Youth Commission 1 3/17/2025
Youth Commission
Regular Meeting Minutes
March 17, 2025
City Council Chamber
22 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701
6:00 PM
Youth Commission 6 3/17/2025
CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Wyatt Malfavon
ATTENDANCE Youth Commission Members:
Edith Hernandez
Neylen Muñoz
Emily Parra-Diaz
Cat Pham
Adrian Ramirez
Mercy Benitez, Vice Chair
Wyatt Malfavon, Chair
Staff:
Hawk Scott, Executive Director
Timothy Pagano, PRCSA Deputy Director
Jorge Acevedo, Park Services Superintendent
Suzi Furjanic, Associate Park and Landscape Planner
Hannah Wayne, Recording Secretary
MINUTES: Chairperson Wyatt Malfavon called the Youth Commission Special Meeting to order at 6:03 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Hannah Wayne, Recording Secretary
MINUTES: Recording Secretary Hannah Wayne conducted roll call.
Youth Commissioners Pham, Parra-Diaz, Ramirez, Vice Chair Benitez (arrived at 6:21 p.m.) and Chair Malfavon were present. Youth Commissioners Hernandez and Muñoz were absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairperson
MINUTES: Chairperson Wyatt Malfavon led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Youth Commission 6 3/17/2025
PRESENTATIONS Budget Office Presentation
MINUTES: Senior Budget Analyst Anne Do presented the City of Santa Ana Budget Office Presentation to the Youth Commission.
Each Youth Commissioner shared their top City of Santa Ana Budget priorities including youth and teen programming, the Santa Ana Zoo, and community centers as feedback for the Budget Office survey.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
MINUTES: Sofia May provided an in person public comment sharing the impact of the Assisteens Book Fest and inviting more 7th to 12th graders to be part of the efforts in bringing the community together through literacy, leadership, and service.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
MINUTES: At 6:26 P.M., the Consent Calendar was considered.
MOTION: Vice Chairperson Benitez moved to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1 through 3, seconded by Youth Commissioner Ramirez.
The motion carried, 5-0-0-2, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
YOUTH COMMISSIONER PARRA -DIAZ, YOUTH
COMMISSIONER PHAM, YOUTH COMMISSIONER
RAMIREZ, VICE CHAIRPERSON BENITEZ, CHAIRPERSON
MALFAVON
NONE
NONE
YOUTH COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ , YOUTH
COMMISSIONER MUÑOZ
Status: 5 – 0 – 0 – 2 Pass
1. Minutes from the Special Meeting of February 6th, 2025.
Recommended Action: Approve minutes.
2. Minutes of the Special Meeting of March 8th, 2025.
Recommended Action: Approve minutes.
3. Excuse Absences.
Recommended Action: Approve excused absences.
Youth Commission 6 3/17/2025
***END OF CONSENT CALENDAR***
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
4. Parks, Recreation and Community Services Budget.
MINUTES: Parks, Recreation and Community Services Executive Director Hawk Scott presented the Parks, Recreation and Community Service Budget.
Vice Chairperson Benitez was accepted into an organization where she can create a non-profit organization and would like to partner with the Parks and Recreation Athletics department to create a volleyball camp for 4 th and 5th
graders.
Commissioner Parra-Diaz asked about the Santa Ana Zoo.
Executive Director Scott explained all planned upgrades, improvements and upcoming projects for the Santa Ana Zoo.
5. Parks and Facilities Staff Report.
MINUTES: Public Services Superintendent Jorge Acevedo presented the Public Works Agency report detailing park improvements, lighting updates, stadium seating updates, as well as, overall accomplishments of public works.
Associate Park and Landscape Planner Suzi Furjanic presented the Park Planning report explaining the structure of the team and the differences between current planning and advanced planning.
Youth Commissioner Parra-Diaz commented about the Willard P ark outreach and
the Chepas Park history.
Youth Commissioner Ramirez asked about the El Salvidor restrooms renovation timeline. Associate Park and Landscape Planner Furjanic said they can get that information, but it’s probably a couple of months.
Youth Commissioner Pham asked about the budget of the park improvements and events. Executive Director Scott and Associate Park and Landscape Planner Furjanic provided budget details for the various departments and the grants they receive.
6. Parks, Recreation and Community Services Staff Report.
Youth Commission 6 3/17/2025
MINUTES: Park, Recreation and Community Services Deputy Director Tim Pagano presented the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Staff Report.
Youth Commissioner Parra-Diaz asked about the age range for Athletics and about the CPR classes with the Aquatics department.
Vice Chairperson Benitez asked about the track meet age range as well.
Deputy Director Pagano responded that the Athletics programs usually cap at 12 years old and the Aquatics section is a great opportunity for stud ents interested in
health care starting at age 16.
Chair Malfavon asked about the all access park. Deputy Director Pagano provided more information about the Kiwanis club vision behind the park.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMENTS
MINUTES: Parks, Recreation and Community Services Executive Director Hawk Scott commented that the 5K/10K is open for registration, the Brew at the Zoo is on May 10th and thanked the commissioners that attended the Special Meeting at the Zoo on March 8th.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
MINUTES: Youth Commissioner Pham asked about the Santa Ana fun run volunteer opportunities.
Vice Chairperson Benitez thanked the first public speaker we had and enjoyed the meeting.
Chairperson Malfavon thanked all for the presentations and the first public speaker.
ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting of the Youth Commission is scheduled for Monday, April 21st, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Newhope Library, 122 N Newhope St, Santa Ana, CA 92703.
MINUTES: Chairperson Malfavon adjourned the Youth Commission meeting at 7:44 P.M.
Respectfully submitted:
_________________________
Hannah Wayne
Recording Secretary