4. Appendix to Minutes (03/24/26) — Anaheim City Council, June 9, 2026 (part 2 of 3)

In October 2024, after awarding of the grant, staff developed and initiated a request for proposals RFP) for consulting services to develop a Plan. Staff posted an RFP on PlanetBids on November 27, 2024, with a scope of work specifying the following desired objectives (see Attachment 1).

Develop a comprehensive Wildfire Evacuation Plan for Anaheim Hills Review and update existing mapping of critical evacuation routes, evacuation centers, and single routes of access
Defining evacuation scenarios
Modeling and analysis of these scenarios
Education and outreach campaign for the development of the plan and distribution of evacuation preparedness information
Developing recommendations, including thresholds of significance, possible mitigation measures, and potential impact fee program.

At the conclusion of this effort, these findings will be used to inform future policy decisions and also support environmental scoping for future development projects.

Consultant proposals were due on December 23, 2024, and as of that date three proposals were received. In accordance with the qualification- based selection process, pursuant to City Council Policy No. 4.1, Public Works established a review board, reviewed proposals, and rated the proposals. The rated proposals are listed below in rank order.

Firm Ranking:

1. Dudek

2. Fehr & Peers Associates, Inc.

3. Bureau Veritas North America, Inc.

The evaluation criteria included the ability of the consultants to perform the specific tasks outlined in the RFP, qualifications of the specific individuals who will work on the project, amount of time and involvement of key personnel who will be involved in respective portions of the project, reasonableness of the fee requested to do the work, demonstrated record of success by the consultant on work previously performed, and the specific method and techniques to be employed by the consultant on the project.

The review board concluded that Dudek was the most qualified firm based on the evaluation criteria and is therefore recommended to provide professional services for the Plan.

Therefore, staff recommends that City Council approve the attached professional service agreement with Dudek in the not-to-exceed amount of $180,000, and authorize the Public Works Director to execute the agreement and take any and all actions that are necessary, required or advisable to implement and administer the Agreement.

Upon City Council approval of these recommendations, Public Works staff will work to immediately initiate this study effort. Dudek’ s proposed schedule calls for a nine-month project duration.

Consultant Services Agreement with Dudek for the City of Anaheim Wildfire Evacuation Plan March 25, 2025

Page 3 of 3 ends

This item supports Anaheim’ s Strategic Plan Goal E. – Support Public Safety, Strategy No. 5 – Assess the City’ s Emergency Preparedness capabilities, resources, and tools, and implement changes as needed to ensure the City is properly positioned to respond to disasters.

IMPACT ON BUDGET:

This action will increase the Department of Public Works Department’ s revenue and expenditure budget in Restricted Transportation funds by $90,000 for FY 2024/25. The required match will be supported by the General Fund.

Respectfully submitted,
Rudy Emami
Director of Public Works
Attachments:

1. Agreement with Exhibit A (Proposal)

2. City Request for Proposals

0D[ DU
S a
nta Ana Canyon RoadE s p er
a n
za R o
adLakeview AvenueLa
Palma Avenue Orangethorpe Avenue Nohl R
anc
h
R
o
ad
Serrano
AvenueCanyon Rim
Road 0LOHV 85(

XPXODWLYH
3URMHFWV
QDKHLP
LOOV
HVWLYDO Weir
Canyon Road
LEGEND Project Location
Evacuation Zone
Direction of
Travel Road Closure
Study Intersection Cumulative
Project Location Within Evacuation
ZoneNot
Within Evacuation Zone
Projects Cumulative Esri Anaheim Hills Festival FIGURE 7SOURCE:

Street Maps 2023Z:\
Projects\ j1510901\ MAPDOC\ DOCUMENT\ Evacuation Plan 0D[ DU S
a n ta
Ana Canyon
RoadE s p er a n
zaR
o
adLakeview
AvenueLa
Palma
Orange
n
c
h
oad Serra
R
AvenueCanyon R
Road 0LOHV 8
XPXODWLYH 3URMHFWV

QDKHLP LOO

HVWLYDO W
Road LEGE
Location Evacuation Z

ate: 3/21/2026 4:16:04 PM
From:" Linda Ruiz" lindaruiz55@gmail. com
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, " Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Ashleigh Aitken" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] March 24 Meeting
You don' t often get email from lindaruiz55@gmail. com. Learn why this is important at https:// aka. ms /LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

Pleas e recons ider the Anaheim Hills Project. The weather we have been experiencing is the reason why we need you to vote down the project.

If we even try to go to any retail or res taurant after 4pm any day of the week, the roads are dead stopped from commuters traveling to Corona or Rivers ide. With climate change, the project will add approximately 1000 cars trying to get away from the fires.

Pleas e vote down this not needed project.

Thank you,
Linda Ruiz
Anaheim Hills
ate: 3/21/2026 5:19:12 PM
From:" Suzanne Borgese" [email protected]
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.net, "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Please vote NO on the Shea/Festival Center apartments – It's a safety issue You don' t often get email from sborges e@gmail. com. Learn why this is important at https:// aka. ms /LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

Dear Council Member,
I am writing to you as a res ident of Anaheim to as k you to pleas e vote " No" on the propos ed apartments at the Anaheim Hills Fes tival Center. I lived here during the Canyon Fire 2 in 2017, and I will never forget the feeling of being stuck in my car, watching the smoke get clos er, and literally not moving for over an hour. It was n't jus t "traffic"— it was a total stands till. The thought of adding hundreds of new apartments and about 1000+ more people to that exact same es cape route is terrifying to thos e of us who have actually been in that situation.

The reports for this project say that adding thes e cars will " only" add about 7 minutes to the evacuation time. But when you' re already stuck for three hours and the fire is moving toward you, 7 minutes is a lifetime. We don' t have extra roads or " secret" ways out of the Hills ; we all end up on the same few lanes . Adding more people to a neighborhood that is already a bottleneck during a fire jus t feels like a tragedy waiting to happen.

I unders tand that the city needs hous ing, but it shouldn' t be built in a place where people are already struggling to get out safely. Pleas e don' t make an exis ting danger even wors e jus t for a new development. We are as king you to prioritize the lives and safety of the people who already live here and pay taxes here.

Sincerely,
ou don't often get email from mrsbof3@gmail. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/21/2026 7:20:22 PM
From:" Ellen Bekier" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Re: Building inAnaheim Hills
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

My husband and I have lived in Anaheim Hills since 1987. We have seen all the growth and expansion throughout those years.

We have been evacuated twice since living here. We were fortunate that the wind blew the opposite way, however, when we were leaving we could see the flames.

The traffic in our area is very concerning ifthis proposal goes through.

On any normal day if there is an accident on the 91 freeway the traffic on Santa Ana Canyon is horrible and even the other side streets are congested... imagine if there is a fire threat on top of that...we would be the next Paradise.

I hope that you all reconsider and put a stop to this possible new building which will add at least 1 000 new residents.

Thank you for your time
Ellen & Jerry Bekier
ou don't often get email from slmcgee@sbcglobal. net. Learn why this is important Date: 3/21/2026 8:34:28 PM
From:" Stacy McGee" slmcgee@sbcglobal. net
To:" Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Cc:

Ashleigh Aitken" [email protected], " Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" [email protected], " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], Kristen Maahs" [email protected], "Natalie Meeks" [email protected] Subject:[
EXTERNAL] Festival Center Project – Responsibility of the Anaheim City Council to Protect All Residents fromSevere Fire Dangers
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear Anaheim City Council Members,
I am writing to you as a resident of Anaheim Hills to ask you to please vote "No" on the proposed apartments at the Anaheim Hills Festival Center. My family and I have lived in the 92807 zip code for 24 years. We have experienced many fires in the area and have been forced to evacuate. The traffic in the surrounding areas is often gridlocked. The thought of adding hundreds of new apartments and about 1000+ more people to that exact same escape route is terrifying to those of us who have actually been in that situation.

The reports for this project say that adding these cars will "only" add about 7 minutes to the evacuation time. But when you’re already stuck for three hours and the fire is moving toward you, 7 minutes is a lifetime. We don’t have extra roads or "secret" ways out of the Hills; we all end up in the same few lanes. Adding more people to a neighborhood that is already a bottleneck during a fire just feels like a tragedy waiting to happen.

The city should not allow for additional housing in any area where people are already struggling to get out safely. Please don't make an existing danger even worse. Approving a major new development without a proven, effective evacuation plan places existing residents at increased risk. Public safety must be resolved before additional density is considered.

The safety of all Anaheim residents should be a priority. If this proposal goes through you would be responsible for any injuries or deaths that could occur when there is another fire in the area. For these reasons, I urge you to deny approval of the Festi val Center until evacuation and emergency access issues are fully and transparently addressed.

With kind regards,
Stacy McGee
ate: 3/22/2026 8:53:46 AM
From:" Jan Fagner" janrich3963@sbcglobal. net
To:"
Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, " Jose Diaz" JoDiaz@anahe im.net, "Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" [email protected], " Carlos A. Leon" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Festival vote
You don' t often get email from janrich3963@s bcglobal. net. Learn why this is important at https:// aka. ms /LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

Dear fellow Anaheim res idents . Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the meeting this Tuesday but I do implore you to cons ider voting NO on this project . Our emergency exis ts are already at capacity during normal hours never mind how impos sible it was during previous evacuations . The added minutes to the eventual evacuation is not acceptable. Lives and property are being put at ris k.The know your way plan was a good effort on the city’ s part but some of thos e few major exit routes had fire on them compounding the delays . When your yes vote costs lives and property los es will you be able to Iive with that decis ion ? That choice is yours . Than you. Rich Fagner. 7944 E. Altair ln Anaheim 92808 janrich3963@sbcglobal. net Sent from my iPad
ate: 3/22/2026 12:42:40 PM
From:" Dorsa Froutan" dorsafroutan@yahoo. com
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.net, "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Logic and Safety: Why the Festival Center Project is a Mistake You don' t often get email from dors afroutan@yahoo. com. Learn why this is important at https:// aka. ms /LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

Dear Council Member,
I am writing to as k you to vote " No" on the Anaheim Hills Fes tival Center apartment project. You don' t need to be a traffic expert to see that Santa Ana Canyon Road is already at its limit. Mos t days , jus t getting to the store or work is a challenge. The idea that we can add over 400 apartments and about 1300 people to this area without creating a dis as ter during a wildfire evacuation jus t does n't pas s the " common sens e" test.

The city' s own reports admit that it already takes res idents over three hours to get out during a fire. To then say that adding another 7 minutes of delay is " not a big deal" is incredibly frus trating to thos e of us who live here. If a bucket is already overflowing, you don' t keep pouring more water into it and say it's fine. By approving this , the city is bas ically admitting the evacuation plan is broken but choosing to make it even more crowded anyway.

We need our leaders to look at the reality of our streets , not jus t the numbers on a developer' s spreadsheet. Pleas e do the res pons ible thing and protect the res idents who are already here. We need better ways to get out of the Hills , not more people trapped in them. Pleas e vote " No" on this project.

Sincerely,
Dors a Froutan
ate: 3/22/2026 12:43:31 PM
From:" Dorsa Froutan" dorsafroutan@yahoo. com
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.net, "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Concerns about the Festival Center Project and Wildfire Safety You don' t often get email from dors afroutan@yahoo. com. Learn why this is important at https:// aka. ms /LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

Dear Council Member,
I moved to Anaheim Hills becaus e it is a beautiful, family- oriented community, but I am very concerned about the propos ed Shea/ Fes tival Center apartment project.

Since moving here, I've learned that our neighborhood is in a high- ris k fire zone with very limited ways to get out. I was shocked to read that it already takes over three hours to evacuate this area during an emergency. Adding over 1,000 more people and their cars to our streets seems like a huge ris k to everyone' s safety.

The project' s environmental report admits that thes e new apartments will make evacuation times even longer. As a parent, I think about what would happen if a fire broke out while I was trying to get my [ kids /pets / elderly parents ] to safety. If the roads are already failing, adding hundreds more cars into the mix will make a bad situation impos sible. It feels like the city is hoping for the bes t rather than planning for the worst.

I am not agains t new hous ing in general, but it has to be built in the right places . Putting high- dens ity hous ing at a known bottleneck in a fire zone is not res pons ible.

I am as king you to pleas e put our safety firs t and vote " No" on this project until we have a real solution for getting people out of the Hills safely.

Sincerely,
Dors a Froutan & David Shahriari
Susana Barrios
From: EstherOwens <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March22, 202612:55PM
To: PublicComment <publiccomment@anaheim. net>; AshleighAitken <[email protected]>; CarlosA. Leon [email protected]>; RyanBalius <[email protected]>; NatalieRubalcava <[email protected]>; NormaC.

Kurtz <[email protected]>; KristenMaahs <[email protected]>; NatalieMeeks <[email protected]> Subject: \[EXTERNAL\] PleasevoteNO
Youdon'[email protected]. Learnwhythisisimportant Warning: This email originated from outside theCityofAnaheim. Donotclick links oropen attachments unless you recognize thesender andareexpecting themessage.

Dear Council Member,
Iamwriting toaskyoutovote "No" ontheAnaheim Hills Festival Center apartment project. You don'tneed tobeatraffic expert toseethatSanta Ana Canyon Road isalready atitslimit. Most days, justgetting tothestore orwork isachallenge. The idea that wecanadd over 400apartments and about 1300 people tothisarea without creating adisaster during awildfire evacuation justdoesn'tpass the "common sense" test.

The city'sown reports admit thatitalready takes residents overthree hours togetoutduring afire. Tothen say that adding another 7minutes ofdelay is "notabigdeal" isincredibly frustrating tothose ofuswho livehere. Ifabucket isalready overflowing, youdon'tkeep pouring more water intoitand sayit'sfine. Byapproving this, thecity isbasically admitting the evacuation plan isbroken but choosing tomake iteven more crowded anyway.

Weneed ourleaders tolook atthereality ofour streets, notjust thenumbers onadeveloper' sspreadsheet. Please dothe responsible thing and protect theresidents who arealready here. Weneed better ways togetoutoftheHills, notmore people trapped inthem. Please vote "No" onthisproject.

Sincerely,
Esther Owens
1 ou don't often get email from vincivargas@aol. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/22/2026 3:48:52 PM
From:" Kathy Vargas" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Festival project
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear City Council,
Please read my opposition to the Festival Center Project.

Previously you have heard the residents of Anaheim Hills community stating one of our major concerns is fire evacuation. I live within a smaller community of Anaheim Hills. I live in a community directly off of Santa Ana Canyon Rd where a private road forks into Canyon Crest and Martin Road. These roads have additional roads that branches from them for over hundreds of more residential housing.

There' s a sign posted at the entry of Canyon Crest and Martin Road that states No Outlet. So, the only way to exit is Santa Ana Canyon Rd.

There is 1 stop sign for this exit either for a right or left turn on Santa Ana Canyon Road. A motorist exiting needs to wait until traffic is clear in order to make a right hand turn heading towards the Festival. To make a left hand turn is worse because it has to be clear in both directions to turn safely. There are times such as rush hours when it is more difficult. Down the road on the left is El Rancho Charter School and during dismissal times of course there's traffic coming from the school.

In the 26 years we lived in our home we needed to be evacuated twice. We were trapped trying to exit the bumper to bumper traffic on Santa Ana canyon rd before someone let us through.

Reminder that Santa Ana Canyon and Canyon Rim are designated evacuation routes.

The Festival Center project would vastly impact the traffic and congestion we already have on a daily basis. And fire evacuation is of the utmost priority. I can not imagine any more vehicles added to this road.

Please hear the concerns of Anaheim Hills residents and please deny approval for the Festival Center Project.

Thank you,
Very Sincerely,
Kathy and Frank Vargas
Martin Rd
Anaheim Hills, CA 92808
ate: 3/22/2026 4:17:58 PM
From:" Aline Young" alineyoung@me. com
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.net, "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Please vote NO on the Shea/Festival Center apartments – It's a safety issue Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

Sincerely,
Aline Young
ate: 3/22/2026 7:27:19 PM
From:" Jackie" bizzeemom3@yahoo. com
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Please do the right thing
You don' t often get email from bizzeemom3@yahoo. com. Learn why this is important at https:// aka. ms /LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

Dear Council Members ,
I am writing to you as a res ident of Anaheim to pleas e protect thos e of us who you represent. I lived here during the Canyon Fire 2 in 2017 and my family witnes sed the chaos and gridlock firs t hand. It was impos sible to gather my family and flee to safety so we opted to monitor clos ely from home and allow thos e with school children to collect them with a little more eas e. We had to take a chance with our own lives by staying home in order to free up some space on the roads . That should have NEVER happened though. Our lives were in jeopardy becaus e there was NO SAFE WAY OUT! The idea of adding hundreds of new homes / apartments and 1000+ more people to that exact same escape route is completely incomprehens ible. Our lives would again be in jeopardy if another fire were to erupt. You’ ve had all this time to improve the situation but instead propos e an idea to put even MORE lives at ris k. How can that be? Who does such a thing?
I’ve seen reports , I’ve heard plans and ideas , I’ve lis tened to “ experts ” and there is nothing, absolutely NOTHING, that has been proven to be in our bes t interes ts .

Evacuation time es timates have increas ed. By how much does n’ t even matter. The time to get out would be longer. And what happened was already unacceptable.

We have been here for 35 years and I pers onally grew up here 60 years ago. As a long time Anaheim Hills res ident, my safety is in more jeopardy than ever. My safety, and that of my family, is not a priority to you. Building more structures , thereby increas ing the risk to me, is what has become the priority.

I’m so dis appointed and worried.

I’m as king that we are lis tened to again and that you end the madnes s , once and for all.

We are here and we des erve to be heard, prioritized and protected. Pick another location that doesn’ t pose such an additional threat to thos e of us already in the hills .

Perhaps the old Kais er property?
Sincerely,
Jackie Arch
Sent frommy iPhone
ou don't often get email from terryhanly@outlook. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/22/2026 8:01:42 PM
From:" Terry Hanly" terryhanly@outlook. com
To:" Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Reconsider Your Support forthe Festival Center Project Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear Mayor and Members of the Anaheim City Council,
I am writing as a 34-year resident of Anaheim Hills to urge you to reconsider your support for the Festival Center project.

This development is a bad idea, in a bad location, under bad circums tances .

You are considering placing a dense four-story apartment complex and five-story parking structure in an area that is already known to have serious evacuation constraints , limited ingress and egress , and wildfire risk. Residents in Anaheim Hills have already endured hours -long evacuations . That is not speculation. That is lived experience. Yet this project continues to move forward as if those facts are secondary.

They are not secondary. They are the issue.

This Council already acknowledged the danger of adding density on these same roads when the Hills Preserve project was denied on wildfire and evacuation grounds . The City’s own prior finding was that increased density and vehicular trips in this area would increase evacuation time and exacerbate risk to public health and safety. Those words matter. If they were true then, they are true now. You cannot hones tly say those same roads were too dangerous for one project but somehow acceptable for another.

So what exactly has changed?
Not the evacuation routes .

Not the wildfire danger.

Not the traffic.

Not the limited access .

Not the lived reality of the residents who will be trapped in that cong estion when the next fire comes .

What has changed is that this project is now being pushed forward anyway.

That is why so many of us believe this project is being driven by development pres sure and profit, not by sound planning and certainly not by public safety.

The community is being as ked to absorb the risk while the developer reaps the reward.

And for what? A project where only 10 percent of the units address moderate-income RHNA needs , while the overwhelming majority are market-rate apartments renting for roughly $ 3,000 to $5,500 a month. This is not a mea ningful public benefit. It is overdevelopment dressed up as necessity.

The project also fails the surrounding community in practica l ways . Parking is inadequa te. Overfl ow parking will spill into surrounding areas and burden local businesses . Access for seniors across the street is made worse, not better. And the City still has not completed its own wildfire evacuation study. Supporting this project before that study is complete is not res pons ible. It is reckl ess .

As elected officials , you have a duty to protect the people who already live here. That duty is more important than accommoda ting a developer. More important than checking a planning box. More important than the dollars attached to it. These are the lives of District 6 residents .

If you continue to support this project despite flawed evacuation assumptions , unresolved safety concerns , and overwhel ming community opposition, then you are choosing to ignore the very risks you have already acknowledg ed on this same corridor.

I am asking you to do the right thing.

Recons ider your support. Withdraw it. Delay or deny this project until the evacuation analysis is corrected, the wildfire evacuation study is complete, and the public can be assured that safety is being treated as a requirement, not an afterthoug ht.

Anaheim Hills residents should not have to pay for this project with our safety, our businesses , our mobility, our peace of mind and the lives of our families .

Sincerely,
Teresa Hanly
572 E Calle Del Norte
Anaheim, CA 92807
District 6
ate: 3/22/2026 9:56:06 PM
From:" Jordana Owens" balletpeace@gmail. com
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.net, "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Logic and Safety: Why the Festival Center Project is a Mistake You don' t often get email from balletpeace@gmail. com. Learn why this is important at https :// aka. ms/ LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

Sincerely,
Sent from my iPhone
ate: 3/22/2026 11:14:57 PM
From:" KEIKO YONEKURA" [email protected]
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.net, "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Please vote NO on the Shea/Festival Center apartments – It's a safety issue You don' t often get email from k_file@icloud. com. Learn why this is important at https :// aka. ms/ LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

Sincerely,
Kay Yonekura
iPhone
ate: 3/23/2026 8:17:07 AM
From:" noreen francis" noreenjfrancis@yahoo. com
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.net, "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Logic and Safety: Why the Festival Center Project is a Mistake You don' t often get email from noreenjfrancis @yahoo. com. Learn why this is important at https :// aka. ms/ LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

Sincerely,
NoreenjFrancis
ou don't often get email from jenniferbackoff@yahoo. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 8:34:49 AM
From:" Jennifer Backoff" jenniferbackoff@yahoo. com
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Public Comment Regarding Proposed Apartment Development Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear board members, city officials and fellow residents, I have been a proud resident of East Anaheim for 21 years. I am writing to expr ess my strong oppositi on to the proposed apartment building project currently under consideration.

Whi le I understand the need for grow th, this development raises serious concerns about the negati ve impact it would have on our community. Increased traffic congestion, already strained infrastr ucture, and added pressure on parking, schools, and emergency services are just a few of the challenges this project would bring. Our neighborhood was not designed to support this level of density, and such a change could significantly affect the quality of life for long-time residents.

Additi onal ly, this project risks altering the character and safety of our community. East Anahei m has long been valued for its stability and sense of neighborhood, and this proposal threatens to disrupt that balance.

I respectful ly urge the board to carefully consider these concerns and the voi ces of resi dents who have invested decades into this community. Please do not move forward with this project without fully addressi ng its longterm impacts.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
ou don't often get email from aunggyi84@yahoo. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 8:48:00 AM
From:" aunggyi84@yahoo. com" aunggyi84@yahoo. com
To:

Ashleigh Aitken" [email protected], " [email protected]" [email protected], " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" NMeeks@anahe im.net, " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" [email protected] Cc:"
Indhira Y. Gagnon" [email protected], "City Clerk" cityclerk@anahe im.net, "Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Subject:[
EXTERNAL] Re: URGENT: Legal & Safety Opposition to Second Reading of Festival AnaheimHills Project (EIR No. 358)
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

To the Honorable Mayor and Council Members,
I am writing to formally oppose the final adoption of the 447- unit project at the Anaheim Hills Festival site. The 4-3 vote on March 3rd was based on an incomplete and legally vulnerable record. We urge the Council to reverse its decision based on the following:

1. Failure to Mitigate the Documented 24-Minute Evacuation Delay (not 14) According to EIR Appendix C (Responses to Written Comments), the City admits this project results in a " potential extension of time to evacuate by approximately 24 minutes." In a wind- driven wildfire in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ), a 24-minute delay is the difference between life and death. Per SB 99 (2020) and Gov. Code § 65302(g)(5), the City is required to ensure residential developments in hazard areas have adequate evacuation routes. A $200,000 developer payment does not create a new road; it merely funds a plan to manage a gridlock that you are knowingly creating.

2. Omission of Regional " Shadow Traffic" and Bypass Volume The Traffic Analysis ( Section 4.17) is fundamentally flawed because it ignores inter-city bypass volume. Fairmont Blvd and Weir Canyon serve as primary "shortcuts" for thousands of commuters from Yorba Linda and the Inland Empire trying to avoid the 91 Freeway. This "shadow traffic" is not documented in local VMT (Vehicle Miles Traveled) studies but is a daily reality. Adding nearly 900 cars to a corridor that is already a regional relief valve is a direct violation of the General Plan Safety Element.

3. Economic Destabilization of the Home Insurance Market The Council has failed to study the project’ s impact on our crumbling insurance market. With premiums in 92807/92808 already surging by 20– 30% this year, adding high-density units to a high-risk zone signals to carriers that the "risk density" has exceeded safe limits. This project acts as a "tipping point" for mass insurance non-renewals, potentially rendering thousands of existing homes uninsurable and unsellable.

4. CEQA Inconsistency and Lack of Overriding Considerations The "Statement of Overriding Considerations" is invalid because the City has not exhausted feasible alternatives in safer, transit- rich areas like the Platinum Triangle. You are prioritizing developer convenience over the physical and financial survival of your constituents.

Thank you to the council members who voted NO on 3/3 and for those that voted yes, please consider the facts above and Vote NO on March 24th.

Sincerely,
Aung Win
6523 E Via Arboles
Anaheim, CA 92807
ome people who received this message don't often get email from myrnaoshea@hotmail. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 10:45:13 AM
From:" Myrna Nunez O'Shea" myrnaoshea@hotmail. com
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.net, "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected], "Carlos A. Leon" CLeon@anahe im.net, " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" [email protected], "Jennifer Diaz" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Urgent Appeal Regarding the Anaheim Hills Festival Center Apartment Development Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

To the Mayor and Members of the Anaheim City Council,
The recently approved apartment development at the Anaheim Hills Festival Center, passed by a narrow 4-3 vote, has left many of us alarmed and disheartened. While growth and housing access are worthy of civic pursuits , they must never come at the expens e of public safety, infrastructure integrity, and the well-being of the residents who already call this area home.

This project is projected to introduce at a minimum 700-900 additiona l vehicles onto our already burdened roadways . Those who travers e these streets daily unders tand all too well that they are not designed to absorb such an influx. Morning commutes are strained, school drop-offs are conges ted, and routine travel has become an exercise in patience rather than efficiency. To impose such a dramatic increase in traffic without meaningful infrastructure expansion is not progres s , it's NEGLIGENCE.

Most troubling , however, is the grave matter of emergency evacuation. During the last wildfire evacuation, residents endured waits of up to four harrowing hours to reach safety. Four hours in conditions where every minute can mean the difference between security and catastrophe. The addition of hundreds more vehicles would transform an already perilous situation into one of unacceptable risk. No housing initiate should compromis e a community' s ability to escape danger swiftly and safety. Especially when it can be avoided.

Infras tructure must precede expansion, not scramble to catch it.

The present road capacity, traffic flow systems , and emergency egress routes are simply not equipped to support development of this mag nitude. Res pons ible governance dema nds fores ight, prudence, and a commitment to safeguarding cons tituents above all else.

I therefore implore the Council to recons ider, halt, or subs tantia lly revis e this project until comprehens ive traffic mitigation, infras tructure expansion, and emergency evacuation safeguards are demons trably in place. The approved ' Wildfire Evacuation Study' seems drafted to satisfy paperwork rather than to ensure the timely pres erva tion of huma n life. Not to mention it remains unreleas ed.

We are not oppos ed to thoug htful development. We are oppos ed to preventa ble harm, fores eeable gridlock, and decis ions that endanger families for the sake of expediency.

It would also be prudent to recognize that Anaheim Hills is home to an exceptiona lly engages and civically attentive population.

Residents here follow municipal decis ions with care, participate cons istently in local elections and mainta in a long institutional memory regarding the actions of their elected representatives . Communities such as ours tend to express their perspectives not with specta cle, but with quiet resolve and mea ning ful participa tion when ballots are cast. I trus t the Counc il apprec iates the significance of that distinction.

I urge you to stand with your residents , to exercise civic courage, and to ensure that growth in Anaheim remains both responsible and humane.

Myrna O 'Shea
Concerned Resident, Anaheim Hills
ou don't often get email from sales@rocknroca. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 10:50:23 AM
From:" Alli Valdivia" sales@rocknroca. com
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] festival project
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

March 23, 2026
Dear Mayor Aitken and Council Members ,
First off; Thank you to Mayor Aiken, Natalie Meeks and Kristen Maahs for voting the festival project down.

The Anaheim Hills Residents have vigorous ly tried to inform you of the realities of our impossible situation here with traffic and specifically during fire evacuations .

We have stated facts of actual horrific fire evacuation experiences we have had.

We have sent pictures of the daily gridlock at all times of day through the hills .

We have pleaded, begged and sometimes acted out of character trying to be heard and unders tood.

The March 3rdvote showed us many of you just have no common sense or sincerly just don’t care because we aren’t in “your District”.

Council woman Norma Campos Kurtz made it quite clear she doesn’t care at all about us . Her comments at the March 3rdvote were shocking .

Of course every district has the chance of fire. But is her district surrounded on all sides by dry wild brush? Does she think her districts residents are so dumb that they can’t see the difference? She speaks out of ignorance and I’m dumbfounded how a pers on with her lack of common sense sits on this council.

I’m also wondering how a vote was even taken prior to the Wildfire evacua tion study being released. The March 3rd meeting seemed skewed in many ways . It appeared staged and planned. There are just too many unanswered questions and possible unethical bus ines s tactics within this city.

I wonder why it isn’t addres sed that Salt will also proba bly build in the hills under the Builders Remedy act. So now wha t???? Our homes and lifes have fallen into your hands . DO THE RIGHT THING….Stop this insanity.

Allison Valdivia
297 S Ras pberry Lane
Anaheim 92808
ate: 3/23/2026 12:15:06 PM
From:" kelly bluemel" kellybluemel7@gmail. com
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] No Apartments
You don' t often get email from kellybluemel7@gmail. com. Learn why this is important at https :// aka. ms/ LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

Pleas e stop the development of new apartments in Anaheim Hills !!!! The traffic at the last fire was crazy! It took me two hours to go two miles . It is uns afe for all involved.

Kelly Bluemel
Anaheim Hills Res ident
Sent from my iPhone
ou don't often get email from jnpicco@gmail. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 12:42:59 PM
From:" Jamie Picco" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] NewApartments inFestival Center
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

To whom it may concern,
Due to the rapid increase of traffic over the past year on Serrano and Weir Canyon because of vehicles trying to avoid the 91 freeway, I am against new apartments being built in the Festival Center. This will only cause further issues for the current residents of Anaheim Hills if there are an additional 400+ new apartment units, which would add over 700 more vehicles.

Please take our current residents into consideration first before allowing this to happen.

Sincerely,
Jamie Picco
Susana Barrios
From: MaryHeistand <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March23, 202612:44PM
To: PublicComment <[email protected]>
Subject: \[EXTERNAL\] FestivalCenterproject
Youdon'[email protected]. Learnwhythisisimportant Warning: This email originated from outside theCityofAnaheim. Donotclick links oropen attachments unless you recognize thesender andareexpecting themessage.

AsIamunable toattend theCityCouncil tomorrow, Iwould liketoexpress myopposition tothe project attheFestival Center. Weremember thepastfiresinourareaandthedifficulties in evacuation. SantaAnaCanyon Roadandthe91freeway already operate under heavy congestion. Thisisabout evacuation timesandeveryadditional vehicle matters. Weappreciate all measures thecityofAnaheim hastaken, buttheevacuation planisnotenough. Also, thewildfire evacuationstudybeingconducted bythecityisnotcomplete. Traffic issues mustbeaddressed before morehousing isbuilt.

Thereisalsothequestion astowhetherlabornegotiationsinfluenced theapproval earlierthis month.

Iunderstandthatthecityneedshousing, butitshouldn'tbebuiltinaplacewheresafeevacuationiscompromised.

Pleaseprioritizethesafetyofthepeoplewhoalreadylivehere.

Thank youforconsidering publicsafety.

MaryHeistand
Resident ofTheHighlands Development-92808since 1996
1 ate: 3/23/2026 12: 57: 15 PM
From:" Jen McCool" mccooljen@yahoo. com
To:" Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Urgent
Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

I wanted to touch in a few things I still can not seem to get an answer on and also touch on district 3 that might need assistance as well in her area. We’ re here to help each other. Our streets are absolute gridlock daily. As time goes on our streets are the entrance to the IE that will already get worse as we have seen. We have not addressed our neighboring cities as they use same streets we do to evacuate. In the last meeting there was a city rep who commented on our wide streets with shoulders I’ll be honest that does not exist here. I would like you to address a current problem before we create another. Our emergency personal Can not respond several hours of the day without delay. We have people creating additional lanes on freeway and driving backwards off the on-ramps. In a fire situation in any other district you could escape on foot not here in the hills the last wind in early March blew out windows in panda across the way and a neighboring home. Not so funny story in my last condo off Serrano I used to sleep on the closet floor as the entire place shook and it was commen to loose glass in the wind and the force and noise is terrible. In our last fire I was hit with a fire tornado and crawled on the ground to get back feeling around for a handle to escape smoke at my home. I will attach the daily traffic that does not move and even now in the event of any situation we’ re in big trouble you can’t move traffic that’ s locked up for hours. This is around 3/4:00 during week but starts around noon goes till 11 pm at times. We share same streets as the entire IE traffic and YL as well as VP and OPA, what are your coordination efforts with them as Anaheim can not act independently on this? Last picture was during a fire no one moves at all we’ re not talking traffic we’ re talking stuck in cars. The traffic above was 20 or so lights to let a few cars through each time because freeway and traffic through to YL was also complete stopped. We are becoming the bottleneck that gets trapped most hours of the day we can not add to this situation. Please help us fix this then we can look at developments or in other locations like off lakeview that adds places but does not add to the situation or put peoples lives at risk or ruin quality of life, also that still lets paramedics access us when needed. Again this is a multiple city problem and we need to address it as such.

ou don't often get email from egroch@cox. net. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 1:33:30 PM
From:" egroch" [email protected]
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.net, "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Concerns about the Festival Center Project and Wildfire Safety Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear Council Member,
I moved to Anaheim Hills because it is a beautiful, family-oriented community, but Iam very concerned about the proposed Shea/Festival Center apartment project. Since moving here, I've learned that our neighborhood is in a high-risk fire zone with very limited ways to get out. Iwas shocked to read that it already takes over three hours to evacuate this area during an emergency. Adding over 1,000 more people and their cars to our streets seems like a huge risk to everyone's safety.

The project's environmental report admits that these new apartments will make evacuation times even longer. As a parent, Ithink about what would happen if a fire broke out while Iwas trying to get my [kids/pets/elderly parents] to safety. If the roads are already failing, adding hundreds more cars into the mix will make a bad situation impossible. It feels like the city is hoping for the best rather than planning for the worst.

Sincerely,
Eleanor Roch
8455 E Amberwood St
Anaheim Hills, CA 92808
ou don't often get email from ed.marquez22@gmail. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 1:40:34 PM
From:" The Daily EDDIE" ed.marquez22@gmail. com
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Concerns about Festival center project and wild fire safety...

Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear Council Member,
I moved to Anaheim Hills because it is a beautiful, family-oriented community, but I am very concerned about the proposed Shea/Festival Center apartment project. Since moving here, I've learned that our neighborhood is in a high-risk fire zone with very limited ways to get out. I was shocked to read that it already takes over three hours to evacuate this area during an emergency. Adding over 1,000 more people and their cars to our streets seems like a huge risk to everyone' s safety.

The project' s environmental report admits that these new apartments will make evacuation times even longer. As a parent, I think about what would happen if a fire broke out while I was trying to get my [kids/pets/elderly parents] to safety. If the roads are already failing, adding hundreds more cars into the mix will make a bad situation impossible. It feels like the city is hoping for the best rather than planning for the worst.

I am not against new housing in general, but it has to be built in the right places. Putting high-density housing at a known bottleneck in a fire zone is not responsible. I am asking you to please put our safety first and vote "No" on this project until we have a real solution for getting people out of the Hills safely.
ome people who received this message don't often get email from justin_wood@hotmail. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 2:28:24 PM
From:" Justin Wood" [email protected]
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.net, "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Opposition to Shea/Festival Center Project Due to Evacuation Risk Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear Council Member,
I am a resident of Anaheim Hills , and I chose this community because it felt like a safe place to raise my family. I have two young children, and the thought of trying to evacuate them during a wildfire is something I take very seriously.

I drive these roads every day, and they already back up under normal conditions . Knowing that evacuation from this area can already take hours is alarming on its own. Adding a project that brings in over 1,000 additional residents and significantly more traffic will make an already dangerous situation worse.

What is most concerning is that this is not speculative—the project’s own environmenta l report acknowledg es increased evacuation times . That means the risk is known ahead of time, yet the project is still being considered.

I am not opposed to housing, but this is the wrong place for high-density development. Approving this project would mean knowingly increas ing evacuation risk for existing residents and families .

For that reason, I strongly urge you to vote no on the Shea /Festival Center apartment project.

Sincerely,
Jus tin and Ros hanak Wood
ou don't often get email from lollygarcia@me. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 3:02:39 PM
From:" Lolly Garcia" lollygarcia@me. com
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Cc:" Lolly Garcia" lollygarcia@me. com
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Opposition to 447-Unit Apartment Project inAnaheim Hills Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

I strongly oppose the construction of the proposed 447-unit apartment project in our Anaheim Hills community. This development is not appropriate for our neighborhood and will place a serious strain on our roads, safety, and overall quality of life.

Adding hundreds of new units will bring an estimated 700–900 additional vehicles, worsening already congested traffic and creating dangerous conditions especially during emergencies. Past evacuations have already taken hours; increasing density at this scale puts residents at real risk.

Our infrastructure was not designed to support a project of this magnitude. This is about protecting the safety, well-being, and character of our community.

I respectfully urge the City Council to listen to its residents and oppose the construction ofthis apartment project inAnaheim Hills.

Anaheim Hills Resident
ate: 3/23/2026 3:04:43 PM
From:" Mindy Cameron" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Anaheim Hills Festival Apartment project meeting 3/24/26 You don' t often get email from elikat@s bcglobal. net. Learn why this is important at https:// aka. ms /LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

To whom it may concern,
I am writing to voice my concern/ oppos ition over a propos al to build a 447 unit apartment complex on property within the Anaheim Hills Fes tival, or for that matter, any project that large, in any part of Eas t Anaheim Hills where we have a high fire danger.

I have lived here for over 20 years , and have pers onally been evacuated on several occas ions.

In the pas t, when the winds / fires come to Weir Canyon/ Eas t Anaheim Hills area, we have little time to evacuate. Res idents from this area end up on the roads all at once, caus ing traffic to come to a stands till. It’ s already dangerous . More cars on the road in this area could be dis as trous , and potentially caus e los s of life for people trying to evacuate the area.

Pleas e recons ider/ deny this project.

Thank you,
Melinda Cameron
Eas t Anaheim Hills res ident
Sent from my iPhone
ou don't often get email from todd@themoellerteam. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 3:09:19 PM
From:" Todd Moeller" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Opposition To 447-Unit Apartment Project inAnaheim Hills Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

To whom it may concern.

I Strongly oppose the construction of the 447 - Unit apartment project in Anaheim Hills due to serious concerns about safety, traffic , evacuation risks , destroying the beautiful hills . It's called Anaheim Hills for a reason. It will also deteriate the community as a hole.

Stop the build.

Thank you,
Todd
ou don't often get email from johnlevi@hotmail. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 3:37:55 PM
From:" John Levi" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Vote No on 447 Unit Apartment Complex forSafety of Anaheim Hills Community Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

You must in good conscience vote NO on the 447 Unit Apartment Complex at Anaheim Hills Festival Center.

Wildfire danger and safe evacuation must take priority over moving forward with this project.

Unfortunately, Anaheim Hills does not have the existing road infrastructure to safely handle the additional vehicles that would need to evacuate during the next fire emergency.

Do not let Anaheim Hills residents be the next Maui fire tragedy!! Vote No on this project.

Sincerely,
John F. Levi
714) 612-5837
8623 E. Canyon Vista Dr.

Anaheim, CA 92808
Anaheim Hills resident since 1997
I and my family have evacuated 3 times due to wildfire. We had homes burn down on Morningstar Drive in our neighborhood.

In the Anaheim Hills area, homes on
Morningstar Drive were primarily destroyed during the Freeway Complex Fire in November 2008.

At least five homes in the 600 block of Morningstar Drive burned to the ground when the firestorm raced uphill and overtook the neighborhood.

Sent from my iPhone
Orange
ate: 3/23/2026 3:43:12 PM
From:" mburke14 (null)" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Anaheim apartment complex
You don' t often get email from mburke14@aol. com. Learn why this is important at https:// aka. ms /LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

Strongly dis agree with the building of the apartment complex in Anaheim Hills.

Sent from my iPhone
ou don't often get email from aburke14@aol. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 3:44:04 PM
From:" Alan Burke" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Anaheim hills apartment proposal
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

I strongly oppose the addition of an apartment complex in Anaheim hills. We do not want it !! Sent from AOL on Android
ou don't often get email from mymonthlybills@att. net. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 4:41:41 PM
From:" Linda" mymonthlybills@att. net
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.net, "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Please vote NO on the Shea/Festival Center apartments – It's a safety issue Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear Council Member,
I am writing to you as a resident of Anaheim to ask you to please vote "No" on the proposed apartments at the Anaheim Hills Festival Center.

I lived here during the Canyon Fire 2 in 2017, and I will never forget the feeling of being stuck in my car, watching the smoke get closer, and literally not moving for over an hour. It wasn't just "traffic"— it was a total standstill. The thought of adding hundreds of new apartments and about 1000+ more people to that exact same escape route is terrifying to those of us who have actually been in that situation.

The reports for this project say that adding these cars will "only" add about 7 minutes to the evacuation time. But when you're already stuck for three hours and the fire is moving toward you, 7 minutes is a lifetime. We don't have extra roads or "secret" ways out of the Hills; we all end up on the same few lanes. Adding more people to a neighborhood that is already a bottleneck during a fire just feels like a tragedy waiting to happen.

I understand that the city needs housing, but it shouldn't be built in a place where people are already struggling to get out safely. Please don't make an existing danger even worse just for a new development. We are asking you to prioritize the lives and safety of the people who already live here and pay taxes here.

Sincerely,
Linda Loveng
8107 e oak ridge Circle
Anaheim CA 92808
ate: 3/23/2026 4:55:33 PM
From:" Linda" lindahurley101@gmail. com
To:" Ashleigh Aitken" [email protected]
Cc:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Festival project
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

I am writing to formally state my total loss of faith in this body. With the exception of Council Member Maahs, the Mayor and a begrudging vote by Council Member Meeks, you are making a clear and dangerous choice between political patronage and human lives.

The public is not blind to the optics of this vote. We see a massive development being pushed forward where support is predicated on a (PLA), while documented, life-threatening safety risks are ignored. In a city still reeling from the 2024 JL Group Investigative Report, which exposed a culture of “backroom deals” and “ cabal-like” control over land- use decisions, it is staggering that you would prioritize a labor deal over a threeplus hour fire evacuation delay.

Councilmember Rubalcava was specifically named in that investigation regarding questionable political maneuvers. To now predicate a vote on a union agreement while dismissively labeling our evacuation plan as "fluid" is a textbook example of the pay-to-play politics the FBI has already flagged in this chamber.

A "fluid" evacuation plan is a direct CEQA violation. You cannot legally approve a project in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone based on a fluid" concept. There is no comprehensive plan because the existing infrastructure cannot physically accommodate a safe exit for the current residents, let alone the new ones you intend to add.

The "Happiest Place on Earth" deserves a Council that values resident survival over political schemes. If you vote Yes tomorrow, you are choosing a union contract over the lives of the people you were elected to protect.

Shame on you.

Linda Hurley
ou don't often get email from chayitoo. 2016@gmail. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 7:03:04 PM
From:" Rosario Ruiz" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Festival project
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

I am for the new development at the festival project.

Thank you
Rosario Ruiz
ou don't often get email from royaloakbrenda@yahoo. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 7:47:57 PM
From:" Brenda Neel" royaloakbrenda@yahoo. com
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, " City Clerk" [email protected], "Ashleigh Aitken" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], "Natalie Rubalcava" [email protected], Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], " [email protected]" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected], " JenniferDiaz" JDiaz@anahe im.net Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Festival Development proposal
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Good evening,
I am writing to you regarding the proposed Festival development proposal. It is not only disappointing but shocking to think that the safety of thousands of residents is not a priority to many of you. Having lived through most of the major fires in the Anaheim Hills area and suffered the time delays to get to loved ones, Iknow first-hand this proposed development would be a death trap for the residents closest to the area.

I purchased my first home inAnaheim Hills because it was a clean and safe area for me and my daughter. Now, with the already increased traffic on Santa Ana Canyon between Imperial and Weir Canyon, the increase in car fumes, people running lights and taking 30-45 minutes just to get to the other end of town has destroyed the peace, beauty and safety of our area. I cannot begin to think of the deaths and mayhem that would occur when the next fire occurs and there are 1000+ extra cars in the area.

Thank you for clarifying the following:

What deliberation took place to address the concerns of resident? What was the process and what was the outcome to prove that this was a good idea and residents could safely evacuate. On any given day at 5 pm., it currently takes 20-30 minutes to go

2.8 miles to Target, can't imagine if ther was a fire.

How can residents be assured that community safety was prioritized in the final outcome? Are the safety studies used, tested evacuation routes and financial interests available and transparent for residents to access? I am saddened to see Anaheim Hills become a community where profits are placed above residents' safety and well-being. I firmly request reconsideration around this project be made.

Thank you for your time,
Brenda Neel
258 S. Vista Del Monte
Anaheim Hills, CA. 92807
royaloakbrenda@yahoo. com
ate: 3/23/2026 7:58:47 PM
From:" Payal Patel" payalpatel68@gmail. com
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.net, "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Concerns about the Festival Center Project and Wildfire Safety You don' t often get email from payalpatel68@gmail. com. Learn why this is important at https:// aka. ms /LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

Dear Council Member,
I moved to Anaheim Hills becaus e it is a beautiful, family- oriented community, but I am very concerned about the propos ed Shea/ Fes tival Center apartment project.

I am not agains t new hous ing in general, but it has to be built in the right places . Putting high- dens ity hous ing at a known bottleneck in a fire zone is not res pons ible.

I am as king you to pleas e put our safety firs t and vote " No" on this project until we have a real solution for getting people out of the Hills safely.

Sincerely,
Payal Patel
ou don't often get email from spencerpuskas@gmail. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 8:55:32 PM
From:" S Puskas" spencerpuskas@gmail. com
To:" City Clerk" [email protected], "Ryan Balius" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Anaheim Hills
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Vote NO save Anaheim Hills a no vote is a responsible vote ! ou don't often get email from nolimitsfitz@gmail. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 9:21:23 PM
From:" Patty Fitzjerrells" nolimitsfitz@gmail. com
To:

Ashleigh Aitken" [email protected], " Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" [email protected], " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], Kristen Maahs" [email protected], "Natalie Meeks" [email protected], " Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Please vote NO on the Shea/Festival Center apartments – It's a safety issue Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear Council Member,
I am writing to you as a resident of Anaheim Hills to ask you to please vote "No" on the proposed apartments at the Anaheim Hills Festival Center.

I have lived here over 30 years and during the Canyon Fire 2 in 2017, and I will never forget the nightmare feeling of being stuck in my car, watching the smoke get dangerously closer, and literally not moving for over an hour. It wasn't just "traffic"— it was a total standstill. The thought of adding hundreds of new apartments and about 1000+ more people to that exact same escape route is absolutely terrifying to those of us who have actually been in that situation.

The reports for this project say that adding these cars will "only" add about 7 long minutes to the evacuation time. But when you're already stuck for three hours and the fire is moving toward you, 7 minutes is a lifetime. We don't have extra roads or "secret" ways out of the Hills; we all end up on the same few lanes. Adding more people to a neighborhood that is already a bottleneck during a fire just feels like a nightmare and tragedy waiting to happen.

I understand that the city needs housing, but it shouldn't be built in a place where people are already desperately struggling to get out safely. Please don't make an existing danger even worse just for a new development. We are asking you to please prioritize the lives and safety of the people who already live here and pay taxes here.

Sincerely,
Patricia Fitzjerrells
1027 S Wildrose Lane
Anaheim Hills, Ca 92808
Patty Fitzjerrells
714-856-5141
Nolimitsfitz@gmail. com
Sent from my iPhone
ou don't often get email from daniellegorsha@yahoo. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/23/2026 9:40:38 PM
From:" Danielle Gorsha" daniellegorsha@yahoo. com
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, " City Clerk" [email protected], "Ashleigh Aitken" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], "Natalie Meeks" [email protected], " Carlos A.

Leon" [email protected], "Ryan Balius" [email protected], "Natalie Rubalcava" [email protected], Jennifer Diaz" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] SR-91 freeway is projected to see a 50% increase intraffic by 2035 - Please vote NO on Festival Center Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Since the Anaheim Hills fire evacuation route is the 91 freeway, are future traffic projections being considered when voting on new housing developments? Here's a snapshot of the 5-and 10-year traffic projections:

Significant increases in traffic are expected onSR 91 over the next decade. The 91 Freeway is already one of California’ s most congested corridors, carrying roughly 280,000–300,000 vehicles per day in the mid-2010s. Projections indicate that daily traffic will continue to grow. For example, one analysis forecasts daily traffic on the Riverside County portion of SR 91 could exceed 400,000 trips by 2035 – roughly a 30% increase over mid- 2010s levels. In Orange County, average daily volumes are likewise projected to jump by 90,000 trips (over 30% growth) by 2035. This translates to traffic volumes roughly 50% higher in2035 than today (on the order of 420,000 vehicles a day) according to the Riverside County Transportation Commission. In the nearer term (~5 years), the corridor will remain at or above capacity: by 2030 the SR 91 is expected to carry only a fewpercent more vehicles than today inpeak hours (since it’s already saturated), even as travel demand keeps rising. Local officials note that newhousing development mandates across Southern California are adding more commuters to the region, which will likely put additional cars on the 91 freeway each year. In short, without major intervention, both the 5- year and 10-year outlooks show heavier traffic on SR 91 than we see now.

Hello, I'm a 26-yr resident of Anaheim Hills. I own a rental company, and my team and I drive throughout West Anaheim 7 days a week, from 6 am to midnight. West Anaheim traffic is exceptionally well managed, and I rarely encounter gridlock, even during busy events at the convention center just outside Disneyland.

On the other hand, our traffic in Anaheim Hills has increased significantly. Imperial, Santa Ana Canyon, Weir Canyon and Serrano are undrivable during many hours of the day. My entrance to the 91 West should be Imperial, but it is gridlocked 90% of the time, and Google recommends entering at Lakeview. Exiting Imperial from the 91 has become complete gridlock 75% of the time I travel through it, and I can rarely even turn onto Santa Ana Canyon. Google recommends exiting at Lincoln/Nohl Ranch about 50% of the time.

Anaheim Hills serves as a bypass to drivers trying to avoid the 55 and 91 freeways. SR-91 freeway is projected to see a 50% increase in traffic by 2035. (US Dept of Transporation)
WHAT is being done to mitigate this?
WHY are new developments being considered before infrastructure is deemed to be adequate? WHY is the safety of Anaheim residents in a VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD zone being disregarded? It's illogical and irresponsible to consider adding 450- 500 units, which will translate to 1000+ more cars.

I encourage the council to:

Delay or deny the Festival project until traffic mitigation and evacuation improvements are made.

Explore alternative locations or smaller developments. The out-of-state developer should not be a higher priority than your own residents.

Thanks for your time,
Danielle Gorsha
401 S Paseo Estrella
Anaheim
ate: 3/23/2026 11:21:53 PM
From:" Andrew Winger" [email protected]
To:

City Attorney" cityattorneysoffice@anaheim. net, " Theresa Bass" TBass@anahe im.net, "Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" [email protected], "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], Ryan Balius" [email protected], "Natalie Rubalcava" [email protected], " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" NMeeks@anahe im.net Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Request for Review – Recusal of Councilmember Rubalcava (Festival Project DEV2023-00043) Attachment: Request_for_Recusal_Final_Numbered.pdf;
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear City Attorney,
Attached for your review is a formal Request for Recusal concerning Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava in connection with the Festival Project DEV2023- 00043).

The request outlines a documented sequence of events— including campaign contributions, public statements during hearings, involvement in laborrelated discussions, and subsequent actions— that collectively raise substantial concerns regarding the appearance of bias and prejudgment in this matter.

As detailed in the attached filing, these concerns are grounded in publicly available records and relevant legal standards governing impartial decision- making in quasi-adjudicative proceedings.

Given the importance of maintaining both actual fairness and public confidence in the integrity of the City’s decision- making process, I respectfully request that your office review the attached materials and provide guidance regarding whether recusal is warranted.

Please confirm receipt of this submission. I am available to provide any additional information or documentation if needed.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully,
Andrew Winger

CITY OF ANAHEIM

CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW REQUEST

REQUEST FOR RECUSAL
Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava
RE: Fesval Project ( DEV2023- 00043)
Submied By:

Andrew Winger
Date:

March 23, 2026
Request for Recusal 3-23-26 Page 1 of 30
RE: Request for Recusal of Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava – Fesval Project ( DEV2023- 00043)
Dear City Aorney,
I write to respecully request that your office evaluate and advise that Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava recuse herself from any further parcipaon in maers relang to the Fesval Project DEV2023- 00043), based on a documented sequence of events that creates a substanal appearance of bias and prejudgment, and raises serious concerns regarding the integrity of the decision- making process.

This request is grounded in publicly available records, statements made during City Council proceedings, and subsequent acons taken in connecon with the project.

I. Relevant Timeline and Facts

1. Campaign Contribuon from Union-Affiliated Enty
On October 23, 2025, Councilmember Rubalcava reported receiving a $2,500 campaign contribuon from “ Building a Stronger California,” an enty associated with the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters.

2. Direct Involvement in Union Nego aons During Public Hearing ( January 13, 2026) During the January 13, 2026 City Council meeng, Councilmember Rubalcava:

Quesoned whether the developer was negoang with the Carpenters in “good faith” Cricized specific terms of the proposed MOU
Directed the developer to “go and talk to the carpenters and figure something out before we move forward”
She further indicated that her vote could determine whether the project would be approved.

These acons reflect direct engagement in the substance and outcome of private negoaons between the developer and a specific labor organizaon.

3. Delay of Project Consideraon to Facilitate Further Negoaons Request for Recusal 3-23-26 Page 2 of 30
Councilmember Rubalcava moved to connue the maer so that the pares could “ work together,” while gesturing between the developer and the Carpenters Union.

On February 3, 2026, the item was formally connued to March 3, 2026 at the request of the applicant, at which me no agreement had yet been reached.

4. Post-Hearing Coordinaon
On January 26, 2026, a call took place involving Councilmember Rubalcava, the developer, and representaves of the Carpenters Union.

5. Execuon of Union Agreement Immediately Prior to Final Vote On February 26, 2026, the developer entered into a formal agreement with the Carpenters Union.

City staff confirmed on March 3, 2026:

While the City can encourage the developer to do so, the City cannot require a developer to use union labor… however, the applicant confirmed… they have entered into a formal agreement…”

6. Approval Following Agreement
On March 3, 2026, following confirmaon that the union agreement had been reached, the City Council approved the project.

II. Legal Standard: Imparal Decision- Making and Appearance of Bias California law is clear that administrave decision- makers must be both actually imparal and appear imparal.

In BreakZone Billiards v. City of Torrance, the court held that due process is violated where there is an “ unacceptable probability of actual bias”, even absent proof of actual wrongdoing.

Similarly, in Woody’ s Group, Inc. v. City of Newport Beach, the court emphasized that a fair hearing is compromised where a decision- maker demonstrates prejudgment or alignment with one side of a dispute prior to the final decision.

Request for Recusal 3-23-26 Page 3 of 30
The California Supreme Court in Nasha LLC v. City of Los Angeles further reinforced that while local officials may express views, they cross the line when their conduct reflects that the outcome is effecvely predetermined or that they are no longer funconing as neutral arbiters.

Addionally, in Clark v. City of Hermosa Beach, the court found that bias may be inferred where an official’ s conduct demonstrates acve parcipaon in advancing one side’s interests in the underlying maer.

III. Applicaon to the Present Facts
Applying these principles, the record here reflects:

A financial contribuon from a union- affiliated enty
Direct, substanve involvement in negoaons with that same union Statements linking project approval to the outcome of those negoaons A delay of the vote to allow negoaons to proceed
Parcipaon in communicaons with both pares during that period Final approval following execuon of the union agreement Taken together, these facts create, at minimum, an “ unacceptable probability of bias” under BreakZone Billiards and a strong appearance that the outcome was conngent upon a specific negoated result.

This is not merely the expression of policy preference— it reflects acve engagement in the underlying negoaons and condional decision- making, which is inconsistent with the role of a neutral adjudicator.

IV. Federal Labor Law Consideraons
While this request is grounded in recusal and due process, the facts also implicate principles underlying federal labor law, including the doctrine arculated in Lodge 76, Internaonal Associaon of Machinists v. Wisconsin Employment Relaons Commission, which prohibits governmental interference in areas intended to be le to the “free play of economic forces.” The appearance that project approval was ed to the outcome of a labor agreement raises addional concerns regarding the propriety of governmental involvement in private labor negoaons.

Request for Recusal 3-23-26 Page 4 of 30
V. Request for Acon
In light of the foregoing, I respecully request that the City Aorney’ s Office:

1. Review the record and applicable law

2. Provide formal guidance regarding Councilmember Rubalcava’ s obligaon to recuse herself

3. Take appropriate steps to ensure that further proceedings are conducted by a decisionmaker free from the appearance of bias VI. Conclusion
The integrity of the City’ s decision- making process depends not only on actual fairness, but on the public’ s confidence in that fairness.

Where the totality of the circumstances reflects a substanal appearance of bias or prejudgment, recusal is not only appropriate— it is necessary.

Respecully submied,
Andrew Winger
Aachments:

Exhibit A – Timeline of public records
Exhibit B – Direct quotes from City Council Meengs
Exhibit C - $ 2500 Campaign Contribuon on 10/ 23/ 25 from Building a Stronger California Exhibit D – Building a Stronger California is sponsored by the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters
Exhibit E – Rubalcava calendar on 1/ 26/ 26 showing meeng with Developer and Carpenter’ s Union
Request for Recusal 3-23-26 Page 5 of 30

EXHIBIT A
Timeline of Relevant Events – Fesval Project ( DEV2023- 00043) October 23, 2025 – Campaign Contribuon
Exhibit C]
Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava reported receiving a $2,500 campaign contribuon from Building a Stronger California, an enty associated with the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters [ Exhibit D].

January 13, 2026 – City Council Public Hearing ( Timestamped Record) Review [ Exhibit B] for direct quotes
6:06:26
Councilmember Rubalcava references negoaons with the Carpenters Union and asks about the MOU.
6:07:58
She quesons whether the developer is negoang with the Carpenters Union in “good faith.”
6:08:30
She states that her vote could determine whether the project is approved. 6:09:05
She advises the developer to reconsider whether they will reach an agreement with skilled and trained” labor ( contextually referring to the Carpenters Union). 6:09:39
She directs the developer to: “go and talk to the carpenters and figure something out before we move forward.”
6:42:50
During discussion of legality, she states that even if federal law is implicated, proceeding could result in ligaon, but the Council could sll act.

Request for Recusal 3-23-26 Page 6 of 30
January 13, 2026 – Moon to Connue
6:46:52
Councilmember Rubalcava makes a moon to connue the item to allow reconsideraon of the development agreement.
6:52:36
She clarifies the intent of the delay, indicang the developer and Carpenters Union should “ work together,” accompanied by gestures between the pares.

January 26, 2026 – Post-Hearing Communicaon
Exhibit E]
A call took place involving:
o Councilmember Rubalcava
o Developer representaves
o Carpenters Union representaves
February 3, 2026 – Connued Hearing ( Timestamped Record) Review [ Exhibit B] for direct quotes
5:26:33
Mayor states that the item will be connued to March 3, 2026 at the request of the applicant.

At this me, no union agreement had been reached.

February 26, 2026 – Execuon of Union Agreement
The developer entered into a formal agreement with the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters.

Request for Recusal 3-23-26 Page 7 of 30
March 3, 2026 – Final City Council Vote (Timestamped Record) Review [ Exhibit B] for direct quotes
5:11:19
City staff states:

The City cannot require union labor, but confirms the applicant entered into a formal agreement with the Carpenters Union on February 26, 2026.

March 3, 2026 – Project Approval
Following confirmaon of the union agreement, the City Council approved the Fesval Project.

End of Exhibit A
Request for Recusal 3-23-26 Page 8 of 30

EXHIBIT B
Verbam Statements from City Council Meengs with Timestamps Fesval Project ( DEV2023- 00043)
January 13, 2026 – City Council Meeng
6:06:26
So my queson is related to the skilled and trained. So you menoned that you don’ t just look at the low bid when you’re looking at subcontractors. Can you give me some clarificaon on what your proposal for the MOU entailed to the Carpenters?” 6:07:58
So I, I, queson whether you were negoang with the Carpenters in good faith when you provided an MOU. It’s not a good deal in my opinion for you to say that you have to be within 500,000 of the lowest bidder because you could get anybody to bid a low bid.” 6:08:30
So I guess there’s clearly you don’ t know what direcon this council is going to go in because I sll don’t know how I’m going to vote and potenally my vote could lead to whether or not you get this project approved.”
6:09:05
But I don’t think you really know whether or not what direcon this council’ s going to go. So, I think you should think really deeply as to whether or not you’re going to have an MOU that includes our skilled and trade, especially because they’ re not being unreasonable with the expectaons. It’s for a parking structure and drywall.”
6:09:39
Request for Recusal 3-23-26 Page 9 of 30
So I would really, you know, think deeply as to whether or not you are nego ang in good faith and what that MOU looks like. And today we do have the discreon with this development agreement to include some of those requirements without the language that you’re proposing because it’s not a good deal. So I, I, don’t know who movated you to kind of throw it their way and say ‘ Well, we are negoang with you, but you’re not.’ So I mean, I don’t really need your feedback on that. I need you to go and talk to the carpenters and figure something out before we move forward. So you don’t have to comment. It was more of a comment on my end. But thank you.”
6:42:50
So you’ ll be in ligaon for a while. I think you’re kind of missing the point. So I unintelligible]… but it’s 11:00 at night right now, and I hear what you’re saying about the Supreme Court’ s ruling and federal law. However, this is a municipality and we have discreon with this.”
Following interrupon)
But if we decide as a council that we’re going to include that in the development agreement, then that just means you’ ll be stuck in ligaon. And it’ll cost you more instead of just hiring skilled and trained.”
6:46:52
I hate to make this recommendaon because we’ve sat through so many hours of public comment, but may I make a moon to connue this unl they have an opportunity to go back and take a close look at the development agreement based on the feedback that we’ ve provided.”
6:52:36
I was going to make the recommendaon for give you some me and you guys some me to work together.” [ Gestures towards the Developer and Carpenter’ s union to move together] February 3, 2026 – City Council Meeng
Request for Recusal 3-23-26 Page 10 of 30
5:26:33
So, um, I’m going to forward and move on to item number 10 at the request of the applicant.

Item 10 is being connued to the meeng of March 3rd. Is there a moon to connue?” March 3, 2026 – City Council Meeng
5:11:19
Lastly, council members also discussed the possibility of requiring the developer to use union labor during the construcon of the project. While the city can encourage the developer to do so, the city cannot require a developer to use union labor as part of the development agreement negoaons. However, the applicant confirmed to staff on February 26th that they have entered into a formal agreement with the Western States Regional Carpenters Union relang to the project.”
End of Exhibit B
Request for Recusal 3-23-26 Page 11 of 30

EXHIBIT C
2,500 Campaign Contribuon ( October 23, 2025)
Descripon:

This exhibit contains documentaon of the $2,500 campaign contribuon reported by Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava on October 23, 2025 from Building a Stronger California.

Request for Recusal 3-23-26 Page 12 of 30

4. VerificationI have used all reasonable diligence in preparing and Page of COVER PAGE - PART 2CALIFORNIAFORMRecipient CommitteeCampaign StatementCover Page — Part SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON REVERSENAME OF FILERCampaign Disclosure StatementSummary PagePage of Schedule AMonetary Contributions ReceivedPage of Amounts may be roundedto whole Page of Amounts may be roundedto whole dollars. NAME OF Page of Amounts may be roundedto whole dollars. NAME OF Page of Amounts may be roundedto whole dollars. NAME OF Page of Amounts may be roundedto whole dollars. NAME OF Page of Amounts may be roundedto whole dollars. NAME OF Page of Amounts may be roundedto whole dollars. NAME OF Schedule CNonmonetary Contributions ReceivedI. D. NUMBERAttach additional information on appropriately SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON REVERSENAME OF FILERSchedule EPayments MadePage of CODES:

CODE OR DESCRIPTION OF PAYMENT AMOUNT PAIDSUBTOTAL $ Statement covers periodfromthroughSCHEDULE CODE OR DESCRIPTION OF PAYMENT AMOUNT PAIDSUBTOTAL $ Statement covers periodfromthroughSCHEDULE

EXHIBIT D
Sponsorship Relaonship – Building a Stronger California Descripon:

This exhibit contains documentaon demonstrang that Building a Stronger California is sponsored by or affiliated with theWestern States Regional Council of Carpenters.

Request for Recusal 3-23-26 Page 27 of 30
Request for Recusal 3-23-26 Page 28 of 30

EXHIBIT E
January 26, 2026 Calendar Entry
Descripon:

This exhibit contains records showing a January 26, 2026 meeng involving:

Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava
Developer representaves
Representaves of the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters Request for Recusal 3-23-26 Page 29 of 30
Request for Recusal 3-23-26 Page 30 of 30
ou don't often get email from Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 3:02:17 AM
From:" Lori Hughes" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Fwd: Anaheim Hills Festival Center Project Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Forwarded message ---------
From: Lori Hughes <hughes. lori.lynn@gmail. com>
Date: Thu, Mar 19, 2026 at 12:39 AM
Subject: Fwd: Anaheim Hills Festival Center Project
To: <publiccomment@anaheim. net>
Forwarded message ---------
From: Lori Hughes <hughes. lori.lynn@gmail. com>
Date: Sun, Feb 8, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Subject: Fwd: Anaheim Hills Festival Center Project
To: <DJ_hughes@hotmail. com>
Forwarded message ---------
From: Lori Hughes <hughes. lori.lynn@gmail. com>
Date: Wed, Feb 4, 2026 at 1:57 AM
Subject: Fwd: Anaheim Hills Festival Center Project
To: <hughes. kim@gmail. com>
Forwarded message ---------
From: Lori Hughes <hughes. lori.lynn@gmail. com>
Date: Tue, Feb 3, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Subject: Re: Anaheim Hills Festival Center Project
To: <publiccomment@anaheim. net>
February 3, 2026
City of Anaheim
Mayor and Members of the City Council
Regarding: Anaheim Hills Festival Center
447-unit residential project (Development Application No. 2023-00043) Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council,
I am writing to formally express my opposition to the proposed 447-unit residential development at Anaheim Hills Festival Center.

I am an Anaheim Hills resident, and my entire family have been Anaheim Hills residents for the last 25 years.

I am kindly requesting that the real life and death concerns regarding evacuations in our community be taken very seriously. Voting yes on the housing development at Festival Center will bring too many additional cars into the mix, making evacuations during a fire far more difficult and dangerous than was already the case in previous fires.

I have heard that things will be done differently when the next fire comes to our community, but this offers no assurance at all! Whatever different evacuation scenarios have been proposed, have not been tested in real life! The infrastructure remains the same, no matter what! The typical time to travel 1/4 to 1/2 mile during the 2017 fires was about 2 1/2 hours. How could that have even been acceptable to begin with! This supposed 7 additional minutes evacuation time to get out with the new housing project is absolutely preposterous!!! Fires are unpredictable, people in a panic are unpredictable. It’s a nice idea to think that all would go well and be fine, but that is simply not realistic! Eleven of my family members reside in Anaheim Hills (including my 93 year old mother). Six members of my family live behind or near the Festival Center. They have been through the last few fires, and their experiences during the 2017 evacuation were terrifying!!! I am deeply concerned about the safety and well being of my family members, and neighbors who live here! I know that in a real life situation, I would stop at nothing to rescue a member of my family. I have heard others state exactly the same thing! The new controlled “ test plans” to evacuate the area is not enough to justify voting yes on this project. Test plans are just that, test plans.

Please, please, don’t dismiss the community’ s real life and death concerns that are based on past frightening experiences and credible, well documented evidence concerning the very real lack of infrastructure for this project.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and take seriously these things.

Sincerely yours,
Lori Hughes
ou don't often get email from juliekoons@msn. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 9:20:01 AM
From:" Julie Jarvi" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Fw: Anaheim Hills Festival Center
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Hello, I am forwarding my prior email about this project to be included in the public comment. I want to add one thing . I read in the OC Register that Councilmember Rubalcava stated that multifamily units needed to be spread across the city - implying that Anaheim Hills does not have a fair share of them. This comment greatly concerns me because it makes me think that the Councilwoman is not familiar with our neighborhood even though she is voting on something that directly affects our neighborhood. The 92808 zip code, where this project will be located if approved, is already full of multifamily units . There are multiple, large apartment complexes as well as several condo complexes , several townhome complexes , and several attached home complexes . I believe the multifamily units outnumber the single-family homes near this project. Please, learn about our neighborhood before voting on something that directly impacts the residents . We already have a large portion of multifamily units .

We also have severe fire threat as I hope you are already aware and what is most concerning . Adding this project will only increase the threat of catastrophe in a future fire to all of the current residents as well as new residents from this project. Adding this project will only add to our already too long evacuation times . I hope the safety of the current residents is at the forefront of your consideration. This project should be denied.

Thank you,
Julie Jarvi
From: Julie Jarvi <jul iekoons@msn. com>
Se nt: Saturday, Fe bruary 28, 2026 2:31 PM
To: Public Comme nt <publiccomment@anaheim. net>
Subje ct: Anahe im Hi lls Fe stival Ce nter
I am a resident of Anaheim on Quiet Canyon Ct. In the 92808 zip code. I am against the festival center property being allowed to have a large apartment development on it. We live in a very high fire zone, as you know. We have been evac uated multi ple times for fires , as you know. The last time was 2017 where it took several hours to evacuate. I recall driving up Serrano during the evacuation and seeing a patch of fire jus t severa l feet from my car. Thankfully, that little patch didn' t grow bigger and blow into my car due to the very high wind that day. Since that day, the only change I've seen by the city are little blue signs on poles pointing out my evacuation route. The " Know Your Way" plan that has been put in place is not enforcea ble and does not take into account the extreme stres s people are under during an evacuation. People will do what they need to do, whether it is pick up their kids at school or pets at home.

An evacua tion during a fire is chaotic, and we don't need another 1000 cars on the road from this development adding even more time to our evacuation to safety.

Also, has the city considered the extra traffic from the cemetery that is being planned? Are you aware that Santa Ana Canyon east of Weir is a parking lot every afternoon with 100+ cars inching towa rds the freewa y entra nce as peopl e have cut throug h our neighborhoods to avoid the 91 freeway? What is your plan for the added traffic for the cemetery? How are our streets going to handle extra cars from the cemetery and 1000+ cars from this development? Our neig hborhoods cannot handle the current amount of cars coming through.

The movie theatre currently on the property has been closed for a few years . In that time since it closed, the traffic has only gotten much worse. This project is not offsetting any movie theatre traffic. It will add traffic.

Please listen to us , your current residents of the area. I feel like we aren't being heard, and you all are supposed to represent us . We are all terrified of the next fire and the next evacuation. I don't want to die in my car. We' ve seen this happen in other cities . Please don't make it happen to us here.

Thank you,
Julie Jarvi
ou don't often get email from rosaisela714@yahoo. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 10:38:36 AM
From:" rosaisela714@yahoo. com" rosaisela714@yahoo. com To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, " Natalie Meeks" NMeeks@anahe im.net, "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Natalie Rubalcava" [email protected], Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], "Ryan Balius" [email protected], "Ashleigh Aitken" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Support forthe Festival Project as a District 6 Resident Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear Council Members and Mayor,
I am writing today as a District 6 resident to express my support for the Festival project.

I truly believe this project will benefit many young families, including my own daughter and grandson, who are trying to find a place of their own while still remaining in a safe and desirable part of Anaheim. This project would provide opportuni ties for families like hers to stay close to loved ones while continuing to live in a good area.

I also want to say that I believe the City of Anaheim has done a great job taking care of its residents. Ihave confidence in our city staff, first responders, and the employees who work hard every day to keep our community safe.

Regarding fire concerns, those of us who live in the hills already understand that our area is naturally more prone to fire danger than the flatlands. We chose to live here knowing that risk. Iwould also assume that, in the event of a fire, homes closest to the hillside would be evacuated first based on the direction of fire authorities. Itrust our fire professionals to make those decisions and keep residents safe.

Unfortunately, I feel that some of my neighbors in District 6 are becoming extreme in their opposition simply because of increasing traffic but that traffic is from the neighboring county. Ialso believe we must think about the needs of the entire city — not just those who already have the privilege of living comfortably in the hills.

This project is a good opportunity for Anaheim as a whole, not just for a select few. If the state eventually requires more housing in this area, it may bring even more density and the very types of housing that some residents say they are trying to avoid.

Supporting a thoughtful project now may be the better path for our city.

Mayor, I say this respectfully: I am not sure why you are opposing this project when it could be a real benefit to Anaheim residents. I hope your vote reflects what is best for the city as a whole, not just what is politically convenient.

The Festival project is an opportunity to support working families, young adults, and future generati ons who deserve the chance to live in Anaheim too — not just the elite.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Rosa Villacana
District 6 Resident
ou don't often get email from imvega600@gmail. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 10:45:18 AM
From:" martha" imvega600@gmail. com
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.net, "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Re: Safety FIRST, Vote NO Festival Center development Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

I am a resident of Anaheim Hills area off of Weir Canyon since 1984 and have lived this fear!!! Please reconsider this vote and allow for more detail evaluation of the risks to the existing and new residents.

Please STOP this progress until life saving evacuation plans are in place for all!!! God Bless,
Martha
On Feb 5, 2026, at 6:26 PM, martha < imvega600@gmail. com> wrote:

Dear Council Member,
I am writing to you as a resident of hidden ridge (weir canyon and oak) to urge you to please vote "No" on the proposed apartments at the Anaheim Hills Festival Center.

I lived here since 1998 when this area was being developed and to say the least it is over populated for our safety.

During the Canyon Fire 2 in 2017, and I will never forget the feeling of being stuck in my car, trying to get out of my house and getting my mom down the street and my 3 kids at Running Springs. The school scenario was scary, the bused the kids out and they went down Serrano and the buses were stuck in traffic and the poor kids were watching the fire burn close to them. All because of the congestion on the streets. We were all frightened and not being able to get out of a true fire hell.

I recall watching the smoke get closer, and literally not moving for over an hour. It wasn't just "traffic"— it was a total standstill. The thought of adding hundreds of new apartments and about 1000+ more people to that exact same escape route is terrifying to those of us who have actually been in that situation.

The reports for this project say that adding these cars will "only" add about 7 minutes to the evacuation time. But when you're already stuck for three hours and the fire is moving toward you, 7 minutes is a lifetime. We don't have extra roads or "secret" ways out of the Hills; we all end up on the same few lanes. Adding more people to a neighborhood that is already a bottleneck during a fire just feels like a tragedy waiting to happen.

I understand that the city needs housing, but it shouldn't be built in a place where people are already struggling to get out safely.

Please don't make an existing danger even worse just for a new development. We are asking you to prioritize the lives and safety of the people who already live here and pay taxes here.

Sincerely,
Martha Vega
8830 E Cloudview way
Anaheim Hills CA 92808
[email protected]
God Bless,
Martha
ate: 3/24/2026 12:33:10 PM
From:" Marcia Anderson" mwaassociates@icloud. com
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] festival project
You don' t often get email from mwaas sociates @icloud. com. Learn why this is important at https:// aka. ms /LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

As a res ident of Eas t Hills , I am writing to you to advis e the committee of our extreme objection to moving forward on the fes tival project.

Today in Anaheim Hills we are experiencing a power outage that began very early this morning. It is projected we will not have power until after 5 PM. As I pas sed the fire station, I noted that the fire danger sign at the local fire station was marked high. Imagine today, when it is difficult to even get out of your garage, a fire starts . We have lived here for over 12 years and have experienced two fires in this area. Both experiences were traumatic. It was sheer chaos and fortunately we were able to be evacuated after a horrific traffic, jam and heroic efforts of the fire department.

Our ins urance has been canceled after 32 years becaus e of the high wind high fire danger in Anaheim Hills .

How can this committee pos sibly vote to approve additional dens ity in this already dangerous lands cape. Pleas e note that should this pas s . Our community is very organized and we will ens ure that this committee will not be reelected.

Thank you,
Marcia and Bob Anders on
206 S Ras pberry Ln
Anaheim, CA 92808
Sent from my iPhone
ate: 3/24/2026 12:35:37 PM
From:" Marcia Anderson" mwaassociates@icloud. com
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.net, "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Please vote NO on the Shea/Festival Center apartments – It's a safety issue You don' t often get email from mwaas sociates @icloud. com. Learn why this is important at https:// aka. ms /LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

Sincerely,
Marcia and Robert Anders on
206 S. Ras pberry Ln
Anaheim Hills
Sent frommy iPhone
ate: 3/24/2026 1:26:46 PM
From:" S R" [email protected]
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.net, "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected], City Clerk" [email protected]
Subject:[
EXTERNAL] Supplemental Information & Impartiality Considerations Ahead of Final Vote for the Festival Development Proposal (DEV2023-00043) on 3-24-26
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear Mayor and Council Members,
I hope this message finds you well.

With the second and final vote on the Festival Development Proposal scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, I am writing to respectfully request clarification on several key issues prior to deliberation.

Given the significance of this decision— and its direct impact on public safety, infrastructure, and community trust—having clear, on-therecord responses to these questions would greatly support informed public engagement and confidence in the decision- making process.

Evacuation & Traffic
Can the Council explain how real-world traffic conditions— not solely modeled scenarios— were incorporated into evacuation planning? What specific analysis demonstrates that existing road capacity can safely support additional evacuation demand? How were known bottlenecks and choke points evaluated under emergency conditions? What assumptions were made regarding resident evacuation behavior, and how do those reflect real-world patterns? Fire Safety & Risk Thresholds
What standard is being used to define a “ safe evacuation,” and how was that standard applied in this case? How does the City account for worst-case conditions, rather than average scenarios, in its safety analysis? What margin of safety exists ifreal-world conditions differ from projections? Transparency & Process
Can the Council outline how community concerns were incorporated into the final decision- making process? Where can the public access detailed responses to the specific safety concerns that were raised? What factors were considered in this decision, and howwere they prioritized? Outstanding Questions & Uncertainty
Which concerns raised by residents remain unresolved at this stage? How is uncertainty being accounted forin the decision being made? Can the Council clarify where assumptions were made due to limited orincomplete data? Deliberation & Decision Integrity
Can the Council describe the deliberation process that led to this point? How were repeated community concerns weighed against project approval? What conditions or findings would have warranted reconsideration of the project? Impartiality & Public Trust
At a prior meeting on 1 -13-26, Councilmember Natalie Rubalc ava publicly indicated that her support for this project was contingent on a labor agreement. Following that meeting, an agreement was reached after coordination between project stakeholders.

That sequence of events raises concerns about whether factors outside of land use, safety, and planning considerations may be influencing this ecision.

A detailed request has already been submitted outlining concerns regarding Councilmember [ Name]’ s impartiality. Based on those concerns, I respectfully request that she recuse herself from this vote to preserve the integrity of the process and maintain public trust.

More broadly, this situation highlights the importance of ensuring that decisions of this magnitude are made transparently, based on complete information, and with community safety as the priority.

Public Trust & Accountability
How can the Council help the public understand how this decision was reached in a way that builds confidence inthe process? What steps were taken to ensure transparency around all factors influencing this decision? How can residents be assured that community safety was prioritized in the final outcome? Additional Consideration
Given the volume and consistency of these concerns from residents, addressing them clearly would go a long way toward strengthening public confidence in both the outcome and the integrity of the process.

I appreciate your time and consideration in reviewing these questions. Providing clarity on these points— either in advance or during the meeting— would help ensure that the final vote reflects a fully informed and transparent process.

Thank you for your service to our community.

Respectfully,
Shelly Robbins
shelly.n.robbins@gmail. com
Susana Barrios
From: KristaMckinney <kristamckinney02@gmail. com>
Sent: Tuesday, March24, 20261:30PM
To: PublicComment <[email protected]>
Subject: \[EXTERNAL\] VoteNOFestivalCtrAptProject
Youdon'[email protected]. Learnwhythisisimportant Warning: This email originated from outside theCityofAnaheim. Donotclick links oropen attachments unless you recognize thesender andareexpecting themessage.
03/24/2026
DearCouncilMember,
Iamwriting toaskyoutovote "No" ontheAnaheim Hills Festival Center apartment project. The idea that wecanadd over 400 apartments andabout 1300 people tothisareawithout creating adisaster during awildfire evacuation isnotpossible.

The cityreports thatitalready takes residents overthree hours togetoutduring afire. Itisperplexing thatwith California’s historic losses from recent fires ourcitywould consider ahigh density housing development overthesafety ofitsconstituents.

The evacuation route during 2017 firetook hours with less residents and less commuters than today’snumbers.

Weneed ourleaders tolook atthereality ofour streets, notjust thenumbers onadeveloper' sspreadsheet. Please dothe responsible thing and protect theresidents who arealready here. Weneed better ways togetoutoftheHills, notmore people trapped inthem. Please vote "No" onthisproject.

Sincerely,
Krista MPrewett
1 ate: 3/24/2026 1:42:31 PM
From:"+ 17145974817@tmomail. net" + 17145974817@tmomail. net To:" Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Subject:[ EXTERNAL]
Attachment: ATT00001;text_0.txt;
Dear Council and Mayor. I support the festival project. The city should embrace housing all over Anaheim without exclusions. The old movie theater is a great place where it can be used as So. California has a shortage of housing.

Thank you, Vicky
ou don't often get email from vickyrg13@gmail. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 1:44:42 PM
From:" Maricela RamirezS" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Dear Council and Mayor,
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear Council and Mayor. I support the festival project. The city should embrace housing all over Anaheim without exclusions. The old movie theater is a great place where it can be used as So. California has a shortage of housing. Thank you, Vicky ou don't often get email from josersantiago312@gmail. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 1:47:14 PM
From:" Jose Santiago" josersantiago312@gmail. com
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL]
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear Council and Mayor. I support the festival project. The city should embrace housing all over Anaheim without exclusions. The old movie theater is a great place where it can be used as So. California has a shortage of housing. Thank you, Vicky ate: 3/24/2026 1:48:37 PM
From:" Jackie Edlin" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Festival Center Project
You don' t often get email from edlinj@yahoo. com. Learn why this is important at https:// aka. ms /LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] Warning: This email originated from outs ide the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unles s you recognize the sender and are expecting the mes sage.

To Whom it May Concern,
I’m writing this to implore the board to recons ider the Fes tival Center Apartment project. During the Yorba Linda fire, it took my hus band 1.5 hours to go one mile to take my handicap son to his day program. It took me 2.5 hrs to get home to help get ready to evacuate, coming from the other direction.

The traffic conges tion is already at an all time high from the 91 eas tbound due to commuters using Santa Ana Canyon Rd thru to Gyps um Canyon as a shortcut.

Adding hundreds of more res idents will as suredly caus e a repeat Paradise fire res ult. As it is, we have to time our shopping at Savi Ranch around high freeway shortcut timing or be stuck in traffic an extra 30-50 mins jus t to go a few miles eas t.

Pleas e think beyond the money and politics and cons ider the res idents that will be affected the most.

Thank you for your cons ideration.

Jackie Edlin
6214 E Twin Peak Cir
Anaheim, CA 92807
714- 749- 7144
Sent from my iPhone
ou don't often get email from stolleral@yahoo. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 2:23:25 PM
From:" Allen Stoller" stolleral@yahoo. com
To:" Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Anaheim Hills Housing and Retail projec Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

For the record, I am adamantly opposed to the new project, unless and until the surrounding infrastructure is improved. Traffic around the area is already a nightmare with many people who live in the Inland Empire taking Anaheim Hills streets to bypass the 91 freeway traffic. If there were a fire today, I would extremely concerned and even scared as to whether we would be able to evacuate the area. A project like is being proposed is simply putting existing residents at extreme danger.

Allen Stoller
8190 E. Ashfield Lane
Anaheim Hills
ome people who received this message don't often get email from brad@taloncorp. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 3:05:12 PM
From:" Brad Gorsha" [email protected]
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, " City Clerk" [email protected], "Ashleigh Aitken" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], "Natalie Meeks" [email protected], " Carlos A.

Leon" [email protected], "Ryan Balius" [email protected], "Natalie Rubalcava" [email protected], Jennifer Diaz" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Please vote NO on the AH Festival Project Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Hello, I'ma 26-yr resident ofAnaheim Hills and our traffic in Anaheim Hills has increased significantly since I've lived here.

Imperial, Santa Ana Canyon, Weir Canyon and Serrano are undrivable during many hours of the day. My entrance to the 91 West should be Imperial, but it is gridlocked 90% of the time, and Google recommends entering at Lakeview. Exiting Imperial from the 91 has become complete gridlock 75% of the time I travel through it, and I can rarely even turn onto Santa Ana Canyon. Google recommends exiting at Lincoln/ Nohl Ranch about 50% of the time.

Anaheim Hills serves as a bypass to drivers trying to avoid the 55 and 91 freeways. SR-91 freeway is projected to see a 50% increase in traffic by 2035. (US Dept of Transporation)
WHAT is being done to mitigate this?
WHY are new developments being considered before infrastructure is deemed to be adequate? WHY is the safety ofAnaheim residents in a VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD zone being disregarded? It's illogical and irresponsible to consider adding 450-500 units, which will translate to 1000+ more cars.

I encourage the council to:

Delay or deny the Festival project until traffic mitigation and evacuation improvements are made.

Explore alternative locations or smaller developments. The out-of-state developer should not be a higher priority than your own residents.

Thanks for your time,
Brad Gorsha
401 S Paseo Estrella
Anaheim
ome people who received this message don't often get email from brad@taloncorp. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 3:05:12 PM
From:" Brad Gorsha" [email protected]
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, " City Clerk" [email protected], "Ashleigh Aitken" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], "Natalie Meeks" [email protected], " Carlos A.

Hello, I'ma 26-yr resident ofAnaheim Hills and our traffic in Anaheim Hills has increased significantly since I've lived here.

Anaheim Hills serves as a bypass to drivers trying to avoid the 55 and 91 freeways. SR-91 freeway is projected to see a 50% increase in traffic by 2035. (US Dept of Transporation)
WHAT is being done to mitigate this?
WHY are new developments being considered before infrastructure is deemed to be adequate? WHY is the safety ofAnaheim residents in a VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD zone being disregarded? It's illogical and irresponsible to consider adding 450-500 units, which will translate to 1000+ more cars.

I encourage the council to:

Delay or deny the Festival project until traffic mitigation and evacuation improvements are made.

Explore alternative locations or smaller developments. The out-of-state developer should not be a higher priority than your own residents.

Thanks for your time,
Brad Gorsha
401 S Paseo Estrella
Anaheim
ome people who received this message don't often get email from glendababbitt@hotmail. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 4:21:48 PM
From:" Glenda Babbitt" glendababbitt@hotmail. com
To:

Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.net, "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Ryan Balius" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, " Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Please vote NO on the Shea/Festival Center apartments – It's a safety issue Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear Council Member,
I am writing to you as a resident of Anaheim to ask you to please vote "No" on the proposed apartments at the Anaheim Hills Festival Center. I have lived here for 35 years and have experienced the fear of being stuck in traffic with the presence of a fire burning nearby. That, however, isn't my biggest beef with the traffic. My problem is getting home after work when the traffic on the 91 is at a standstill. I can't get home as i can't even get into my tract. You see a street in my track, Larkwood runs parallel to Weir Canyon so when traffic backs up on Weir, commuters use the next best street..Larkwood. My community has expressed our concern and even worked with the City to ease the traffic. You are not allowed to turn right onto Santa Ana Canyon between 2pm and 7pm out of my tract. With no enforcement commuters ignore the traffic law. By adding this complex and ignoring updating the infrastructure, my commute is going to get worse. Guess I'll have to park in the shopping center nearby,walk home and walk back to get my car when traffic dies down.

Please vote NO on this development until the City has addressed the infrastructure issues.

I understand that the city needs housing, but it shouldn't be built in a place where people are already struggling to get out and home. Please don't make an existing danger and daily commute issue even worse just for a new development. I am asking you to prioritize the lives and safety of the people who already live here and pay taxes here.

Sincerely,
Glenda Babbitt
Sent from my Galaxy
ou don't often get email from aburke14@aol. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 6:28:04 PM
From:" Alan Burke" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Apartment complex anaheim hills proposal Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

The Traffic is already out of control in Anaheim Hills!! This will only make it worse. It will be unsafe in the event of an evacuation as well. We do not want this !! We oppose !!! Do not allow this !!!
Sent from AOL on Android
Date: 3/23/2026 2:45:53 PM
From:" Nguyen, Ngoc" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Cc:

Ashleigh Aitken" [email protected], " Natalie Meeks" NMeeks@anahe im.net, "Ryan Balius" [email protected], "Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], "Natalie Rubalcava" [email protected], Norma C. Kurtz" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], " Berenice Ballinas" [email protected], "Alyssa Guerrero" [email protected], " JJ Jimenez" [email protected], dwetmore@carpiclay. com" dwetmore@carpiclay. com, "zcommins@carpiclay. com" zcommins@carpiclay. com Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Rep. Correa's LOS for council meeting Attachment: Anaheim support letter CORREA 2026-03-26.pdf; Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Good afternoon,
Attached is a letter of support from Congressman Lou Correa for item 28 on tomorrow’ s council meeting agenda.

Best,
Ngoc Nguyen | Deputy Chief of Staff
Office of Congres sman J. Luis Correa ( CA- 46)
2082 Rayburn HOB | Tel: 202- 225- 2965
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
March 24, 2026
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council,
I write in strong support of the proposed addition of an immigrant legal defense fund within the Anaheim Contigo program. This action reflects a practical and necessary response to ongoing federal immigration enforcement activity and its measurable effects on local economies such as Anaheim’s.

Immigration enforcement actions carry immediate economic consequences for cities anchored by service, tourism, and small business sectors. Anaheim is a prime example. Our workforce includes a significant number of immigrant workers across hospitality, construction, food service, and logistics. When enforcement activity escalates, the disruption is not limited to individual households. It reverberates through workplaces, reduces labor availability, and constrains business operations.

Recent conditions in Anaheim confirm this pattern. The city has documented continued enforcement activity, including regular targeted operations affecting workers and job sites.

Employers across the city are navigating uncertainty as enforcement actions interrupt staffing and daily operations, while families face sudden income loss and instability.

The Anaheim Contigo initiative has already established a strong foundation by providing verified information, emergency assistance, and connections to legal and community resources. However, the current framework relies heavily on external nonprofit capacity and does not fully meet the scale or urgency of legal needs during active enforcement periods.

A dedicated legal defense fund addresses this gap in a targeted and economically sound manner.

Access to legal representation improves case outcomes, reduces prolonged detention, and allows individuals to maintain employment where legally permitted. In practical terms, this stabilizes the workforce, reduces turnover costs for employers, and helps prevent cascading financial strain on families that would otherwise require additional public assistance.

Local testimony and recent council discussions further underscore the urgency of expanding Anaheim’s response. Community members, including day laborers and small business stakeholders, have identified a clear need for on-the- ground legal services and dedicated funding to respond to repeated enforcement actions affecting workers in real time.

Establishing an immigrant legal defense fund within Anaheim Contigo would align the city with proven models in neighboring jurisdictions while tailoring the approach to Anaheim’ s economic profile. It would strengthen the city’s ability to respond swiftly during enforcement activity, support business continuity, and reinforce confidence among workers who are essential to Anaheim’s economic base.

This proposal is consistent with responsible governance and recognizes that workforce stability, business continuity, and community trust are interconnected. A legal defense component is a necessary extension of the city’s existing efforts to mitigate disruption, maintain economic resilience, and support of immigrant families living in Anaheim.

For these reasons, I respectfully urge approval of this agenda item.

Sincerely,
J. Luis Correa
Member of Congress
ate: 3/24/2026 1:04:34 PM
From:" Bulmaro Vicente" boomer@chispaoc. org
To:" Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Public Comment Item28 - Anaheim Legal Defense Fund Attachment: 3.24.26 - Item 28 Anaheim Legal Defense Fund, Chispa Letter to CC.pdf; Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Hi,
Please find Chispa' s letter of support for Item 28.

In Solidar ity ,
Boomer
Policy and Political Director | Chispa
e: boomer @chispaoc. org c: 714.747.4271
1505 E 17th Street Suit e 117 Sant a Ana, CA 92705
Chispa is building a polit ical home for young Latinx s in Orange County ! Please consider making a donat ion to help us build our casita. Chispa is a project of Tides Adv ocacy , a 501 c4 non- profit organization.

March 24th, 2026
Mayor Ashleigh Aitken and Members of City Council
City of Anaheim
200 S. Anaheim Blvd.

Anaheim, CA 92805
RE: Item 28 – Urgent Request to Establish a City-Supported Immigration Legal Defense Fund Dear Mayor Aitken and Members of the Anaheim City Council, On behalf of Chispa, we urge the City of Anaheim to establish a dedicated immigration legal defense fund to support residents and families impacted by ongoing immigration enforcement raids in the amount of $100,000.

Legal defense is a matter of due process and fundamental fairness. Without access to legal counsel, individuals facing deportation are significantly less likely to be able to navigate complex immigration proceedings, even when they may have valid claims to remain in the country.

At the same time, Anaheim has been deeply impacted by immigration enforcement activity. Across Orange County, cities are recognizing the urgency of this moment and stepping up to protect their communities. Most recently, the City of Irvine approved the creation of a legal aid fund to connect immigrant families with attorneys and provide immediate representation, emphasizing the importance of due process and community safety.

If Anaheim acts now, it would join a growing list of cities including Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, and Irvine that are investing in legal defense infrastructure to ensure residents are not left to face detention and deportation alone.

We respectfully urge the City Council to establish a immigration legal defense fund in the amount of 100,000, ensuring it provides timely access to legal representation, including intake, screenings, and direct legal services. The City should partner with trusted community-based organizations and legal service providers to ensure services are delivered efficiently and in a timely manner.

At a time when fear and uncertainty are rising, Anaheim has the opportunity to lead with compassion, fairness, and a commitment to justice.

Sincerely,
Bulmaro Vicente
Policy and Political Director
Chispa
ome people who received this message don't often get email from robert.villegas@bos2. oc.gov. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 2:52:15 PM
From:" Villegas, Robert" [email protected]
To:" City Clerk" [email protected], "Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net Cc:" Santana, Richard" [email protected]
Subject:[
EXTERNAL] Supervisor Sarmiento' s letter inSupport of the Anaheim Contigo Program and development of legal defense component
Attachment: Letter in support of the Contigo Anahem legal assistance component.pdf; Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Please find attached a letter from Supervisor Sarmiento in support of the Anaheim Contigo program and the legal defense component item on tonight's Council agenda.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Robert L. Villegas
714- 673- 4575
Communications Advisor
Office of Vicente Sarmiento
Second District Supervisor
County of Orange

VICENTE SARMIENTO

ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

SUPERVISOR, SECOND DISTRICT

COUNTY ADMINISTRATION NORTH BUILDING
400 W. CIVIC CENTER DRIVE. SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92701
PHONE ( 714) 834-3220
March 24, 2026
Dear Honorable Mayor and Members of the Anaheim City Council, I write to express my strong support for continued funding of the Anaheim Contigo Program and the establishment of an immigration legal defense component.

Anaheim Contigo has proven to be an essential lifeline for residents— helping families stay housed, keep the lights on, and meet basic needs during times of hardship. As your agenda report highlights, the program has already served hundreds of residents and continues to meet a growing demand in the community.

Expanding this effort through the “ Stay Housed Anaheim Program” and additional utility assistance is a critical step forward. At the same time, establishing a legal defense component is both timely and necessary. Having legal representation or assistance to navigate the legal process involved in immigration law is one of the most difficult hurdles that our families face in trying to ensure their rights are respected.

Last year, in collaboration with philanthropic entities, we funded the creation of the OC Liberty Fund to support county non-profits in the community legal empowerment work they do every day. The need is so acute, and for many families, the additional assistance you can provide could make all the difference. These investments are essential to protecting vulnerable residents and strengthening the overall stability of the community.

Your action on this item will not only assist in ensuring we protect the rights of our immigrant neighbors, who continue to be targets, but also send an important message to our immigrant communities that they are part of the city and that you support them at those most difficult moments for so many families.

I strongly urge the City Council to move forward with both the continuation of Anaheim Contigo and the implementation of this legal defense component.

Thank you for your leadership and continued commitment to Anaheim families.

Sincerely,
Vicente Sarmiento
Supervisor, Second District
Orange County Board of Supervisors
You don't often get email from info@ocrapidresponse. org. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 2:58:59 PM
From:" OC Rapid Response Network" info@ocrapidresponse. org To:

Ashleigh Aitken" [email protected], " Carlos A. Leon" [email protected], " Natalie Rubalcava" [email protected], " [email protected]" ncamposkurtz@anaheim. net, " Natalie Meeks" [email protected], "Kristen Maahs" [email protected], "Ryan Balius" RBalius@anahe im.net, " Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Item28: Urgent Request to Establish a City-Supported Immigration Legal Defense Fund Attachment: Item28 Anaheim Legal Defense Fund Letter .pdf; Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Please see attached letter of support.

Best,
Sandra De Anda
Director of Policy and Legal Strategy
Pronouns: (She/Her/Hers)
Orange County Rapid Response Network
March 24, 2026
Mayor Ashleigh Aitken and Members of City Council
City of Anaheim
200 S. Anaheim Blvd.

Anaheim, CA 92805
RE: Item 28 – Urgent Request to Establish a City-Supported Immigration Legal Defense Fund Dear Mayor Aitken and Members of the Anaheim City Council, On behalf of the Orange County Rapid Response Network ( OCRRN), we respectfully urge the City of Anaheim to establish a dedicated immigration legal defense fund to support residents and families impacted by ongoing immigration enforcement. We recommend an initial allocation of $250,000 in light of the heightened level of ICE enforcement in the city, and an amount that matches that of the City of Santa Ana’s Legal Defense Fund.

Since 2017, we have earned the trust of communities most impacted by the immigration system. This trust is reflected in our emergency hotline, which has received over 10,000 calls across Orange County. A significant share of these calls comes from Anaheim residents, who are the second-highest regional callers after Santa Ana.

One of the most striking calls we received came from an Anaheim resident—the son of Narciso Barranco—who reported that his father had been brutalized by Border Patrol agents while working at the intersection of Edinger and Ritchey in Santa Ana on June 21, 2025. Our team responded immediately, just as we have in numerous cases involving Anaheim residents.

These include a Vietnamese refugee who was taken in front of their Anaheim apartment three years ago through a ruse involving an ICE officer impersonating a police officer, and who later experienced a severe mental health crisis due to the destabilizing effects of detention. We also supported a Salvadoran father detained last year at Chapman Car Wash, whose son with disabilities suffered immensely during his absence. In each case, individuals were ultimately reunited with their families because they had access to trusted legal representation.

The state of DHS enforcement in Anaheim has worsened significantly. Since June 9, 2025—when we first observed Border Patrol and ICE Special Response teams detaining residents in public spaces and workplaces, including car washes, Home Depot locations, parks, and major streets—our community has faced violent and escalating enforcement actions. While there may be a temporary lull in Border Patrol activity, we continue to receive weekly reports of ICE surveillance and detentions in Anaheim. Many families are still actively working to secure the release of their loved ones from detention.

Anaheim has already demonstrated leadership through the Anaheim Contigo Fund, which has provided critical assistance to hundreds of families facing hardship. However, as city staff have acknowledged, the program remains limited in scope and resources— particularly in meeting the growing demand for legal representation. Access to legal defense is a matter of due process and fundamental fairness. Individuals facing deportation without legal counsel are far less likely to successfully navigate complex immigration proceedings, even when they may have valid claims to remain in the United States.

We also encourage the City to declare a state of emergency to unlock additional funding. It is apparent that we are currently experiencing a humanitarian disaster, characterized by a severe scarcity of resources and a devastating wave of family separations. The mass, often illegal, federal enforcement operations have a catastrophic impact on community stability, parallel to that of a natural disaster. As Los Angeles County and neighboring cities have recognized, a disaster demands an emergency response. The priority must shift from routine budgeting to supporting the material well-being and safety of residents in a disaster. This means unlocking discretionary funds and responsibly reallocating lower-priority spending—such as social events that many in our terrified community are too afraid to attend—toward urgent human needs.

Grounded in community leadership, OCRRN collaborates with trusted local legal service providers— including the OC Public Defender’ s Office, Public Law Center, Immigrant Defenders Law Center, CAIR-LA, and the UCI Immigrant and Racial Justice Solidarity Clinic—to expand access to legal representation and support families through participatory defense strategies.

Our network has a strong track record of advancing community-centered policies and legal protections. Most recently, we supported the documentation of unlawful DHS encounters through the Perdomo-Vasquez v. Noem litigation; helped advance a more effective and accessible U Visa policy in the City of Santa Ana; and advocated for both the Ayuda Sin Fronteras emergency fund and the renewal of the Santa Ana Immigrant Legal Defense Fund. We have since expanded this defense fund model to neighboring cities—including Costa Mesa, Buena Park, and Irvine—as well as to the County of Orange.

Anaheim has been deeply impacted by immigration enforcement activity, and the need for action is urgent. Across Orange County, cities are recognizing this moment and taking steps to protect their communities. Families in our city are facing sudden detentions, separation, and extremely limited access to legal support—often with little time to respond. Most recently, the City of Irvine approved the creation of a legal aid fund to connect immigrant families with attorneys and ensure timely access to representation— reinforcing the importance of due process and community safety.

We urge the City of Anaheim to join this growing regional effort by establishing a dedicated immigration legal defense fund. Doing so will provide critical protection for residents, strengthen families, and uphold the values of fairness and justice in your community.

Sincerely,
Sandra De Anda
Director of Policy and Legal Strategy
Casey Conway
Director of Organizing
Kelsey Gordon
Director of Advocacy
Karen G. Hernández
Managing Director
You don't often get email from afields@cair. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 3:01:39 PM
From:" Amina Fields" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Cc:" Aliya Yousufi" [email protected], "Basha Jamil" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Letter of Support forthe Anaheim Immigration Legal Defense Fund Attachment: CAIR Letter to Anaheim City Council 3.24.2026.pdf; Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear City Council Members,
Please find attached a letter in support of the Anaheim Immigration Legal Defense Fund.

Amina Fields | Immi grants' Ri ghts Se ni or Managing Attorney C ouncil on Am erican- Islam ic Re lat ions, C alifor nia Grea ter Lo s Angeles A rea O ffice
2180 W . Cr es cent Ave., Ste. F | An a hei m, CA 92801 www. ca irla .org | 714 .776 .1177
Disclaimer: This email may contain confidential and privileged material, including attachments, forthe sole use of the intended recipient(s) named above. Please do not review, use, copy, forward, or in any way distribute or disclose the contents of this e-mail including any attachments unless you are the intended recipient(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, or authorized to receive this message forthe recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and delete all copies of this message. This email does not by itself establish an attorney-client relationship, and may not constitute legal advice.* In the Name of God, The Compassionate, The Merciful
Council on American- Islamic Relations
Greater Los Angeles Office
2180 W. Crescent Ave., Anaheim, CA 92801
Tel. 714.776.1847 ca.cair.com
WASHINGTON D.C.

ALABAMA • ARIZONA • CALIFORNIA • CONNECTICUT • FLORIDA • GEORGIA • ILLINOIS • KANSAS • MARYLAND •

MASSACHUSETTS
MICHIGAN • MINNESOTA • MISSOURI • NEW JERSEY • NEW YORK • OHIO • OREGON • PENNSYLVANIA • TEXAS • WASHINGTON March 24, 2026
Mayor Ashleigh Aitken and Members of City Council
City of Anaheim
200 S. Anaheim Blvd.

Anaheim, CA 92805
RE: Item 28 – Urgent Request to Establish a City-Supported Immigration Legal Defense Fund Dear Mayor Aitken and Members of the Anaheim City Council, On behalf of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, we urge the City of Anaheim to establish a dedicated immigration legal defense fund to support residents and families impacted by ongoing immigration enforcement raids in the amount of $100,000 or more.

We respectfully urge the City Council to establish a immigration legal defense fund in the amount of $100,000, ensuring it provides timely access to legal representation, including intake, screenings, and direct legal services. The City should partner with trusted community-based organizations and legal service providers to ensure services are delivered efficiently and in a timely manner.

At a time when fear and uncertainty are rising, Anaheim has the opportunity to lead with compassion, fairness, and a commitment to justice.

Sincerely,
Amina Fields, Esq.

Senior Managing Attorney for the Immigrants’ Rights Center You don't often get email from npalacios@caimmigrant. org. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 3:31:02 PM
From:" Norma Palacios" npalacios@caimmigrant. org
To:" Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Subject:[
EXTERNAL] CIPC Written Public Comment inSupport of Agenda Item28 – Urgent Request to Establish a CitySupported Immigration Legal Defense Fund Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear Mayor Aitken and Members of the Anaheim City Council, My name is Norma Palacios and I write on behalf of the California Immigrant Policy Center ( CIPC) to express our support on Agenda Item 28 urging the City of Anaheim to establish a dedicated immigration legal defense fund to support residents and families impac ted by ongoing immigration enforcement raids in the estimated range of $ 50, 000 to $ 100, 000.

CIPC is a statewide immigrant rights organization advocating for policies that uphold the hum anity of im migrants and refugees .

Anaheim has already demonstrated leadership through the Anaheim Contigo Fund, whic h has provided critic al assis tanc e to hundreds of families facing economic hardships. However, the current program is limited in scope and res ources, particularly when it comes to addressing the growing need for legal representation.

Legal defense is a lifeline for immigrants facing deportation by ensuring that their fundamental legal rights are protec ted and there is fairness in the outcome of their case. Studies have shown that people with legal counsel in im migration detention are up to 10 times more likely to obtain relief than those without a lawyer. Without access to legal counsel, individuals facing deportation are unable to navigate complex immigration proceedings, which can result in unjust removals.

Today, the Orange County Board of Supervisors held the annual TRUTH Act hearing where comm unity members raised concerns regarding the high number of county residents- over 200 immigrants, mostly from Mexico and Vietnam - who have been trans ferred to Immigration and Custom Enforcement ( ICE) by the sheriff department. These are community m embers who are in desperate need of legal services to ensure they have the opportunity to make their case to remain in the U.S. where they have created a life for thems elves and their families.

Across the county, cities are recognizing the urgency of this moment and have moved forward with es tablis hing legal servic es funds.

Most recently, the City of Irvine approved the creation of a legal aid fund to connect immigrant fam ilies with attorneys and provide immediate representation, emphasizing the importance of due process and community safety.

Anaheim must follow the footsteps of cities like Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, and Irvine that are inves ting in legal defens e infras tructure to ensure residents are not left to face detention and deportation alone.

For these reasons, we respectfully urge the City Council to establish an immigration legal defense fund so immigrants fac ing deportation could have access to legal representation. W e also request that the City partner with trus ted comm unity- based organizations and legal service providers to ensure services are delivered efficiently and in a timely manner. At a tim e when immigrant communities are facing fear and uncertainty, Anaheim has the opportunity to lead with compassion, fairness, and a com mitment to jus tice.

Thank you for the consideration of our position.

Sincerely,
Norma Palacios
Norma Palacios
Statewide Organizing Manager
California Immigrant Policy Center
e: npalacios@caimmigrant. org
w: caimmigrant.org

Youdon't often get [email protected]. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 3:35:56 PM
From:" Theresa Bass"
To:" Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Letter of Support - Agenda Item28 03/24/2028 Council Meeting Attachment: 03.24.2026_AnaheimContigoCouncil_ UmbergLOS.pdf; From: Ochoa, David < Davi d.Ochoa@se n. ca. gov>
Se nt: Tue sday, March 24, 2026 3:34 PM
To: The re sa Bass < TBass@anaheim. net>
Cc: Gonzal ez, Ana <Ana. Gonzalez@se n. ca. gov>; Masse y, Justi n <Justi n.Massey@sen. ca. gov> Subje ct: [ EXTERN AL] Le tte r of Support - Agenda Ite m 28 03/ 24/ 2028 Council Me eting Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Good afternoon Madam Clerk,
I am attaching a letter of support from Senator Umberg to the Anaheim City Counci l for Agenda Item 28 on tonight’s agenda.

Please let me know if there are any questions!
Sincerely,
David Ochoa | Senior District Representative
Office of Senator Tom Umberg
O: 714- 558-3785
Website | Facebook | X | Instagram | Threads
March 24, 2026
Mayor Ashleigh Aitken and members of the Anaheim City Council Anaheim City Hall
200 S. Anaheim Blvd., 7th Floor
Anaheim, CA 92805
RE: Support for Agenda Item 28: Funding Update on The Anaheim Contigo Program And Consider Establishing An Immigration Legal Defense Component Dear Mayor Aitken,
I am writing to express my strong support for tonight’s Agenda Item 28 on providing additional funding for Anaheim Contigo and the establishment of an immigration legal defense component for community members facing financial and legal impacts as a result of the federal governments immigration actions.

The City of Anaheim is one of our state’s most proactive cities in taking on the federal government and protecting its residents. Anaheim Contigo has already proven to be a crucial lifeline for over 300 families in the City, people who would otherwise have faced the unconscionable decision of either eating less so their children would be able to eat enough, or letting bills lapse in the hopes that they can cover other expenses . The federal government’s targeting of community members who have been upstanding citizens and neighbors, instead of their stated goal of deporting criminal actors, has put us all on edge.

The establishment of a legal defense component will provide legal assistance to those who either are facing deportation or equip them with the tools and knowledge to protect themselves and their loved ones. As a former federal prosecutor, I know that the right to counsel is a crucial pillar of not just our legal system, but also our Constitutional foundation. Representation in court can mean the difference between an unjust deportation and keeping our upstanding neighbors with their families .

I want to thank you for your consideration of this letter. If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at Senator.Umberg@senate. ca.gov or (961) 651-4034.

Sincerely,
Thomas J. Umberg
California State Senate, District 34
You don't often get email from luisandres. perez@asm. ca.gov. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 3:38:41 PM
From:" Perez, LuisAndres" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Anaheim Public Comment Submisison
Attachment: Valencia - Anaheim Legal Defense Fund Support Letter.pdf; Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Hello,
My name is LuisAndres Perez Iam submitting this letter on behalf of Assemblyman Avelino Valencia in Support of the Anaheim Contingo Legal Defense Component.

LuisAndres Perez, Senior Field Representative for Assemblyman Avelino Valencia.

March 24, 2026
Mayor Ashleigh Aitken
200 S. Anaheim Blvd.

Anaheim, CA 92805
Re: SUPPORT—Anaheim Contigo Immigration Legal Defense Component Dear Mayor Aitken, City Council:

I write to express my strong support for the City Council’ s consideration of establishing an immigration legal defense component within the Anaheim Contigo program, including the proposed funding in the range of $50,000 to $100,000.

There is a clear and growing need for immigration-related legal services in our community. Addressing this need is not only a matter of legal access, but of protecting families, preserving stability, and ensuring every resident is afforded due process and dignity.

This proposed partnership with qualified nonprofit legal providers represents a meaningful investment in the well-being of Anaheim residents. It is an opportunity for the City to lead with compassion, responsibility, and commitment to those who call Anaheim home.

I respectfully urge the Council to approve this item and move forward with urgency to implement this critical expansion of services. Thank you for your leadership and your continued commitment to the people of Anaheim.

In Service,
Avelino Valencia
Assemblymember, 68th District
ate: 3/24/2026 4:48:58 PM
From:" Pat D" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] March 24, 2026 Agenda item 28
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

City Council members,
I am unable to attend in person this evening so I am writing to urge the Anaheim City Council to take strong leadership and establish several support services, including this immigration legal defense fund in the amount of at least $ 100,000, ensuring it provides timely access to legal representation, including intake, screenings, and direct legal services. For many of my precious neighbors, interactions with immigration enforcement have been deeply personal, leaving devastating and lasting impacts on families.

Anaheim can join the leadership of cities like Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Buena Park, and Irvine–where legal providers ( PLC, ImmDef, etc) participated in an RFP process to then hire additional staff–to ensure residents are not left to face detention and deportation alone.

I have sadly seen first hand that Anaheim is a hotspot for enforcement actions where agents have taken 30 of our friends at the local Home Depot across 8 raids between June 2025 and January 2026. These are terrifying events! With immigration enforcement funding at a record high, the city must respond accordingly. As you know, it is likely needs will exceed the proposed $ 100,000. (Santa Ana spent down $250k within 5 months due to the expenses incurred with numerous, extended cases.) In addition, the City should allocate an additional $ 250K to Anaheim Contigo. The program is a great first step but needs improvement to adequately support our families and neighbors housing security.

Anaheim Contigo needs additional funding. The City should declare a state of emergency to unlock additional funding! We are currently experiencing a county- wide humanitarian disaster, characterized by a severe scarcity of resources and a devastating wave of family separations.

Our communities are facing starvation, imminent displacement, educational disruption, and a widespread deprivation of the constitutionally guaranteed right to due process. The mass, often illegal, federal enforcement operations have a catastrophic impact on community stability, parallel to that of a natural disaster. The priority must shift from routine budgeting to supporting the material well-being and safety of residents in a disaster.

This means unlocking discretionary funds and responsibly reallocating lower- priority spending— such as social events and photo opps that many in our terrified community are too afraid to attend— toward urgent human needs! The community is paying attention amd at a time when fear and uncertainty are rising, Anaheim has the opportunity to lead with compassion. I care about this city and our families, and ask that you listen to the people and take action to protect our families and neighbors! Finally, I would love to have been in the "room" tonite, but am unable to do so. Therefore, I also ask that you implement SB707 - The Brown Act requirements!!! Be a leader here as well and offer hybrid, real time access to your meetings NOW! Thank you,
Pat Davis ( she/they)
District 1 Resident
ou don't often get email from sekahn7@gmail. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 4:53:50 PM
From:" Sarah Kahn" [email protected]
To:" Public Comment" [email protected], "Karen Hernández" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Public Comment Agenda Item #28
Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

Dear Anaheim City Council Members,
I write in support of establishing an immigration legal defense fund in the amount of $100,000+, ensuring it provides timely access to legal representation, including intake, screenings, and direct legal services. For a year, we have watched our communities devastated by brutal, lawless immigration enforcement" - people dragged from their homes, their schools, their places of worship and transported to prisons, sometimes across the country.

The conditions of these prisons and the obstruction of access to counsel is not a mistake. They are abducting people with legal status - work authorization, deferred action, pending petitions. They are arresting people with a right to seek lawful status - people with close family relationships, lives they've spent decades building in the US, military family members, asylum, CAT, and refugee claims. That they are arresting people whom the government has promised protection is not a mistake. That they are transporting them to distant prisons and rushing them through proceedings, if they provide any at all, is not a mistake. The brutal conditions of these prisons and difficulty of affording counsel are designed to instill despair so that they can coerce people into agreeing to their own unlawful deportation.

It is our responsibility as a community and our government' s responsibility to protect our neighbors. It is imperative that people have representation. Whether a person has an attorney is by far the most important factor in whether they are deported. As an attorney, I have seen countless cases where a person had a legitimate claim to legal protection and simply didn't have the resources to articulate it to the judge. That means that Anaheim residents are being deported simply for lack of an attorney.

I strongly support establishing a legal defense fund.

Additionally, I support the following steps:

1. partner with trusted community- based organizations and legal service providers

2. allocate at least $ 100K to an immigration legal defense fund

3. allocate an additional $ 250K to Anaheim Contigo

4. declare a state of emergency to unlock additional funding.

Sincerely,
Sarah Kahn
809 N Clementine
Anaheim, CA 92805
ou don't often get email from allisonpvo@gmail. com. Learn why this is important Date: 3/24/2026 4:59:38 PM
From:" Allison Vo" allisonpvo@gmail. com
To:"
Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, " Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, "Mayors Office" [email protected]
Cc:"
Valeria Sandoval" [email protected], "Daniel Hernandez" DHernandez6@anahe im.net, "Berenice Ballinas" [email protected]
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Agenda Item #28: Support forImmigration Legal Defense Fund Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.

March
24, 2026
Anaheim
City Council
200
S. Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92805
RE:

Agenda Item #28
Good
afternoon Mayor and City Councilmembers,
My
name is Allison Vo and Iam a resident of District 3. Iam writing to express my strong support
for the establishment of an immigration legal
defense fund to support Anaheim residents. In order to ensure timely access to thorough legal representation, Iurge you to allocate
at least
100,000 for this vital initiative.

Access
to legal counsel for our immigrant and refugee residents ensures equal access to justice. It provides a critical lifeline against federal immigration enforcement’ s aggressive tactics and overreach. Current federal policies and actions have signaled their intent
to arrest, imprison, and disappear as many immigrants and refugees as possible. With the “One Big Beautiful Bill" inflating the DHS budget and the Supreme Court legitimizing racial profiling, our community is living in a reality where fear, uncertainty, and state violence permeate daily life.

An
immigration legal defense fund is a crucial safeguard for the constitutional right to due process, especially during a political moment where the human rights of immigrants and refugees are being systematically challenged.

I
urge this council to take the following actions:

Allocate a
minimum
of $100,000 to the immigration legal defense fund
Partner with trusted community based organizations and legal services providers through a public RFP process to ensure effective and timely delivery of services
Declare a state of emergency
to unlock additional funding and re-allocate resources from public events to support the safety and wellbeing of residents facing the combined pressures of immigration enforcement, the high cost of living, and unaffordable rent Allocate an additional $ 250,000 to Anaheim Contigo
to increase direct financial support for our residents facing hardship Thank
you for your time and commitment to the safety of all Anaheim residents.

Sincerely,
Allison
Vo
Allison Vo
ate: 3/5/2026 8:18:54 AM
From:" durfeycraig778@gmail. com" durfeycraig778@gmail. com To:

Craig ADurfey'" [email protected], "[email protected]" [email protected], "' Teri Rocco'" [email protected], " senator.umberg@senate. ca.gov" [email protected], "' PIO Department'" pio_department@ggusd. us, "' Bob Harden'" [email protected], "' Dina Nguyen'" [email protected], "' Lan Nguyen'" [email protected], "' Walter Muneton'" [email protected], " SHEA.Committee@senate. ca.gov" SHEA.Committee@senate. ca.gov, "' Lisa Kim'" [email protected], "' Public Records Request'" [email protected], " stephaniek@ggcity. org" stephaniek@ggcity. org, "[email protected]" [email protected], "' Gabriela Mafi'" [email protected], "' LizVasquez'" [email protected], "' Devon Atkinson'" datkinson@ocde. us, "' Nick Dibs'" [email protected], "[email protected]" [email protected], [email protected]" [email protected], "' George Brietigam'" georgeb@ggcity. org, " [email protected]" yeseniam@ggcity. org, " [email protected]" [email protected], " [email protected]" [email protected], hlarum@cityofirvine. org | cityofirvine.org" hlarum@cityofirvine. org | cityofirvine.org, " [email protected]" response@ocgov. com, "irvinecitycouncil@cityofirvine. org" irvinecitycouncil@cityofirvine .org, "' Jeffrey Layland'" [email protected], " [email protected]" [email protected], " City.Council@surfcity- hb.org" City.Council@surfcity- hb.org, " SEDN.committee@senate. ca.gov" SEDN.committee@senate .ca.gov, " Don Barnes" [email protected], " [email protected]" [email protected], "Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net
Subject:[ EXTERNAL] Dangers online predators real interaction children's games Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.
202603- 03-05-2026
P.R. D. D.C.)(

Craig ADurfey'" [email protected], "[email protected]" [email protected], senator.umberg@senate. ca.gov" senator.umberg@senate. ca.gov, " [email protected]" [email protected], "' PIO Department'" [email protected], "' Teri Rocco'" [email protected], "' Bob Harden'" [email protected], "' Dina Nguyen'" [email protected], "' Lan Nguyen'" [email protected], Walter Muneton'" [email protected], " SHEA.Committee@senate .ca.gov" SHEA.Committee@senate. ca.gov, "' Lisa Kim'" [email protected] .ca.us, "' Public Records Request'" [email protected], "[email protected]" [email protected], "' Gabriela Mafi'" [email protected], stephaniek@ggcity. org" stephaniek@ggcity. org, "' LizVasquez'" [email protected], "' Devon Atkinson'" datkinson@ocde. us, "' Nick Dibs'" [email protected], "[email protected]" [email protected], [email protected]" [email protected], "' George Brietigam'" georgeb@ggcity. org, " [email protected]" yeseniam@ggcity. org, " [email protected]" [email protected], " [email protected]" [email protected], " hlarum@cityofirvine. org | cityofirvine.org" hlarum@cityofirvine. org | cityofirvine.org, response@ocgov. com" response@ocgov. com, "irvinecitycouncil@cityofirvine .org" irvinecitycouncil@cityofirvine. org, "' Jeffrey Layland'" [email protected], " City.Council@surfcity- hb.org" City.Council@surfcity- hb.org, " SEDN.committee@senate. ca.gov" SEDN.committee@senate .ca.gov, " Don Barnes" [email protected], " [email protected]" [email protected], "Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, " Superintendent@cde. ca.gov" Superinte [email protected], " [email protected]" ocbe@ocde. us
Cc:" senator.umberg@senate. ca.gov" senator.umberg@senate. ca.gov, " Don Barnes" [email protected] Subject:[ EXTERNAL] 1. Washington Post Children Happiest Less Screen Time Attachment:

Washington Post Children Happiest Less Screen Time;66d0782166347d6ddce 660f8_SUI Screening Handout.pdf;House Resolution No. 28-Relative to humane
education.pdf;hoag_and_irvine_unified_speaker_series_1_gaming_social_media_and_mental_wellness_presentation 5).pdf;SCR-73 Blue Light Awareness Day. (1).pdf;Screens Have Taken Over Classrooms. Even Students Have Had Enough. - WSJ.pdf;Resolution Addressing Social Media Use Screen Time and Mental Health_Approved 2025.03.26_For Sharing ( 1).pdf;BOH Resolution Press Release_ Screen Time _April 2025 (2).docx;Laguna Beach Unified School District, screen time.pdf;LGUBSD SCREEN TIME Approval of Resolution No. 25-20 Supporting Efforts to Optimize Computer Screen Time and Reduce Excessive Computer Screen Time.pdf; Warning: This email originated fromoutside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.
202603- 03-05-2026
P.R. D. D.C.)(

CHILDRENPARENTS PARENTS FOR THE RIGHTS OF DEVELELOPMENTALLY OPMENTAL LY DISABLEDED CHIL DREN CRAIG A. DURFEYEY FOUNDER FOUNDER OF P.R.D.D.C.
42P. P.O.BOX 200101 GARDEN GROVE, CA 92884 2
8CELL CEL L 714- 14 -321-1-8238 23
COMCADURFEY@GMAIL. CADURFEY@ GMAIL. COM
COMSOCIALEMOTIONALPAWS. SOCIAL EMOTIONALPAWS. COM
DURFEYFACEBOOK: FACEBOOK: CRAIG DURFEY
U ..S. HOUSE OU SE OF CONGRESS GRESS H2 40 4 - HONORING HONORING CRAIG DURFEYDURFEY FOROR HIS FIGHT IG HT AGAINST AGAINST AUTISM ... AU TISM ... Ms. ORETTALORETTA L SANCHEZSANCHEZ of Californ California. ia.
dfhttps:// https:// www. goovinfo. fo .gov/v/content/ co nte nt/pkg/ kg /CREC- 2003- 00 3-03-3-27/ 7/pdf/ df/CREC- 200 3-03-27.pdf new website orgsocialemotionalpaws. socialemotionalpaws. org SergeantHaldor Haldor Larum | Sergeant
CoordinatorIrvine Irvine Police Department | Department | Mental Health Unit | DRE Coordinator 92606949- 949- 724- 7400 | 1 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92606 orghlarum@cityofirvine. hlarum@cityofirvine. org | cityofirvine. org concernTo To whom it may concern
CARequesting Requesting support support for a summit at Valley High School 1801 South Greenville Greenville St. Santa Ana, CA 92704-4005, awareness awareness education education K-12 suicide suicide prevention prevention such as CA State introduce introduce a bill AB2003 Pupil health: health: suicide suicide prevention.( prevention.(2025-2026) greatValley Valley High celebrates celebrates renovated renovated arts center/ center/ great foropportunity opportunity for
SchoolHome - Home - Valley High School
onlineExisting Existing law requires requires the State Department Department of Education Education to identify identify an evidence- evidence-based online training training program program that a county office of education, education, school district, district, state charterspecial special school, or charter asschool school that serves pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, inclusive, can use to train school staff and pupils as anpart part of their policy on pupil suicide suicide prevention. prevention. Existing Existing law requires requires the department, department, subject subject to an appropriation for these purposes, ato to provide provide a grant to a county office of education education to acquire acquire a totraining training program program identified identified by the department department and disseminate disseminate that training training program program at no cost to specified educational entities, as specified.
theThis This bill would revise and recast these provisions provisions by (1) deleting deleting the requirement requirement to provide provide the above-described described grant, ( grant, (2) deleting deleting the requirement requirement of the department department to identify the aboveHealthdescribed described evidence- evidence-based online training training program, ( program, (3) instead instead requiring requiring the Behavioral Behavioral Health trainServices Services Oversight Oversight and Accountability Accountability Commission Commission to develop develop an online training training program program to train school staff, parents, parents, and pupils of county specialoffices offices of education, education, school districts, districts, state special schools, schools, and charter charter schools schools that serve pupils in kindergarten kindergarten or in any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, inclusive, on pupil suicide suicide prevention, prevention, as specified. specified. toThe The bill would require require those educational educational entities entities that elect to conduct conduct suicide suicide risk screenings screenings to report data on these screenings screenings to the department, department, as provided, provided, and would departmentrequire require the department asto to compile compile and post statewide statewide aggregate aggregate data on these screenings screenings on its internet internet website, website, as provided.
202520260AB2003https:// https://leginfo. leginfo.legislature. legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient. billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2003 toThe The opportunity opportunity to collectively collectively work as County effort than having multiple multiple groups attempt attempt to research research to gather information information the work has been done, below are movies, movies, presentation presentation with Rose, a senior at Northwood Northwood High mental health with Hope Squad as a speaker speaker about hope squad.

Rose, a senior at Northwood Northwood High mental health Squadwith with Hope Squad academySeeking Seeking support support of Santa Ana School District District to utilize utilize the Valley high school new medial academy creating creating opportunities opportunities to develop develop material material to promote promote awareness awareness campaign campaign with social media etc. https://valley.sausd.us/
638Seek Seek Orange County Behavior Behavior Health funding funding and CA State prop 63 funding funding under CA State 638 year was 2021-2022 Hope Squad etc.

TimeWashington Washington Post Children Children Happiest Happiest Less Screen Time amongThe The Washington Washington Post's report on the relationship relationship between between screen time and happiness happiness among children children and adolescents adolescents highlights highlights that less screen time is associated associated with higher happinesshappiness lesslevels. levels. The study, conducted conducted by the University University of Michigan, Michigan, found that adolescents adolescents who spent less hoursthan than 20 hours a week on screens screens were happier happier than those who used screens screens for 20 or more hours a week.
satisfiedThe The findings findings suggest suggest that the more hours day teens spend in front of screens, screens, the less satisfied they are, and that the correlation correlation between between happiness happiness and screen activities activities is uniformly negative. toThe The report also indicates indicates that the happiest happiest teens are those who get a small amount of exposure exposure to screen time, between between one and five hours a week.

Washington Searchpost post children children happiest happiest less screen time - Search dailyChildren Children are generally generally happier happier and have better mental well-being with less than one hour of daily timescreen screen time , as excessive excessive , use (over 4–7 hours) is strongly strongly linked to anxiety anxiety and depression. depression. significantlyPrioritizing Prioritizing active, active, after-school, school, or face-to-face social activities activities instead instead of digital digital media significantly beingincreases increases emotional well-being
https://www.google.com/search?
lesq= q=childern+ childern+happist+ happist+less+screen+ screen+time&rlz=1C1ONGR_ 1C1ONGR_enUS1178US1178& enUS1178US1178& oq=childern+ childern+happist+ happist+les EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRifBTIHCAIQIRifBTIHCAMQIRifBTIHCAs+ s+screen+time&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRifBTIHCAIQIRifBTIHCAMQIRifBTIHCA QQIRifBTIHCAUQIRifBTIHCAYQIRifBTIHCAcQIRifBTIHCAgQIRifBTIHCAkQIRifBdIBCDU3MzBqMGoxqAIQQIRifBTIHCAUQIRifBTIHCAYQIRifBTIHCAcQIRifBTIHCAgQIRifBTIHCAkQIRifBdIBCDU3MzBqMGoxqAI 8AsAIA& AsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
DepressionDepression
KidsScreen Screen Time and Mental Health in Kids
High levels of screen time can be problematic problematic for kids' mental health. health. https:// https://www.psychologytoday. psychologytoday. com/us/blog/inner-source/ source/202411/ 202411/screen- screen-time-and-mental- mental-health- health-inkidskids Teens who spend less time in tofront front of screens screens are happier — happier — up to AB 2003, as introduced, introduced, Berman. Berman. Pupil health: health: suicide suicide prevention. prevention. onlineExisting Existing law requires requires the State Department Department of Education Education to identify identify an evidence- evidence-based online training training program program that a county office of education, education, school district, district, state charterspecial special school, or charter asschool school that serves pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, inclusive, can use to train school staff and pupils as anpart part of their policy on pupil suicide suicide prevention. prevention. Existing Existing law requires requires the department, department, subject subject to an appropriation for these purposes, ato to provide provide a grant to a county office of education education to acquire acquire a totraining training program program identified identified by the department department and disseminate disseminate that training training program program at no cost to specified educational entities, as specified. specified. Bill Text - AB- 2003 Pupil health: health: suicide suicide prevention. prevention. communityShow Show the Screenagers Screenagers movies in your school or community challengesThe The impact of this digital digital age has led to rapid increases increases in levels of mental health challenges among youth. Through Through our movies, movies, resources resources and initiatives, initiatives, we aim to play restoringour our part in restoring the balance.

CommunityScreenagers Screenagers Movie | Screen In Your Community PodcastThe The Screenagers Podcast
ScreeningScreenagers Screenagers Movie | Host a Screening ResourcesScreenagers Screenagers Movie | Resources
19Parents Parents Handout SUI draft April 19
documentaryDangers Dangers of social media for teens examined examined in new documentary forA A new Bloomberg Bloomberg documentary, " documentary, " Can't Look Away," investigates investigates the dark side of social media for teens and the growing growing fight to hold tech companies companies accountable. accountable. Bloomberg Bloomberg reporterinvestigative investigative reporter theOlivia Olivia Carville, Carville, who is an executive executive producer producer of the film, talks about her reporting reporting in the documentary.

Dangers Dangers of social media for teens examined examined documentaryin in new documentary brainThe The drug-like effect of screen time on the teenage teenage brain The drug- like effect of screen time on the teenage teenage brainbrain Why Book Screen Strong?
We do not compromise compromise the truth or bend to culture. culture.

We provide provide the gold standard standard for parents & parents & schools. schools. yourWhen When you choose Screen Strong, Strong, you’re embarking embarking on a journey journey to bring back harmony harmony to your family in today’s digital digital world. We offer practical practical solutions solutions and evidence- evidence-backed thatinsights insights that empower empower listeners listeners to tackle screen time challenges challenges with confidence. confidence. aOn On our podcast podcast and in media interviews, interviews, Screen Strong isn’t just about talk; we’re about making a genuine genuine impact. impact. Our goal is clear: to help families families break free from screen buildaddiction addiction and build stronger, healthier connections. connections.StrongBook Book Workshop | Screen Strong | Screen Strong aCapistrano Capistrano Valley High School hosts panel for parents parents concerned concerned a Capistrano Capistrano Valley High School hosts panel afor for parents concerned a WellnessGaming, Gaming, Social Media and Mental Wellness WellnessGaming, aming, Social Media and Mental Wellness WellnessHoag Hoag Speaker Speaker Series Event: Gaming, Gaming, Social Media and Mental Wellness Bing VideosVideos
epidemicAnxious Anxious Nation is a feature feature documentary documentary focusing focusing on the epidemic Anxious Anxious Nation is a feature feature documentary documentary epidemicfocusing focusing on the epidemic ArchiveScreen Screen time | 60 Minutes Archive
ArchiveScreen Screen time | 60 Minutes Archive
60The The devastating devastating effects effects of video game addiction addiction on children | children | 60 The devastating devastating effects effects of video game 60addiction addiction on children | 60 GenerationFree Free The Anxious Generation
GenerationFree Free The Anxious Generation
MediaCan' Can't Look Away: The Case Against Against Social Media MediaCan' Can' t Look Away: The Case Against Against Social Media ParentingCollin Collin Kartchner Kartchner TIPS Talk at the 2019 Uplift Families Families Parenting Collin Kartchner Kartchner TIPS Talk at the 2019 ParentingUplift Uplift Families Parenting PresentationIUSD IUSD and Hoag to Host Gaming, Gaming, Social Media and Mental Wellness Wellness Presentation IUSD and Hoag to Host Gaming, Gaming, Social Media and Mental orgWellness Wellness Presentation | IUSD. org

ADDICTIONSHOAG HOAG HOSPITAL HOSPITAL MENTAL ILLNESS ILLNESS SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTIONS Explore Explore the impact technology technology has on adolescent adolescent behavior behavior and brain development development during this educational educational discussion discussion hosted by Hoag Hospital Hospital and Capistrano Capistrano Unified. Unified. Read onthe the FULL STORY on CUSDYouTubeCUSD CUSD Insider: Insider: http:// http://cusdinsider. cusdinsider. org/cusd-and-hoag-... hoag-... SUBSCRIBE: SUBSCRIBE: http:// http://bit.ly/CUSDYouTube

HOAG HOSPITAL SPITAL MENTAL ILL NESS SOOCIAL CIAL ADDICTIONSMEDIA MEDIA ADDICTIONS documentaryDangers Dangers of social media for teens examined examined in new documentary Dangers Dangers of social media for teens examined examined documentaryin in new documentary SquadRose, Rose, a senior at Northwood Northwood High mental health with Hope Squad Rose, a senior at Northwood Northwood High mental health Squadwith with Hope Squad forValley Valley High celebrates celebrates renovated renovated arts center/ center/great opportunity opportunity for Valley High celebrates celebrates renovated renovated arts center/ center/ great foropportunity opportunity for Internet Internet addiction addiction disorder disorder affecting affecting toddlers | toddlers | 60 Minutes Minutes Australia. Australia.

Internet addiction disorder affecting Austrtoddlers | toddlers | 60 Minutes Austr districtsKansas Kansas bill would limit students' students' screen time in class and create extra costs for school districts Kansas bill would limit students' students' screen time in class and create extra costs for school districts | districts | KCUR - NPRKansas Kansas City news and NPR
SchoolHome - Home - Valley High School
I’m available available to assist for free by phone if you have any question question just call me at 714- 321- 8238.

YouThank Thank You
DurfeyCraig Craig Durfey
ate: 3/20/2026 10:58:48 AM
To:

CraigA Durfey'" [email protected], " [email protected]" [email protected], [email protected]" [email protected], " [email protected]" rosie.rosales@sausd. us, "' PIO Department'" pio_department@ggusd. us, "' Teri Rocco'" teri.rocco@ggusd. us, Bob Harden'" bob.harden@ggusd. us, "' Dina Nguyen'" dina.nguyen@ggusd. us, "' Lan Nguyen'" [email protected], "' Walter Muneton'" [email protected], " [email protected]" [email protected], "' Lisa Kim'" [email protected], "' Public Records Request'" [email protected], "[email protected]" [email protected], "' Gabriela Mafi'" gmafi@ggusd. us, " stephaniek@ggcity. org" stephaniek@ggcity. org, "' Liz Vasquez'" lizv@ggcity. org, " Devon Atkinson" [email protected], " Nick Dibs" [email protected], " [email protected]" [email protected], "[email protected]" [email protected], "' George Brietigam'" [email protected], [email protected]" [email protected], " [email protected]" [email protected], David. Ochoa@sen. ca.gov" David. Ochoa@sen. ca.gov, " hlarum@cityofirvine. org | cityofirvine. org" [email protected] | cityofirvine.org, "[email protected]" [email protected], [email protected]" [email protected], "Jeffrey Layland" [email protected], " [email protected]" [email protected], SEDN. committee@senate. ca.gov" SEDN. committee@senate. ca.gov, " Don Barnes" ddbarnes@ocsd. org, GGDPIO@GGCITY. ORG" GGDPIO@GGCITY. ORG, " Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim. net, [email protected]" [email protected], " [email protected]" [email protected] Subject: Washington Post Children Happiest Less Screen Time Attachment:

Resolution No. 25-20 Supporting Efforts to Optimize Computer Screen Time and Reduce Excessive Computer Screen Time - Google Docs ( 1).pdf; LGUBSD SCREEN TIME Approval of Resolution No. 25-20 Supporting Efforts to Optimize Computer Screen Time and Reduce Excessive Computer Screen Time.pdf;Orange County, NC - Resolution Addressing Social Media Use Screen Time and Mental Health_Approved by OC Health Department, NC 2025. 03.26_For Sharing ( 1).pdf;BOH Resolution Press Release_ Screen Time_April 2025 2).docx; screen- time- guidelines- 1024x536. jpg;AB-638 Mental Health Services Act early intervention and prevention programs (1).pdf;SB-224 Pupil instruction mental health education. (1).pdf;Screens HaveTaken Over Classrooms. Even Students Have Had Enough. - WSJ.pdf;SCR-73 Blue LightAwareness Day. 1).pdf;Hope Squad One- Pager. pdf; Grant Support Document 2025 ( 1).pdf;Grant Support Document 2025. pdf; Hope Squad Pricing - 2025- 2026 School
Year.pdf;hoag_and_irvine_unified_speaker_series_1_gaming_social_media_and_mental_wellness_presentation 5).pdf;House Resolution No. 28-Relative to humane education.pdf;66d0782166347d6ddce660f8_SUI Screening Handout. pdf;
P.R.D.D.C.)

PARENTS FOR THE RIGHTS OF DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED CHILDREN CRAIG A. DURFEY FOUNDER OFP.R.D.D.C.

P.O.BOX 2001 GARDEN GROVE, CA 92842
CELL 714-321-8238
CADURFEY@GMAIL. COM
SOCIALEMOTIONALPAWS. COM
FACEBOOK: CRAIG DURFEY
U.S. HOUSE OF CONGRESS H2404 - HONORING CRAIG DURFEY FOR HIS FIGHT AGAINST AUTISM ...

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2003-03-27/pdf/CREC-2003-03-27.pdf new website socialemotionalpaws. org
Haldor Larum | Sergeant
Irvine Police Department | Mental Health Unit | DRE Coordinator 949-724-7400 | 1 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, CA 92606
hlarum@cityofirvine. org | cityofirvine.org
Washington Post Children Happiest Less Screen Time
The Washington Post's report on the relationship between screen time and happiness among children and adolescents highlights that less screen time is associated with higher happiness levels. The study, conducted by the University of Michigan, found that adolescents who spent less than 20 hours a week on screens were happier than those who used screens for 20 or more hours a week. The findings suggest that the more hours a day teens spend in front of screens, the less satisfied they are, and that the correlation between happiness and screen activities is uniformly negative. The report also indicates that the happiest teens are those who get a small amount of exposure to screen time, between one and five hours a week. washingtion post childern happist less screen time Search Children are generally happier and have better mental well-being with less than one hour of daily screen time , as excessive use (over 4 7 hours) is strongly linked to anxiety and depression. Prioritizing active, after-school, or face-to-face social activities instead of digital media significantly increases emotional well-being
https://www.google.com/search?q=childern+happist+less+screen time&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1178US1178& oq=childern+happist+less+screen time&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRifBTIHCAIQIRifBTIHCAMQIRifBT IHCAQQIRifBTIHCAUQIRifBTIHCAYQIRifBTIHCAcQIRifBTIHCAgQIRifBTIHCAkQIRifBdIBCDU 3MzBqMGoxqAIAsAIA& sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Depression
Screen Time and Mental Health in Kids
High levels of screen time can be problematic for kids' mental health. https://www.psychologytoday. com/us/blog/inner-source/202411/screen-time-andmental-health-in-kids Teens who spend less time in front of screens are happier up to AB 2003, as introduced, Berman. Pupil health: suicide prevention.

Existing law requires the State Department of Education to identify an evidence-based online training program that a county office of education, school district, state special school, or charter school that serves pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, can use to train school staff and pupils as part of their policy on pupil suicide prevention. Existing law requires the department, subject to an appropriation for these purposes, to provide a grant to a county office of education to acquire a training program identified by the department and disseminate that training program at no cost to specified educational entities, as specified. Bill Text - AB-2003 Pupil health: suicide prevention.

Show the Screenagers movies in your school or community The impact of this digital age has led to rapid increases in levels of mental health challenges among youth. Through our movies, resources and initiatives, we aim to play our part in restoring the balance.

Screenagers Movie | Screen In Your Community
The Screenagers Podcast
Screenagers Movie | Host a Screening
Screenagers Movie | Resources
Parents Handout SUI draft april 19
Dangers of social media for teens examined in new documentary A new Bloomberg documentary, " Can't Look Away," investigates the dark side of social media for teens and the growing fight to hold tech companies accountable. Bloomberg investigative reporter Olivia Carville, who is an executive producer of the film, talks about her reporting in the documentary.

Dangers of social media for teens examined in new documentary The drug-like effect of screen time on the teenage brain The drug-like effect of screen time on the teenage brain Why Book ScreenStrong ?
We do not compromise the truth or bend to culture.

We provide the gold standard for parents & schools.

When you choose ScreenStrong , you re embarking on a journey to bring back harmony to your family in today s digital world. We offer practical solutions and evidence-backed insights that empower listeners to tackle screen time challenges with confidence.

On our podcast and in media interviews, ScreenStrong isn t just about talk; we re about making a genuine impact. Our goal is clear: to help families break free from screen addiction and build stronger, healthier connections.

Book Workshop | ScreenStrong | ScreenStrong
Capistrano Valley High School hosts panel for parents concerned a Capistrano Valley High School hosts panel for parents concerned a Gaming, Social Media and Mental Wellness
Gaming, Social Media and Mental Wellness
Hoag Speaker Series Event: Gaming, Social Media and Mental Wellness Bing Videos
Anxious Nation is a feature documentary focusing on the epidemic Anxious Nation is a feature documentary focusing on the epidemic Screen time | 60 Minutes Archive
Screen time | 60 Minutes Archive
The devastating effects of video game addiction on children | 60 The devastating effects of video game addiction on children | 60 Free The Anxious Generation
Free The Anxious Generation
Can't Look Away: The Case Against Social Media
Can't Look Away: The Case Against Social Media
Collin Kartchner TIPS Talk at the 2019 Uplift Families Parenting Collin Kartchner TIPS Talk at the 2019 Uplift Families Parenting IUSD and Hoag to Host Gaming, Social Media and Mental Wellness Presentation
IUSD and Hoag to Host Gaming, Social Media and Mental Wellness Presentation | IUSD.org

HOAG HOSPITAL MENTAL ILLNESS SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTIONS
Explore the impact technology has on adolescent behavior and brain development during this educational discussion hosted by Hoag Hospital and Capistrano Unified. Read the FULL STORY on CUSD Insider:
http://cusdinsider. org/cusd-and-hoag-... SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/CUSDYouTube

HOAG HOSPITAL MENTAL ILLNESS SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTIONS
Dangers of social media for teens examined in new documentary Dangers of social media for teens examined in new documentary Rose, a senior at Northwood High mental health with Hope Squad Rose, a senior at Northwood High mental health with Hope Squad Valley High celebrates renovated arts center/great oportunity for Valley High celebrates renovated arts center/great oportunity for Internet addiction disorder affecting toddlers | 60 Minutes Australia.

Internet addiction disorder affecting toddlers | 60 Minutes Austr Kansas bill would limit students' screen time in class and create extra costs for school districts
Kansas bill would limit students' screen time in class and create extra costs for school districts | KCUR - Kansas City news and NPR
Laguna Beach Unified School District
Board of Education Resolution No. 25-20 Supporting Efforts to Optimize Computer Screen Time and Reduce Excessive Computer Screen Time WHEREAS , the Board of Education of Laguna Beach Unified School District is committed to supporting the health, well-being, and academic success of all students; and
WHEREAS , research indicates that excessive computer screen time may negatively impact student health, including sleep, vision, attention, and social-emotional well-being, while balanced and purposeful technology use can enhance learning and engagement; and
WHEREAS , the district recognizes that technology is an essential tool for 21st-century learning, but that such use must be developmentally appropriate, intentional, and aligned with instructional best practices; and
WHEREAS , teachers, staff, parents, and students have expressed interest in strategies that provide a healthy balance between digital learning and non-screen activities such as reading, writing, discussion, collaboration, hands-on projects, physical movement, and creative expression; and
WHEREAS , the district is committed to fostering an environment that develops responsible digital citizens and models healthy technology habits; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of Laguna Beach Unified School District supports district efforts to:

1. Review and monitor classroom practices and curricular expectations to ensure that student screen time is optimized for learning and minimized where unnecessary.

2. Develop districtwide guidelines for age-appropriate, instructional use of technology that balance screen-based and non-screen-based learning activities.

3. Provide professional development for teachers and staff on effective strategies to balance technology integration with non-digital instructional practices.

4. Collect and analyze data on student screen time across grade levels and subjects to guide decision-making.

5. Collaborate with families to promote healthy screen use at home and at school.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that the Board directs the Superintendent to report annually on district progress toward optimizing student screen time, including successes, challenges, and next steps.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Governing Board on September 11, 2025, by the following vote:

AYES: Members:

NOES: Members:

ABSENT: Members:

STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
ss

COUNTY OF ORANGE )
Dee Perry
LBUSD Board President

ORANGECOUNTY

HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Improving health. Inspiring change.

ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH

RESOLUTION ADDRESSING SOCIAL MEDIA USE, SCREEN TIME, AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH WHEREAS, according to a recent survey one-third of all teens report being online and using social media platforms "almost constantly";1 and
WHEREAS, a 2023 U.S. Surgeon General' s Advisory warned that while social media may offer benefits, there is growing evidence of risks to youth mental health including anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of sleep;2 and WHEREAS, studies have found correlations between time spent on social media and mental health including one study that found risk of anxiety and depression doubled in youth that spent more than three hours daily on social media;3 and WHEREAS, adolescence represents a critical time in the brain development and studies have reported social media may result in addictive behavior, decreased attention span, and lower test scores;4,5,6 and WHEREAS, growing reports suggest social media can expose youth to cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and heavily edited comparisons that can lead to eating disorders, body dissatisfaction, and suicidal ideation; 6 and WHEREAS, evidence-based strategies toreduce the risks of social media include implementing device-free school policies, setting screen-time limits at home, avoiding screens before bedtime, and educating families about the psychological effects of social media;6 ,7,8 and
WHEREAS, time spent on social media and screens decreases time for exercise, sleep, in-person time with friends, and other activities that are thought to improve mental health and healthy social development ( for youth and adults).2,3 •4 ,5 ,6 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED on this 26th day of March 2025, that we the Orange County Board of Health:

1. Recognize social media use among youth as a significant public health concern and mental health risk.

2. Recommend parents and caregivers establish screen-time limits for their children/teens, particularly restricting device use on school nights and before bedtime, to promote healthy sleep habits.

3. Urge parents to consider delaying getting their children smartphones and exploring pledges with other parents like the "Wait Until 8th" initiative.9

4. Encourage parents and young people to explore the resources listed below to further understand the impact of digital technology on youth development.

5. Support "Away for the Day" policies in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and Orange County Schools that restrict personal device use during school hours to support focus and well-being.

6. Suggest Orange County school districts or the county explore joining ongoing class action lawsuits against social media companies, withthe goals offunding additional mental health services for youth and/or requiring social media companies to improve their age verification and parental controls.10

7. Support the countywide adoption of "Screen-Free Week" during May 5-11, 2025, as observed by Chapel HillCarrboro City Schools and encourage parents and children of the county to participate.11

8. Support statewide legislation, such as Senate Bill 55, that would join NC with other states in requiring school districts to have policies around use of cellphones during the day and nationwide legislation that would require social media companies to have more effective age/parental consent verification.12, 13

9. Support educational efforts that inform families, schools, and policymakers about the risks of social media use and the importance of digital wellness.

Alison Stuebe, MD, MSc
Chair, Orange County Board of Health Orange County Health Director 919 245 2405 > 300 West Tryon Street > Hillsborough, NC 27278 > orangecountync. gov

Page 1 of 2 ends

REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:

1. Sidoti, Michelle Faverio and Olivia. “ Teens, Social Media and Technology 2024.” Pew Research Center blog), December 12, 2024. https://www.pewresearch. org/internet/ 2024/12/12/teens-social-media-andtechnology- 2024/.

2. U.S. Surgeon General’ s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health ( 2023). https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/ reports- and-publications/ youth-mental- health/social-media/index.html

3. Riehm KE, Feder KA, Tormohlen KN, Crum RM, Young AS, Green KM, Pacek LR, La Flair LN, Mojtabai R.

Associations Between Time Spent Using Social Media and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Among US Youth.” JAMA Psychiatry. 2019 Dec 1;76(12):1266-1273. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry. 2019.2325. https:// pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6739732/

4. Lissak, Gadi. “Adverse Physiological and Psychological Effects of Screen Time on Children and Adolescents:

Literature Review and Case Study.” Environmental Research 164 (July 2018): 149–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres. 2018.01.015.

5. Twenge, Jean. iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy-- and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood-- and What That Means for the Rest of Us. (2017).

6. Haidt, Jonathan. The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. ( 2024).

7. Muppalla, Sudheer Kumar, Sravya Vuppalapati, Apeksha Reddy Pulliahgaru, and Himabindu Sreenivasulu.

Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Child Development: An Updated Review and Strategies for Management.” Cureus 15, no. 6 (June 2023): e40608. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus. 40608.

8. American Psychological Association, " Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence" ( 2023). https://www.apa.org/topics/ social-media-internet/health-advisory- adolescent- social-media-use

9. Wait Until 8th. “Wait Until 8th.” Accessed March 19, 2025. https://www.waituntil8th.org."Wait Until 8th" Campaign, www.waituntil8th. org.

10. Scofield, Sydnee. “ Wake County school board joins lawsuit against social media giants.” ABC 11 News, February 20, 2024. Accessed March 20, 2025. https://abc11.com/social-media-lawsuit- wake-county- schoolsboard-of-education/ 14450653/

11. Screen-Free Week. Accessed March 19, 2025. https://screenfree. org/about/

12.“ NC Senate Bill 55, Student Use of Wireless Communication Devices.” NC General Assembly. Accessed March 19, 2025. https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/ 2025/S55

13.“ Social Media and Children 2024 Legislation.” National Conference of State Legislatures. Accessed March 19, 2025. https://www.ncsl.org/technology- and-communication/ social-media-and-children- 2024-legislation.

Scan this QR code with your phone or go to
https:// drive. google. com/ file/ d/16BIFTyyRehshQKjldeMP19k5JZlzL05G/ view? usp= sharing to access live resource links
919 245 2405 > 300 West Tryon Street > Hillsborough, NC 27278 > orangecountync. gov

Page 2 of 2 ends

00 West Tryon Street | Hillsborough, NC | 919-245-2400 | OrangeCountyNC. Gov/ Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
Libbie Hough
Communications Manager and Public Information Officer
Office: 919-245-2562; Cell: 919-619-7116
lhough@orangecountync. gov
Orange County Board of Health Champions Youth Mental Health with Resolution on Screen Time HILLSBOROUGH, NC ( April 29, 2025) — In recognition of growing concerns over the effects of excessive screen time and social media use on youth mental health, the Orange County Board of Health unanimously approved a resolution aimed at promoting healthier screen habits among children and adolescents.

Timed to coincide with Screen- Free Week ( May 5–11, 2025), a national celebration that encourages children, families, schools, and communities to enjoy life beyond screens, the resolution highlights the urgent need for local action. Research cited in the resolution, including findings from the U.S. Surgeon General and the American Psychological Association, underscores the association between excessive screen use and rising rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges among youth.

The Orange County Board of Health calls on families, schools, and community organizations to promote balanced technology use and encourages participation in Screen- Free Week activities. The resolution also urges policymakers to support education, advocacy, and community initiatives that help children develop healthier relationships with digital technology. To read the full resolution, visit the Board of Health’ s webpage.

Dr. Amy Fowler, pediatrician, member of the Orange County Board of Health, and Board of County Commissioners emphasized the importance of the resolution: “ Many kids I see are spending too much time on screens and it is taking time away from more productive activities like sleep, outdoor play, and engagement with friends and family. As we see screen time increase, we are also seeing its impacts on mental health.”
Orange County residents are invited to take part in Screen- Free Week events and activities. For more information about Screen- Free Week, visit screenfree. org.

The Orange County Health Department exists to enhance quality of life, promote the health, and preserve the environment for everyone in Orange County. For information about the Health Department visit OrangeCountyNC. Gov/ Health

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/us-news/ education/ schools-phone- screens-technology- research- c268bda5 Screens Have Taken Over Classrooms. Even
Students Have Had Enough.

Educators question whether the rapid shift toward more technology has benefited learning
By Sara Randazzo Follow , Matt Barnum Follow and Julie Jargon Follow Jan. 22, 2025 9:00 pm ET
Class time has become screen time in American schools.

Kindergartners now watch math lessons on YouTube, counting aloud with the videos. Middleschoolers complete writing drills on Chromebooks while sneaking in play of an online game. Highschoolers mark up Google Docs to finish group projects.

The rapid tech transformation amounts to a grand experiment playing out in American schools.

Accelerated by pandemic- era online learning, the move has happened with little debate, conflicting research and high stakes for the nation’ s children.

Educators wonder whether the digitization of the classroom has really benefited learning— or if it’s done kids a disservice. Some teachers say online tools help create more engaging lessons and provide personalized instruction. Others say the screen- heavy approach has distracted students and burned out teachers.

Covid really shifted things toward, ‘ Oh, we can do this,’” said Stephanie Galvani, a middle- school English teacher in suburban Boston. “ But we didn’ t ask: ‘Should we do this?’” 9/15/25, 6:14 PM Screens Have Taken Over Classrooms. Even Students Have Had Enough. - WSJ https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/ schools- phone- screens- technology- research- c268bda5? st=GSqPbi& reflink= article_ email_share 1/10 The shift runs counter to the prevailing advice from doctors and psychologists to limit tech use.

Some frustrated parents are trying to opt their kids out of school technology, with varying degrees of success. Even some students pine for more analog methods.

I don’ t like having my eyes glued on a screen for a while,” said eighth- grader Aubrey Ortiz, in San Antonio. “ It gives you a headache and I really lose my focus.” Students in grades one through 12 now spend an average of 98 minutes on school- issued devices during the school day—more than 20% of the average instructional time—according to data that educational software company Lightspeed Systems analyzed at the request of The Wall Street Journal.

The time spent on devices peaks at two hours and 24 minutes daily in sixth grade, or nearly 35% of instructional time, Lightspeed’ s analysis of more than 2.8 million students in 344 school districts nationwide shows. Use of school devices declined among high- school students, down to 70 minutes a day for 12th- graders, with possible factors including a shift to personal devices and more flexible school schedules, according to Lightspeed.

Students used their school- issued laptops in San Antonio. PHOTO: KAYLEE GREENLEE FOR WSJ 9/15/25, 6:14 PM Screens Have Taken Over Classrooms. Even Students Have Had Enough. - WSJ https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/ schools- phone- screens- technology- research- c268bda5? st=GSqPbi& reflink= article_ email_share 2/10 Fifty percent of teachers said their students completed at least half of their classwork on a device, up from about 20% of teachers before the pandemic, according to a 2023 survey of nearly 1,000 educators conducted by Brian Jacob, an education researcher at the University of Michigan. Use of technology for homework, group work and assessments also dramatically increased.

Research on the effectiveness of tech use in education is mixed and full of company- backed analyses. “ I don’ t think there’ s one easy answer,” Jacob said. “ I just don’ t think we know yet.” Paper is better’
On an August day in Abby Ramos Stanutz’ s San Antonio classroom, 25 eighth- graders filed into first-period English and began class as they often do, with several minutes of free writing. The students each grabbed a school- issued Chromebook and began to type.

I know your fingers are getting tired, but keep going,” Ramos Stanutz urged, dimming the lights and playing pop music softly to help students focus.

Average amount of time per day students spend on school-provided devices During school Outside of school
GRADE 21hour
1 45 min. 5
2 760
3 79 10
4 92 12
5 104 15
6 144 27
7 24136
8 23133
Note: Data from January– June 2024; includes 344 districts and 2.8 million students.

Source: Lightspeed Systems
9/15/25, 6:14 PM Screens Have Taken Over Classrooms. Even Students Have Had Enough. - WSJ https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/ schools- phone- screens- technology- research- c268bda5? st=GSqPbi& reflink= article_ email_share 3/10 Later in the class, the students turned back to Chromebooks to record influencer- style videos explaining why they liked a book they were reading.

Some of Ramos Stanutz’ s students later explained that while they like the ease of turning in assignments online and using computers for technical skills like coding, the devices create distractions in class and can slow down lessons when the internet goes out or a video a teacher wants to play gets blocked by district software.

I feel like paper is better, anything other than technology,” said 14- year- old Carlos Miranda. “ I’m hands- on. You can’ t learn to dissect a frog with a computer.” ( Education technology companies have, actually, created virtual dissection apps.)
Ramos Stanutz said there’ s no getting rid of technology at this point but she’ s learned to strike the right balance. She’ s had to find new strategies to keep students from playing online games or watching videos.

It’s like the ocean: You can never turn your back on it,” she said.

Computer and internet use in schools grew rapidly in the 1990s, alongside technology’ s rise in everyday life. Schools saw an opportunity to close a digital divide between low-income and wealthier students.

The adoption of school technology sped up when the pandemic forced students to learn online.

Federal Covid aid helped schools buy students across the country their own laptops or tablets. A multibillion- dollar education- technology industry promised its products could revolutionize teaching and catch students up after the pandemic.

Students in San Antonio used laptops for a free-writing exercise. PHOTO: KAYLEE GREENLEE FOR WSJ 9/15/25, 6:14 PM Screens Have Taken Over Classrooms. Even Students Have Had Enough. - WSJ https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/ schools- phone- screens- technology- research- c268bda5? st=GSqPbi& reflink= article_ email_share 4/10 Abby Ramos Stanutz. PHOTO: KAYLEE GREENLEE FOR
WSJ
Highline Public Schools in Washington state found
itself unintentionally thrust into a pre- internet era
this school year when a cyberattack shut down its
system for more than a month.

Sixth- grade math teacher Rachel Nielsen said she
initially panicked at not being able to access the
digital curriculum— the only way she’ d taught since
becoming a teacher in 2019.

She soon came to embrace methods like using
physical tiles and cubes to teach geometry. Students
worked together on presentations using large poster
boards. Nielsen found students explained their work better when they had to physically write rather than simply plugging answers into online programs.

We got really bogged down by all the possible things we could use that are digital,” Nielsen said.

Now I’m realizing it isn’t about more technology or another app.” Too good to be true’
Research on the use of technology in education remains unsettled.

For instance, a review of 24 studies published last year found that college students retain more information when they take notes by hand rather than on a computer. Some research has found students have better comprehension when reading on paper rather than on a screen.

I don’t like having my eyes glued on a screen for a while,’ said eighth- grader Aubrey Ortiz. PHOTO:

KAYLEE GREENLEE FOR WSJ
9/15/25, 6:14 PM Screens Have Taken Over Classrooms. Even Students Have Had Enough. - WSJ https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/ schools- phone- screens- technology- research- c268bda5? st=GSqPbi& reflink= article_ email_share 5/10 Other research on specific technology products— including digital tutoring programs— has shown improvements in student learning.

Richard Culatta, the head of an association that supports teachers’ use of technology, said lessons using technology have to elevate what the teacher could otherwise do to be effective.

Does it spark curiosity? Or is it just presenting information?” Culatta said. “ That distinction right there makes it clear pretty quickly whether the tech use is valuable.” Some teachers say they find technology essential for assisting students with specific needs, like using instant- translation apps for recently arrived immigrants or software to make fonts more readable for students with dyslexia.

Technology companies often tout internal analyses claiming their products have led to breakthrough gains in student learning. But such results are often overstated, and companies may choose not to release unfavorable findings.

It’s really hard to move the needle on student achievement, so if you see something that’ s too good to be true, it probably is,” said Betsy Wolf, a researcher who found in a 2020 paper that companybacked studies produced more positive findings than independent evaluations.

IXL Learning, the company behind popular digital education platform IXL, touts that schools using the product score as much as 15 to 17 percentile points higher on state exams.

The most rigorous published evaluation of the product— which is used by 15 million U.S. students— was less impressive. A Johns Hopkins University research center report, commissioned by the company, found that IXL had no clear effect on state math scores during the spring of 2023 in a Students in Ramos Stanutz’ s English class. PHOTO: KAYLEE GREENLEE FOR WSJ 9/15/25, 6:14 PM Screens Have Taken Over Classrooms. Even Students Have Had Enough. - WSJ https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/ schools- phone- screens- technology- research- c268bda5? st=GSqPbi& reflink= article_ email_share 6/10 Michigan school district. On a different test, IXL boosted math scores by about five percentile points, the researchers found.

In a separate, unpublished Johns Hopkins study—a summary of which was reviewed by the Journal the effects of IXL were described as “ directionally positive” but “ not statistically significant.” The company chose not to release the study, a spokesman said, because it had a relatively small sample size.

Bo Bashkov, senior manager of research at IXL Learning, said the company’ s figures of 15 to 17 percentile points are “ better- case scenario” benchmarks from its own state- by-state research.

Removing barriers
In lower- income districts, school leaders say giving students and their families access to personal devices has been a huge benefit. Computer access is now nearly universal in U.S. public schools, with 95% of schools reporting that they provided devices to students last school year, according to a federal survey.

It has removed barriers,” said Pamela Maddox, the principal of Compton Early College High School, a high- performing school in a district serving majority Latino and Black students. Parents tell her they like that students can easily access their homework from anywhere.

The school has doubled down on technology, moving its library into a smaller room to make way for a high- tech lab funded by Verizon, equipped with a podcasting room, robotics equipment, 3-D printer and esports stations.

On a walk through campus in September, Maddox entered an Advanced Placement English class taught by Porsja Dyer. There, students sitting with Chromebooks typed out reflections on factors that have shaped their identity. Their responses were instantly shared with the entire class.

And yes, I turned the hearts on so you can like each other’ s work today,” Dyer said.

At one table, students looked up from their screens to say they liked using technology in class because they can find information and write responses more quickly and it makes life easier.

Reducing technology
Many parents are content with the growth of educational technology. In one survey from 2023, commissioned by the nonprofit EdChoice, about three in four parents said that computer use was having a positive effect on their child’ s learning.
9/15/25, 6:14 PM Screens Have Taken Over Classrooms. Even Students Have Had Enough. - WSJ https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/ schools- phone- screens- technology- research- c268bda5? st=GSqPbi& reflink= article_ email_share 7/10 Still, about 40% of parents said their children spent too much time on screens. In a separate EdChoice poll, 35% of teenagers said their school used too much technology.

For parents who want to reduce screen time, schools are undercutting them,” said Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at New York University’ s Stern School of Business whose recent book, “ The Anxious Generation,” helped fuel smartphone bans in schools across the country.

Mileva Repasky, a mother of three in Phoenixville, Pa., who co-founded the nonprofit Phone- Free Schools Movement, had her children track their school and home screen use for two weeks at the Journal’ s request.

One Wednesday in October, her 17- year- old son, David, spent nearly 2½ hours on his school- issued Chromebook doing work at school and an additional 70 minutes doing homework on his Chromebook. That was on top of the 42 minutes at lunch watching TikTok and Netflix on his phone that day and 80 minutes at home gaming or looking at Instagram. Total screen time: more than 5½ hours.

He said he learns better when taking notes on paper and that he’d like it if classmates would talk to each other more during lunch. His mom said she had no idea David was spending so much time on his laptop for school.

I think we were all sold a lie that this was going to completely revolutionize education,’ said Andrea Davis, a mother of five. PHOTO: KRISTINA BARKER FOR WSJ 9/15/25, 6:14 PM Screens Have Taken Over Classrooms. Even Students Have Had Enough. - WSJ https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/ schools- phone- screens- technology- research- c268bda5? st=GSqPbi& reflink= article_ email_share 8/10 The entire day is filled with technology,” said David, a junior at a private high school. “ We use our computers from first period to eighth period, and even at lunch there’ s no socializing because everyone is on their phones playing games.”
Repasky’ s nonprofit and other advocacy groups have helped usher in a wave of cellphone bans at the school- district and state level in recent years, though enforcement is often a challenge and phones are still pervasive on many campuses.

Mom of five Andrea Davis wasn’ t happy with the prevalence of technology in her local public school district in Hood River, Ore. “ I think we were all sold a lie that this was going to completely revolutionize education,” she said.

Davis, who runs a business that helps families reduce screen time, worked with the district to organize student and community meetings and presented a formal plan on how to reduce Amount of time at school Mileva Repasky's children spent on school-provided devices Madelyn 11 YEARS OLD 5TH GRADE

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
1 hour 5 min. 1 hour 5 min. 40 min. 1 hour 5 min. 55 min.

SCHOOL
DAY
Katie 13 YEARS OLD 7TH GRADE

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
1 hour 30 min. 1 hour 1 hour 18 min. 1 hour 15 min. 1 hour 31 min.

David 17 YEARS OLD 11TH GRADE

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
1 hour 27 min. 1 hour 2 hours 22 min. 2 hours 2 hours 30 min.

Note: Data for Oct. 28- Nov. 1, 2024
Source: Mileva Repasky
9/15/25, 6:14 PM Screens Have Taken Over Classrooms. Even Students Have Had Enough. - WSJ https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/ schools- phone- screens- technology- research- c268bda5? st=GSqPbi& reflink= article_ email_share 9/10 Appeared in the January 24, 2025, print edition as 'Screens Are Taking Over In American Classrooms'. technology use. This school year, the middle- schoolers aren’ t bringing school- issued iPads home with them, and the district is making sure every tech application is educationally sound. School leaders didn’ t take up other recommendations, like banning YouTube and eliminating iPads in early- grade classrooms.

There’ s this misconception that we’ ve let the cat out of the bag,” Davis said. “ But no, this is an opportunity we have now.”
Write to Sara Randazzo at sara.randazzo@wsj. com, Matt Barnum at matt.barnum@wsj. com and Julie Jargon at Julie. Jargon@wsj. com
9/15/25, 6:14 PM Screens Have Taken Over Classrooms. Even Students Have Had Enough. - WSJ https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/ schools- phone- screens- technology- research- c268bda5? st=GSqPbi& reflink= article_ email_share 10/10

I have never seen a program
change the culture of our schools
the way Hope Squad has. The
power of peer-to-peer and
education about mental illness has
opened doors and saved lives.”
Dr. Holly Ferguson, Superintendent of Prosper
Independent School District, Prosper, TX
Did you know struggling
students are more likely to
confide in a peer than an
adult? With Hope Squad,
95% of student members
reported knowing how
and where to get help.
95% of school leaders
agreed Hope Squad
provides the support
needed to be effective.
100% of parents agreed
Hope Squad helps their
child make a positive
difference.
98% of school
administrators agreed
Hope Squad promotes
a positive school
climate.

Why Choose Hope Squad?
Hope Squad’s peer-to-peer suicide prevention programming enables all students to thrive.

Student- Centered
Programming
Transformational
Impact
Collaborative
Partnership

PROGRAM INNOVATION
Grant Resource
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life.

This document is designed to help anyone understand, write, and submit grant applications.

Whether you're seeking funding for one Squad or a whole district, this guide provides step -bystep instructions, best practices, and examples to support your application process. By following the guidance in this document, you will be well- equipped to create compelling grant proposals that stand out and secure the funding you need.

A quick note about metrics and deliverables:

It is important to outline clear and measurable metrics that will demonstrate the success and impact of your Hope Squad. Establishing key performance indicators ( KPIs) and deliverables will not only guide your project' s implementation but also provide tangible evidence to funders that their investment is yielding positive results.

As a reminder, Hope Squad is able to provide some specific data in relation to your school or district, if your Advisors have the students, parents, and admins fill it out. All data will be deidentified before it is sent, ensuring confidentiality and privacy. However, Hope Squad does not claim responsibility for the completion of any grant objectives as you lay them out in your grant document.

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 2
Learning About Grants .................................................................................................................. 3 Common Inclusions in Grant Applications ................................................................................. 3 Differences Between Federal/ Gov’ t and Private Applications...................................................... 4 Steps to Take When Considering Grants to Support Your Hope Squad ......................................... 5 Sample Grant Timeline ............................................................................................................. 6 Grant Application Sample Content for Hope Squad ....................................................................... 7 Cover Letter ............................................................................................................................. 7 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. 7 Statement of Need ................................................................................................................... 8 Project Description ................................................................................................................... 9 Summary of Hope Squad Program Components .................................................................... 9 Project Goals ......................................................................................................................... 11 Objectives .......................................................................................................................... 11 Phased Implementation Plan .................................................................................................. 12 Expected Outcomes ............................................................................................................... 13 Evaluation and Metrics for Success ..................................................................................... 14 Target Population and Demographics ...................................................................................... 17 Sustainability Plan .................................................................................................................. 18 Organizational Background and Capacity ................................................................................ 18 Budget and Justification .......................................................................................................... 19 Grant Appendices ............................................................................................................... 20 Additional Supportive Information: ............................................................................................. 22 Additional Information about Hope Squad Program: ................................................................ 22 Cover Letter ........................................................................................................................... 25 Letter of Support Template ...................................................................................................... 26 Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 3
Learning About Grants
Common Inclusions in Grant Applications

1. Cover Letter: A brief, formal letter introducing the applicant, summarizing the project, and explaining why the funding request aligns with the grantor’ s mission.

2. Executive Summary: A concise summary of the project, outlining its objectives, expected outcomes, target audience, and the funding request amount.

3. Statement of Need: A section describing the problem or need the project addresses, supported by data, research, and specific evidence of why the issue is important.

4. Project Description: Details about the project, often including:

Goals and Objectives: Clear goals and measurable objectives.

Activities and Timeline: Specific actions planned, and a timeline for implementation.

Methodology: The approach or strategies used to achieve the objectives.

5. Target Population and Demographics: Information about the people or community served, including demographics, location, and unique needs.

6. Evaluation Plan: A plan to assess the project’s impact and effectiveness, often outlining metrics, data collection methods, and reporting practices.

7. Sustainability Plan: A description of how the project will continue after the grant period ends, either through other funding sources or ongoing community support.

8. Budget and Justification: A detailed budget with explanations for each expense, demonstrating responsible use of funds and alignment with project goals.

9. Organizational Background and Capacity: Information about the applicant organization’ s history, mission, past accomplishments, and its capacity to implement the proposed project.

10. Appendices: Additional materials, such as letters of support, resumes of key personnel, charts, data, or other relevant documents to reinforce the proposal.

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 4
Difference s Between Federal/ Gov’t and Private Applications ASPECT FEDERAL/ GOV’T GRANTS PRIVATE FOUNDATION
GRANTS
Application Process Highly structured with
standardized forms and strict
guidelines, usually submitted
through government portals like
grants.gov.

More flexible with unique
guidelines, submitted via email,
online forms, or foundationspecific portals, often starting with Letters of Inquiry ( LOIs).

Review Process Reviews are rigorous and
standardized, with multiple
reviewers and specific scoring
metrics. The process can be
lengthy, with results taking
months torelease.

Reviews vary from informal to
structured, often involving board
members or advisors. Timelines
are typically shorter than for
government grants.

Funding Requirements and
Priorities
Often prioritize programs with
broad public impact, aligning
with policy goals. Require
evidence- based programs with
specific success metrics.

Focus on the founders' or
board' s interests, often funding
innovative or niche projects not
fitting federal criteria.

Compliance and Reporting Compliance requirements
include detailed financial
documentation, regular progress
reports, and adherence to
federal regulations. Failure to
comply can result in loss of
funding.

Reporting often focuses on
project outcomes with more
flexibility and less intensive
financial scrutiny.

Budget and Allowable
Expenses
Follow strict federal guidelines,
exclude indirect costs and
prohibited items like lobbying. Be
cautious with reimbursement
grants, as they often require you
tospend money prior to
receiving money and may not be
suitable for your needs.

Typically offer more flexibility in
allowable expenses, including
areas like capacity building or
indirect costs.

Match Requirements Often require matching funds
from the applicant, either cash or
in-kind, toshow investment.

Rarely require matching funds
but may prefer evidence of other
funding for project sustainability.

Timing and Availability Issued annually with predictable schedules and published notices,
helping organizations plan their
applications.

Lack regular deadlines, often
operating on a rolling basis or
offering funds periodically.

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 5
Steps to Take When Considering Grants to Support Your Hope Squad
To maximize success, schools or districts should approach grant applications strategically. Here’s a step- by- step guide to choosing the right grant and applying successfully:

1. Identifying Needs and Objectives
Assess Program Needs: Determine the specific needs that a grant would address ( e.g., mental health programming, curriculum updates, technology upgrades).

Define Objectives: Outline clear, measurable objectives to address those needs.

2. Research Potential Grants
Compare Federal vs. Private Grants: Choose which type suits your project best.

Matching Criteria: Ensure the grant’s goals align with your objectives.

Funding and Restrictions: Consider the needed funding and allowed expenses.

3. Assess Readiness and Resources
Capacity to Manage the Grant: Determine if the school has the personnel and systems to manage the grant effectively.

Gather Supporting Data: Collect relevant data to support the application.

Confirm Stakeholder Support: Get buy- in from key stakeholders.

4. Draft a Timeline and Team for the Grant Application Process Identify Key Personnel: Assign a grant team with relevant expertise.

Set a Timeline: Create a realistic timeline for preparing, writing, and submitting the application.

Budget Planning: Start drafting a budget that matches grant requirements.

5. Writing the Grant Application
Review the grant’s guidelines in detail and complete each section thoroughly.

Clearly explain why the program is necessary, detail goals, objectives, activities, and timelines.

Provide a clear, itemized budget with justifications and describe how you’ll assess the program’s success.

Ensure the application is clear, well- organized, and free of errors.

6. Submit the Application and Follow Up
Double- Check Requirements: Confirm that all required documents are included.

Submit Early and Follow Up: Confirm receipt and inquire about the decision timeline.

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 6
Sample Grant Timeline
This timeline assumes a 12- week period leading up to the grant submission deadline, though you can adjust it based on specific grant requirements and internal timelines.

Week 1- 2:
preparation
and
planning
Identify project needs: collaborate with stakeholders, set goals. Research grants, check eligibility. Hold stakeholder meeting: confirm alignment, assign roles. Set timeline: form team, assign roles, and set deadlines.

Week 3-4:

Data
Collection
and
Drafting
Gather Supporting Data: Collect statistics, research findings, program successes, community needs, and student demographics
Draft Program Description: Begin drafting the project narrative by focusing on the goals, objectives, activities, and timelines. Identify and outline potential measurable outcomes.

Budget Planning: Collaborate with the finance team to create an initial budget that outlines all projected costs, including training, materials, staffing, and evaluation expenses.

Week 5-6:

Writing the
Application
Statement of Need: Use collected data to explain why the project is vital for your school or district.

Refine Project Description and Objectives: Detail each objective and activity, aligning them with the grant's goals. Specify timelines, roles, and required resources.

Budget Justification: Finalize the budget and justify each expense, ensuring they align with grant guidelines.

Evaluation Plan: Outline how to assess the project' s success, including metrics, data collection methods, and reporting requirements.

Week 7-8:

Review and
Revise
Internal Review: Share the application draft with team members and stakeholders for review and feedback. Ensure alignment with the school. Focus on clarity, conciseness, and alignment with the grantor’ s objectives.

Proofread: Check grammar, formatting, and consistency. Ensure compliance with the application’s guidelines.

Week 9-10:

Finalization
and
Approval
Prepare Required Attachments: Compile required supporting documents, such as letters of support, resumes, organizational charts, and tax status documentation.

Administrative Approval: Present the final draft to school administrators or district leadership for approval. Gather necessary signatures from authorized personnel (e.g., superintendent, principal, finance officer).

Week 11:

Submission
Preparation
Double- Check Requirements: Review the application checklist to ensure all components are included and complete.

Submission Platform Review: Confirm familiarity with the grant’s submission process ( e.g., online portal, email, or mail). Prepare digital copies in the required formats.

Submit Application Early: Aim to submit the application a few days before the deadline to allow for technical issues or last- minute changes.

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 7
Grant Application Sample Content for Hope
Squad
Cover Letter
Purpose: Introduce the school or district, outline the need for suicide prevention, and explain why Hope Squad is the ideal solution.

Sample Content: At [school or district name], we aim to provide a safe and supportive environment for all our students. Currently, we are identifying several mental health and school safety issues that need to be addressed. These include [ increased levels of stress and anxiety among students, as well as concerns about bullying and emergency preparedness.] To tackle these issues, we have [implemented several measures. Our initiatives include enhancing our school' s counseling services, organizing workshops on mental health awareness, and establishing clear protocols for handling emergencies and bullying incidents.] We are committed to continuously improving our approach to ensure the well- being and safety of our school community.

On behalf of [School or District Name], we are seeking funding to implement Hope Squad, an evidence- based, peer-led suicide prevention program. This program helps students identify and support peers in crisis, fostering a safe, stigma- free school environment. It encourages students to recognize warning signs and provides them with resources for support. Feedback from administrators shows that Hope Squad contributes to a positive school culture, and we would like to join the thousands of schools and 43 states that currently have this program in place.

Hope Squad equips students with essential skills to manage daily stress, promotes emotional literacy, leadership, safety, and actively discourages drug use. Additionally, it addresses the dangers of social media, educating students on recognizing risks like cyberbullying and the impact on mental health.

Executive Summary
Overview: Summarize the project’ s main goals, the intended impact, and the funding amount requested.

Sample Content: "[School or District Name] requests [amount] to launch Hope Squad in number of schools]. This initiative will support student- led mental health advocacy, reduce suicide stigma, and foster a supportive school climate. Funds will enable advisor training, student resources, and engagement activities, impacting [ estimated number] students and their families."
Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 8
Hope Squad will serve approximately [ number of students] in grades [ specify grade levels, e.g., 6-12], offering a structured curriculum and ongoing peer support. This funding will allow us to train advisors, engage students, and run awareness events, including the school- wide Hope Week. Through Hope Squad, our goal is to create a culture of connection, resilience, and hope within our school.

Statement of Need
Problem Description: Highlight the need for youth mental health support and suicide prevention in your school or district, referencing local or national statistics if possible.

Sample Content: Youth suicide rates are rising nationwide, with many students facing mental health challenges without adequate support. In our community, [insert relevant local statistics or insights, e.g., recent mental health statistics for the area or challenges specific to the student population]. Schools play a crucial role in addressing these needs by creating environments where students feel safe and supported.

Despite these needs, our school currently lacks a structured, peer- led mental health program that directly addresses suicide prevention. Research and feedback from schools with Hope Squad programs indicate its effectiveness in reducing stigma, increasing student connectedness, and providing students with the resources they need to help each other. Implementing Hope Squad in [School or District Name] will address this critical gap and create a foundation for sustainable mental health support.

Supporting Points:
o Youth mental health needs are rising nationwide, with suicide prevention a top priority in school settings.
o Many school staff and administrators report needing more resources, training, and consistent opportunities for student engagement to fully realize Hope Squad’s potential.
o Include any crisis referral data or mental health screener data you may already have for your school, district or county.

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 9
Project Description
This project aims to implement the Hope Squad program at [School Name] to create a peer- led suicide prevention initiative. The program empowers students to identify signs of distress in their peers and connect them with trusted adults. By training students—Hope Squad Members—and certified advisors, it fosters a supportive environment for mental wellness. Squad Members act as additional eyes and ears, observing signs of distress and reporting them, rather than serving as counselors.

Hope Squad offers a comprehensive gatekeeper model reinforced through various lessons. It includes experiential learning, confidence building, mental health literacy, and self- care knowledge for students.

Squad Members are selected by their classmates as peers they trust and would approach to talk to. These selected members are then screened by adults, approved for participation by their parents, and introduced to Hope Squad through a series of meetings and events.

Trained Advisors ( school personnel managing the Squad) have streamlined access to program resources through a virtual portal, complete with direct links to lesson materials, monthly activity toolkits, and a Hope Week Toolkit. Advisors can quickly access content, reducing preparation time and helping them focus on meaningful interactions with students.

The lessons imparted during Hope Squad meetings are actively implemented within the broader school community through the efforts of individual members, monthly themes, and school- wide events and activities. The initiatives of Hope Squad are integrated into the daily school environment in a manner that avoids adding extra burden or distracting from educational objectives. This approach ensures that support is nurtured not only within the school but also extends into students' homes and the wider community.

Summary of Hope Squad Program Components
A more detailed description of the following information is available in the “Additional Supportive Information” section of this document, however the highlights listed here may be beneficial to additional questions in the Project section of a grant application.

HOPE Approach: A foundational lesson that teaches suicide prevention, recognizing warning signs, and connecting peers with trusted adults.

Age- Specific Elements:
o Elementary: The elementary curriculum introduces key skills in resilience, relationship- building, bullying prevention, and self- awareness, laying the groundwork for students' mental wellness and future learning. Many lessons use books to promote reading literacy and social- emotional development while Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 10
emphasizing the importance of identifying and informing trusted adults about peers in need.
o Secondary: Junior high/ high school students annually learn to identify warning signs and follow referral protocols. The program covers relationships, self- care, leadership, empathy, resilience, and coping skills, with flexible lesson formats. It emphasizes experiential learning and includes activities for the school community and families.

Lesson Strands ( Structured topics spanning age levels with years of material) Core Hope Squad Content
Suicide Prevention
Building Relationships ( Elementary)/ Developing Emotional Intelligence ( Secondary) Understanding Ourselves ( Elementary)/ Cultivating Empathy (Secondary) Constructive Choices
Bullying Prevention ( Elementary)/ Developing Resilience ( Secondary) Program Activities and Community Engagement
Hope Week: A central program event that raises school- wide awareness and reduces stigma. Hope Week activities include workshops, mental health speakers, schoolwide kindness activities, and awareness campaigns, fostering a unified approach to mental health.

Monthly Mental Health Themes: Each month, Hope Squad will focus on a theme to engage the squad, students, faculty, families and community.

Parent and Community Involvement
Ongoing Parent Education: Regular information for parents to educate them on mental health topics and how to support their children.

Community Partnerships: Collaborations with local mental health organizations, community leaders, and businesses to provide additional resources and support for students and families.

Regular Feedback and Improvement: Collecting feedback from students, parents, and educators to continually improve the program and ensure it meets the community’ s needs.

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 11
Project Goals
Goals are broad, overarching outcomes that the program aims to achieve over time. They define the ultimate impact of implementing the Hope Squad program.

1. Enhance Suicide Prevention Literacy and Stigma Reduction: Foster a culture of mental health awareness where students feel empowered to openly discuss mental health, reducing stigma and encouraging help- seeking behaviors.

2. Strengthen School Safety and Support Networks: Create a supportive environment where students, through their training as Hope Squad members, act as the "eyes and ears" of the school, recognizing peers in crisis and connecting them with trusted adults.

3. Promote School- Wide Engagement and Community Building: Encourage positive relationships and a sense of belonging through school- wide events such as Hope Week and monthly awareness campaigns.

Objectives
Objectives are specific, measurable actions that support the achievement of the program’s goals.

They outline what will be accomplished within the grant period.

1. Train Advisors and Students in Suicide Prevention: Conduct [ X number] of HOPE Approach training sessions for advisors and student members, equipping them with gatekeeping skills to identify and refer peers in distress.

2. Increase Peer- Led Engagement in Suicide Prevention Efforts: Implement [ X number] of peer- led mental health awareness activities and workshops, increasing participation and reinforcing suicide prevention literacy among the student body.

3. Facilitate Regular Mental Health Awareness Events: Organize and execute monthly themes and events, including Hope Week, to promote consistent engagement and education around mental wellness.

4. Enhance Crisis Identification and Referral: Establish a clear protocol for Hope Squad members to report concerns to trained advisors, aiming for [specific metric, e.g., 100% of reported cases receiving appropriate follow- up].

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 12
Phased Implementation Plan
Phase 1: Program Setup and Advisor Training (Months 1- 2) Advisor Selection: Select school staff to serve as Hope Squad advisors, ensuring they have a strong interest in student mental health and well- being. Advisors will be responsible for guiding students, facilitating discussions, and organizing events.

Advisor Training: Advisors will undergo an estimated 6 hours of comprehensive training in the HOPE Approach, program implementation guidance, skills- based practice on how to lead discussions on mental health, manage student questions, and support squad members. Advisors also learn how to utilize Hope Squad’s online portal for resources and program guidance through a series of microlessons available on demand.

Baseline Data Collection: Collect initial data to assess the current mental health climate, student connectedness, and awareness levels related to mental health and suicide. This may include surveys, attendance records, and input from counselors and administration.

Phase 2: Student Selection and Training (Months 2-3)
Student Nominations and Selection: Identify and nominate students based on their trustworthiness, empathy, and leadership qualities. Teachers, counselors, and peers may contribute nominations to ensure diverse representation within the Hope Squad.

HOPE Approach Training for Students: Once selected, Hope Squad members will participate in training sessions to learn the HOPE Approach. Training topics will include recognizing mental health warning signs, handling sensitive conversations, and understanding when to refer peers to adults.

Program Introduction to School Community: Host an informational event to introduce Hope Squad to the broader school community, explaining the program’s purpose, how students can engage with squad members, and the availability of support resources.

Phase 3: Program Activation and Initial Engagement (Months 3-6) Monthly Hope Squad Meetings: Begin regular meetings with Hope Squad members to discuss mental health topics, practice skills learned during training, and plan school- wide activities. Meetings will also provide a safe space for members to share their experiences and receive support.

Hope Week Planning and Execution: Organize Hope Week as a major event to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention across the school. Activities may include guest speakers, workshops, and peer- led activities that promote inclusion and empathy.

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 13
Monthly Awareness Themes: Implement monthly themes focused on mental health awareness, resilience, and support strategies. Themes may include “Kindness and Inclusion,” “ Self- Care and Wellness,” and “Building Connections,” with activities aligned to each theme.

Phase 4: Evaluation and Continuous Improvement ( Ongoing, with Quarterly Checkpoints) Ongoing Feedback Collection: Gather ongoing feedback from Hope Squad members, advisors, and the school community. Feedback will inform adjustments to the program and help address any emerging needs or challenges.

Data Tracking and Progress Reporting: Track key metrics such as referrals made, advisor and student satisfaction, participation in Hope Week, and attendance at monthly meetings. Quarterly reports will be prepared for internal review and grant reporting.

End- of-Year Assessment and Review: Conduct a comprehensive assessment at the end of the school year, reviewing data to evaluate the program’s effectiveness in improving mental health awareness, student connectedness, and help- seeking behaviors.

Use this data to make program improvements for the following year.

Expected Outcomes
Upon successful implementation, [ School Name] will develop a proactive and sustainable peerto-peer suicide prevention program that emphasizes collaboration among student leaders and is underpinned by strong school faculty and staff support. Hope Squad aims to cultivate an inclusive and empathetic environment that empowers students to address mental health challenges effectively while providing resilient support to their peers and the broader school community. The program incorporates structured components to achieve these goals, including training sessions and interactive activities tailored to enhance students' and staff's efforts in suicide prevention. These adaptable lesson formats will allow for continuous mental health education and gatekeeper skill development, particularly equipping students with the tools to identify and address mental health concerns within themselves and among their classmates.

Moreover, the Hope Squad program will actively engage the selected Squad members and the entire school population, promoting a culture of openness and understanding surrounding mental health. By fostering strong connections and proactive support systems, this initiative will encourage students to seek help and support each other in overcoming personal challenges.

Ultimately, [School Name] aspires to create a healthier school environment where every student feels valued, understood, and equipped to contribute positively to their mental well- being and that of others, and believes Hope Squad will help [School Name] achieve this aim.

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 14
Evaluation and Metrics for Success
Approach: Measure success through both quantitative ( e.g., referral rates, engagement levels) and qualitative ( e.g., advisor and member feedback) metrics at multiple time points.

Note for Your Grant Writing Team: While Hope Squad supports school data collection by providing access to de-identified results from students, advisors, and parents, Hope Squad is not responsible for achieving your grant outcomes as specified in your grant application. The preand post- survey data collection is solely dependent on whether Advisors administer the surveys or [school/ district] opts- out of collection. Data is only shared with those having a school domain address and doesn't capture identifying information. If you have questions, or need assistance, email our research team at research@hopesquad. com
Sample: “We will evaluate the program’s impact through both quantitative and qualitative measures collected at multiple time points. Pre-, mid-, and post- program surveys will assess changes in mental health literacy, stigma reduction, and help- seeking behaviors among students.

Additionally, we will collect data on referral rates, engagement levels in peer-led activities, and participation in events like Hope Week.

Qualitative feedback from advisors, Hope Squad members, and other stakeholders will be gathered regularly through interviews, focus groups, and written reflections. This will help us understand program challenges, successes, and opportunities for improvement. By evaluating progress throughout the program and not just at the end, we aim to ensure continuous growth, timely adjustments, and sustained impact.”
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

Increased Mental Health Awareness: Measure changes in student understanding of mental health concepts ( e.g., suicide prevention skills and gatekeeper knowledge), as reflected in pre- and post- program surveys.

Student Help-Seeking Behavior: Track the number of students referred to counselors by Hope Squad members and the frequency of peer-to-peer support interactions.

Program Engagement and Visibility: Monitor participation in Hope Week and monthly awareness events, as well as feedback from school- wide surveys on program visibility and impact.

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 15
Data Collection Methods:

Member Pre- and Post-Surveys: Administer surveys at the beginning and end of the school year to measure changes in the following outcomes.

Suggested Target: 75% of active members complete the pre/ post- survey Elementary Measured Outcomes:

Bullying Resistance
Enjoyment
Peer Support Willingness
Referral Efficacy
Self- care Awareness
Stress
Secondary Measured Outcomes:

Compassion Fatigue
Compassion Satisfaction
Gatekeeper Knowledge
Suicide Prevention Knowledge & Skills
Peer Support Engagement
Peer Support Willingness
Referral Efficacy
Stakeholder Pre- and Post- Surveys: Hope Squad school administrators, advisors, and parents are encouraged to complete provided surveys at the beginning and end of each academic year. Results from these surveys can speak to whether and how stakeholders believe Hope Squad has impacted the school environment and overall satisfaction with the program.

Suggested Target: 50% of active members complete the pre/post-survey Mental Health Referral Forms (MHRF): These forms are designed to capture instances of mental concerns among any student within a school – not just Hope Squad members.

The data collected is indicative of how members' learnings ( e.g., addressing mental health stigma, willingness to engage in help- seeking behaviors, etc.) and schoolwide activities permeate throughout the student body. Moreover, the MHRF can capture how a student was referred to a trusted adult, the nature of the student’ s mental health concern, relevant adverse events, and what resources were provided to the student.

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 16
Suggested Target: Report the total number of MHRF collected as well as the number or ratio) of referrals provided by Hope Squad members versus students in the general population.

Additional metrics of potential interest are student demographics, the nature of each concern ( e.g., suicidal ideation with intent to harm oneself versus suicidal ideation without intent to harm oneself), and the frequency of each type of follow- up resource provided to students in need.

Additional Metrics for Schools to Consider Collecting Independently:

Advisor and Member Reports: Collect feedback from advisors and Hope Squad members after each major event to assess engagement, program challenges, and opportunities for improvement. Collect the number of members trained.

Quarterly Reports: Generate quarterly reports to continuously assess the program’s impact on student connectedness, awareness, and safety.

Stigma Reduction: If wanting to report specifically on stigma reduction, we recommend using a validated survey instrument, such as the Stigma of Suicide Scale (SOSS- SF).

Hope Squad’s previous research ( 2022) has used this scale.

School Wide Changes: Schoolwide Student Survey Pre- Hope Squad formation and Post implementation would greatly enhance the evidence of impact. If you do choose this measure, Hope Squad would love to know about your findings! Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 17
Target Population and Demographics
Description: Describe the student population the program will serve, including demographic details and any specific community needs.

Demographics: Hope Squad programming is designed to serve students in grades 4 through 12, with the opportunity to impact students from kindergarten through their senior year of high school. The program specifically targets students who might otherwise lack access to mental health resources, equipping them with tools to support one another. Hope Squad prioritizes literacy, accessibility, and cultural relevance. Research suggests that larger teams of peer supporters AND those that are representative of the student body can result in a better diffusion of suicide prevention program' s messaging in schools ( Pickering et al., 2018; 2022).

Sample: Hope Squad will serve approximately [ number of students] in grades [ 6-12, etc.] across [ specify school or district area, e.g., rural/ suburban/ urban settings]. Many students face barriers to mental health care, and peer- led support can be a powerful first step in addressing these challenges. The program will prioritize inclusivity and support students from diverse backgrounds, including those in underserved communities who may lack access to mental health resources.

Member Demographics collected via Hope Squad:

Age (Birth Month/ Year)
Grade Level
Gender Identity
Racial/ Ethnic Identity
State
School Name
Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 18
Sustainability Plan
Strategy: Funding will address critical needs for training and program materials, empowering advisors to maintain the program effectively. By establishing a sustainable model that includes a student council, trained advisors, and maintaining continuity with members who serve on the squad year after year, the team operates efficiently.

Long- Term Plan: Secure sustainable funding through school budgets and community partnerships, with continued collaboration with mental health organizations Sample: This funding will provide the resources needed to establish Hope Squad and support its initial implementation. Our goal is to sustain the program through continued collaboration with school counselors, community mental health organizations, district- level funding, partnerships with mental health or healthcare organizations or national funding through Title IV or Title I. We will integrate Hope Squad activities into our school’s yearly calendar to ensure its longevity. At an estimated expense of $6.00 per student*, this program remains affordable year over year. By building relationships and a culture of support, we anticipate that the program will grow and remain a vital part of our school’s mental health resources.

Organizational Background and Capacity
School or District Background: Describe the school’s commitment to student wellbeing and previous mental health initiatives.

Capacity to Implement Program: Highlight existing mental health resources ( e.g., counselors, school psychologists) that will support Hope Squad.

Sample: [School or District Name] has a long- standing commitment to student well-being, previously implementing [ mention any relevant programs or initiatives, e.g., anti- bullying campaigns, mental health awareness events]. Our counseling and administrative teams have the experience needed to support Hope Squad’ s implementation, and we have strong relationships with local mental health organizations that will reinforce the program’s goals.

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 19
Budget and Justification
Itemized Budget:
o Training and Resources: Fund Certified Advisor training for a minimum of 2 advisors per school, 2 seats to Advisor Gatekeeper training ( QPR, LivingWorks Start) as well as any resources or stipends needed.
o Community Engagement and Awareness: Provide for Hope Week and monthly mental health awareness activities to promote school- wide support and reduce stigma.
o Implementation Support: Allocate funds for materials, scheduling support, and resources that facilitate regular, impactful Hope Squad meetings.

Justification: Each item in the budget directly addresses areas identified by advisors and administrators, fostering program sustainability and a positive impact on school climate.

Sample:

Item Description Amount
Training for Advisors Certified Advisor and Gatekeeper training $[ X] Advisor Stipend Supporting additional time Advisors provide $[ X] Program Materials Awareness materials and activity guides $[ X] Hope Week Activities Resources and promotional materials for events $[ X] Monthly Awareness
Events
Materials for ongoing student engagement $[ X]
Evaluation Tools
Survey tools, data collection, and analysis
support $[ X]
Justification: These expenses will directly support program implementation, including comprehensive training, materials for student and community engagement, and evaluation to ensure the program’s impact is measured and understood. This budget has been designed based on identified needs from existing Hope Squad programs and feedback from advisors and administrators.

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 20
Grant Appendices
Letters of Support: From school administrators, community leaders, and mental health professionals who advocate for the Hope Squad program. (See template) Program Evaluation Data: In reviewing MHRF data from the 2023- 24 academic year to present, 95% of referrals were made by non- Hope Squad members. This demonstrates that Hope Squad’s programming extends its impact beyond its members, fostering school- wide awareness of resources and encouraging help- seeking behaviors. The data highlights how the program creates a culture of care, equipping the entire school community with the knowledge and confidence to take action when someone may be struggling.

Advisor and Administrator Feedback Excerpts: Quotes from Hope Squad stakeholders in the 2024- 2024 academic year that emphasizes the program’s positive impact. For instance:
o Administrator: “ Hope Squad has been a positive connection and reinforcement of our school- wide message of 'All Are Welcome Here'. It has been a great peer to peer program and allows for positive school culture that promotes a sense of belonging.”
o Advisor: “The most important benefit Hope Squad brings to our school is encouraging and promoting a school climate of kindness and friendship. Hope Squad members connect with students from every level on campus and encourages positive relationships where kiddos have more connectedness and feeling of belonging across the grade levels.”
o Parent: “Learning about how to help his peers identify when they might need some help has strengthened my son’s ability to identify that same thing in himself.

His self- awareness has grown as he’s helped others grow. He’s always been a very compassionate and empathetic kid, and this has only increased with his participation. He loves the community Hope Squad provides and was excited to participate in every meeting and feels like he’s making a difference.” Testimonials: From students and advisors who’ve experienced the benefits of Hope Squad, demonstrating the program’s life- saving potential and its role in building a positive school culture. For instance:
o “ Hope Squad has taught me the importance of inclusivity and compassion as many students can feel isolated and unseen. I now know that every day interactions can help make a connection that positively impacts others” - ( Hope Squad Member Abigail W.)
Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 21
o " Hope Squad helps me connect to my community because [ it] has encouraged me to make more friends and attend events and build connections with people that otherwise, I'm not sure I would have made. I feel as though because of Hope Squad, I'm close to a big portion of my school/ peers." (Hope Squad Member: Lily L.)
o “ I have loved being a part of Hope Squad. I have always been aware of mental health issues and the signs but actually being trained to deal with them has helped me learn a lot more. I feel more secure and comfortable knowing that I will be able to notice the warning signs and know how to deal with the situation accordingly. I also enjoy going to our meetings for our lessons. I have truly learned a lot and feel that I have become a better person because of Hope Squad.” (Hope Squad Member, Asma M.)
o “ Being a part of Hope Squad has been an incredibly profound and meaningful experience for me. It has allowed me to gain invaluable insights and learnings, which have helped me develop my emotional intelligence and hone my problemsolving abilities. These skills have not only enabled me to support my fellow high school students, but they have also fundamentally changed the way I approach helping others.” (Hope Squad Member: Saahithi P.)
o “ The most meaningful thing about Hope Squad to me is being able to educate the student body at my school. Many people do not know what mental health is or even how to take care of their own wellbeing. Hope Squad presents an opportunity to create a positive atmosphere in your school.” (Hope Squad Member, Reagan G.)
Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 22
Additional Supportive Information:

Additional Information about Hope Squad Program:

Program Components

1. Integrated Gatekeeper Model - HOPE Approach
At the core of Hope Squad is the HOPE Approach, a foundational lesson that builds essential suicide prevention competencies, including understanding protective factors, recognizing warning signs, and connecting peers with trusted adults.

HOPE Approach content is spiraled throughout lessons to continue building knowledge and practicing critical skills in identification and referral.

2. Age- Specific Elements:
o Elementary: Designed for younger students, the elementary curriculum introduces essential skills in resilience, relationship- building, bullying prevention, and self- awareness. This foundational framework supports mental wellness and prepares students for more advanced concepts as they progress. Many of these lessons are based on popular books, promoting both reading literacy and social- emotional development.

Identifying students who are experiencing difficulties is not only important, but it is also the centerpiece of the program. Informing a trusted adult is the recommended course of action for students.
o Secondary: Each year, junior high and high school students learn to identify warning signs, address distress or suicide, and follow referral protocols for timely intervention. This 3-lesson framework is repeated annually to ensure competency. Hope Squad then offers lessons on relationships, self- care, leadership, compassion, mindfulness, empathy, resilience, and coping skills. Advisors can choose from a set number of lessons each year, with new material available for 3 to 4 years. Squads can use both full-length ( 1- hour) and mini- lesson ( under 30 minutes) formats, adapting to different schedules while covering critical concepts. The program emphasizes experiential learning and includes optional activities for the school community and families in each lesson.

3. Program Lesson Strands (Topics)
The lessons have been organized into clearly defined strands that provide structure across age levels, with 3 years of material for elementary, junior high and 4 years for High School.

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 23
o Core Hope Squad Content: Foundational concepts, including team building, the suicide prevention gatekeeper model, and essentials of both peer support and Squad membership.
o Suicide Prevention: Comprehensive lessons emphasize mental health literacy and strengthen skills in warning signs identification, the power of protective factors, and connecting peers with appropriate help.
o Building Relationships ( Elementary) / Developing Emotional Intelligence Secondary): This strand covers peer interactions, communication techniques, empathy, emotional understanding, and fostering positive relationships. In high school, it also includes leadership skills for post- graduation readiness. o Understanding Ourselves ( Elementary) / Cultivating Empathy (Secondary):

Understanding Ourselves ( Elementary) / Cultivating Empathy ( Secondary): This strand emphasizes self- awareness and empathy, while also incorporating essential self- care concepts like mindfulness and addressing toxic positivity. o Constructive Choices: Constructive Choices: Guiding students in making positive, responsible decisions, including self-regulation and conflict resolution.

This strand also identifies key components of school safety and how to cultivate a safe school community. It teaches students to recognize and support peers who may be at risk of harming themselves or others.
o Bullying Prevention ( Elementary) / Developing Resilience ( Secondary):

Bullying Prevention ( Elementary) / Developing Resilience ( Secondary): Focusing on kindness and anti- bullying for younger students, advancing to resilience and coping skills for older students. This includes learning how to manage stress, adapt to change, and bounce back from setbacks, as well as techniques for maintaining a positive outlook and fostering perseverance in the face of challenges.

3. Program Activities and Community Engagement
Hope Week: A central program event that raises school- wide awareness and reduces stigma. Hope Week activities include workshops, mental health speakers, schoolwide kindness activities, and awareness campaigns, fostering a unified approach to mental health.

Monthly Mental Health Themes: Each month, Hope Squad will focus on a theme to engage the squad, students, faculty, families and community. These themes largely center around the program, aligning with lessons, national awareness months, community and parent engagement and more.
o Schoolwide activities for all students can include:

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 24
Posters and Social Media Campaigns: Share information about the monthly theme to encourage participation and reinforce mental health messages.

Lunchtime Engagements and Workshops: Provide informal spaces where students can engage with Hope Squad members, participate in stress- relief activities, or learn more about mental health topics. o Faculty and Staff activities can include:

Reflection and celebration in staff meetings: Highlighting the theme of the month starts with staff and faculty as well as focal points on allowing space in meetings to reflect and grow around that month’s theme.

Peer Observation/ Mentorship Programs/ Staff Highlights: Give space for staff and faculty to practice the theme of the month directly in order to ensure the theme is interwoven throughout the entire school community. o Parent Engagement includes an email or letter that can be sent to parents that highlights the monthly theme and various activities that parents/ guardians can practice with their students to continue the theme at home. Activities can include:

Family Communication: Taking the form of reflection/ celebration practice around the monthly theme these activities center around bringing the family together through conversation.

Family Bonding: Activities are also provided that encourage families working together to embody the theme of the month, be it family game night, kindness boards, family gardens, etc.

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 25
Cover Letter
Dear [Grant Funder’ s Name],
On behalf of [School or District Name], we are requesting funding to implement Hope Squad, a peer- led, evidence- based suicide prevention program. This initiative aligns with our commitment tofostering a safe and supportive school environment, where mental health literacy is prioritized, and students are empowered to seek help for themselves and their peers.

Statement of Need:

Our school community, like many others, faces a growing need for mental health support, with limited resources toaddress these challenges comprehensively. Youth suicide rates are rising, and mental health professionals within schools are often stretched thin. Hope Squad offers a solution by training students to serve as the “eyes and ears” of the school, identifying peers in crisis and connecting them to trusted adults.

Project Description:

The Hope Squad program will focus on:

Training Advisors and Students: Using the HOPE Approach gatekeeping model, we will equip advisors and student leaders with essential suicide prevention skills.

Reducing Stigma and Increasing Awareness: Through peer-led activities, monthly themes, and events like Hope Week, we aim tocreate a culture of openness and support around mental health.

Building Positive Relationships: These initiatives will strengthen the fabric of our school community, fostering connections and resilience among students.

Goals and Objectives: Our program goals include enhancing suicide prevention literacy, building supportive networks within the school, and promoting school -wide engagement. To achieve these goals, we will:

1. Train advisors and student members in suicide prevention and mental health literacy.

2. Conduct ongoing mental health awareness events, including monthly themes and Hope Week.

3. Establish protocols for crisis identification and referral, ensuring timely support for students in need.

Expected Impact: We anticipate that Hope Squad will lead to measurable improvements in student well - being, including increased help -seeking behaviors, reduced stigma around mental health, and stronger school community ties. By embedding these principles into our school culture, we aim tocreate a sustainable, proactive approach tostudent mental health.

We are excited about the opportunity tobring this life- changing program to [School or District Name].

Thank you for considering our application and for your support in fostering a safer, more connected school community.

Revised Jan 2025
HOPE SQUAD® Share the Hope. Save a Life. 26
Letter of Support Template
Dear [Name or Title],
On behalf of [School or District Name], I am writing to express our strong support for the implementation of the Hope Squad program at our school. This peer- led, evidence- based suicide prevention program is designed to empower students to support their peers, reduce mental health stigma, and promote a positive and inclusive school climate.

The Hope Squad program addresses critical mental health needs by training students to serve as the “eyes and ears” of our school. Through this program, they will learn to identify peers in distress and refer them to trusted adults, providing an essential layer of support in our community. With the growing demand for mental health resources and limited school- based mental health staff, Hope Squad offers a sustainable, impactful solution.

Key program elements include:

Advisor and Student Training: Utilizing the HOPE Approach gatekeeping model, Hope Squad equips participants with essential skills in suicide prevention and mental health literacy.

School- Wide Engagement: Through monthly themes and events like Hope Week, the program fosters a culture of awareness, openness, and support.

Community Involvement: Hope Squad actively involves parents, community organizations, and local mental health resources to build a comprehensive support network for students.

We have seen the positive impact of similar initiatives in other schools and are confident that Hope Squad will significantly enhance our efforts to create a safe and supportive environment for all students. The program’s focus on proactive peer engagement and connection aligns perfectly with our school’s commitment to student well- being and academic success.