In this edition of the COSAS newsletter, find great summer events and activities for families and children, join us to celebrate Public Works Week, learn about free resources for residents, and more Santa Ana news!
Spotlight Photo
Shower time birdy!
Photo Credit: Victor C @Xavic6
To submit your own original photo of Santa Ana to be featured in the next newsletter, complete this form.
City Manager’s Highlights
Doing it for the kids
In this edition of our newsletter, we want to highlight some of the amazing work of our City staff to provide services and programs for Santa Ana youth and students. Pictured above, our Traffic Engineering team joined the students of McFadden Institute of Technology for Bike to School Day to educate students about bike road safety.
Parks and Rec has several summer youth and family activities that you can read about below. The library has a calligraphy class for children, the Public Works Family Event returns this Saturday, and Santa Ana Zoo is hosting a Party for the Planet on Sunday. Finally, in case you missed it, check out our video below of the library’s Dia de los Niños family event.
News
Summer Movies in the Park is back!
Get ready to kick off summer Santa Ana style! Our annual Summer Movies in the Park event is back, with a first screening of “Super Mario Bros. Movie” at Memorial Park. Every Friday at 6 p.m. until July 26, 2024, you can count on enjoying different movie screenings at select parks in Santa Ana. Go to the link below to see the full schedule. Free complimentary popcorn will be provided while supplies last. Turn up the fun with kids’ inflatables and themed activities for youth to enjoy. Food will be available for purchase from various rotating food vendors.
Headsets will be available for alternate audio in Spanish. Guests should plan to arrive early to find parking and secure their spots. Grab your blankets, lawn chairs, and snacks! Tell your family and friends and join us for an unforgettable summer kick off!
Bring out your child’s inner artist
Make memories through the power art! Register your toddler for the next Little Picassos session on May 20, 2024, where children ages 2-5, along with their parents and family, can explore art innovation. Located at El Salvador Community Center from 10-10:45 a.m., work with your little one to bring out their creativity! The upcoming theme is Forest Animals. Registration fee is $2. All supplies will be provided.
Register kids for Summer Splash Day Camp
Registration is still open for the Summer Splash Camp! The Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Agency is thrilled to keep Santa Ana youth engaged with summer programming! Camp will be taking place at three locations: El Salvador Community Center, Jerome Community Center and Salgado Community Center.
Campers can expect a full day of themed group activities, swim lessons, recreational swimming, off-site excursions, arts and crafts, and more. Camp will take place June 3 through August 9, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Parents and guardians can enroll participants on a weekly basis and registration fees include all activities, daily lunch, excursions, and one Summer Splash Day Camp shirt.
Please visit the link below to view fees, weekly themes, Thursday excursions, and to register. Residents who enroll before July 1 will be eligible for a Santa Ana resident discount.
Recycle Your Used Oil Filter and Get One for Free
Through June 30, 2024, you can bring your used oil filter for recycling and receive a new oil filter for free at one of the following stores participating in this City supported program. You will get a free replacement oil filter of equal value (shelf price), maximum $15 per filter and two filters per household.
- O’Reilly Auto Parks: 1312 W. Edinger Ave., Santa Ana. Tel: (714) 754-1432
- Auto Zone: 810 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana. Tel: (714) 418-0766
Get your tickets now for 2024 State of the City
The 2024 State of the City featuring Mayor Valerie Amezcua is scheduled on Thursday, June 27 at Mater Dei High School! Hosted by the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce, it is an opportunity to hear from Mayor Amezcua and celebrate the City’s outstanding achievements while looking toward a promising future for our beloved Santa Ana.
The 2024 State of the City will embrace the theme “I Love Santa Ana,” a testament to the endless love our community has for our city.
Purchase State of the City tickets
Street closures and permitted events May 16 – 22
Find the locations of upcoming permitted events and road closures in Santa Ana at the link below. Please drive slowly and safely in construction zones and around crowded events. If a weather event occurs on the anticipated start date, the street closures for construction activity will be delayed until the weather clears.
Street closures and permitted events
Tales of the City
Rapid water leak response
On May 10, our Water Resources Division received a report of a water main break that turned out to be a leak in front of Davis Elementary School. To fix the leak, we had to shut off water to an apartment complex at 1415 N. French St. Our diligent water staff personally notified each resident by knocking on doors. Both the Davis Elementary management and the school’s principal were also informed about the situation. Fortunately, Davis Elementary’s water service was not disrupted.
To better assist the affected residents, we implemented several support measures, including deploying portable restroom units and a potable “Hydration Station” unit at Davis Elementary. Our award-winning tap water and outreach materials were distributed to the students and affected residents.
Within just a few hours, by 2:30 p.m. that same day, water service was restored. This was great work by our City staff and just another example of our dedicated service to the community.
City Council Meetings
At their May 7, 2024, regular meeting, the Santa Ana City Council:
- Increased City funding by $100,000 to $300,000 for the Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center to expand workforce readiness and skills training and increase the number of youth served from 20 to 30
- Adopted a resolution establishing the City of Santa Ana Public Financing Authority to issue water revenue refunding bonds to pay for water system improvements
- Approved the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Annual Action Plan and budgets for the Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships Grant, and Emergency Solutions Grant to provide $16.2 million in funding for 17 public service organizations, affordable housing development, City improvement projects such as parks, sidewalks and parking facilities, and other City programs to support community and businesses.
Subscribe here to receive City meeting agenda notifications. City Council meetings are typically held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, with the closed session beginning at 5 p.m. or earlier. The open meeting session begins at 5:30 p.m. Meetings have both in-person and virtual participation and attendance and are live streamed on the City’s YouTube channel and our TV channel, CTV3 (channel 3 on Spectrum.) If you’d like to provide public comments on agenda and non-agenda items, you can email, attend in person, or join the Zoom webinar online or by phone.
Events
Public Works Family Event – May 18
To kick off National Public Works Week in May, our Public Works Agency will host a free community event that includes free tacos to the first 500 guests, prizes, tours of the state-of-the-art water pump station, a water pipe connection competition, various Public Works exhibits and large equipment displays, and more. Free event parking is available in the lot at Flower and Pine streets. For more information, contact Michelle Micallef at mmicallef@santa-ana.org or 714-647-5091.
- Saturday, May 18
- 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Walnut Water Pump Station, 723 W. Walnut St.
Author Hour: Christina Vo – May 18
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, Santa Ana Public Library’s Author Hour Series will feature author Christina Vo at the Newhope Library. Her work explores the interplay of culture, identity, and personal history in her writing. Her second book, “My Vietnam, Your Vietnam,” is an intergenerational memoir co-written with her father, delving into their family’s experiences. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Christina about her journey as an author and the stories behind her compelling work.
Free book giveaways, light snacks, and refreshments will be provided, while supplies last. The author will be available for interviews. This is a family-friendly event and open to all. Limited on-site event parking is available at no cost.
- Saturday, May 18
- 2-3:30 p.m.
- Newhope Library, 122 N. Newhope St.
Party for the Planet – May 19
Join Santa Ana Zoo’s Party for the Planet to celebrate Earth Day and Endangered Species Day on Saturday, May 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join the zoo and community organizations for a day of discovery, conservation and activities.
Be part of the party:
- Bring an old T-shirt to remake into a tote bag.
- Bring broken crayons to trade for a new recycled crayon.
- Recycle small electronics (cell phone size).
- Endangered species scavenger hunt.
All activities are FREE with Zoo admission. This is Santa Ana Residents Day – free admission to the Zoo on the third Sunday of every month with proof of Santa Ana residency, such as ID or a utility bill.
- Sunday, May 19
- 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Santa Ana Zoo, 1801 E. Chestnut Ave.
Traffic Engineering Road Show – May 20, 22, 23
Santa Ana neighbors are invited to a series of interactive community meeting with the City of Santa Ana Public Works Traffic Engineering Department to learn and share your thoughts about the Citywide Street Light Masterplan, Active Transportation Grant Opportunities, and the Citywide Parking Study. The upcoming dates are:
- Monday, May 20
- 5:30-7 p.m.
- Salgado Community Center, 706 N. Newhope St.
- Wednesday, May 22
- 5:30-7 p.m.
- Garfield Community Center, 501 N. Lacy St.
- Thursday, May 23
- 5:30-7 p.m.
- El Salvador Community Center, 1825 W. Civic Center Drive.
Pride Flag raising ceremony – May 22
The public is invited to celebrate Harvey Milk Day and LGBTQ+ Pride Month with a Pride Flag raising ceremony at Santa Ana City Hall on Wednesday, May 22. The City of Santa Ana was the first city in Orange County to fly the Pride Flag, demonstrating unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community.
- Wednesday, May 22
- 4 p.m.
- Santa Ana City Hall, 20 Civic Center Plaza
Learn Chinese Calligraphy with Emmy Lam – May 22
Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by learning Chinese Calligraphy, the traditional art of Chinese writing. Program is open to children in grades 2-8 and their parent or caregiver. Registration required.
- Wednesday, May 22
- 6 – 7:15 p.m.
- Newhope Library, 122 N. Newhope St.
Register for calligraphy class
Roosevelt Walker Open House – June 1
Summer is almost here and the Roosevelt-Walker Community Center is getting ready to start the season! Join us for our annual Open House Summer Kick-Off to get familiar with your local community center and all the programming offered by our Health & Wellness team. This free event is open to all ages and will include a resource fair, garden tours, games, and more!
- Saturday, June 1
- 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.
- Roosevelt-Walker Community Center, 816 E. Chestnut Ave.
Register for Roosevelt-Walker Open House
Resources
Report issues with the mySantaAna app
The mySantaAna mobile app puts the power of the City of Santa Ana government in the palm of your hand! Download the app to quickly and easily report issues such as potholes, graffiti, downed trees and much more.
Assistance programs
- Small business grant
- My First Home Program
- Affordable housing
- Sign up for Medi-Cal regardless of immigration status
- Santa Ana Work Center
Who do I call at City Hall?
Important phone numbers:
- City Hall main line: (714) 647-5400
- Code Enforcement: (714) 667-2780
- Graffiti Hotline: (877) 786-7824
- Emergency Water Services: (714) 953-8026
- Public Works dispatch (street sweeping, trees): (714) 647-3380
Find more phone numbers for all City services
Utility services
- City utility services
- Southern California Edison: Call (800) 447-6620
- Southern California Gas: Call (800) 207-8567
- Trash pick up: Call (657) 467-6220