Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 1 12/04/2025
Minutes of the Special Meeting
of the Parks, Recreation and
Community Services Commission
December 4, 2025
SPECIAL 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 12/04/2025
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson
MINUTES: Chairperson Herrera called the meeting to order at 5:30 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
Michael Ortiz, Public Works Deputy Director
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, Reyes, Woo, Vice Chair Zacarias Torres and Chair Herrera were present. Commissioners Nelson and Rodriguez were absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairperson
MINUTES: Chairperson 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 Lisa Maldonado, Jose Rangel, Leo Santos, Itxel Espinoza, Jill Rodgers, Sabrina Gastelum, Anthony Cortez, Mary Long, Jennifer Miranda, Cecilia Smith, Francisco Arroyo, thanking them for all their hard work and efforts.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 3 12/04/2025
PUBLIC COMMENTS
MINUTES: Gay Olivos spoke against the choice for the park name chosen for Willard Park, asked for football equipment for flag football.
Jeff emailed a comment requesting the plant choices in our parks are more native and economical plants.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
MINUTES: The Consent Calendar was considered 5:54 P.M.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve staff recommendations on the following Consent Calendar Item 1.
1. Excused absences.
Recommended Action: Approve excused absences.
MOTION: Moved by Commissioner Woo to approve Consent Calendar item 1, seconded by Vice Chair Zacarias Torres.
The motion carried, 7-0-0-2, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER DIAZ, COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ,
COMMISSIONER JOGWE, COMMISSIONER REYES,
COMMISSIONER WOO, VICE CHAIR ZACARIAS TORRES,
CHAIR HERRERA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER NELSON, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ
Status: 7– 0 – 0 – 2 – Pass
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
2. Public Works Agency Park Services Staff Report.
MINUTES: Park Services Superintendent Jorge Acevedo and Public Works Deputy Director Michael Ortiz presented the Public Works Park Services Staff Report.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 4 12/04/2025
Executive Director Hawk Scott mentioned the Ribbon Cutting on Tuesday at noon for Santiago Park.
Chair Herrera thanked the team for getting the Rosita sign lit up, then asked about phase 3 for Santiago park and about the design plant selection.
3. 10th & Flower St. Park Naming.
MINUTES: Executive Director Hawk Scott presented the 10 th & Flower St Park
Naming specified that they are going to re-do the park naming process, and have outlined the full process.
Chair Herrera commented that it is good to have a process in place for this, asked about including the Youth Commission on the process and suggested a virtual option for community engagement.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres suggested a post card for a QR survey to be available nearby the park.
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 Woo asked about the coffee sponsor and talked about the community gardens. She also thanked staff for the harvest festival and announced there will be a festival on December 13 at El Salvador Park.
Commissioner Reyes commented on today’s Kiwanis event at Target, and how wonderful it was.
Commissioner Diaz asked if we plan to collaborate with Kaboom! for other parks and if there is funding allocated for sports equipment. Deputy Director Pagano responded that they do hope to partner with them again and provided details about the process of asking for sports equipment.
Commissioner Jogwe asked about the sponsorship of KaBoom! and if there is more representation of their branding.
Commissioner Gonzalez asked how people ask for equipment and supplies.
Deputy Director Pagano gave more details on how they do that.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 5 12/04/2025
Chair Herrera commented that they are excited for the Santa Anita Community Center opening and that they noticed the logo change on Instagram.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMENTS
MINUTES: Executive Director Hawk Scott mentioned the Asian Clawed Otters arrival and invited everyone to the River’s Edge Grand Opening on December 20 th. Also
highlighted the senior center talent show and the ribbon cutting next Tuesday at Santiago Park. He ended with Happy Holidays and is looking forward to the next year.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
MINUTES: Commissioner Diaz thank you for everything you are doing and thanks for listening to the public, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Commissioner Jogwe asked how he could get involved with naming opportunities and wished everyone Happy Holidays.
Commissioner Gonzalez thanked for the hard work this year, and all the learning she has been doing, wished everyone a happy safe, fun, joyous holiday.
Commissioner Reyes thanked and wished everyone Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Commissioner Woo no comments but wished happy holidays.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres thanked for all the updates, she also noticed the water refill station at Santiago park, echoed the importance of local native plants and to be safe and have happy holidays.
Chair Herrera asked to calendar our commission meetings and get them on social media, asked about the public art policy, thanked Suzi Furjanic for her work and talents for this community and was sad that they missed her retirement in the previous meeting. Finally thanked our PRCS staff for all that they do and service they provide and wished happy holidays to everyone.
ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission is scheduled for Thursday, January 22
nd at 5:30 pm at the Santa Ana Senior Center, 424
W 3rd St, Santa Ana, CA 92701.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 6 12/04/2025
MINUTES: Chair Herrera adjourned the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission meeting at 7:06 pm.
Respectfully submitted:
_________________________
Hannah Wayne
Recording Secretary