Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 1 4/24/2025
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of
the Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission
April 24, 2025
Newhope Library
122 N Newhope St, Santa Ana, CA 92703
5:30 PM
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 2 4/24/2025
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson
ATTENDANCE Commission Members:
Selica Diaz
Josh Jogwe
Cory Nelson
Silvia Reyes
Alejandra Rodriguez
Ruby Woo
Maria Zacarias Torres, Vice Chair
Roberto Herrera, Chair
Staff:
Brian Sternberg, Library Services Director
Ethan Fisher, PRCSA Deputy Director, Zoo
Hannah Wayne, Recording Secretary
MINUTES: Chairperson Herrera called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL Hannah Wayne, Recording Secretary
MINUTES: Recording Secretary Wayne conducted roll call. All Commissioners were present.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairperson
MINUTES: Chair Herrera led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATIONS Employees of the Month
Volunteers of the Quarter
MINUTES: The Commissioners presented certificates for Employees of the Month to Rosa Garcia, Fabian Conde, and Sandra Cortez, and Volunteers of the Quarter to Rebecca Garcia and Sammie Williams and thanked them for their service.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
MINUTES: Gay Olivos was a zoom speaker brought to the commission a request for a new pitching machine for division b and c, asked about the Jerome Park dirt field, and talked about the joint use agreement at Willard Park.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 3 4/24/2025
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
MINUTES: The Consent Calendar was considered 5:42 P.M.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve staff recommendations on the following Consent Calendar Items: 1 and 2.
1. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 27, 2025.
Recommended Action: Approve Minutes.
2. Excuse Absences.
Recommended Action: Approve Excused Absences.
MOTION: Moved by Commissioner Nelson to approve Consent Calendar items 1 and 2, seconded by Vice Chair Zacarias Torres.
The motion carried, 8-0-0-0, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER DIAZ, COMMISSIONER JOGWE,
COMMISSIONER NELSON, COMMISSIONER REYES,
COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER WOO, VICE
CHAIR ZACARIAS TORRES, CHAIR HERRERA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Status: 8 – 0 – 0 – 0 – Pass
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
3. Santa Ana Public Library Budget Presentation.
MINUTES: Library Services Director Brian Sternberg presented the Santa Ana Public Library Budget to the commission.
Commissioners Nelson, Diaz, Jogwe, Reyes, Woo, Vice Chair Zacarias Torres and Chair Herrera asked questions and commented about the breakdown of the Santa Ana Public Library budgeted funds, outreach services, events, activities, obligated funds, renovations and parking, staff development and staff changes with the closures.
Library Services Director Brian Sternberg responded with details behind the budgeted numbers, information about the ongoing renovations, various closures and how that relates to staffing and parking, opportunities staff have for
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 4 4/24/2025
professional development, as well as, plans to meet the current demands as it relates to technology and services.
4. Santa Ana Public Library Staff Report.
Minutes: Library Services Director Brian Sternberg presented the Santa Ana Public Library Staff Report to the Commission.
The Commissioners had no comments or questions.
5. Santa Ana Zoo Staff Report.
MINUTES: Parks, Recreation and Community Services Zoo Deputy Director Ethan Fisher presented the Santa Ana Zoo Staff Report.
Commissioners Diaz, Reyes, Vice Chair Zacarias Torres and Chair Herrera thanked Deputy Director Fisher for the zoo tour, commented on how amazing the updates and changes have been, and asked questions about the Brew at the Zoo event on May 10th.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Zoo Deputy Director Ethan Fisher provided additional details about the Brew at the Zoo.
6. Athletics Fields Policies and Procedures.
MINUTES: Parks, Recreation and Community Services Supervisor America Robledo presented the Athletics Fields Policies and Procedures to the Commission.
Commissioners Nelson, Woo, Jogwe, Diaz, Rodriguez, Reyes, Vice Chair Zacarias Torres, and Chair Herrera discussed the Athletic Fields Policies and Procedures, commented about the importance of supporting youth through competitive sports in Santa Ana, asked questions about the current field utilization, user group transparency, fee structure and reservations, and made suggestions to the various group restrictions, permit cycle lengths, policies in place, and ways to improve opportunities for Santa Ana residents.
Parks,
Recreation and Community Services Supervisor America
Robledo provided the commissioners details about the current utilization and user groups, and answered their questions about the current policies in place, fee structures, and field utilization, taking all suggestions into consideration for future permit cycles.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 5 4/24/2025
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMENTS
MINUTES: Library Services Director Brian Sternberg provided details about the Santa Ana Fun Run on May 17th and the Dia De Los Ninos event on Saturday.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
MINUTES: Commissioner Diaz thanked everyone for the updates on the libraries, zoo and field reservations and she is looking forward to the Brew at the Zoo.
Commissioner Jogwe thanked the staff for the details on the fields and for the zoo tour.
Commissioner Nelson commented that the zoo is world class and said his kids are participating in the Fun Run so he is looking forward to that.
Commissioner Reyes thanked Ethan for the zoo tour and mentioned the senior center tour of the botanical gardens and dance performance on May 9 th at 10 am at the
Southwest Senior Center.
Commissioner Rodriguez thanked everyone for welcoming her and is looking forward to serving on the commission.
Commissioner Woo thanked all for the field presentation and discussion, and for the temporary restrooms at El Salvador Park. She also commented about the parks budget
and advocated for funding to be allocated for seniors, sun shades and splash pads.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres thanked all for the presentations, and is pleased with the social media being pushed out. She also encouraged the commissioners to urge the community fill out the budget survey.
Chair Herrera recognized Earth Day, and thanked Commissioner Rodriguez for joining the commission.
ADJOURNMENT
The next regular meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission is scheduled for May 22
nd, 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 8:08 P.M.
Respectfully submitted:
Hannah Wayne
Recording Secretary