Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Commission 1 4/23/2026
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
of the Parks, Recreation and
Community Services Commission
April 23, 2026
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 4/23/2026
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson
MINUTES: Chairperson Herrera called the meeting to order at 5:31 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
Jenny Walker, Acting PRCSA Deputy Director, Zoo
Brian Sternberg, Library Services Director
Hannah Wayne, Recording Secretary
ROLL CALL Hannah Wayne, Recording Secretary
MINUTES: Recording Secretary Wayne conducted roll call.
Commissioners Diaz, Gonzalez, Reyes, Rodriguez, Woo, Vice Chair Zacarias Torres and Chair Herrera were present. Commissioners Jogwe and Nelson were absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairperson
MINUTES: Chair Herrera led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATIONS Budget Presentation
MINUTES: Principal Management Analyst Francisco Arroyo provided the Budget Presentation to the Commission.
Commissioner Gonzelez asked what languages the survey is available in. Principal Analyst Arroyo responded English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
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Commissioner Woo responded that she encouraged her neighbors to fill out the survey, and voice for more Parks and Rec budget.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres asked how many responses they have received for the survey and asked about the cannabis tax. Principal Analyst Arroyo responded over 1,800 so far.
Commissioner Diaz commented about how to change the language for the survey on the MySantaAna app, provided feedback about the survey question structure and asked if there was a way to provide incentives for filling out the survey. Principal Analyst Arroyo said that that was unlikely.
Chair Herrera spoke about the budget last year prioritizing Parks and Rec, and asked how they came to this conclusion of the top two categories. All discussed the Budget plan and the areas that were addressed.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
MINUTES: There were no public comments.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
MINUTES: The Consent Calendar was considered 5:55 P.M.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve staff recommendations on the following Consent Calendar Items: 1 and 2.
1. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 26, 2026.
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, 7-0-0-2, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONER DIAZ, COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ ,
COMMISSIONER REYES, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ,
COMMISSIONER WOO, VICE CHAIR ZACARIAS TORRES,
CHAIR HERRERA
NOES: NONE
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ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER JOGWE, COMMISSIONER NELSON
Status: 7 – 0 – 0 – 2 – Pass
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
4. Santa Ana Public Library Staff Report.
MINUTES: Executive Director Hawk Scott requested that Item #4 the Santa Ana Public Library Staff Report be presented first, Chair Herrera approved.
Library Services Director Brian Sternberg presented the Santa Ana Public Library Staff report to the commission.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres was happy about the poetry slam tonight, likes the crafts café at Jerome park and asked about the hours of that. Director Sternberg said we are always open to changing things up.
Commissioner Diaz commented that she is looking forward to the Dia de Los Niño’s event on Saturday.
Commissioner Rodriguez asked about the parking for Dia de Los Niño’s event.
Director Sternberg responded parking will be across the street at the Civic Center, they don’t pay for additional parking so it will be a bit tight parking wise.
Chair Herrera agreed about the poetry slam event tonight and asked about LGBTQ books for the community.
3. Santa Ana Zoo Staff Report.
MINUTES: Acting Parks, Recreation and Community Services Zoo Deputy Director Jenny Walker presented the Santa Ana Zoo Staff Report to the Commission.
Commissioner Diaz commented about that there are a lot of new kids coming to the zoo and asked if the parking will be expanded. Acting Deputy Director Walker responded that parking is not changing, but they do use the churches parking as overflow.
Chair Herrera appreciated the presentation, commended them on moving things forward on the multipurpose center. Also they asked about the confiscated animals and when the center will open. Acting Deputy Director Walker provided more information.
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Commissioner Reyes asked about the confiscated animals. Acting Deputy Director Walker provided more details.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMENTS
MINUTES: Executive Director Hawk Scott mentioned heading into the exciting summer programming, thanked the commissioners for all that they do and advocating for Parks and Recreation in Santa Ana. He also mentioned May is a busy month, 50 th park
opening, Salvador Quintana Park, coming up, plus the Brew at the Zoo.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
MINUTES: Commissioner Diaz commended the team on a great job, she is looking forward to the survey changes, the library events and had a good time at the Santa Ana Fun Run.
Executive Director Scott talked about the Santa Ana Fun Run success and had close to 3,000 runners.
Commissioner Gonzalez thanked Principal Analyst Arroyo for the budget presentation and encouraged people to support Parks and Rec by filling out the survey. She also thanked the team for the informative zoo presentation and talked about going to the Delhi opening event and the senior’s library event.
Commissioner Reyes thanked everyone for all the information, commended the team for the Seniors Huntington Library event and plans to fill out the survey.
Commissioner Rodriguez appreciated the updates and looks forward to taking her family to the upcoming events. She also participated in the tree planting and enjoyed it, and attended the dog park opening and is pleased with that as well.
Executive Director Scott commented about the community tree event and the dog park opening.
Commissioner Woo encouraged the community to participate in the survey, and enjoyed the tree planting, Fun Run Event and Rain catch workshop. She is looking forward to the compost workshop and the movie nights.
Vice Chair Zacarias Torres gave a shout out to the garden event for earth day, went to the one at El Salvador event too, and commended Parks and Rec on the Fun Run event. She also encouraged people to fill out the budget survey.
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Chair Herrera talked about May Day coming up, and encouraged people to fill out the survey.
ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission is scheduled for Thursday, May 28
th at 5:30 pm at the Albert D. Salgado Community
Center, 706 N Newhope St, Santa Ana, CA 92704.
MINUTES: Chair Herrera adjourned the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission meeting at 6:32 pm.
Respectfully submitted:
_________________________
Hannah Wayne
Recording Secretary