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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence - Item 20 Zuniga, Diana From: Escamilla, Manny <manuel.escamilla@ocgov.com> Sent: Monday, May 05, 2025 5:03 PM To: eComment Cc: Nunez, Alvaro; Vazquez, Sylvia; Goebel, Yasie; Anas, Nick Subject: Supervisor Sarmiento and Supervisor Foley - Item 20 - Letter of Support Attachments: Letter of Support NOX Ban .pdf Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana.Use caution when opening attachments or links. Hello Mayor and Council, Please see this letter of support for Item 20, Prohibiting the Sale or Distribution of Nitrous Oxide,from Supervisor Sarmiento and Vice-Chair Foley. All the best, Manny Manuel J. Escamilla manuel.escamiIla@ocgov.com Senior Policy Advisor Office of Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento County Administration North 400 W. Civic Center Drive, Sixth Floor Santa Ana, CA 92701 Office: 714-834-3220 Cell: 657-401-5554 1 • ' Vicente � F LEY lssar]nieink 4 to VICE CHAIR,OC 9oRR0 OF SUPERVISORS SUPERVISOR, 2nd DISTRICT May 6, 2025 Santa Ana City Council 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 RE: Ordinance Adding Article XIV to Chapter 10 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code Prohibiting the Sale or Distribution of Nitrous Oxide Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers, We are writing to express our strong support for the proposed ordinance that would prohibit the sale or distribution of nitrous oxide at retail stores within the city. We also appreciate Councilmember Lopez's introduction of commonsense legislation to regulate the sale of nitrous oxide possession and distribution and the collaboration with the Mayor and public safety to move this forward. Inhaling nitrous oxide(a.k.a. NOX, laughing gas, whippets, or galaxy gas) suffocates the brain, causes serious brain damage, and can even lead to death. It is also not detectible by any drug test, snaking it a more difficult to prevent. This ordinance is a crucial step to address a growing public health issue affecting our County due to the loopholes in existing state law. Currently, many most Orange County cities lack specific local regulations governing the sale of nitrous oxide and it is our sincere hope that other municipalities will follow Santa Ana's lead.This local ordinance will empower the city of Santa Ana to better protect public health by prohibiting sales to individuals likely to misuse the product and closing existing loopholes. For example,under current state law the retail sale of nitrous oxide is legal,but the possession of nitrous oxide with the intent to inhale is a misdemeanor. In February the County of Orange became the first county in California to ban the recreational sale of nitrous oxide.Adopting this ordinance will align the City of Santa Ana with the preventative action already taken by the Orange County Board of Supervisors.This kind of coordinated effort between city and county governments is crucial for effectively addressing regional public health and safety challenges. We appreciate that the proposed ordinance thoughtfully includes exemptions for legitimate uses,such as in food products,specific wholesale distribution,vehicle performance enhancement,supervised medical and dental applications, and pharmacy dispensing. Our offices remain committed to working with our local partner agencies to improve public health and safety,and this ordinance is a positive step in that direction. Addressing the recreational sale and misuse of nitrous oxide is vital for the well-being of our community. We urge you to conduct the first reading and adopt the ordinance to prohibit the non-exempt sale and distribution of nitrous oxide in Santa Ana. 'Thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter. Sincerely, Vicente Sarmiento Foley Supervisor,District 2 District 5 Orange County Board of Supervisors air,Orange County Board of Supervisors Zuniga, Diana From: Tallabas, Adam R <adam.tallabas@ocgov.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2025 12:36 PM To: eComment Cc: Anas, Nick Subject: 5/6/2025 - Item 20 SUPPORT Attachments: 2025.05.06 SUPPORT - Santa Ana CC Item 20.pdf Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana.Use caution when opening attachments or links. Good afternoon, I am reaching out on behalf of Vice Chair Katrina Foley of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, representing the Fifth Supervisorial District. Please see the attached support letter as the Vice Chair's public comment. Best, Adam Tallabas I District Director Office of Vice Chair Katrina Foley, 5th District Office: (714) 834-3550 Mobile: (657) 488-1387 Ada m.Ta I la bas@ocgov.com For meeting, tour, or general scheduling requests for Supervisor Foley, please fill out the form found at this link:d5.ocgov.com/Schedu/ingrequest 1 VICE CHAIR KATRINA FOLEY ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS j c FIFTH DISTRICT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION NORTH 400 W. CIVIC CENTER DR., SIXTH FLOOR SANTA ANA, CA 92701 (714) 834-3550 Katrina.Foley@ocaov.com May 6, 2025 Mayor Valerie Amezcua Members of the Santa Ana City Council 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 Re: Item 20: Ordinance Adding Article XiV to Chapter 10 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code Prohibiting the Sale or Distribution of Nitrous Oxide — SUPPORT Dear Mayor Amezcua and Members of the Santa Ana City Council: i write today in strong support of the ordinance proposed by Santa Ana Police Chief Robert Rodriguez and approved by City Manager Alvaro Nunez to prohibt the sale and distribution of nitrous oxide in the city of Santa Ana. Nitrous oxide is a potent inhalant that when used recreationally can cause serious physical harm. Inhalation of nitrous oxide can reduce the oxygen levels in the brain, causing dizziness, loss of coordination, confusion, and, in severe cases, unconsciousness or death. in some cases, users may experience a sudden loss of consciousness or collapse, particularly when they inhale large amounts in a short period. This is evidenced by recent increases of DUls as a result of intoxication from nitrous oxide. Recent studies indicate that the prolonged misuse of nitrous oxide can have long-term neurological consequences such as memory loss and difficulty concentrating. Nitrous oxide misuse is more prevalent in adolescents and young adults, particularly those aged 16-25. In February, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved my proposed ordinance to ban the retail sale of nitrous oxide in unincorpated Orange County, becoming the first county in California to address this issue. In March the United States Food and Drug Administration issued an advisory for consumers to not inhale nitrous oxide products, citing serious adverse health impacts when inhaled. As the second largest city in Orange County, Santa Ana is poised to send a strong signal to the other 33 cities in our county that we must take action to address this public health crisis. I strongly support the adoption of this ordinance. Si cerely, Katrina Foley Vice Chair, Orange County Board of Supervisors Suoervisor, Fifth District Proudly serving the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San.Juan Capistrano and the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe, and Wagon Wheel