Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 1 7/24/2025
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
of the Parks, Recreation and
Community Services Commission
July 24, 2025
REGULAR OPEN MEETING – 5:30 P.M.
Santa Ana Zoo
1801 E Chestnut Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92701
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CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson
MINUTES: Chairperson Herrera called the meeting to order at 5:35 P.M.
ATTENDANCE Commission Members:
Selica Diaz
Nancy Gonzalez
Josh Jogwe
Cory Nelson
Silvia Reyes
Alejandra Rodriguez
Ruby Woo
Maria Zacarias Torres, Vice Chair
Roberto Herrera, Chair
Staff:
Timothy Pagano, PRCSA Deputy Director
Suzi Furjanic, Assistant Parks and Landscape Planner
Jorge Acevedo, Park Services Superintendent
Hannah Wayne, Recording Secretary
ROLL CALL Hannah Wayne, Recording Secretary
MINUTES: Recording Secretary Wayne conducted roll call.
Commissioners Diaz, Gonzalez, Jogwe (arrived at 5:36 pm), Reyes, Rodriguez, Woo, Vice Chair Zacarias Torres and Chair Herrera were present. Commissioner Nelson was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairperson
MINUTES: Chair Herrera led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATIONS
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission Training
Employees of the Month
Volunteers of the Quarter
MINUTES: Parks, Recreation and Community Services Deputy Director Tim Pagano presented the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission Training.
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The Commissioners presented certificates for Employees of the Month to Dina Orbison, Brisa Rodriguez, Jill Sanders, Mike Kahara, Leticia Barrios, Juan Meneses, Juan Lara, and Monique Leon, and the Volunteers of the Quarter Kareem Hosan and Chloe Dunn thanking them for all their hard work and efforts.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
MINUTES: Jeff requested an update on the zoning decision for the land near Washington Square north of 15th St. between Olive and Lowell and asked what efforts Parks and Rec is making to promote more native habitat.
Gay Olivos thanked Parks and Rec for the pitching machine, commended the team for the lighting and mural at Jerome Park, suggested adding golf as a recreation sport, requested a working time clock for football,
shared more information about Willard Joint
Use agreement, and expressed concern about the EBT discount at the Santa Ana Zoo.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
MINUTES: The Consent Calendar was considered 6:05 P.M.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve staff recommendations on the following Consent Calendar Items: 1 and 2.
1. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 22, 2025.
Recommended Action: Approve Minutes.
2. Excused absences.
Recommended Action: Approve Excused Absences.
MOTION: Moved by Commissioner Woo to approve Consent Calendar items 1 and 2, seconded by Commissioner Diaz.
The motion carried, 8-0-0-1, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER DIAZ, COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ,
COMMISSIONER JOGWE, COMMISSIONER REYES,
COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER WOO, VICE
CHAIR ZACARIAS TORRES, CHAIR HERRERA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER NELSON
Status: 8 – 0 – 0 – 1 – Pass
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BUSINESS CALENDAR
3. Election of officers for the 2025-26 term.
MINUTES: There were two nominations made for the position of chair, first for Chair Herrera to continue as Chair and second for Commissioner Diaz.
MOTION: Moved by Commissioner Woo to close the nominations for the position of Chair, seconded by Commissioner Diaz.
The motion carried, 8-0-0-1, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER DIAZ, COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ,
COMMISSIONER JOGWE, COMMISSIONER REYES,
COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER WOO,
VICE CHAIR ZACARIAS TORRES, CHAIR HERRERA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER NELSON
Status: 8 – 0 – 0 – 1 – Pass
MOTION: Moved by Commissioner Woo to appoint Chair Herrera as Chair for 2025-2026 term, seconded by Vice Chair Zacarias Torres.
The motion carried, 5-3-0-1, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ, COMMISSIONER JOGWE,
COMMISSIONER WOO, VICE CHAIR ZACARIAS
TORRES, CHAIR HERRERA
NOES: COMMISSIONER DIAZ, COMMISSIONER REYES,
COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER NELSON
Status: 5 – 3 – 0 – 1 – Pass
MOTION: Moved by Commissioner Rodriguez to appoint Commissioner Diaz as Chair for 2025-2026 term, seconded by Commissioner Reyes.
The motion carried, 3-5-0-1, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER DIAZ, COMMISSIONER REYES,
COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ,
NOES: COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ, COMMISSIONER JOGWE,
COMMISSIONER WOO, VICE CHAIR ZACARIAS TORRES,
CHAIR HERRERA
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ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER NELSON
Status: 3 – 5 – 0 – 1 – Fail
MINUTES: There was one nomination made for Vice Chair, for Vice Chair Zacarias Torres to continue as Vice Chair.
MOTION: Moved by Vice Chair Zacarias Torres to close the nominations for the position of Vice Chair, seconded by Commissioner Woo.
The motion carried, 8-0-0-1, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER DIAZ, COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ,
COMMISSIONER JOGWE, COMMISSIONER REYES,
COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER WOO,
VICE CHAIR ZACARIAS TORRES, CHAIR HERRERA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER NELSON
Status: 8 – 0 – 0 – 1 – Pass
MOTION: Moved by Commissioner Woo to appoint Vice Chair Zacarias Torres as Vice Chair for 2025-2026 term, seconded by Chair Herrera.
The motion carried, 6-2-0-1, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ, COMMISSIONER JOGWE,
COMMISSIONER REYES, COMMISSIONER WOO, VICE
CHAIR ZACARIAS TORRES, CHAIR HERRERA
NOES: COMMISSIONER DIAZ, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER NELSON
Status: 6 – 2 – 0 – 1 – Pass
4. Bristol Tolliver Park Naming
MINUTES: Parks, Recreation and Community Services Deputy Director Tim Pagano presented the Bristol Tolliver Park Naming.
Commissioner Woo, Jogwe, Reyes, Vice Chair Zacarias Torres, and Chair Herrera all spoke in support of the Nuestro Park name.
Commissioner Diaz asked about the process and suggested council be informed of the details behind the recommended park name.
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Chair Herrera also asked if the Youth Commission was able to make a recommendation.
Deputy Director Pagano provided the commission more information on the name selection process and let them know that timing didn’t allow Youth C ommission to
provide input at their July meeting.
MOTION: Moved by Chair Herrera to recommend Nuestro Park as the name for the Bristol Tolliver Park, seconded by Commissioner Woo.
The motion carried, 8-0-0-1, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER DIAZ, COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ,
COMMISSIONER JOGWE, COMMISSIONER REYES,
COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER WOO,
VICE CHAIR ZACARIAS TORRES, CHAIR HERRERA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER NELSON
Status: 8 – 0 – 0 – 1 – Pass
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
6. Public Works Agency Park Services Staff Report.
MINUTES: Deputy Director Pagano requested to have Public Works Agency Present first for the Informational Items. Park Services Superintendent Jorge Acevedo and Assistant Park and Landscape Planner Suzi Furjanic presented the Public Works Agency Park Services Staff Report to the Commission.
Commissioner Diaz thanked the department for their work on the Walnut Street project and the community for supporting the Cypress Street Firehouse.
Commissioner Jogwe asked about the Griset Park basketball court location and a pickleball court for Sandpoint Park. Assistant Planner Furjanic explained the layout of Griset Park in more detail.
Commissioner Diaz asked if there is a solution for covering public restroom toilet paper specifically at Memorial Park, but also for all parks. Superintendent Acevedo noted that information and explained a possible future solution.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres asked about public art projects, shade structures, the grant process for the Walnut St. project, local input for Griset Park, bilingual
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signage at Santiago Park and what information will be shared on the new communication marquees. Assistant Planner Furjanic and Superintendent Acevedo responded with more information including that they are currently processing the grant including the street closure, that there will be shade and climate appropriate plants at Griset park and that the communication marquees will be managed by city manager’s office.
Commissioner Reyes asked about an area that used to be YMCA on Alton and about Thornton Park. Deputy Director Pagano responded that the property is private and Thornton is waiting for funding.
Chair Herrera commented about the dugout shades and communication marquees, thanked them for the pickle ball court and the park security, and asked about the new sign at Santiago Park, a zoom option for the public to provide community input and bike lanes on Euclid.
Assistant Planner Furjanic and Superintendent Acevedo responded with more information to answer their questions.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres added the importance of creativity with budget and funding and suggested selling merchandise.
5. Parks, Recreation and Community Services Staff Report.
MINUTES: Parks, Recreation and Community Services Deputy Director Tim Pagano presented the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Staff Report to the commission.
Commissioner Diaz thanked Deputy Director Pagano for the programming and asked about Fiestas Patrias. Deputy Director Pagano provided more details about the stage location, vendor costs, local talent and budget for Fiestas Patrias.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres asked about the Delhi Library seating and shade structures, and later park hours for summer, and commended the city for summer programs and recreational swimming. She also suggested signage for the Zoo Eco Center now being open and asked about the Santa Ana Zoo Movie night.
Deputy Director Pagano responded that he will share her suggestion with Library Services Director Sternberg, and that the team is discussing summer park hours.
Chair Herrera brought up immigration, and asked how this effected the initial summer programming and asked about budget cuts. Deputy Director Pagano responded that there was an initial decrease in participation, but it came back and explained how they are managing the budget changes.
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DEPUTY DIRECTOR COMMENTS
MINUTES:
Deputy Director Pagano wished Executive Director Hawk Scott a Happy Birthday and brought up Kaboom playgrounds plan to bring that to Sandpoint Park in October.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
MINUTES: Commissioner Diaz thanked the teams for their work, programming, social media, and the community outreach for the Walnut Street project.
Commissioner Jogwe thanked the public and those that put on the commission meetings. He also asked about senior programs for financial assistance, for an adjustable basketball hoop for Griset Park, and how often Basketball hoops nets are replaced. He also suggested an idea for social media.
Commissioner Rodriguez thanked the team for the movies in the park series and suggested accommodations for people that have mobility devices attending those events.
Commissioner Woo commended all the programs going on, misses the concerts but likes the movies and mentioned Ward 5 has been participating in OC connect.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres thanked the team for the programs, and hopes to have Santiago Park Trails be ADA compliant.
Chair Herrera thanked the public for their attendance, and shared awareness for immigration.
ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission is scheduled for Thursday, August 28
th at 5:30 pm at the City Hall Council Chambers, 22
Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701.
MINUTES: Chair Herrera adjourned the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission meeting at 8:12 pm.
Respectfully submitted:
_________________________
Hannah Wayne
Recording Secretary