Planning and Building Agency
www.santa-ana.gov/pba
Item # 25
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
October 6, 2026
TOPIC: Sunshine Ordinance Amendment – Ordinance Amendment No. 2026-03 to Amend a Portion of Chapter 2 (Administration) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code Relating to Public Notices for Community Meetings – Second Reading
AGENDA TITLE
Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance Amendment No. 2026-03 to Amend Article II.II of Chapter 2 (Administration) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code Related to Noticing, Meeting Format, and Transparency Measures for Community Meetings for Certain Development Projects
First reading at the September 15, 2026, City Council Meeting and approved by a vote of 7-0.
Published in the OC Reporter on September 21, 2026.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Conduct a second reading and adopt an ordinance approving Ordinance Amendment No. 2026-03 to amend Section 2-153 in Article II.II of Chapter 2 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code relating to public input through community meetings; and ORDINANCE NO. NS-3101 entitled ORDINANCE AMENDMENT NO. 2026-03 – AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AMENDING CHAPTER 2 (ADMINISTRATION) OF THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE
RELATING TO PUBLIC INPUT THROUGH COMMUNITY MEETINGS
2. Determine that, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the CEQA Guidelines, the recommended action is exempt from further review under state CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15061(b)(5).
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
On September 15, 2026, the City Council conducted a first reading of Ordinance Amendment No. 2026-03 to amend Section 2-153 in Article II.II of Chapter 2 Sunshine Ordinance Amendment – Ordinance Amendment No. 2026-03 (Citywide) – Second Reading
October 6, 2026
(Administration) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC) relating to public input through community meetings. Following staff’s presentation, public testimony, and City Council discussion, the City Council introduced the ordinance for first reading by a 7:0 vote. The ordinance requires a second reading and adoption to become effective November 5, 2026.
During discussion of the proposed ordinance, the City Council directed staff to revise Section 2-153(d) to clarify that the notice of public hearing shall be posted to the property and that the notice be: 1) at minimum 11-inches by 17-inches (11”x17”) in size; 2) be printed on fluorescent-yellow poster board; 3) that the notice title at the top reading “Public Hearing Notice” be three and a half inches (3½”) in size; and 4) that the notice title be written in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Khmer.
This change was deemed to be included in the first reading and has been incorporated into the ordinance. The proposed amendments to the ordinance are depicted in Exhibit
1. No other substantive changes have been made to the ordinance following first reading.
The final version of the ordinance is attached as Exhibit 2.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The City Council finds and determines that this ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines, the adoption of this Ordinance is exempt from CEQA review pursuant to sections 15061(b)(3) and 15061(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, as there is no possibility it will have a significant effect on the environment. As a result, a Notice of Exemption, Environmental Review No. 2026-054, will be filed upon adoption of this ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
EXHIBIT
1. Ordinance for OA No. 2026-03 – Redline (Second Reading)
2. Ordinance for OA No. 2026-03 – Clean (Second Reading) Submitted By: Ali Pezeshkpour, Executive Director, Planning and Building Agency Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager