Ibarra, Evelyn
From: Dale Helvig ‹
Sent: Saturday, July 13, 2024 8:20 PM
To: eComment; Carvalho, Sonia R.; Nunez, Alvaro; Mendoza, Steven; Hall, Jennifer; Amezcua, Valerie; Phan, Thai; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Bacerra, Phil; Hernandez, Johnathan; Penaloza, David
Subject: 2024-07-136 Letter to City Council-Item 26-3 Non-Citizen Voting for July 16th CC Meeting
Attachments: 2024-07-13 Letter to City Council-Item 26-3 Non-Citizen Voting.pdf Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
See attached file
Dale Helvig
Resident, Santa Ana
Dale Helvig
Resident, Santa Ana CA 92706
July 13, 2024
Mayor Amezcua and Santa Ana City Councilmembers
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, 8th Floor
Santa Ana CA 92702
Subject: Item 26-3, Non-Citizen Voting
Define "non-citizen". I heard members on the dais say the City Council will define non-citizens after the election, if it passes. I have also heard anyone who can prove they have lived in Santa Ana for more than 30 days would be eligible to vote. Both of these ideas show a lack of foresight.
What other countries allow non-citizens to vote after 30-days....none that I can find. Chile considers all legally present foreign-born adults to be eligible to vote after five-years of residence. Ecuador allows legally present non-citizens to vote after five-years of residence. New Zealand allows permanent residents to vote after just one-year in the country. Norway lets foreign nationals vote in local elections after three-years of residence. Mexico requires a voter ID (credencial para votar) from the Instituto Nacional Electoral (INE, or National Electoral Institute).1 This council has repeatedly stated that financial constraints need to be applied now due to Santa Ana's projected budget deficit, and it seems that defending this half-baked idea, should it pass, will result in vast amounts of money being spent that instead should be used to benefit the lives of all Santa Ana residents.
Your constituents are already represented by you on City matters, whether citizens or not.
Be responsible! Use your authority and resources to assist non-citizens in obtaining citizenship status rather than placing this item on the ballot.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.
Respectfully,
Dale A Helvig
Resident, Santa Ana
1 https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/immigrant-emigrant-voting-rights (May 1,2024)
2024-07-13 Letter to City Council-Item 26-3 Non-Citizen Voting Ibarra, Evelyn
From: Dale Helvig 1
Sent: Saturday, July 13, 2024 8:25 PM
To: eComment; Carvalho, Sonia R.; Nunez, Alvaro; Mendoza, Steven; Hall, Jennifer; Alcala, Abigail; Amezcua, Valerie; Phan, Thai; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Bacerra, Phil; Hernandez, Johnathan; Penaloza, David
Subject: 2024-07-13 Letter to City Council-Item 26-2 Council Compensation for July 16th CC Meeting
Attachments: 2024-07-13 Letter to City Council-Item 26-2 Council Compensation.pdf Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links.
See attached file.
Dale Helvig
Resident, Santa Ana
Dale Helvig
Resident, Santa Ana CA 92706
July 13, 2024
Mayor Amezcua and Santa Ana City Councilmembers
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, 8th Floor
Santa Ana CA 92702
Subject: Item 26-2, Council Compensation
City Council members can put in a lot of hours working on important issues, and the residents of City of Santa Ana should be grateful. Compensation of approximately $1000 a month is not nearly enough. However, what is being proposed for future compensation is questionable, especially given the severe budget issues the City is facing.
CURRENT COMPENSATION
SAMC Sec. 402. - Compensation of members states: "Each member of the City Council and the Mayor shall receive as a monthly salary for their services, the maximum amount allowed by the population formula set forth in California Government Code General Section 36516 as of November 8, 2016. No increase in the monthly salary shall occur without first being approved by the voters pursuant to a Charter amendment.
2023 California Code Government Code - GOV TITLE 4 - GOVERNMENT OF CITIES DIVISION 3 - OFFICERS PART 1 - GENERAL Section 36516 states for cities over 250,000 population, up to and including three thousand two hundred dollars ($3,200) per month. 1
PROPOSED COMPENSATION
SAMC Sec. 402. - Compensation of members states: "Each member of the City Council and the Mayor shall receive as a monthly salary for their services not to exceed thirty-three (33%) percent of that of an Orange County Superior Court Judge. No increase in the monthly salary shall occur without first being approved by the voters pursuant to a Charter amendment.
This tells me two things: 1) Santa Ana will no longer be following the 2023 California Code Government Code General Section 36516, and 2) Santa Ana residents will no longer be able to limit City Council compensation as Superior Court Judge compensation is increased.
Currently, the salary per council person is $12,000 per year. Given the current salary of an Orange County Superior Court Judge, Santa Ana residents would be asked to raise the salary per council person to $78,696 per year, representing a 655% raise. 1 https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/government-code/gov-sect-36516/
2024-07-13 Letter to City Council-Item 26-2 Council Compensation Dale Helvig
Resident, Santa Ana CA 92706
This, in addition to the $60,000/year staff support amount allocated to each council person since 2022, raises the maximum total salary + staff allocation expenses by $466,000/year from 2024 to 2025. All of this at a time when residents are being told about the huge loss of funds as Measure X sunsets. See (Table 1)
Table 1
Councilperson Support Staff Number of Entire Council
Salary/Year Allocation/Council City Salary + Support
person/Year Council Staff
Persons Allocation/Year
2021 $12,000 7 $84,000
2022-2024 $12,000 $60,000 7 $504,000
2025 Proposal $78,698 $60,000 7 $970,886
I do believe City council persons should see an increase in salary, but it should be limited to the maximum of $3,200 specified in the California Code. This would still result in a 320% (percent) salary raise and a $98,400 salary + allocation expense per council person, which is far more reasonable to expect of the City's residents. (See Table 2) Table 2
Councilperson Support Staff Number of Entire Council
Salary/Year Allocation/Council City Salary + Support
person/Year Council Staff
Persons Allocation/Year
2021 $12,000 7 $84,000
2022-2024 $12,000 $60,000 7 $504,000
2025 Proposal $38,400 $60,000 $688,800
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Dale A Helvig
Resident, Santa Ana
2024-07-13 Letter to City Council-Item 26-2 Council Compensation