The next Santa Ana City Council meeting is coming up this Tuesday, January 2. You can find the agenda online at this link. Here are a few highlights to watch out for:
- The meeting starts off with a bang as the council discusses vacancies on the city commissions. It is interesting to note that Mayor Miguel Pulido has three votes, and the opposition, which includes Council Members Claudia Alvarez, Michele Martinez and Sal Tinajero, also has three votes. Unless the two sides opt to approve each other’s nominations it could get ugly. There are 41 openings when you count up all the expired terms. Some of those who are completing terms may well be renominated. If those seats can’t be filled we’ll be faced with some serious gridlock.
- Item 22B – the city council is voting to spend $100,000 on weekend and holiday graffiti removal. Wow! I hope they are jailing some of the perps causing all this harm. Maybe we need more activities for our young people so as to give them something else to do with their spare time?
- Items 22C and 22F – The city council is voting on over $600,000 in library expenditures. I wonder how much of that will be spent on Spanish and Vietnamese language materials?
- Item 31A – This one ought to be interesting. Developer Mike Harrah is asking for yet another variance. This time he wants to put up an additional wall sign on the north elevation of Original Mike’s restaurant, at 100 Main St. I hope the council votes no just to spite Harrah – especially with his One Broadway Plaza (OBP) project in such disarray.
- Item 65B – The council will consider what to do about the vacancy in Ward 1. Do not expect an appointment. We are headed for a special election.
- Item 85 A – Council members Alvarez, Martinez and Tinajero are asking the Council to set up a Gang Prevention and Intervention Commission. Sounds like a good idea.
- Item 85 B – The same Council members are proposing a public hearing, to take place on January 16, to discuss a proposed ordinance regarding regulation of superstores. Uh-oh. Not a good idea. This idea is coming from the unions. They ought to be ashamed of themselves. See my article today about the proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter in Garden Grove.
That’s it! The meeting will take place at City Hall, at 5:30 p.m., at Council Chambers, located at 20 Civic Center Plaza.
Who is Michele Ward? When was she elected to the City Council?
Poster 1,
Thanks for the edit. Beats me how that got in there! Too much champagne last night…
Item 85B is a very bad idea.
the previous council just visited this issue recently, and reason prevailed as the item was shot down.
The Alvarez, Martinez, Tinajero cabal are now playing into the hands of the unions by bringing this unnecessary item forward. Did any of them receive contributions or IEs from these union bums during the last election?
Here are a few realities about this item:
There is not adequate real estate in Santa Ana right now to support a superstore. In the event there was, (say for instance in the renaissance plan area) a grocery store combined with a department store would actually be a wise use of space, and an asset to the community. There is already a set of planning standards in place to evaluate whether this typew of store is a good fit for the city.
Next, let’s use Walmart as an example. Walmart has been in our community for years, and to my knowledge did not cost any mom and pop businesses to fail. In fact, several of the businesses in the Walmart center compete with Walmart and continue to survive.
Also, Walmart is a great commmunity partner here. They provide jobs with a living wage, and contribute heavily to this city, providing resources to youth by contributing to parks and recreation events and supporting the police department’s Westend COP children’s events.
To try and limit this type of business is a case of government meddling in the private sector and is potentially a slap in the face to a business that helps our community.
I guess we’ll see whether or not Alvarez, Martinez, and Tinajero really are putting the city’s priorities above those of the special interests when they vote this item tonight.
Harrah wants more illegal signage?
The building on First and Main is a historic structure. When he put up the last unpermitted signage, he drilled several holes in the side of the building damaging the brickwork. Now he wants to put more holes in the building?
On the back of the building, he had another illegal sign, which he painted over when he was caught for it instaead of removing it properly. That’s why there is a big blotchy reddish brown section on that wall. Pretty halfassed work for a guy who’s going to revitalize Santa Ana.
OMs already has more signage on that building and more variances in place than any other business in the area. Will the new sign really make the business more visible?
I know a lot of the merchants on 4th would like to be able to display their merchandise outside the stores, add more signage, paint their windows and do a bunch of other things not curently permitted.
How about we give these struggling businesses a couple of variances instead giving more variances to one business owned by millionaire Harrah?
OM’s is one big billboard!
Someone should tell Harrah he should buy advertising in the local newspapers and magazines to promote his business. His signage is littering a significant entry into Santa Ana’s historic downtown.
I continue to be impressed with Michelle Martinez. She is keeping the focus on kids in Santa Ana.
I hope the city council moves forward in joint partnerships with SAUSD regarding libraries and access to school playgrounds after school. It is a shame how little the Santa Ana leaders provide support for youth. This has been a huge mistake since Santa Ana was found to be the youngest city in the country by the last Census.
This is a good start with Michelle, Sal and Claudia focusing on providing oportunities for Santa Ana kids and preventing gangs.
What happened with Sal?
It was truly weird to see him nominate and vote for Deborah Vasquez and then turn around and vote for the mayor’s stool pidgeon.
Didn’t Sal do this before with SAUSD Board President where he voted against himself and then later was repeatedly undermined by Trustees Noji and Richardson?
What will it take for Sal to learn who to trust and who not to trust? Sal seems unwilling to stand up to the corrupt power structure. The only leaders with courage are Claudia and Michelle.
Moreover, if Sal just continues to flip on his votes, then no one will trust him. What can Sal accomplish if he builds no trust, but just continues to stab decent people in the back?
It will be shame to see “the city council guys” vote as a pack just because they refuse to stand up to the mayor.
Are we sure its Tinajero and not Tin-Man-jero?
Sal has no heart and David has no brain.
How long till they can be recalled?
I wish people could forget about the petty politics and move on! History was made tonight as Santa Ana now has it’s first Ecuadorian American Councilmember in the history of the city! Since he’s a friend of the Mayor you can bet little Miss Jennifer Delson of the L.A. Times will not profile him in her news rag. Vince is a Latino but he is well educated, his mom was not a drug addict and his family attended school so there is no story there for Jennifer. Sorry Vince, you will not get you 15 minutes of fame.
Mr Vincent F Sarmiento and Festival Hall gave thousands to the Jose Solorio for Assembly campaign and in return he bought himself a council seat.
Mr Sarmiento also is listed as an endorser of Carlos Bustamante for Supervisor, because he owes Miguel Pulido for covering up all the criminal activity that occurs over at the Festival Hall.Look for the city to waste millions on things such as buying private homes in French Park and handing your tax dollars to Miguel,Carlos,David’s and Vincent’s friends for such usless items as plasma TVs at the zoo or train station.
Does this mean that Jill Arthur and I get to keep our jobs?
I can’t believe there is no story posted regarding Sal voting to put a Pulido Puppet on the city council! Where are all you Sal Tinajero fans tonight? Claudio? Looks like big Sal cut a deal with the Mayor! What a big surprise! Welcome to the REAL world of S.A. politics.
Yes Dave Reem and Jill Arthur keep there jobs! There are parties tonight in the Tustin hills and Cota de Casa!
Why did the meeting start so late?
Half of the council was on the dias for half an hour, so obviously the executive session was finished.
Did the girls spend that time arguing with Sal over his decision to sell them out on the appointment?