The City is particularly concerned that public engagement on this issue was insufficient, as only approximately 17,000 stakeholders were engaged out of a service population of roughly 17 million residents, representing only 0.1% of those impacted. Such low engagement is not sufficient for sweeping regulatory changes with significant regional impact.
While South Coast AQMD has indefinitely postponed the proposed amendments, the City of Santa Ana recommends reaffirming its opposition and formally urging the South Coast AQMD to reject any similar future proposals unless they are developed in meaningful collaboration with local governments, housing advocates, utilities, and community stakeholders.
The proposed resolution encourages the South Coast AQMD to pursue alternative strategies that are cost-effective, incentive-based, and equitable, to balance environmental goals with the urgent need to preserve housing affordability and community stability.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Resolution Opposing the South Coast AQMD Proposed Amendments to Rules 1111 and 1121
Submitted By: Sylvia Vazquez, Deputy City Manager
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager
City Council 22 – 2 6/17/2025
Resolution No. 2025-XXX
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA ANA OPPOSING THE SOUTH COAST AIR
QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT’S PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TO RULES 1111 AND 1121
WHEREAS, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) proposed amendments that were voted on during their June 6, 2025, Governing Board Meeting, to Rules 1111 and 1121 to phase out natural gas-powered furnaces and water heaters, requiring a costly transition to zero-emission electric alternatives; and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana supports air quality improvements but is concerned that the proposed amendments could have imposed severe financial burdens on working families, renters, seniors, and small businesses, worsening the housing affordability crisis and threatening energy reliability; and WHEREAS, the proposed rules were projected to generate billions in costs with limited public outreach and participation, as only 0.1% of the South Coast region’s population engaged in the process, and the expected environmental benefit is modest relative to the significant social and economic impacts; and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana believes any transition to cleaner technologies must be equitable, affordable, and supported by strong community engagement and infrastructure readiness.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby reaffirms its opposition to South Coast AQMD’s proposed amendments to Rules 1111 and 1121, and while we are aware that the Governing Board voted on Friday, June 6, 2025, to indefinitely postpone the proposed amendments, we urge the Governing Board to reject any new proposals related to Rules 1111 and 1121 without meaningful participation and adequate engagement with the general public and local government agencies,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Santa Ana encourages the South Coast AQMD to work collaboratively with local governments, housing advocates, utilities, and community stakeholders to develop cost-effective, incentive-based, and equitable alternatives that advance air quality goals without jeopardizing housing affordability, energy reliability, or economic stability.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution and forward copies to the South Coast AQMD Governing Board and appropriate state representatives.
City Council 22 – 3 6/17/2025
Resolution No. 2025-XXX
ADOPTED this _____ day of ____________, 2025.
________________________________
Valerie Amezcua
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney
By:
AYES: Councilmembers
NOES: Councilmembers
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers
NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers _
CERTIFICATION OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, Jennifer L. Hall, City Clerk, do hereby attest to and certify the attached Resolution No. 2025-XXX to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Ana on _______________.
Date: ______________________ ________________________________ City Clerk
City of Santa Ana
City Council 22 – 4 6/17/2025
CITY ATTORNEY
Sonia R. Carvalho
CITY MANAGER
Alvaro Nuñez
CITY CLERK
Jennifer L. Hall
20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA - P.O. BOX 1988, M31 - SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92702 TELEPHONE (714) 647-6900 - FAX (714) 647-6954 - www.santa-ana.org Councilmember-Requested Item Report
DATE
June 17, 2025
TOPIC
City Council Resolution in Support of the MENA Inclusion Act (AB 91)
COUNCILMEMBER-REQUESTED ITEM TITLE
Discuss and Consider Providing Direction to the City Manager to Draft a Resolution in Support of the MENA Inclusion Act (AB 91)
DISCUSSION
The MENA Inclusion Act will require that starting January 1, 2026, state agencies, boards, and commissions in California that collect demographic data on ancestry or ethnic origin must include separate categories for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) groups.
This ensures that the state can more accurately meet the needs of the MENA community.
According to 2020 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, California is home to approximately 740,219 individuals who identify as Middle Eastern or North African (MENA).
However, people from the MENA region are currently categorized under the broader "white" category in both federal and state data collection. When disaggregated, MENA individuals account for just 12% of the broader white population in California, resulting in their underrepresentation within the larger white category.
Additionally, Orange County, which includes Santa Ana, is home to a large population of approximately 100,000 MENA community members, with the majority being of Arab or Iranian descent.
Broadly classifying individuals from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) community as "white" in both the U.S. Census and California State data collection fails to capture the unique demographic characteristics, cultural diversity, and specific needs of the MENA population.
Recognizing this population separately would enable both public and private sectors to more effectively meet the needs of MENA residents, ensuring better representation, equitable distribution of resources, and more inclusive planning for community services and infrastructure.
SUBMITTED BY
Mayor Pro Tem Benjamin Vazquez
Councilmember Johnathan Ryan Hernandez
City Council 23 – 1 6/17/2025
CITY ATTORNEY
Sonia R. Carvalho
CITY MANAGER
Alvaro Nuñez
CITY CLERK
Jennifer L. Hall
20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA - P.O. BOX 1988, M31 - SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92702 TELEPHONE (714) 647-6900 - FAX (714) 647-6954 - www.santa-ana.org Councilmember-Requested Item Report
DATE
June 17, 2025
TOPIC
Request to Amend 2025 City Council Meeting Calendar to Include a Summer Recess
COUNCILMEMBER-REQUESTED ITEM TITLE
Discuss and Consider Providing Direction to the City Manager, City Clerk, and City Attorney to prepare and return to the City Council with a Resolution to Amend the 2025 City Council Meeting Calendar to Provide for a City Council Recess During Either July or August 2025—Specifically by Canceling the Regular Meetings Scheduled for July 1 and 15, 2025, or August 5 and 19, 2025—in Accordance with the City Council Rules and Procedures and the Ralph M. Brown Act.
DISCUSSION
The City Council Rules and Procedures (Resolution No. 2025-004, Section 2) currently establishes regular City Council meetings on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.
Section 2(b) of the resolution provides the City Council with the authority to set, cancel, or reschedule any regular meeting by majority vote through a duly adopted resolution, provided that proper notice is given in accordance with applicable law.
The Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code § 54950 et seq.) governs how local legislative bodies conduct public meetings but does not mandate a minimum frequency of meetings. Therefore, a City Council may cancel all regularly scheduled meetings in a given month, provided it takes formal action and ensures proper public notification of the cancellations.
A temporary summer recess offers multiple organizational and operational benefits. For Councilmembers, it allows a period for rest, reflection, and strategic planning away from regular legislative duties. For City staff, a recess allows for a brief reprieve from the time-consuming cycle of agenda preparation, report writing, and meeting facilitation— supporting both productivity and morale. It also provides departments an opportunity to focus on longer-term projects or internal priorities that may otherwise be constrained by the recurring City Council meeting schedule.
Importantly, a recess also gives the City Manager more time and flexibility to strategically plan and coordinate upcoming agenda items. This promotes better agenda management, allows for cross-departmental collaboration, and helps ensure that items City Council 24 – 1 6/17/2025
CITY ATTORNEY
Sonia R. Carvalho
CITY MANAGER
Alvaro Nuñez
CITY CLERK
Jennifer L. Hall
20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA - P.O. BOX 1988, M31 - SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92702 TELEPHONE (714) 647-6900 - FAX (714) 647-6954 - www.santa-ana.org brought before the City Council are more thoroughly prepared, aligned with City Council priorities, and scheduled to maximize efficiency and transparency.
Several other cities in California, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Oakland, Sacramento, and San José, routinely schedule summer recess periods during July or August. These cities recognize that a short pause in the meeting schedule supports thoughtful governance, improved planning, and sustainable workloads for elected officials and public employees alike.
If the City Council proceeds with this recommendation, the City Manager, City Clerk, and City Attorney will return at a future meeting with a proposed resolution identifying which meetings—either July 1 and 15 or August 5 and 19, 2025—are to be canceled for the purpose of a summer recess, and will ensure that the revised calendar is posted in compliance with the Brown Act.
SUBMITTED BY
Councilmember Jessie Lopez
City Council 24 – 2 6/17/2025