Community Development Agency
www.santa-ana.org/cd
Item # 22
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
November 4, 2025
TOPIC: Resolution Approving the Issuance of Taxable Bonds by California Enterprise Development Authority (CEDA)
AGENDA TITLE
Resolution Approving the Issuance of Taxable Bonds by California Enterprise Development Authority (CEDA) for the Purpose of Financing, Refinancing, and/or Reimbursing the Cost of Manufacturing Facilities for the Benefit of Robinson Pharma, Inc.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt a Resolution approving issuance of California Enterprise Development Authority (CEDA) Bonds for the purpose of financing, refinancing, and/or reimbursing the cost of manufacturing facilities for the benefit of Robinson Pharma, Inc. located at 3130 South Fairview Street.
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-XXX entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SANTA ANA, APPROVING THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $40,000,000 TAXABLE REVENUE BONDS BY THE CALIFORNIA ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR 3130 SOUTH FAIRVIEW STREET
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes
DISCUSSION
State laws provide the ability for cities and counties to join together under cooperative agreements to form joint powers authorities (JPA) to issue tax-exempt and taxable bonds to fund projects that provide a public benefit and serve the needs of residents within the jurisdictions of the participating members. While individual cities and counties in California may issue conduit revenue bonds directly, many choose to utilize JPAs to achieve economies of scale, access specialized expertise and resources, and minimize the use of local staff time on such transactions.
The California Enterprise Development Authority (CEDA) is a joint powers authority established in 2006 to address gaps in economic development financing by issuing tax- exempt and taxable conduit revenue bonds for industrial, commercial, and other public- purpose projects. CEDA facilitates private activity bond issuance to support economic and community development within its member jurisdictions. The City of Santa Ana is an associate member of CEDA, which currently includes 285-member communities statewide.
Issuance of taxable bonds by CEDA for Robinson Pharma
November 4, 2025
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The City of Santa Ana became a member of CEDA in 2015 by adopting City Council Resolution No. 2015-002, authorizing the City to enter into the Joint Powers Agreement that formed CEDA.
Through this membership:
The City is represented as one of CEDA’s member jurisdictions. The City may request that CEDA issue bonds for qualifying projects located within Santa Ana.
The City retains local control over whether to approve each financing that takes place within its boundaries.
Membership does not create any financial or legal obligation for the City. CEDA’s bond issuances are conduit financings, meaning the repayment responsibility lies solely with the private borrower benefiting from the funds, not the City or CEDA’s members.
Project Description
3130 South Fairview LLC, a California limited liability company, and Robinson Pharma, Inc., a California corporation, are requesting CEDA’s assistance in issuing taxable bonds in an amount not to exceed $40,000,000 to finance, refinance, and/or reimburse the costs associated with the manufacturing facilities located at 3130 South Fairview Street, Santa Ana, California 92704 (the “Property”).
Headquartered in Santa Ana for more than 37 years, Robinson Pharma, Inc. is a leading dietary supplement manufacturer with multiple state-of-the-art production and warehouse facilities totaling over one million square feet. Employing more than 870 individuals locally, Robinson Pharma plays a key role in strengthening Santa Ana’s manufacturing sector and enhancing the City’s reputation as a center for advanced manufacturing and innovation.
Economically, Robinson Pharma contributes to Santa Ana through significant job creation, capital investment, and ongoing tax revenue. The company’s continued expansion has generated employment opportunities across production, logistics, and administrative fields while supporting local contractors and suppliers. Overall, Robinson Pharma serves as a key anchor business within Santa Ana’s industrial base, enhancing economic stability and growth for the community. The acquisition of the Property will enable Robinson Pharma, Inc. to expand its manufacturing operations within the City of Santa Ana. Following its completion in June 2024 as a speculative construction “spec” development, the building at 3130 South Fairview Street remained vacant until Robinson Pharma expressed interest in expanding its local operations by occupying the subject structure. If its occupancy is ultimately approved, Robinson Pharma would become the new building’s first tenant, ending its 16-month vacancy.
Pursuant to Section 91530(f) of the California Industrial Development Financing Act (Title 10 of the California Government Code) and the Joint Exercise of Powers Act Issuance of taxable bonds by CEDA for Robinson Pharma
November 4, 2025
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(Chapter 5 of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, commencing with Section 6500), City Council approval is required for the issuance of the bonds.
Conduit revenue bonds are a specialized form of financing in which the borrower, rather than the issuing agency such as CEDA, is solely responsible for repaying the debt. The City has no financial obligation for the repayment of these bonds. In this case, the bonds will be repaid entirely through payments made by the borrower under a loan or financing agreement. The bonds will be purchased and held by a qualified institutional buyer.
It is important to note that the bonds do not represent a debt or financial obligation of the Authority, the City of Santa Ana, or any other member agency. Neither the City’s credit, taxing power, nor any public funds are pledged toward repayment of the bonds.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines provides that CEQA only applies to projects, which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. The activity at issue is the adoption of a resolution approving the issuance of taxable revenue bonds by CEDA to finance, refinance and/or reimburse the cost of manufacturing facilities for the benefit of Robinson Pharma, Inc. The manufacturing facilities consist of recently constructed 82,000 square foot industrial building, that includes 10,000 square-feet of office space.
The adoption of the resolution is solely for the purpose of satisfying the requirements of CEDA to issue $40,000,000 in taxable revenue bonds for 3130 South Fairview Street.
The City Council’s action does not involve the approval of any physical development or activity that would have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
Therefore, the proposed action does not constitute approval of a project under CEQA and is not subject to CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Resolution approving issuance of California Enterprise Development Authority (CEDA) Bonds
Submitted By: Michael L. Garcia, Executive Director - Community Development Agency Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager