34 is regarding the appeal application number 2026-01 for the Think Together property at 2101 East 4th Street. Do we need a presentation up here? Otherwise, are you prepared to vote? I'll make a motion to approve.

Thank you, Madam City Attorney. I appreciate it. Who would be coming up to speak? Mr. City Manager? If there's anything we need to address.

Just for clarification purposes, you received those emails today?

Great, thank you. Any council members need to disclose any ex parte communications? We're going to close, Madam City Clerk, you don't have it here, we're going to close the public hearing?

Okay. No comments by the council, okay. Let's prepare to vote, please. Can I get a motion and a second?

I'll make a motion to move the item. I'll second.

You want an arm wrestle for it? It's seconded by Mayor Pro Tem.

Mr. Donyings, nice to see you in the Chamber, sir.

Cesar Barrera is going to take his spot. Don't you worry, Mr. Young. That's right. You have a nice evening. Bye-bye. Thank you. Thank you. All right. I always like to end this on a good note. Okay, Mr. City Manager, it's the end of public comments at the public hearing at this time. Mr. City Manager, do you have any comments?

Thank you, Mr. City Manager. All right, Council Member Vasquez, you're up.

Thank you, so summer's over and teachers go back to work tomorrow. The kids come in on Monday. I want to thank all our classified staff, as they do every year. They take care of our classrooms and our facilities and they look amazing. As we walk through Valley High School especially, which I love so much, I will not be returning to Valley. I am now gonna be the vice president of the Santa Ana Educators Association full-time release. Thank you.

You can thank me, that was my vote, just so you know.

And we're there to protect the teachers and make it a better place for Santa Ana Unified School District to work at. We hope to make it a district of choice for teachers, for classified, for anybody who works for the district as we support everybody around. And welcome back to the teachers and to the students. We'll see you on Monday when you come back to school. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Council Member Vasquez. Let's go to Council Member Phan, please.

Thank you, Mayor. First, as a reminder to everybody, this Thursday at 4.30 is the Frank and Irene Palomino Elementary School renaming ceremony. That is at 4726 Hazard Avenue. I hope to see many of you there to celebrate with us and the Garden Grove Unified School District. With that, I want to say thank you to staff, Public Works, Parks and Rec, everybody who had any hand to play in the Santa Anita Community Center kind of renovations, the new soccer field, the new basketball court, more parking spaces, the community center, the police substation, and especially the pool. I have the ridiculous

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I just want to thank members of the public, our city staff for today's council meeting. and members of the public who continue to show up and advocate for their neighborhoods. I just want to respectfully request an update, Mr. City Manager, on the Washington Square land purchase, if we can make sure that we're communicative with the neighborhood, as well as my office and the council here. I know we looked at a 60-day update, so just wanted to give you a friendly reminder that that remains a priority.

Wonderful. Thank you very much. And I just also want to echo a lot of the sentiments that my colleagues have shared here. There's a lot of exciting new additions to Santa Ana. We just recently celebrated Santa Anita Park seeing an $18 million gift. It's an entirely new community center, a new pool, really beautiful work that all of us are proud of here. Of course, we have the renaming of Palomino Park. It'll be named after Palomino. the palomino family i invite the community to come out and join us on thursday and then we have the last day of summer night lights coming up this friday at el sal

Thank you, Councillor Hernandez. At this time, Councillor Becerra, please.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. So tonight I get to say justice for Isaac Ibarra and justice for Luis Casillas. Now, I have not previously publicly commented on the investigation into the death of Noe Rodriguez because I wanted to wait for the Attorney General to finish his report on the investigation. Well, in July, the California Attorney General issued his report on the investigation into the death of Noe Rodriguez. In that report, the Attorney General concluded, quote, based on the investigation and review of evidence, along with the applicable statutes, legal principles, and subsequent analysis,

Thank you, Mayor. I just want to wish all of our students in Santa Ana a happy return to school, back to school. 2026, 2027 will be an amazing year for you all. Everyone at Santa Ana Unified, Garden Grove Unified, Orange Unified, I think some at Tustin Unified and all the wonderful charter and private schools that we do have in the city. Wish you all a great back to school. And remember that the world is yours and you guys have the potential to do anything and everything you set your mind to. So good luck. Give it your all. And thank you, city staff, for all the wonderful. ribbon cuttings that

So, first of all, let me start off. Thank you, Councilman Becerra, for addressing Officer Ibarra and Officer Casillas in the report that came back from the Attorney General's office. For those of us who have been listening closely and we know, we wait until reports come out. We don't jump the gun. We wait until the reports come out. We saw the results of the Attorney General's report, so I really appreciate the work of the Attorney General, and my support goes out to Officers Ibarra and Casillas as well, and to the family of the gentleman that was stopped in his tracks. However, again, Officer

We can do the stadium. I'll come to the stadium. Why do we have to cover it? Because it's hot. What's wrong with you? Don't you do it when I'm speaking? Other state of the cities happen at fields and stadiums. Okay, we'll take it out of your money. That's fine.

Her law firm will sponsor it. You heard her say that. Actually. All right, thank you. Let's do it somewhere big, yes. Okay, let me close with this. And yeah, thank you tonight for all the speakers that came and city staff that answered the questions. So there is, I love social media, there's a social media influencer who has been online basically beating up the city of Santa Ana because we wouldn't allow him, we as in the city did not allow him just to have a free event. When I met with him, because yes, I did meet with him in my office, and he wanted to close 4th Street or close Bristol and g

And so what he said today was he was going to have it anyways and give out backpacks because, you know, the mayor, he said the mayor and the city of Santa Ana doesn't want to help our community. I want to be really clear, and I'll say it again. On Sunday, I'm having a resource fair, my third one, and I give well over 2,000 backpacks to families. And no, we don't have a concert because then I have to get permits and I have to have police presence. So we don't allow people, unless they get permits... And unless they pay for the police officers, Madam City Attorney, if I miss anything, let me kno

And everyone up here that sits on this dais, do we follow those rules? I'm sorry?

Okay. So we follow those rules, and because just like everybody else, they're in place to keep our community safe, again, pay for the permits, and notify police, and Parks and Rec, and Public Works, and street closures. Just imagine 3,000 people down Forest Street for an event with seven different musical groups, right? So I just want to be clear, because if a council member, Mr. City Manager, If a council member has an illegal event, the council member and the promoter would be fined, is that correct? Or possibly even arrested if they get in the way.

I'm asking a question. So I understand it's a very sensitive issue because it involves a council member. So Madam City Attorney, if you're comfortable answering. But I want to be really clear on something. This is why I'm asking. Because if I closed down a street and invited 4,000 people to come out, I would be held accountable. Because anything I do, whether I chew gum or speak wrong, I'm hung from the rafters. So I want to be really clear about this. This is not about you, Mr. City Manager. This is how we work in this city. So my question was, if a council member has an event and does not ob

Thank you, and I appreciate that. And I know it's challenging because the city attorney, you and the city clerk work for all seven of us up here, and I am not in any way, shape, or form trying to put you in a position. I just want to be really clear with the community that should this event take place tomorrow or Thursday or next week, there needs to be permits, there needs to be a discussion of traffic, there needs to be a notification of the neighbors, there needs to be so much work that goes into that. So no, we're not saying we don't want an event. My goodness, they can rent Eddie Westfiel

That's correct. That's the key. Yes, I would sure hate for something to happen and there's no police or fire that has access, the safety of our community, the businesses. We saw again, I wanna say it again, we saw what happened in Newport Beach on July 4th, we cannot have that here. And so do I support giving out backpacks? I sure do, I have a backpack event every year. It would be great if Councilman Hernandez also has a backpack event and he can give out backpacks along with a promoter and pay for it and follow the rules and the policies and procedures in place. With that, I think we'll all

Yes, we have it on the 14th and 15th of September. And we have a Chicano Heritage event coming up at the end of this month. So I hope to see all of you at Chicano Heritage and Fiesta Patrias.

Oh, yes, and this Saturday, Mayberry Park, Ribbon County for a small dog park, but it's still going to be a great dog park. So thank you, Mr. City Manager, for answering my questions. I just wanted to be very open and transparent about Again, social media is very dangerous sometimes. People listen to a 30-second clip, and they don't see the truth behind all the smoke. And so, no, you cannot come into our city and have a giant event with 3,000, 4,000 people, close our streets, affect our businesses and our residents without proper permitting, safety, code enforcement, parks and rec, public work

All right, I love that. Okay, with that, I'll see you all September 15th. Thank you.