Santora Building

City Council

Contact

20 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Alternating Fridays: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday: closed

The Santa Ana City Council stands in front of a wooden dais.About the City Council

The Santa Ana City Council has seven members: a Mayor and six councilmembers. Councilmembers are elected from different parts of the city called wards. They serve four-year terms and have a limit of three terms. 

The Mayor is elected citywide and can serve up to four 2-year terms. A Mayor Pro Tem is chosen from the councilmembers through nomination and election. If the Mayor is absent, the Mayor Pro Tem serves in their place.

Meetings

City Council meetings are on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. There are two parts to each meeting:

  1. Closed session at a time between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. (private)
  2. Public meeting around 5:30 p.m. (open to the public)

Meetings are in the Council Chamber at 22 Civic Center Plaza and streamed online. If the location changes, it will say so on the agenda.

Wards

The City of Santa Ana has six areas called wards. The Mayor represents the whole city, while the six councilmembers each represent one ward.

Each ward has a similar number of residents. The ward map can change every decade to reflect population changes. 

Elections

Local elections are held every two years: to elect a mayor and to elect three councilmembers. While the mayoral seat is up for election every two years, either the council seats for wards 1, 3, and 5 or 2, 4, and 6 are up for election every two years (this is called a “sequence”). For the 2024 election, the council seats for wards 1, 3, and 5 will be up for election. In 2026, there will be another election for wards 2, 4, and 6.

City Council events

Santiago Park Cleanup with Councilmember Lopez

Jul 26 2025

Santiago Park

Please join Councilmember Jessie Lopez and OC Habitats for the monthly community cleanup at Santiago Park. We encourage all residents to participate! By joining us, you’ll help prevent debris from reaching our wetlands and the ocean, protecting our environment and keeping our parks beautiful. Santiago Park clean-ups will take place from 9 a.m. to 12...

City Hall regular Friday closure

Aug 1 2025

Santa Ana City Hall is open Monday through Thursday and every other Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. City Hall and non-essential City offices are closed on alternating Fridays. See the holiday and closed Friday schedule here.

Councilmember Bacerra’s Monthly Community Office Hours

Aug 2 2025

Carl Thornton Park

You are cordially invited to join Councilmember Phil Bacerra for an open community discussion focused on the issues that matter most to you. This is a meaningful opportunity to share your insights, voice your concerns, and collaborate with Councilmember Bacerra on initiatives designed to strengthen and enrich our community. We look forward to your valuable...

Coffee with the Mayor

Aug 2 2025

Santa Ana Zoo

Join Mayor Valerie Amezcua for Coffee with the Mayor! Enjoy complimentary coffee and pastries while supplies last, and share your invaluable perspective on City issues. Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Santa Ana Zoo, 1801 E. Chestnut Ave. For more information, please contact Mayor's aide Claudia Perez at cperez5@santa-ana.org or 714-600-6220.

City Council meeting

Aug 5 2025

City Council Chambers

The Santa Ana City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Santa Ana City Hall in the Council Chamber, located at 22 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Closed session meetings begin at 5 p.m. or earlier, and the regular open meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. Meetings are broadcast...

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