Minutes of the Regular Meeting
of the Police Oversight Commission
May 8, 2025
REGULAR MEETING - 5: 00 P. M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
22 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701
CALL TO ORDER
MINUTES: Chair Vega called the meeting to order at 5:06 P.M.
ATTENDANCE Commission Members Gabriel Castillo Laughton Evangeline Gawronski
Amalia Mejia
Carlos Perea
Nadin Said
Vice Chair Keith Carpenter
Chair
Danny Vega
Staff Members
Deputy City Manager Sylvia Vazquez
Police Commander Jorge Lopez
Assistant City Attorney Jonathan Martinez
Recording Secretary Abigail Y. Alcala
POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 1 MAY 08, 2025
ROLL CALL
MINUTES: RecordingSecretaryAbigailY. Alcalaconductedroll call.
Commissioners Castillo Laughton, Gawronski, Mejia, Perea ( arrived at 5: 13 P. M.), and Said, Vice Chair Carpenter, and Chair Vega were present.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MINUTES: Chair Vega led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENTS— Publiccommentswill be heldduringthe beginningofthe meeting for all comments on agenda items. Members of the public may provide comments on any agenda or non-agenda itemswithin the subject matterjurisdiction of the commission.
MINUTES: The followingindividualaddressed the Commissionvia teleconference:
1. ManuelArreguin expressed concern regarding the vacancy for the Police Oversight Commission Director.
CONSENT CALENDAR
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve staff recommendations on the following Consent Calendar Items: 1 and 2.
MINUTES: At 5: 11 P. M., the Consent Calendar was considered.
MOTION: Vice Chair Carpenter moved to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1 and 2, seconded by Commissioner Castillo Laughton.
The motion carried, 6-0-0-1, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER CASTILLO LAUGHTON, . COMMISSIONER
GAWRONSKI, COMMISSIONER MEDIA, COMMISSIONER
SAID, VICE CHAIR CARPENTER, CHAIR VEGA
NONE
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER PEREA
Status: 6 - 0 - 0 — 1 — Pass
1. Excused Absences
Recommended Action: Excuse the absent members.
2. Minutes from the Regular Meetings of March 13, 2025.
Recommended Action: Approve minutes.
POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 2 MAY 08, 2025
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR`**
BUSINESS CALENDAR
3. U-Visa Certification and Santa Ana Police Department Procedure 4130 MINUTES: At 5: 12 P. M., the Business Calendar was considered.
Commander Rosa Ponce Leon gave a presentation regarding the U-Visa Certification and Police Department Procedure 4130.
At 5: 13 P. M., Commissioner Perea arrived to the dais.
Commissioner Mejia asked for clarification regarding the Police Department' s definition and example of helpfulness.
Chair Vega asked for clarification regarding the Police Department role as the City is a Sanctuary City.
Commissioner Perea spoke regarding the background of the U-Visa Certification, asked who receives the U- Visa reports and corresponds to certifications once processed, and requested the commission receive quarterly data reports regarding cases and the phone number to the U-Visa be listed on the City website.
CommanderPonce Leon spoke regarding penal code 679.10and the role and process of the Police Department' s definition of helpfulness, and confirmed the reports are received by the federal government.
Vice Chair Carpenter requested clarification on whether the U-Visa applies to civil lawsuits against the City or to complaints filed against the police.
Commander Ponce Leon stated the Police Department does not get involved.
Commissioner Castillo Laughton requested clarification regarding the definition of helpfulness' in the U-Visaprocess and asked for a writtenprotocol and implementation procedure that ensures a more objective approach. He inquired regarding the number of individuals involved in U- Visa determinations, whether there is an appellate process, and sought further clarification on the overall U-Visa requirements. He recommended the Police Department create a written protocol for helpfulness determination.
Commander Ponce Leon explained that the Police Department goes off statue, works with witnesses to gain corporation and willingness, and uses internal policy guidelines regardinghelpfulness, stated there is no appellate process, and victims can call regarding form requirements not being met.
Vice Chair Carpenter asked how long U-Visas last.
Commander Ponce Leon stated she does not know as the Police Department is not involved Discussion ensued regarding investigation of crimes, definition of helpfulness, and verification vs certification.
POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 3 MAY 08, 2025
AssistantCityAttorneyJonathanMartinezproposedtheCityAttorney's Officeresearch theissueofhelpfulnessandpresentananalysisonfindingsatfuturemeeting.
DeputyCityManagerSylviaVazquezclarifiedhelpfulnessasthosewhoarewillingtohelp with investigation.
MOTION: ViceChairCarpentermovedto havea studysessionitemaddedto the agenda regarding the topic of helpfulness and to have examples of different policiesof the U-Visacertifications, secondedbyCommissionerMelia.
MINUTES: CommissionerCastilloLaughtonsuggestedthatCommanderPonceLeon be present for study session.
SUBSTITUTEMOTION: CommissionerPereamovedto haveexpertswithintheU- Visa field at a future meeting within 60 days.
MINUTES: Motion died due to lack of a second.
ViceChairCarpenteraskedforthepercentageofcitizensthatdonotcooperateduringthe U-Visa process.
Commander Ponce Leon stated 25- 30% do not cooperate and 40% cooperate.
CommissionerCastilloLaughtonquestionedhowstrictthePoliceDepartmentis when evaluatingsomeonecallingin duringthecertificationprocessandthepresumptionofhelpfulness.
CommanderPonceLeonstatedthedepartmentdoesnothavealotofambiguityon refusalsandpresumesthosetobehelpfuluntiltheyrefusetonolongerbehelpful.
Theoriginalmotioncarried, 7-0-0-0, bythefollowingrollcallvote.
AYES: COMMISSIONER CASTILLO LAUGHTON, COMMISSIONER
GAWRONSKI, COMMISSIONER MEDIA, COMMISSIONER
PEREA, COMMISSIONERSAiD, VICE CHAIR CARPENTER,
CHAIR VEGA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Status: 7— 0 — 0 — 0 -- Pass
POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 4 MAY 08, 2025
MOTION: Commissioner Mejia moved to have staff bring presenters for legal perspectivein an organizationfor U-Visacertificationsand processesfrom the Orange County Rapid Response Network, OC Justice Fund, OC Public Law Center, or Western State College of Law present during next meeting' s U-Visa presentation within 30 days, secondedbyViceChairCarpenter.
MINUTES: Commissioner Said requested to see data before requesting organizations to be present at the U-Visapresentation.
DeputyCityManagerVazquezreportedthatin 2023therewerea totalof372U-Visa applications received with 162approved, 99 denied, 78 referred to the Orange Country DistrictAttorney's office, 92referredto otheragencies, and23 incompleteforms.
Commissioner Said requested clarification regarding those denied for the U-Visa application.
Commissioner Perea asked whether the City Manager's Office met with groups regarding U-Visa certification concerns.
AssistantCityAttorneyMartinezsharedthat the City Manager's Officewas working with groups to discuss concerns.
Commissioner Castillo Laughton suggested inviting organizations to the future U-Visa presentationbut emphasizedthatattendanceshouldbe optional, not mandatory.
Commissioner Said requested having additional information prior to presentations.
Commissioner Mejia echoed Commissioner Said comments.
Discussionensuedregardingsuggestedorganizationstobe invitedtoattendthefuture U-Visapresentations and related discussions.
The motion carried, 7-0-0-0, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER CASTILLO LAUGHTON, COMMISSIONER
GAWRONSKI, COMMISSIONER MEJIA, COMMISSIONER
PEREA, COMMISSIONER SAID, VICE CHAIR CARPENTER,
CHAIR VEGA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Status: 7— 0 — 0 — 0 — Pass
MINUTES: Vice Chair Carpenter asked whether the Police Department informs potential victims about the U-Visa program.
Commander Ponce Leon stated the Police Department does not.
AssistantCityAttorneyMartinezspokeregardingthe City's sanctuarystatus.
Commissioner Perea requested information be added to "Know Your Rights" website.
POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 5 MAY 08, 2025
4. Police Oversight Commission Bylaws Discussion
MINUTES:AssistantCityAttorneyJonathanMartinezgaveabriefoverviewregarding potential bylaws for the Commission.
ViceChairCarpenterrequested "orstaffonly"regardingspecialmeetingsbechangedto only Commissionmembers" in Article3, Section1B, removingthe requirementfor commissionersto submit a written memorandum in Section 10, to allow commissioners tosuggestagendaitems, andtoremove "mustbesubsequentlyconfirmedbymajority voteof the SantaAna CityCouncil"in Section11. He mentionedin Article7, Section2 thechairshouldbeallowedtoextendthethree-minutetimelimitforanypersonspeaking, and requestedclarificationon Section4 and Section15. In Section12, he suggested voting on motionsbe decided by a simple majority.
Commissioner Said requested removing the words " arts" in Article 1, Section 1, expressedconcernregardingArticle 3, Section 1B, questionedwho woulddecideon movingforwardwithspecialmeetingswhentheCommissionrequestsoneandrequested clarification on the meaning of ` quorum' in Section 2, ` absences' in Section 4, and qualified elector' in Section 7.
DeputyCityManagerSylviaVazquezstatedit wouldbeupto the CityManager's discretion when it comes to moving forward with special meetings.
AssistantCityAttorneyMartinezclarifiedthemeaningofquorumandmentionedcircling back regarding Article 3, Sections 4 and 7.
CommissionerSaidspoke in support of threeminutes to speak.
AssistantCityAttorneyMartinezclarifiedhighlighteditemswithinthebylawspacketwere internalnotestohaveinputfromthecommissionregardingprocessesandprocedures.
ViceChairCarpenterstatedheprefertheenforcementremainwiththecommissionrather than the City Councilper Article 6, Section 1.
CommissionerMejiaquestionedwhetherordinancesneed to be listed from the Santa AnaMunicipalCodewithinthebylawsin Article1, Section6. Shespokein favorof Vice ChairCarpenter's commentsregardingArticle3, Section1Bandrequestedclarification on Article 7, Section 15.
AssistantCityAttorneyMartinezclarifiedthebylawsummarizedthegeneralMunicipal Codeduetomultipleordinancesbeingapplicable.
RecordingSecretaryAbigailY. AlcalaconfirmedthebylawsfollowRosenberg'sRulesof Orderin Section15andclarifieda tie voteis a fallin Section10, Article7.
CommissionerPereathankedcitystaffforworkingonthebylaws.
POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 6 MAY 08, 2025
Commissioner Castillo Laughton requested to have informationregarding terms in the bylawsfor Chairand ViceChairpositionsinArticle2, Section1. InArticle3, Section1B requested special meetings to be called by only majority of Commission members, suggestedthere be a time limit listed when it comes to follow-up comments in Section 6, recommendedclarifyingCommissionersberemovedfromofficeif theymisshalfoftheir regularmeetingsinsteadofonly2 regularmeetingsandcancelledmeetingsdonotcount reflectedin Section7, requestedthebylawclarifythatproposeditemsbe addedto the nextagendameetingandtheCityManagerortheirdesigneeshalladdproposeditemto agendain Section10. PerArticle7, hespokein supporttobothViceChairCarpenterand CommissionerSaidand suggestedtherebe a voteby the Commissionto allowlonger than 3 minutes when needed and suggested when amending bylaws — the vote should bea supermajorityorunanimousbytheCommissionratherthantheCityCouncil.
Chair VegaechoedVice Chair CarpentercommentsregardingArticle3, Section1B, spokein supportofkeepingpublichearingstotheallotted3minutesperArticle7, Section 2, requestedaddingitemstofutureagendasthroughclosingcommentsinsteadofwritten communication.
CommissionerMejiarequestedclarificationonArticle3, Section10regardingvotingby themajority, whentheitemwouldbeplacedontheagenda, andwhetheramemorandum needs to be submitted.
DeputyCityManagerVazquezconfirmedthatan itemwillnotbe puton theagenda whennotvotedbythemajorityandthatit isatthediscretionoftheCityManagertobe added on the agenda. She explained these bylaws and process are current for City Council and fellow commissions.
Discussionin ensuedregardingthe processof completingmemorandumsfor future agenda meetings.
CommissionerMejiaaskedwhetherthememorandumwouldbe madepublicandpartof the agenda packet.
DeputyCityManagerVazquezstatedthatitwouldbeanitemintheagendaandmade public available.
Vice Chair Carpenterquestionedwhat the processis for controlover agendaitems betweentheCommissionandCityManager, andrequestedhavinganagendaitemslist.
CityManagerAlvaroNunezexplainedthereasonformemorandumsandtheneedfor majorityvote, andstatedthatitisintheintegrityofboththecommissionandCityManager to continue to have discussions and work together.
Chair Vega spoke in support of leavingArticle 3, Section 10as is.
CommissionerGawronskiaskedwhentheproposedbylawswouldbe broughtbackfor review.
DeputyCityManagerVazquezstatedbylawscanbepresentedatthenextmeeting.
END OF BUSINESS CALENDAR***
POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 7 MAY 08, 2025
STAFF COMMENTS
MINUTES: DeputyCityManagerSylviaVazquezremindedthecommissionthatMayor AmezcuacreatedanadhoccommitteewithCouncilmemberPhilBacerraandMayorPro TernBenjaminVazqueztoreviewthePoliceOversightCommission.
ViceChairCarpenterexpressedconcernandquestionedthereasonfortheadhoc committee.
AssistantCityAttorneyJonathanMartinezexplainedthecommitteewillbediscussingpotential amendments to the ordinance.
CommissionerCastilloLaughtonechoedViceChairCarpenter'sconcerns.
ViceChairCarpenteraskedforanupdateregardingthevacancyofthePoliceOversightDirector.
DeputyCityManagerVazquezstatedtherewasno update.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
MINUTES., CommissionerPereaexpressedconcernregardingtheadhoccommitteeand releasedreportsregardingtheSantaAnaPoliceDepartmentandICEactivity, CommissionerSaidthankedstafffortheirhardworkandcommissionersfortheir perspectives.
CommissionerMejiathankedstaffforthebylawstemplateandtheSantaAnaPolice Department for the U- Visa presentation. She requested U-Visa data and echoed CommissionerPerea's concernsregardingICEinformation.
CommissionerGawronskithankedstaffandvoicedconcernswithCityCouncilcomplaints addressedduringManuelArreguin'spubliccomment. Shewishedmothersa HappyMother's Day.
CommissionerCastilloLaughtonthankedstafffortheirhardworkandeffortscreatingthe bylawstemplate, CommanderRosaLeonPoncefortheU-Visapresentation, andtheCityManagerforbeingpresentatthemeeting, Heexpressedgratitudetothecommissionfor a productiveconversationduringmeeting, spokeregardingtheadhoccommittee, and requestedthecommissionandcitycouncilworktogether.
ViceChairCarpenteraskedwhethercommissionerscanspeaktocouncilmembersas residentsregardingtheadhoccommitteeandthankedstaffforpresentationonbylaws.
ChairVegaexpressedhiscondolencestoSantaAnaHighSchoolcommunityforfamilies affectedbythetragedythathadoccurredthedaypreviously, andquestionedwhetherthe adhoccommitteesarepublicmeetings.
POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 8 MAY 08, 2025
Deputy City Manager Vazquez confirmed commission members are able to speak to Councilmembers as residents, and stated the ad hoc committee meetings are closed session.
ADJOURNMENT - Adjourn the Police Oversight Commission Meeting.
MINUTES: Chair Vega adjourned the Police Oversight Commission meeting at 7:29 P. M.
The next meeting of the Police Oversight Commission is scheduled for June, 12 2025 at 5: 00 P. M.
Respectfully su mittea
rding/. ecretary
POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 9 MAY 08, 2025
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