Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 1 1/22/2026
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
of the Parks, Recreation and
Community Services Commission
January 22, 2026
REGULAR OPEN MEETING – 5:30 P.M.
Santa Ana Senior Center
424 3rd St, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 2 1/22/2026
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson
MINUTES: Chairperson Herrera called the meeting to order at 5:32 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, Rodriguez, Woo, Vice Chair Zacarias Torres and Chair Herrera were present. Commissioner Nelson was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairperson
MINUTES: Chairperson Herrera led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
MINUTES: Jared Lindo commented urging the City of Santa Ana to purchase the vacant land at the end of Lowell St and 15th St, for public Green space and recreation.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
MINUTES: The Consent Calendar was considered 5:36 P.M.
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RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve staff recommendations on the following Consent Calendar Items 1 through 3.
1. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 23rd, 2025.
Recommended Action: Approve minutes.
2. Minutes of the Special Meeting of December 4th, 2025.
Recommended Action: Approve minutes.
3. Excused absences.
Recommended Action: Approve excused absences.
MOTION: Moved by Commissioner Diaz to approve Consent Calendar items 1 through 3, seconded by Vice Chair Zacarias Torres.
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
4. Senior Services Section Highlight.
MINUTES: Parks, Recreation and Community Services Deputy Director Tim Pagano introduced Recreation and Community Services Manager, Juan Lara to present the Senior Services Highlight.
Vice Chair Torres and Commissioner Diaz asked about the food distributions.
Manager Lara provided more details about the food distribution services.
Chair Herrera commended their team’s work and asked about the excursion program attendance. Manager Lara responded with some statistics and how changes in the budget has impacted them.
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Vice Chair Zacarias Torres asked if there are any plans for opening an additional senior center since our centers are at capacity. Manager Lara mentioned they hope to provide programs at community centers for seniors, but another senior center could be in the master plan based on available funding.
Commissioner Jogwe asked how our two Santa Ana Senior Centers compare to other cities. Manager Lara responded that Santa Ana having two is not the normal thing compared to other cities, but there are many seniors in the city that we still cannot fully support.
Chair Herrera asked about the transportation program and how it fits into the budget. Manager Lara and Deputy Director Pagano provided more details on the program structure and the pressing needs as far as funding programs like that in the future.
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 asked about stadium events going on. Director Pagano talked about the reservations that are planned for the stadium and how they are trying to optimize the use of the stadium.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres asked about events coming up for the World Cup and the e-sports program. Director Pagano said they have been in dialog for the World Cup and the e-sports program has been put on the backburner with staffing changes.
Commissioner Woo asked about having the Movies in the Park program in her neighborhood. Director Pagano responded that he is always happy to collaborate with the neighborhoods on those events.
Commissioner Diaz asked for consideration of Roosevelt-Walker for a movie night. Executive Director Scott responded that unfortunately it is too small and has some lighting challenges.
Commissioner Jogwe asked about the Fun Run and supported the ideas for the World Cup. Director Pagano provided more details.
Chair Herrera commended the Cultura magazine.
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6. 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.
Commissioner Gonzalez asked about construction at Memorial park and if fishing is allowed at Centennial Lake. Deputy Director Ortiz responded.
Commissioner Diaz thanked them for the sandbags during the rain and spoke on behalf of the Pacific park residents in regards to the ground breaking on Walnut Street in June and the study with the Fire Department was already done.
Commissioner Jowge asked about the flooding our parks experienced and how it was handled. Superintendent Acevedo responded with the process when the parks get flooded and what they are doing to prevent it. Commissioner Jogwe also asked about the mural and the budget for the aquatic center.
Commissioner Woo asked about the cost of the splash pad and shade structures.
Executive Director Scott provided details on the budget and selection process for an area to receive a splash pad. Director Ortiz responded they are trying to bring the cost down of shade structures to be able to provide more of them.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres asked about submitting anonymous reports through the MySantaAna app. Superintendent Acevedo responded that the app is designed to not provide follow up reports for anonymous submissions.
Chair Herrera finally commented about the Santa Anita park opening and asked about the Rosita Park field renovation and parking lot. Superintendent Acevedo and Director Pagano responded.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMENTS
MINUTES:
Executive Director Hawk Scott wished everyone Happy New Year, commended the community engagement team for the Cultura magazine, mentioned Delhi Park got more lighting and a lot more things to come this year for Parks and Rec.
Finally he thanked the commissioners for the advocacy for more funding and things to improve our parks, and for attending the Santa Ana Zoo’s River’s Edge Grand O pening.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
MINUTES: Commissioner Diaz thanked the team for everything they are doing, especially at the senior centers and with the Cultura magazine. Thanked Public Works
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for their great response for things on the MySantaAna app and finally thanked them for the urban greening project.
Commissioner Gonzalez thanked everyone for their hard work and for all the projects coming up.
Commissioner Jogwe thanked the team for all the detail on the reports and advocated a specific park for a movie in the park.
Commissioner Reyes thanked everyone for the information and for teaching her things about the city. She loves seeing all the projects going on in the city and wished good blessings for everyone and their families.
Commissioner Rodriguez thanked everyone for their work, for the dates for upcoming events and thanked the team for the membership exchange with the Zoo.
Commissioner Woo commented on ward 5 projects, renovation of the Angel Court basketball court, and would like to get an update on the Washington square property.
Thanked everyone for all the information from the staff.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres was happy about the Santiago Park playground area and the trail. She saw a lot of families in that area of the park more and is looking forward to seeing the next phase of that park.
Chair Herrera thank the departments for what they do to keep the parks clean, safe, and green, asked for a budget presentation at an upcoming meeting, and hopes for a parks tour in the coming months. They also spoke out about the return of $7 million to Parks and Recreation programming and would like support from this commission advocating for that.
ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission is scheduled for Thursday, February 26
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 7:19 pm.
Respectfully submitted:
_________________________
Hannah Wayne
Recording Secretary