Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 1 2/27/2025
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
of the Parks, Recreation and
Community Services Commission
February 27, 2025
REGULAR OPEN MEETING – 5:30 P.M.
Santa Ana Senior Center
424 W 3rd St, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 2 2/27/2025
CALL TO ORDER Chairperson
MINUTES: Chairperson Herrera called the meeting to order at 5:37 P.M.
ATTENDANCE Commission Members:
Selica Diaz
Josh Jogwe
Cory Nelson
Silvia Reyes
Ruby Woo
Maria Zacaria-Torres, Vice Chair
Roberto Herrera, Chair
Staff:
Hawk Scott, Executive Director
Brian Sternberg, Library Services Director
Ethan Fisher, PRCSA Deputy Director, Zoo
Hannah Wayne, Recording Secretary
ROLL CALL Hannah Wayne, Recording Secretary
MINUTES: Recording Secretary Wayne conducted roll call.
Commissioners Diaz, Jogwe, Nelson, and Woo, Vice Chair Zacarias Torres and Chair Herrera were present. Commissioner Reyes arrived at 5:40 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairperson
MINUTES: Chair Herrera led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATIONS Parks and Recreation Employee of the Year Employees of the Month
MINUTES: Chair Herrera requested to add a presentation to the agenda about Lightning Youth Academy at Jerome Center.
MOTION: Moved by Commissioner Nelson, to add to the agenda a presentation about Lightning Youth Academy at Jerome Center, seconded by Commissioner Woo.
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The motion carried, 6-0-0-1, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER DIAZ, COMMISSIONER JOGWE,
COMMISSIONER NELSON, COMMISSIONER WOO, VICE
CHAIR TORRES, CHAIR HERRERA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER REYES
Status: 6 – 0 – 0 – 1 – Pass
MINUTES: Dr. Chalula with Lightning Youth Academy presented a plaque as a thank you to Santa Ana Parks, Recreation and Community Services for Jerome Center and the support they provide to his classes.
The Commissioners presented certificates for Employees of the Month to Anthony Cortez, Oscar Gamero, Elle O’Brien and Nathan Vallejo, and thanked them for their hard work and efforts.
Executive Director Hawk Scott and Chair Herrera also honored Corilyn Lantz as the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Employee of the Year.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
MINUTES: There were no public comments.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
MINUTES: The Consent Calendar was considered 6:07 P.M.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve staff recommendations on the following Consent Calendar Items: 1 and 2.
1. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 23, 2025.
Recommended Action: Approve Minutes.
2. Excused absences.
Recommended Action: Approve Excused Absences.
MOTION: Moved by Commissioner Diaz to approve Consent Calendar items 1 and 2, seconded by Commissioner Nelson.
The motion carried, 7-0-0-0, by the following roll call vote:
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Commission 4 2/27/2025
AYES: COMMISSIONER DIAZ, COMMISSIONER JOGWE,
COMMISSIONER NELSON, COMMISSIONER REYES
COMMISSIONER WOO, VICE CHAIR ZACARIAS TORRES,
CHAIR HERRERA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Status: 7 – 0 – 0 – 0 – Pass
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
3. Santa Ana Public Library Staff Report.
MINUTES: Library Services Director Brian Sternberg presented the Santa Ana Public Library Staff Report.
Commissioner Jogwe asked about the black history month celebration and the digital pathway series, and if the workshops were offered in Spanish.
Commissioner Diaz asked how soon future events were finalized and advertised.
Commissioner Reyes asked about the youth reading program.
Chair Herrera thanked for the celebration of Black History Month and asked about curated book lists, as well as, gender neutral restrooms at Newhope Library.
Library Services Director Sternberg responded to all commissioner questions, detailing the offered workshops, upcoming calendar planning, and the curated lists for each celebration month. He also confirmed that there will be gender neutral restrooms at Newhope Library.
4. Santa Ana Zoo Staff Report.
MINUTES: Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Zoo Deputy Director Ethan Fisher presented the Santa Ana Zoo Staff Report to the commission.
Commissioner Diaz asked about a social media post that she could share with the youth to volunteer at the zoo.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres asked about the Earth Day event.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 5 2/27/2025
Chair Herrera, thanked them for the improvements and the Eco Center, and asked about the restrooms in the buildings.
Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Zoo Deputy Director Fisher responded that they have two Earth Day events that happen annually and gave details about the restroom stalls.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
MINUTES: Commissioner Diaz thanked the directors for keeping them up to date and was pleased the construction projects were moving along.
Commissioner Jogwe was amazed at all that is being done and asked about the show the Zoo was featured in, and about a mural location.
Commissioner Nelson asked about the distinction between competitive sports verses recreation sports when it comes to field reservations in Santa Ana. Executive Director Scott responded that he can bring this to a future meeting.
Commissioner Woo thanked the directors for the reports and the programs going on and asked about the renovations at El Salvador Park.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres thanked all for the updates and progress.
Chair Herrera thanked the team and really liked incorporating more of the community into the meetings, but wants to get the public more engaged in the meetings. They also brought up the budget presentation and policy discussion for the next meeting.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMENTS
MINUTES: Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
Executive Director Scott urged
the commissioners to go to the Zoo
ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission is scheduled for Thursday, March 27
th, 2025 at 5:30 pm in the City Council Chamber,
22 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA.
MINUTES: Chair Herrera adjourned the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission meeting at 6:56 P.M.
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Commission 6 2/27/2025
Respectfully submitted:
Hannah Wayne
Recording Secretary