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Dale Helvig <br />Resident, Santa Ana CA 92706 <br />January 14, 2026 <br />Mayor Amezcua and Santa Ana City Councilmembers <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, 81" Floor <br />Santa Ana CA 92702 <br />Subject: City Council Special Event Sponsorship Policy <br />On October 7t" I spoke at the City Council meeting regarding the distribution of discretionary funds <br />approved by City Councilmembers. At that time, I committed to request related information from the <br />City and provide Council an analysis of the data received and the policy itself. The results of this <br />analysis, addressing distributions from FY2021 thru FY2025, were separated by councilmember and <br />Mayor and sent to each individual on November 9t". You have had two months to provide <br />corrections and input to my conclusions and some of you did. I made the corrections you requested. <br />For those who did not respond, I came to the conclusion you read my statement that said, "No <br />response required if you agree with the information." <br />I am now providing a final version of how those funds were distributed by all on the Council along <br />with my assessment of whether the distributions were made in accordance with the City Council <br />Special Event Sponsorship Policy, adopted and revised on February 5, 2019. <br />The purpose of this policy is "To establish a City Council Special Event Sponsorship Policy and <br />guidelines for disbursement of discretionary funds approved by City Councilmembers to sponsor city <br />programs, services, and special events produced by qualified nonprofit organizations and/or City <br />recognized neighborhood associations." <br />Attached you will find how $274,517 of discretionary funds were distributed from FY2021 thru <br />FY2025. Out of all these disbursements, the outlier to the policy was the $3000 provided to the <br />Latino Muslim Unity - EID Fair by Councilmember Lopez. In her closing remarks on October 7t", she <br />defended her actions on the the basis of promoting diversity, implying that I don't. Nothing could be <br />further from the truth. What I don't support is using discretionary funds in a way that falls outside <br />approved policy. <br />Page 1 of 2 <br />2026-01-14 Letter to City Council -Special Event Sponsorship Policy <br />