CITY COUNCIL 1 MAY 16, 2024
DRAFT Minutes of the Special Meeting
of the City Council
City of Santa Ana,
California
May 16, 2024
OPEN SESSION MEETING – 5:30 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
22 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701
OPEN SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
MINUTES: Mayor Amezcua called the special meeting to order at 5:39 P.M.
ATTENDANCE Council Members Phil Bacerra
Johnathan Ryan Hernandez
Jessie Lopez
David Penaloza
Benjamin Vazquez
Mayor Pro Tem Thai Viet Phan
Mayor Valerie Amezcua
Acting City Manager Alvaro Nuñez
City Attorney Sonia R. Carvalho
City Clerk Jennifer L. Hall
ROLL CALL
MINUTES: City Clerk Jennifer L. Hall conducted roll call.
Councilmembers Bacerra, Hernandez, Lopez (arrived at 5:59 P.M.), Penaloza, and Vazquez, Mayor Pro Tem Phan, and Mayor Amezcua were present.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Susana Rios
CITY COUNCIL 2 MAY 16, 2024
ADDITIONS\DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA
MINUTES: None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS – Public comments will be held during the beginning of the meeting for comments on agenda items only.
City Clerk Jennifer L. Hall reported out the summary of email comments received: 45 agenda item No. 1 comments.
MINUTES: The following speakers addressed City Council in-person:
1. Debra Russell spoke regarding the arts budget and in support of funding the arts.
2. Amelia spoke in support of funding local artists.
3. Alicia Rojas spoke regarding the arts budget and in support of funding the arts.
4. Bryan Chang requested funding for the arts.
5. Peggy Iriarte spoke regarding the arts budget and in support of funding the arts.
6. Sara Guerrero spoke regarding the arts budget and in support of funding the arts.
7. Logan Crow spoke regarding the arts budget and in support of funding the arts.
The following speaker addressed City Council via teleconference:
8. Victor Mendez spoke regarding the budget.
MINUTES: At 6:03 P.M., the Work Study Session was considered.
1. Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget Work Study Session
Department(s): Finance and Management Services
Recommended Action: Discuss and provide direction to staff.
MINUTES: Finance Management and Services Director Kathryn Downs gave a presentation regarding the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget.
Councilmember Penaloza spoke regarding subsidizing parking in the Downtown area and the dog park.
WORK STUDY SESSION
CITY COUNCIL 3 MAY 16, 2024
Acting City Manager Alvaro Nuñez provided clarification regarding the cost and location of the dog park.
Public Works Director Nabil Saba spoke regarding the cost of the dog park.
Councilmember Hernandez spoke in support of homeless reduction efforts, pothole repairs, Police Department budget, youth programs, allocation of monies for sidewalks, creating equity through the cannabis fund, and suggested taxing the tobacco industry.
Councilmember Lopez asked for clarification regarding costs related to council aides, spoke in support of funding the master plan for the arts, spoke regarding the $1.6 million miscellaneous fee for the Bowers Museum, and CAL Home MFDG loans and grants.
Community Development Executive Director Michael Garcia spoke regarding MFDG loans and grants.
Councilmember Vazquez spoke in support of a 3% tobacco tax and Civic Center Authority Policing Option 1.
Mayor Amezcua asked for clarification regarding budget responses, stated she is in support of the opioid hospital spending as long as it’s not in the city, and spoke in support of the Civic Center Authority Policing Option 1.
Director Downs stated there were 2,200 responses and spoke regarding the opioid settlement spending.
Mayor Pro Tem Phan spoke in support of the Civic Center Authority Policing Option 1 and asked for clarification regarding the distribution of officers and the tobacco tax.
Director Downs spoke regarding the state tobacco tax and regarding the reallocation of funds for the arts.
Acting City Manager Nuñez spoke regarding the Bowers Museum contract Councilmember Bacerra asked for clarification regarding the business license tax fee schedule, requested exhibit 1 – license to sell pistols and revolvers to increase, spoke regarding funding for the next steps of the water tower, proposed a fee related to under age sales grant program, and requested additional information regarding the Bowers Museum.
Councilmember Hernandez spoke in support of funding the arts and Art Walk, requested pedestrian safety in the Civic Center area be addressed, and spoke regarding City events and a tobacco free community.
CITY COUNCIL 4 MAY 16, 2024
Deputy City Manager Sylvia Vazquez gave a brief update regarding the Bowers Museum contract.
Discussion ensued regarding the Bowers Museum contract, the Police Department’s budget and fees, and ARPA monies.
Councilmember Bacerra spoke in support of the dog park, requested a breakdown of recurring spending, filling funded vacancies in the Police Department, and spoke regarding finding ways to fund arts.
Councilmember Penaloza spoke in support of the Civic Center Authority Policing Option 1, spoke regarding the Dog Park, and spoke in support of a tobacco tax and alcohol tax at off-premise locations.
Discussion ensued regarding the dog park costs and the MOU between the City and County related to the Civic Center Authority.
Mayor Pro Tem Phan spoke regarding reducing City events and related costs.
Discussion ensued regarding costs associated with City Events and proposed fees.
Councilmember Hernandez spoke in support of the Civic Center Authority Policing Option 1, spoke in opposition to spending monies for grass, addressed subsidizing parking in the downtown area and laying off staff, spoke in support of street repairs regarding Fairview Rehab, and spoke regarding City events and funding the Arts Master Plan.
Director Saba provided clarification regarding the Fairview Rehab project.
Mayor Amezcua spoke regarding City events and subsidizing parking, spoke in support of fixing sidewalks and having a more robust Senior Center program, i.e funding trips and coffee all day long at the Senior Centers, requested cameras and blue lights throughout the city, and addressed resident’s top two priorities.
Councilmember Penaloza spoke regarding City events and the dog park, asked for the costs related to CIP protected bike lanes, asked for clarification regarding the Bristol Street Widening project, and requested CIP monies from previous years be reflected in the budget.
Director Saba spoke regarding the Bristol Street Widening project.
Brief discussion ensued regarding the Vision Zero Plan.
Councilmember Vazquez requested an increase to the art fund of $700,000 and spoke in support of funding senior programs.
Mayor Pro Tem Phan spoke regarding the downtown parking subsidy, general fund, water tower, and City events.
CITY COUNCIL 5 MAY 16, 2024
Councilmember Lopez spoke regarding the opioid settlement and increased Police Department fees.
**END OF WORK STUDY SESSION**
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
MINUTES: None.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS
MINUTES: None.
ADJOURNMENT – Adjourn the City Council meeting.
MINUTES: Mayor Amezcua adjourned the City Council Meeting at 8:48 P.M.
Respectfully submitted:
___________________________
Jennifer L. Hall, CMC
City Clerk