In the Nov. 25, 2025, edition of COSAS (City of Santa Ana Stories), learn about a new dog park and other improvements coming to Centennial Park, take our survey to share your priorities for City services, support local businesses, and find more Santa Ana news and events.
Spotlight Photo
Plaza Navideña Tree Lighting
Photo Credit: City staff
To submit your own original photo of Santa Ana to be featured in the next newsletter, complete this form.
City Manager’s Highlights
Take our Community Priorities Survey
What kind of services and programs do you want from your local government? The City of Santa Ana invites residents to help shape future spending decisions by participating in our Community Priorities Survey. The survey will remain open year-round, but responses received through early May will be shared with the City Council at the May Budget Work Study Sessions.
The survey is available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Make your voice heard and take the Community Priorities Survey today!
Take the Community Priorities Survey
mySantaAna app available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese
Our new and improved mySantaAna app offers expanded features and full language support in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. The updated app makes it easier than ever to report issues like graffiti or potholes, receive push notifications about important City updates, and stay connected to local services.
If you haven’t updated yet, be sure to download the latest version. Users may need to delete the old app and reinstall the new one to access all features. The new mySantaAna app includes:
- Automated language translation so residents can navigate in their preferred language.
- Easy issue reporting with photo uploads and detailed descriptions.
- Push notifications for road closures, events, street sweeping changes and more.
- Account sign-up for status updates and work completion photos.
- A “My Issues” dashboard to track submitted requests.
The app helps ensure that every resident has a convenient way to communicate with the City anytime, anywhere.
News
Support Small Business Saturday and shop local all holiday season
The holiday season is here, and there’s no better time to support the small businesses that make Santa Ana such a vibrant and unique community. The City’s Economic Development Division is excited to launch this year’s Shop Local, Shop Santa Ana campaign, celebrating the restaurants, retailers, makers and service providers that keep our city thriving. The campaign begins Saturday, Nov. 29, on Small Business Saturday!
Every time you shop local, you support jobs, strengthen neighborhood businesses and help keep more sales tax dollars circulating right here in Santa Ana, a powerful “multiplier effect” that boosts our entire community.
How Businesses Can Get Involved
Santa Ana small businesses can participate in the Shop Santa Ana campaign by:
- Adding their business to the City’s registry to receive Shop Santa Ana window clings.
- Using the #ShopSantaAna hashtag and campaign logo on social media.
- Tagging @santaanadoesbusiness on social media so the City can share posts.
- Encouraging customers to tag the campaign and share their local shopping experiences.
- Downloading and sharing the “thank you” postcard to show appreciation to customers.
How Customers Can Participate
Residents can support Santa Ana businesses by:
- Posting local purchases using the #ShopSantaAna hashtag.
- Tagging @santaanadoesbusiness for a chance to be featured.
Together, we can keep Santa Ana’s business community thriving, remember to Shop Local, Shop Santa Ana.
Support Shop Local at www.santa-ana.org/shop-local.
Centennial Park Improvements Project breaks ground
The City of Santa Ana celebrated the start of the Centennial Park Improvements Project with a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 5. The project includes Santa Ana’s first dedicated dog park, creating a safe, welcoming space for families and their pets. The park’s lakes have also undergone a major restoration to improve water circulation and support healthier habitats.
In total, the $13.4 million project will deliver wide-ranging improvements such as:
- New synthetic turf sports fields
- Expanded walking trails and picnic areas
- Additional green space and access to the Santa Ana River Trail
- A lakeside event area
- Security cameras and upgraded lighting for sports fields, the skate park and the soccer complex
- Remodeled restrooms
- A modern Santa Ana Police Department simulation training center
The lake renovation is already complete. The full project is expected to be completed in 2026, with the new dog park anticipated to open in March.
Learn more about the dog park.
Bowers Museum to open ‘Global Threads: India’s Textile Revolution’
The Bowers Museum will open its new exhibit, “Global Threads: India’s Textile Revolution,” on Dec. 13. The winter exhibition explores the history of Indian painted and printed cotton textiles, known as chintz, and their influence on global fashion, trade and culture.
The exhibition features more than 100 works from the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto and private collections. Items on display include palace-size textiles, 13th century dye fragments and contemporary couture inspired by India’s long-standing design traditions. “Global Threads” highlights India’s role as a textile innovator and examines how its fabrics connected artisans, merchants and designers across four continents for more than a thousand years.
More information and tickets are available at bowers.org/threads.
Flea-borne typhus detected in Santa Ana
Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) has identified an increased risk of flea-borne typhus in Santa Ana. OCMVCD is providing multi-language information about the potential health threats and how to reduce exposure to residents in the affected areas, as well as posting notification signs.
Flea-borne typhus is caused by bacteria primarily found in fleas that live on dogs, cats, opossums, rats, raccoons, skunks, squirrels and rabbits. To learn more about how to protect yourself against flea-borne typhus, please visit www.ocvector.org/flea-borne-typhus.
Sandbags available for Santa Ana residents, businesses
Be prepared for rain this winter season. Up to 10 free sandbags are available per Santa Ana residence or business at the City of Santa Ana Corporate Yard. The self-service sandbag station is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 215 S. Center St.
City Hall closed, no street sweeping Nov. 27-28 for Thanksgiving
In observance of Thanksgiving, Santa Ana City Hall, libraries, recreation centers, senior centers and Santa Ana Work Center will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28. Santa Ana Zoo is closed on Thanksgiving Day but open on Nov. 28. There will be no street sweeping on Nov. 27 and 28. Trash and recycling pickup will be delayed by one day.
Tales of the City
Sister Cities Mural Unveiling
A new mural celebrating the sister city relationship between Santa Ana, California and Sahuayo, Michoacán, was unveiled Nov. 15 at Plaza Calle Cuatro in Downtown Santa Ana. The artwork, created through a cross-border collaboration between artists from both communities, honors the shared stories, cultural traditions and growing partnership between the two cities.
The mural, titled “Sister Cities,” depicts two young sisters lying face to face, each symbolizing her respective hometown. Surrounding them are toys and objects representing the traditions, values and lived experiences of Santa Ana and Sahuayo. Behind the figures, hand-drawn elements illustrate the heritage and cultural identity that connect the two regions. The piece was jointly designed and painted by Santa Ana artists Brian Peterson and Damin Lujan and Sahuayo artists Alejandro Navarrete Gonzalez and Miguel Angel Sanchez Amezcua.
The mural’s creation is the latest chapter in a relationship that began in 2022, when Santa Ana and Sahuayo formally became sister cities. Since then, the partnership has grown into a meaningful exchange of ideas, culture and community investment. The cities have hosted a Sister City Business Expo linking Santa Ana-area businesses with Mexican artisans, shared surplus water equipment to support Sahuayo’s infrastructure needs and participated in cross-border visits and cultural events that continue to strengthen ties between the two communities.
Saturday’s unveiling began at the Frida Cinema, where mayors from both cities, Santa Ana City Councilmembers, the Mexican Consul in Santa Ana and the artists addressed a crowd of residents and local art supporters. The event concluded at Plaza Calle Cuatro with the official unveiling of the mural, a new cultural landmark in the heart of downtown.
View photos of the unveiling ceremony.
City Council Meetings
The next regular Santa Ana City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 4 p.m. for closed session and at 5:30 p.m. for the open meeting in Council Chambers (22 Civic Center Plaza.) This is the last regular City Council meeting of 2025.
City Council meetings are normally 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. Subscribe here to receive City meeting agenda notifications.
View the Dec. 2 Meeting Agenda.
Events
Find more City of Santa Ana events on our website.
Storytime at the Park – November 26
Bring a blanket and enjoy a morning of stories and sunshine at Storytime at the Park on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at Rosita Park, 706 N. Newhope St. The Santa Ana Public Library will host this family-friendly event, with storytime beginning at 10:30 a.m. Families are invited to relax outdoors, listen to engaging stories and explore the Knowledge Mobile.
For more information, call 714-647-5358.
Garden Workshop – November 26
Join us at the El Salvador Park Community Garden, 1825 West Civic Center Drive, on Wednesday, Nov. 26, for an interactive workshop exploring the indigenous foods of California. From heirloom vegetables and fruits to seeds and acorns, participants will learn about traditional food history, cultural practices and recipes through hands-on activities. The workshop takes place 3-5 p.m.
Register or learn more: tinyurl.com/SANovWrkshps
SAPD Pancakes with Santa – December 6
Kick off the holiday season with Santa Ana Police Department’s annual Pancakes with Santa event on Saturday, Dec. 6. Families are invited to enjoy a festive morning of pancakes, holiday activities and a special visit from Santa himself.
The event will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Santa Ana Police Department, 60 Civic Center Plaza. This celebration is made possible through our continued partnership with Loaded Café and My Panecito. We look forward to welcoming the community for a joyful start to the season.
Garage and Yard Sale Weekend – December 6-7
Santa Ana residents can host garage and yard sales on Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Residential sales are permitted citywide during the first full weekend of March, June, September and December, and no permit is required.
Residents are reminded to follow all City rules and regulations, which can be found at the link below.
Moving Forward on First Community Meetings – December 9 and 11
Join us for the final two community workshops about the First Street Multimodal Boulevard Study. The workshops will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 9, and Thursday, Dec. 11, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Roosevelt-Walker Community Center, 816 E. Chestnut Ave.
These workshops will present the top three conceptual designs based on community input, field evaluation, and data analysis. You’re encouraged to attend and let us know which features you like and want to see advanced to the next phase of design. Brief overview presentations will be provided at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day.
Learn more about Moving Forward on First at bit.ly/MovingForwardOnFirst.
Job Search Strategies at Santa Ana Work Center – December 11
Job seekers are invited to attend a Job Search Strategies workshop on Thursday, Dec. 11, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Santa Ana WORK Center, 801 W. Civic Center Drive, Suite 200.
The workshop will focus on how job searching is shifting to the digital world, including the importance of optimizing résumés for applicant tracking systems. Attendees will also learn practical strategies for using CalJOBS, California’s official career platform. The session will conclude with an open Q&A.
The Job Search Strategies workshop is offered every second and fourth Thursday of the month. For more information or to RSVP, call 714-565-2600.
Learn more about the Santa Ana Work Center.
Winter Classic Adult Basketball Tournament – December 13
The competition heats up this winter as our Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agency hosts its first 3v3 Winter Classic on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Albert D. Salgado Recreation Center, 706 N. Newhope St. Games begin at 9 a.m.
Registration is $200 per team of four and includes three pool-play games followed by a single-elimination bracket, with the winning team taking home the championship title. Teams are also encouraged to bring three new toys to support the City’s holiday toy drive benefiting CHOC Hospital.
The final day to register is Dec. 7.
Register for Winter Classic Basketball Tournament: tinyurl.com/SABBWinterClassic25
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. The new app is now fully functional in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
City Hall Friday and Holiday Closures
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, in addition to several observed holidays throughout the year.
See the holiday and closed Friday schedule
See our holiday street sweeping schedule
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