{"id":81239,"date":"2023-12-15T14:19:37","date_gmt":"2023-12-15T22:19:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.santa-ana.org\/?p=81239"},"modified":"2023-12-18T08:50:11","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T16:50:11","slug":"cosas-city-managers-newsletter-for-december-15-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.santa-ana.org\/cosas-city-managers-newsletter-for-december-15-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"COSAS: City Manager’s Newsletter for December 15, 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the final edition of the City Manager\u2019s newsletter in 2023, learn about new housing opportunities, get a $500 rebate on your vehicle purchase, and find lots of fun activities like winter camps for kids, dancing in the new year, and even reading to a dog!<\/span><\/p>\n

Subscribe to COSAS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Spotlight Photo<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Spotlight<\/p>\n

Sunset at Thornton Park<\/strong><\/p>\n

Photo Credit: Nancy O @nancy_plants<\/span><\/p>\n

To submit your own original photo of Santa Ana to be featured in the next newsletter, <\/span>complete this form<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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City Manager’s Highlights<\/span><\/h2>\n

Happy holidays from the City of Santa Ana<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Holiday<\/p>\n

On behalf of our 1,400 City staff who work tirelessly days, nights and weekends to provide the best possible service to the Santa Ana community, we want to wish you happy holidays and a prosperous New Year! It\u2019s been a busy year as we\u2019ve worked to upgrade and maintain our streets, sewers and water lines, opened new parks and park amenities, created new housing opportunities, invested in public art, stepped up public safety efforts, and hosted numerous amazing community events.<\/span><\/p>\n

For more City news, go to our news webpage, follow us on social media and sign up for our other newsletters<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Holiday closure<\/span><\/h3>\n

The City\u2019s holiday closure is back this year, so please note that next week will be the last chance to do business at City Hall until 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n

Santa Ana City Hall will be closed from Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, through Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. For all of the service impacts and facilities closures, including street sweeping and trash\/recycling pickup, please visit the link below.<\/span><\/p>\n

City of Santa Ana holiday closure<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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News<\/span><\/h2>\n

Project-Based Voucher rental assistance waitlist now open<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Crossroads \"Andalucia<\/p>\n

The City of Santa Ana Housing Authority has opened the waitlist for the Project-Based Voucher Program (PBV), which provides rental vouchers to help low-income families pay their rent at specific housing locations. Currently, the Housing Authority is accepting applications for two apartment projects, Andaluc\u00eda and Crossroads at Washington, both reserved for large, low-income families.<\/span><\/p>\n

PBV waiting lists are open for those who live or work in Santa Ana. Persons who live in unincorporated areas do not qualify for the live or work preference.<\/span><\/p>\n

Project-Based Voucher information<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Putting a car under the Christmas tree? Buy it in Santa Ana!<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Vehicle<\/p>\n

Some experts say December is one of the best times to buy a car! Or maybe you’re looking for a big present for the holidays?<\/span><\/p>\n

Santa Ana residents and business owners can receive a $500 rebate if you purchase a vehicle from one of 10 franchised Santa Ana auto dealers with our<\/span> Vehicle Incentive Program. It pays to shop in Santa Ana! For more information about the program, including a list of the eligible dealerships and how to qualify, please visit the link below.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vehicle Incentive Program<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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Last chance to help name our new mascots!<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Name<\/p>\n

The community poll to select the names of the new Parks and Rec mascots closes on Sunday, Dec. 17! The mascots include a red-crowned amazon parrot, golden-headed lion tamarin and a giant river otter. Parrots are famously known for soaring across the city, tamarins have a long-admired history inside the zoo, and otters will become Santa Ana\u2019s newest residents. All three animals will perfectly embody the spirit of Santa Ana.<\/span><\/p>\n

Selected names will be announced on January 1, 2024, to ring in the new year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vote in the Parks and Recreation mascot poll<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Street closures and permitted events Dec. 14-20<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Street<\/p>\n

Here are the locations of upcoming permitted events and road closures at the link below so you can plan accordingly. Please drive slowly and safely in construction zones and around crowded events.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Street Closures and Permitted Events<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Metrolink trains are not in service Dec. 26-29<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Metrolink\"<\/p>\n

Metrolink and Arrow trains will be out of service from Dec. 26 through Dec. 29. They will resume regularly scheduled train service on December 30. Metrolink is using the closure to clean, repair and upgrade their rail network, including a new signal system that will provide better operational throughput and reliability in and out of Union Station for our trains.<\/span><\/p>\n

Metrolink rail service closure<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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Tales of the City<\/span><\/h2>\n

Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet Award<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Red<\/p>\n

The City of Santa Ana has won a Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet Award from the Orange County Business Council (OCBC) for its My First Home down payment assistance loan program.<\/span><\/p>\n

The City\u2019s OCBC award was in the category of Building & Land Reuse And Community Revitalization, the fourth year in a row the City has been nominated in this category and the third time it has won.<\/span><\/p>\n

The My First Home Program offers qualified first-time homebuyers 0% interest down payment assistance loans of up to $120,000 to help purchase a home in Santa Ana. Over the past two years, the City has awarded $2.5 million in down payment assistance for 23 families to purchase homes.<\/span><\/p>\n

In November, the Santa Ana City Council approved an additional $2.3 million for the program, part of a new $10 million investment in affordable homeownership opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more about the My First Home Program here<\/strong>.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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City Council Meetings<\/span><\/h2>\n

At their regular meeting on December 5, 2023, the Santa Ana City Council:<\/span><\/p>\n