Joint School Collaboration
City Council Subcommittee
Regular Meeting Minutes
December 2, 2024
IN PERSON MEETING
City Hall Ross Annex, 20 Civic Center Plaza, Room 1600, Santa Ana, CA 92701 6:00 PM
SAN
CALL TO ORDER Chairperson
ATTENDANCE Subcommittee Members:
Alfonso Alvarez, SAUSD
Jessie Lopez, Councilmember
Benjamin Lopez, Councilmember
Johnathan Ryan Hernandez, Vice-Chairperson
Hector Bustos, Chairperson
Staff:
Hawk Scott, Executive Director
Jennifer L. Hall, Recording Secretary
Minutes: Chairperson Bustos called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
ROLL CALL Jennifer L. Hall, Recording Secretary
Minutes: Recording Secretary Jennifer L. Hall conducted roll call. Committee Members Alvarez, Lopez, and Vazquez, and Chairperson Bustos were present. Vice Chairperson Hernandez was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Minutes: Chairperson Hector Bustos led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Minutes: Grace Matweek, via Zoom, inquired about plans for addressing homelessness.
Minutes: At 6:05 P.M., the Consent Calendar was considered.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
1. Minutes from the Regular Meeting of September 9, 2024.
Recommended Action: Approve Minutes.
Excused Absences.
Recommended Action: Approve Excused Absences.
Minutes: Moved by Subcommittee Member Lopez, seconded by Subcommittee Member Vazquez to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1 and 2.
The motion carried, 4-0, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: 4 - Alfonzo Alvarez, Jessie Lopez, Benjamin Vazquez, Hector Bustos NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: Johnathan Ryan Hernandez
Status: 4 - 0 - 0 - 1- Pass
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
Minutes: At 6:05 P.M., Chairperson Bustos considered the remainder of the agenda out of order and heard Item No. 6 prior to the other agenda items.
6. Update from Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
Minutes: Deputy Director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Tim Pagano about ted angels Pak and Near Machander Agreement, anticipated in may paves during Quarter 1 of 2025, and Godinez High School-School Business Definition Letter.
He noted a pilot program would be proposed regarding an hour for hour exchange and addressing what items meet the definition of school business and a waiver of costs.
Deputy Director Pagano addressed Joint-Use Agreements for Eugene Griset Park/Greenville Elementary School, Spurgeon Park/Lydia Romero-Cruz Academy, and Delhi Park/Monroe Elementary School. He presented a recommendation for Lowell Elementary School of a Dual Use Approach through two phases.
Regarding the School Business Definition, a recommendation is an Hour-for-Hour Exchange Pilot Program to create a balanced resources exchange between the City and SAUSD.
Subcommittee Member Lopez thanked staff for the presentation and noted it was great to see more details.
Subcommittee Member Alvarez inquired about how the Community Schools initiative would be impacted by the hour-for-hour exchange. Superintendent Jerry Almendarez stated that it would be looked into, but the first pilot program at Godinez High School was not a Community Schools site. Superintendent Almendarez thanked the City for the presentation and the continued dialogue about the programs.
Subcommittee Member Vazquez inquired how this information could be taken to the entire City Council. Deputy Director Pagano explained the process and expressed the need for budget considerations
Chairperson Bustos inquired about timelines for the Joint Use Agreements. Deputy Director Pagano explained that the sites presented are the priorities for the TAC with some actions anticipated in early 2025. Discussion ensued about community engagement efforts.
Subcommittee Member Lopez inquired about parking usage after hours.
Collaborations between Santa Ana Police Department and Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department
Minutes: Acting Deputy Chief (Field Operations) Matt Sorensen presented on collaborations between the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) and the Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department including active shooter trainings and protocols for swatting calls. He emphasized the importance of communications. He addressed an incident at McFadden Institute of Technology and subsequent meetings and conversations.
Subcommittee Member Vazquez appreciated the responses and efforts. He noted that, as a teacher, he wants to know what the protocols and expectations are and would like more training and coordination. Acting Deputy Chief Sorensen explained that SAUSD Police are the lead for campus events even when the SAPD response may be larger.
Subcommittee Vazquez asked the Superintendent to ensure consistency across the District.
Subcommittee Member Lopez asked how teachers and students are informed about drills and protocols, which was responded to by Superintendent Jerry Almendarez and Subcommittee Member Vazquez. Discussion ensued about the response at McFadden, how various situations are handled, the frequency of joint training, and awareness regarding swatting calls and social media effects.
Subcommittee Member Alvarez addressed various type of incidents and that often preparedness is not enough even with substantial training.
Chairperson Bustos inquired about the communications process for addressing swatting calls. Acting Deputy Chief Sorenson explained the process and shared the improvements that have been made recently.
4. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act: Services to Homeless Students Minutes: Community Development Executive Director Mike Garcia provided an update on the daily census of children at shelter; today there were 24 children, 19 school aged attending 11 different schools, one of which is Garden Grove. He noted that the City and District are working on ensuring the children are picked up and brought to their home schools.
Subcommittee Member Lopez inquired how the numbers reflect students and families living in various types of unhoused situations. Director Garcia stated that the numbers provided include only those students currently residing at the Carnegie Navigation Center.
Subcommittee Member Vazquez inquired about the Point in Time Count. Director Garcia said that Count in October may have some information but not in depth like the other service providers and programs.
Subcommittee Member Alvarez reported information is collected from families at the beginning of each school year and shared that self-identification of situations greatly varies.
Executive Director Garcia shared information about the Rent Stabilization Division efforts and outreach. Superintendent Jerry Almendarez also shared about various efforts and activities from the District and the City. Discussion ensued about affordable housing, local preference, and other housing efforts.
Subcommittee Members Vazquez thanked City and District staff for their work.
WORK Center Collaboration with SAUSD High Schools
Minutes: Community Development Executive Director Mike Garcia introduced Economic Development Specialist Carlos de la Riva, who then provided a brief overview of the WORK Center and highlighted recent activities.
Subcommittee Member Vazquez stated the WORK Center is the best/worst kept secret as it does so much great work.
Executive Director Garcia offered tours at various sites.
Superintendent Jerry Almendarez thanked Specialist de la Riva for the work performed and the great impact on the students.
Commissioner Alvarez expressed his appreciation for the students and their abilities.
Chairperson Bustos thanked staff for the presentation and their work and expressed excitement for future programs including an MOU.
SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS COMMENTS
Minutes: Subcommittee Member Alvarez shared a fun fact that he went to school with Specialist de la Riva and addressed leadership.
Subcommittee Member Lopez thanked the Parks staff for pushing items along.
Subcommittee Member Vazquez thanked all for collaborations, noted that he has reached out to the District and Supervisor Sarmiento regarding a disabilities fair, and stated he will be asking City departments to participate next May 2025 at a resources Chairperson Bustos thanked committee members and staff and noted that great work was happening between the District and the City. He gave a shout-out to Youth Commissioner Emily Parra-Diaz for attending and her commitment to the Santa Ana community.
ADJOURNMENT
The next Joint School Collaboration City Council Subcommittee Regular Meeting is scheduled for January 6, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Ross Annex Room 1600.
Minutes: Chairperson Bustos adjourned the meeting at 7:22 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Jennifer L Hall, CMC
Recording Secretary
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Pursuant to action taken by the Santa Ana City Council at the Regular Meeting of February 4, 2025, the Joint School Collaboration Standing Subcommittee between the City of Santa Ana and the Santa Ana Unified School District was disbanded (Resolution No. 2025-005).
The preceding minutes were finalized by Recording Secretary/City Clerk Jennifer L.
Jennifer 4. Hall, CMC
Recording Secretary/City Clerk