Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 1 9/25/2025
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
of the Parks, Recreation and
Community Services Commission
September 25, 2025
REGULAR OPEN MEETING – 5:30 P.M.
City Hall Council Chambers
22 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 2 9/25/2025
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson
MINUTES: Chairperson Herrera called the meeting to order at 5:34 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:
Hawk Scott, Executive Director
Timothy Pagano, PRCSA Deputy Director
Suzi Furjanic, Park & Landscape Design Manager
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, Nelson, Reyes, Woo, and Vice Chair Zacarias Torres and Chair Herrera were present. Commissioner Rodriguez was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairperson
MINUTES: Chair Herrera led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATIONS Employees of the Month
MINUTES: The Commissioners presented certificates for Employees of the Month and Volunteers of the Quarter to David Ramirez, Maribel Silva, Alexander Juarez, Sujeiry Vasquez, Brittany Roth, Samira Meza, thanking them for all their hard work and efforts.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 3 9/25/2025
MINUTES: Bruce, who volunteers at Delhi Library, spoke about the privatization of some parks and his interest in prohibiting this from happening. He plans to draw up a proper initiative and gather people and council members for the next steps.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
MINUTES: The Consent Calendar was considered 5:53 P.M.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve staff recommendations on the following Consent Calendar Items: 1 and 2.
1. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 28 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 Woo.
The motion carried, 8-0-0-1, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER DIAZ, COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ,
COMMISSIONER JOGWE, COMMISSIONER NELSON,
COMMISSIONER REYES, COMMISSIONER WOO, VICE CHAIR
ZACARIAS TORRES, CHAIR HERRERA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ
Status: 8 – 0 – 0 – 1 – Pass
BUSINESS CALENDAR
3. 10th & Flower St. Park Naming.
MINUTES: Parks, Recreation and Community Services Deputy Director Tim Pagano presented the 10th & Flower St. Park Naming.
Commissioners Diaz, Woo, Jogwe, Reyes, Vice Chair Zacarias Torres and Chair Herrera all discussed the presented names, majority speaking in favor of the Willard Park Neighborhood Association recommendation of El Parque Del Pueblo.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 4 9/25/2025
MOTION: Moved by Vice Chair Zacarias Torres to recommend “El Parque Del Pueblo Park” as the name for the 10th & Flower St. Park, seconded by Chair Herrera.
The motion passed, 6-2-0-1, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER DIAZ, COMMISSIONER JOGWE,
COMMISSIONER NELSON, COMMISSIONER REYES,
VICE CHAIR ZACARIAS TORRES, CHAIR HERRERA
NOES: COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ, COMMISSIONER WOO,
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ
Status: 6 – 2 – 0 – 1 – Pass
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
4. 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 suggested adjusting the August event earlier in the month to help staff bandwidth for Fiestas Patrias.
Chair Herrera spoke towards the difference in numbers for the Fiestas Patrias event and public hesitancy, and asked about plans for next year.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres suggested adjusting the Fiestas Patrias Event budget in anticipation for the decrease in attendance. Commissioner Jogwe spoke against decreasing the budget for the event, but towards being mindful of how they are using the event budget. Deputy Director Pagano spoke towards the diligence of his team in regards to the budget and plan around the event.
5. Volunteer Opportunity-Kaboom! Playground Build, Sandpointe Park, October 11 from 7:30 am – 4:30 pm.
MINUTES: Parks, Recreation and Community Services Deputy Director Tim Pagano presented the Volunteer Opportunity to the commission.
6. Public Works Agency Park Services Staff Report.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 5 9/25/2025
MINUTES: Park Services Superintendent Jorge Acevedo and Park & Landscape Design Manager Suzi Furjanic presented the Public Works Agency Park Services Staff Report to the Commission.
Commissioner Diaz asked about Santiago Park.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres presented an issue with the MySantaAna App and submitting an anonymous report.
Chair Herrera mentioned the work orders numbers and asked about neighborhood dump days to help with clean up.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres suggested adding an area for public art to the Griset Park Design Concept.
Commissioner Jogwe asked about lighting in the presented parks. Executive Director Scott responded about the current lighting process and most recent updates.
Commissioner Diaz asked about the Santiago Park restrooms. Superintendent Acevedo responded with more information.
7. Bristol Recreation Corridor.
MINUTES: Park and Landscape Design Manager Suzi Furjanic presented the Bristol Recreation Corridor to the Commission. Jesse Jones, landscape architect, presented the Bristol Recreation Corridor Draft Plan.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres proposed a combination of the two concepts presented, supporting the workout stations and incorporating environmental justice into the plan. Landscape Architect Jones responded that they plan to come up with a combination of the two concepts and soil testing is in a different phase of the project.
Commissioner Nelson supported the presented concepts and suggested adding walking overpasses for easier movement. He also asked how much park area the city will gain and what will happen with a specific parking lot.
Commissioners Diaz, Jogwe, Woo and Gonzalez spoke in support for the project and asked about the timeline, phases and grant funding. Landscape Architect Jones and Design Manager Furjanic explained the grant writing in more detail, requested project feedback and spoke towards needing support for this project to get grants.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 6 9/25/2025
Chair Herrera commended the team on the concept and encouraged an environmental benefit to this project.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres suggested beginning the project around the schools.
Commissioner Woo asked to evaluate and discuss the budget and development fees. Executive Director Scott responded that, that can be done.
8. Public Art in Parks Policy (draft).
MINUTES: Artist Alicia Rojas presented the Public Art in Parks Policy (draft) to the Commission.
The Commissioners spoke in support of the policy creation and asked about the qualifications and process for selecting the artists and art projects. Alicia Rojas explained in further detail how this is outlined and how the process will go.
Commissioner Diaz advocated for the importance of community engagement.
Commissioner Nelson left the meeting at 8:36 p.m.
Commissioner Jogwe advocated for the rubric to include someone who was born here.
Chair Herrera supported the policy and suggested incorporating a sunshine policy, webinars or social media elements, and engagement with Spanish and Vietnamese. They also asked about maintenance on the art that would be installed. Superintendent Acevedo responded that it is a case by case basis, but an RFP or training his team to maintain the art once installed are options.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMENTS
MINUTES: Executive Director Hawk Scott mentioned Santa Ana Zoo Orchids and Exotic Plants Exhibit is happening this weekend and that they got their AZA accreditation. Also mentioned Autumn Fest open house at the Salgado community center and International Older Adult’s day at Jerome is coming up. Then finally, thanked everyone for being at the meeting tonight.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
MINUTES: Commissioner Diaz said it was a lot of good information and everyone is doing an amazing job.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 7 9/25/2025
Commissioner Gonzalez thanked everyone for the insight, hard work, and for keeping us moving forward.
Commissioner Jogwe thanked the team for a productive meeting and everything they are doing.
Commissioner Reyes thanked everyone for the information.
Commissioner Woo made a recommendation for a budget meeting for the projects that they want to see happen.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres is looking forward to the interpretation signs going up and is excited for Bristol Recreation Corridor.
Executive Director Scott also thanked the commissioners for participating in the Fiestas Patrias Parade.
Chair Herrera thanked everyone for attending and reviewing the material.
ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission is scheduled for Thursday, October 23
rd at 5:30 pm at the Santa Anita Community Center
300 S Figueroa St, Santa Ana, CA 92703.
MINUTES: Chair Herrera adjourned the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission meeting at 8:53 pm.
Respectfully submitted:
_________________________
Hannah Wayne
Recording Secretary