In this edition of the City Manager’s newsletter, check out our 2023 Fiestas Patrias highlights, learn about events like Mid-Autumn Festival and Taste of Santa Ana, see the Santiago Park renovation, and find more Santa Ana news and events.
Spotlight Photo
Fiestas Patrias Parade
Photo Credit: Hiram U.
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City Manager’s Highlights
Thousands come out for Fiestas Patrias
Thank you to all of those who joined us at this year’s Fiestas Patrias celebration, which was made possible by our wonderful Parks and Recreation team. Our 43rd Fiestas Patrias was an overwhelming success, bringing in an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 people over the two-day event. From concerts to a vibrant street fair, thrilling carnival rides, and a spectacular parade, our community came alive with cultural celebrations and family-friendly fun.
The parade returned for the first time since 2019 with 60 groups participating. The parade was a true spectacle, featuring representations from 20 Mexican states and an impressive lineup of over 130 staging elements, including marching bands, floats, dance groups, performances, and Central American representatives. About 9,500 viewers lined the parade route up and down Main Street and Civic Center Drive. We also live streamed the parade for the first time on Facebook, YouTube and our TV channel, where hundreds of viewers watched. If you missed it, you can watch the full parade in the video below!
One of the highlights of our event was the moving Grito ceremony, the traditional shout of Mexican Independence, which was led by the mayor of our sister city, Sahuayo. This moving moment was graciously presented by the mayor of our sister city, Sahuayo, Michoacan. Read more about the visit from our sister city below in Tales of the City.
See more photos of Fiestas Patrias
News
Join us in celebrating Santiago Park’s transformation
Santiago Park was closed for two years for a long overdue renovation, and I’m happy to announce that the $3.5 million project is finished! On Tuesday, Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., we will have a grand reopening of the park where the public can see all of the amazing changes and new amenities. Attendees will be able to hear a presentation about the renovation project, get a park tour, learn about the new Golden City Hour guided walks that will be starting up at the park, see concept art of upcoming renovations of the nature center, and much more. The park is located at 2535 N. Main St.
Santiago Park encompasses a total of 35 acres and at the midpoint is the “Gas House,” named for a small stone facade structure which was originally built in the 1930s as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) park improvements area. This project area totals 2.5 acres and involved the renovation of the Gas House and development of the large, barren surrounding site.
Years ago, the community suggested improvements and provided a sketch of their ideas for the park. We had regular meetings with the Santiago Park Neighborhood Association to help develop the concept plan. This has been a long process, and I think you will hardly recognize the park with all of the improvements. Some of the new features are an outdoor amphitheater, a jogging trail, picnic tables and a playground.
Rove breaks ground on first charging center
Once again, Santa Ana is leading the way in alternative transportation! Electric vehicle charging company Rove broke ground today at 1008 E. 17th St. on its first of 20 public charging centers planned for Southern California. Rove’s full-service charging center will feature 40 DC fast chargers capable of charging any electric vehicle in as little as 20 minutes. While drivers wait for their charge to complete, they can enjoy onsite amenities that include a 5,000-square-foot Gelson’s market, an eco-friendly car wash, restrooms, a lounge and wi-fi. The charging center is expected to open next year (see the rendering above of how it will look when finished.)
We’re proud that Rove chose Santa Ana for its very first location in Southern California. Welcome to the Golden City!
Mid-Autumn Festival moves to Centennial Park
Last year’s inaugural Mid-Autumn Festival at Rosita Park was such a success, that this year the event is moving to the larger space at Centennial Park on Oct. 7. The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates our Asian and Vietnamese communities, which make up about 12 percent of Santa Ana’s population.
The event will feature musical and dance performances, a fashion show, food, free mooncakes, and more family friendly fun! The Mid-Autumn Festival will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. at Centennial Park, 3000 W. Edinger Ave. Read more below in Events or click the link for all of the details.
Read more about Mid-Autumn Festival
Birch Park Movie Series returns in October
Are you ready for spooky movies this fall? The Santa Ana Birch Park Movie Series will begin on Oct. 5. Get ready to enjoy classic films every Thursday in October with themed activities and family-friendly fun. Movie screenings and concession booths will be coordinated in partnership with The Frida Cinema. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with movies scheduled to begin promptly after sunset.
Guests can look forward to:
- Free popcorn for the first 100 people, courtesy of the Frida Cinema
- A concessions stand with drinks and snacks for sale
- Special discounts to select nearby restaurants
- A community band performing prior to the start of the movie
Street Lighting Master Plan shines light on safety
The City of Santa Ana Public Works Agency is developing the first Citywide Street Lighting Master Plan. The purpose of this plan is to improve lighting throughout the city for better visibility and safety on our streets and sidewalks.
As part of the scope of the project to develop the master plan, Evari GIS Consulting, Inc. is currently conducting a field inventory of all the existing streetlights in Santa Ana. You may see the Evari staff taking pictures and measurements of all the lights on roadways and alleys, within the Public Right of Way. These workers drive vehicles identifiable with the Evari name. Should you have questions about the street light assessment being conducted, please call the Public Works street lighting team at (714) 647-5046.
Inner-Coastal Clean-up removes 500 pounds of trash and debris
The City of Santa Ana’s Public Works Agency coordinated an Inner-Coastal Cleanup Day event at Jerome Park on Sept. 23. About 50 volunteers participated in the cleanup and removed an estimated 500 pounds of trash and debris from the Santa Ana Gardens flood control channel and adjacent alley, keeping that trash from flowing out to the ocean when it rains.
To learn more about stormwater management and tips to protect the environment, please visit the links below.
Sports fields closed for turf renovation
The City of Santa Ana is all about keeping our athletic fields in great shape for you! From Monday, Oct. 2, through Dec. 18, 2023, some of the sports fields at our parks will be closed so we can give them some TLC, including turf recovery, maintenance and overall improvements. We understand that our sports organizations desire optimum use of our City athletic fields, so we’ve coordinated with sports leagues to minimize any inconvenience. Thanks for understanding and we’ll see you back on the fields soon!
See the list of sports field closures
Street closures and permitted events
Here are the locations of upcoming permitted events and road closures so you can plan accordingly. Please drive slowly and safely in construction zones and around crowded events.
Street Closures and Permitted Events: https://www.santa-ana.org/street-closures-and-permitted-events-for-september-28-october-4/
Tales of the City
Sahuayo sister city visits Santa Ana
We had a special visit during Fiestas Patrias and last week from our sister city delegation from Sahuayo, Michoacan. The mayor (or presidente municipal) of Sahuayo, Dr. Manuel Galvez Sanchez, was joined by his wife, two children, three Sahuayo City Council members (called regidores in Spanish), and three other staff and representatives of their city. In typical Santa Ana tradition, we rolled out the red carpet for them!
The Sahuayo visitors were also honored at the Santa Ana City Council meeting, where they were presented with a City of Santa Ana flag and tile. The City of Sahuayo returned the favor by gifting us a traditional Tlahualil mask. Thank you, Sahuayo!
City Council Meetings
At their September 19, 2023, meeting, the Santa Ana City Council:
- Presented a City tile and City flag to the Sahuayo City Council for their commitment to fostering a sister city relationship with the Santa Ana community.
- Awarded a $540,000 construction contract to Hardy & Harper, Inc. for traffic calming projects (speed cushions, wheelchair ramps, crosswalks, etc.) in five locations
- Awarded a $3.3 million construction contract to Legion Contractors, Inc. for the Standard-McFadden Park Project
- Approved a cooperative cost reimbursement agreement with the City of Garden Grove and awarded a $1.6 million construction contract to R.J. Noble Company for the Westminster Avenue Rehabilitation Project from Newhope Street to Harbor Boulevard
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
International Older Adults Festival – September 29
Everyone age 55 or older is invited to the International Older Adults Celebration! Come enjoy food, entertainment, health screenings and a resource fair. Spaces are limited, so make sure to register early to save your spot!
- Friday, Sept. 29
- 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Jerome Community Park, 2201 W. McFadden Ave.
International Older Adults Festival
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival at SAPL – September 30
Come out and celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival at the Newhope Library. Bring the whole family to enjoy the spectacular lion dance, bilingual storytime and lantern making. Free mooncakes will be available, while supplies last. For more information, call (714) 647-6992.
- Saturday, Sept. 30
- 2-4 p.m.
- Newhope Library, 122 N. Newhope St.
Santiago Creek Flood Risk Management Project public meeting – October 2
Orange County Public Works and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are hosting an in-person and online public meeting about the proposed improvements designed to enhance the flood protection along the Santiago Creek in Santa Ana between the Interstate 5 Freeway and the Santa Ana River, and upstream at the Santiago Recharge Basins. The project is in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a component of the Santa Ana River Mainstem Project.
- Monday, Oct. 2
- 6:30-8:30 pm
- OC Public Works County Conference Center, 601 N. Ross St.
Join the Santiago Creek meeting on Zoom
Santiago Park Grand Re-Opening – October 3
Join the grand reopening of Santiago Park after a two-year renovation. Attendees will hear a presentation about the renovation project, get a park tour, learn about the new Golden City Hour guided walks that will be starting up at the park, see concept art of upcoming renovations of the nature center, and more.
- Tuesday, Oct. 3
- 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Santiago Park, 2535 N. Main St.
Birch Park Movie Series – October 5
The first Birch Park Movies series will start with “Ghostbusters” (1984), make sure to arrive early to secure your spot and receive free popcorn for the first 100 people. Guests can also look forward to selecting discounts to nearby restaurants.
- Thursday, Oct. 5
- 5:30-9:30 p.m.
- Birch Park, 400 W. 3rd St.
Mid-Autumn Festival – October 7
Join the City of Santa Ana at our second annual Mid-Autumn Festival. Also known as the Moon Festival, this free event highlights Asian cultures and the Vietnamese members of our community. Guests can look forward to cultural performances, exhibitors, a kids zone, fashion show, and food vendors. Mooncakes and lanterns will be distributed while supplies last, starting at 5 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 7
- 4-9 p.m.
- Centennial Park, 3000 W. Edinger Ave., Santa Ana
Birch Park Movie Series – October 12
It’s the second Birch Park Movies series: “Ghost!” Make sure to arrive early to secure your spot and receive free popcorn for the first 100 people. Guests can also look forward to selecting discounts to nearby restaurants.
- Thursday, Oct. 12
- 5:30-9:30 p.m.
- Birch Park, 400 W. 3rd St.
Taste of Santa Ana – October 14
The City of Santa Ana is the presenting sponsor for the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce’s 8th annual Taste of Santa Ana. The event features over 40 local restaurants, craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries, as well as live music, a kids zone, photo booth, lawn games, charity raffle, and more. Businesses who are interested in being a vendor at this event can sign up here. For more information and to purchase tickets, click on the link below.
- Saturday, Oct. 14
- 5-9 p.m.
- MainPlace Mall, 2800 N. Main St.
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.
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 (877) 328-2074