Youth Commission 1 2/6/2025
Youth Commission
Special Meeting Minutes
February 6, 2025
Santa Ana Senior Center
424 W 3rd St, Santa Ana, CA 92701
6:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Wyatt Malfavon
ATTENDANCE Youth Commission Members:
Edith Hernandez
Neylen Muñoz
Emily ParraDiaz
Cat Pham
Adrian Ramirez
Mercy Benitez, ViceChairperson
Wyatt Malfavon, Chairperson
Staff:
Hawk Scott, Executive Director
Hannah Wayne, Recording Secretary
Minutes: Chairperson Wyatt Malfavon called the Youth Commission Special Meeting to order at 6:06 P.M.
ROLL CALL Hannah Wayne, Recording Secretary
Minutes: Recording Secretary Hannah Wayne conducted roll call. All Youth Commissioners were present.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairperson Wyatt Malfavon
Minutes: Chairperson Wyatt Malfavon led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Youth Commission 2 2/6/2025
PRESENTATION
MINUTES: Parks, Recreation and Community Services Executive Director Hawk Scott presented the Santa Ana Zoo Employee of the Year to Jennifer Orrison.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
MINUTES: No public comments received.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
MINUTES: At 6:15 P.M., the Consent Calendar was considered.
MOTION: Youth Commissioner Parra-Diaz moved to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1 and 2, seconded by Vice Chairperson Benitez
The motion carried, 700, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
YOUTH COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ, YOUTH
COMMISSIONER MUÑOZ, YOUTH COMMISSIONER
PARRA
DI
AZ, YOUTH COMMISSIONER PHAM, YOUTH
COMMISSIONER RAMIREZ, VICE CHAIRPERSON BENITEZ,
CHAIRPERSON MALFAVON
NONE
NONE
Status: 7 – 0 – 0 – Pass
1. Minutes from the Regular Meeting of November 18, 2024.
Recommended Action: Approve minutes.
2. Excuse Absences
Recommended Action: Approve excused absences.
***END OF CONSENT CALENDAR***
BUSINESS CALENDAR
3. Proposal for a Youth’s Recognition Program.
MINUTES: Youth Commissioner Ramirez proposed for the youth commission to recognize outstanding youth that are impacting Santa Ana similarly to how we recognize employees of the month.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Executive Director Hawk Scott responded that he will look into that and report back.
4. Proposals to bring more Educational Opportunities to the Youth of Santa Ana.
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MINUTES: Youth Commissioner Ramirez proposed to create programs for youth to explore and/or further their education like workforce readiness, STEM.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Deputy Director Tim Pagano responded with programming that is currently in place, including the Life Guard program.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Zoo Deputy Director Ethan Fisher presented opportunities available from the Santa Ana Zoo programs and work center.
Library Services Director Brian Sternberg presented the available library programs on work education, STEM, and youth internship opportunities.
Commissioner Parra-Diaz suggested to collaborate as a youth commission with the resources they all have and put together a shareable document.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Executive Director Hawk Scott responded that he will look into that and report back.
***END OF BUSINESS CALENDAR***
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
5. Santa Ana Public Library Staff Report
MINUTES: Library Services Director Brian Sternberg presented the Santa Ana Public Library Report.
Youth Commissioner Pham asked about the blind date with a book program and Youth Commissioner Ramirez asked about the library volunteer program and how to create a workshop.
Library Services Director Brian Sternberg responded that there is a teen leadership committee, and mentioned that volunteering is a great way to get involved.
6. Santa Ana Zoo Staff Report
MINUTES: Parks, Recreation and Community Services Zoo Deputy Director Ethan Fisher presented the Santa Ana Zoo Staff Report.
Youth Commissioner Parra-Diaz commented about the primate aspect of the zoo and hopes to have the youth experience close up interactions. Chair Malfavon asked about the river otter project and Youth Commissioner Ramirez asked about school programs.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Zoo Deputy Director Ethan Fisher responded that the river otter exhibit is still currently under construction and detailed the various programs in place and career day requests that they have.
Youth Commission 4 2/6/2025
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
MINUTES: Youth Commissioner Pham thanked Parks, Recreation and Community Services Zoo Deputy Director Ethan Fisher for his presentation.
Youth Commissioner Parra-Diaz enjoys the meetings and asked to continue to pull together resources from the youth commission members.
Youth Commissioner Munoz thanked Parks, Recreation and Community Services Zoo Deputy Director Ethan Fisher for his presentation.
Youth Commissioner Hernandez is interested in learning more about the zoo.
Youth Commissioner Ramirez thanked everyone for their staff reports, and likes to see all that is happening with programs and the city.
Vice Chairperson Benitez thanked the speakers.
Chairperson Malfavon thanked everyone for their presentations and attendance.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMENTS
MINUTES: Parks, Recreation and Community Services Executive Director Hawk Scott suggested special meetings with the Aquatics team and a tour of the Santa Ana Zoo, then introduced Juan Lara who oversees the Senior programs.
Senior Services Supervisor Juan Lara gave an overview of what he does for the senior services and programs and answered the youth commissioner questions about senior programs.
ADJOURNMENT
MINUTES: Parks, Recreation and Community Services Executive Director Hawk Scott established the next meeting to be a special joint meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission and Youth Commission on March 8 th, 2025 at 3 P.M. at the
Santa Ana Zoo. Chairperson Malfavon adjourned the Youth Commission meeting at 7:11 P.M.
Respectfully submitted:
_________________________
Hannah Wayne
Recording Secretary