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City Manager’s Office <br />www.santa-ana.org/cm <br />Item # 29 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Staff Report <br />July 1, 2025 <br />TOPIC: Police Oversight Commission Ordinance Amendment <br />AGENDA TITLE <br />Ordinance Amending Article IV to Chapter 2 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code Police <br />Oversight Commission to Align with State Law, Enhance Transparency, and Improve <br />Operational Efficiency and Best Practices in Law Enforcement Accountability <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Conduct a first reading of an ordinance amending Article IV to Chapter 2 of the Santa Ana <br />Municipal Code Police Oversight Commission to align with state law, enhance <br />transparency, and improve operational efficiency and best practices in law enforcement <br />accountability. <br />ORDINANCE NO. NS-XXXX entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE <br />CITY OF SANTA ANA AMENDING SECTIONS 2-660-2-669 OF CHAPTER 2 <br />(ADMINISTRATION), ARTICLE IV, DIVISION 16 OF THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL <br />CODE ESTABLISHING A POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION <br />DISCUSSION <br />City Council established the Police Oversight Commission to serve as an independent <br />body that reviews and analyzes critical issues related to policing practices. As the <br />Commission has become operational, the City has identified areas within the ordinance <br />that require changes to strengthen the Commission’s structure, comply with state legal <br />requirements, and support a more effective and transparent oversight process. <br />The proposed amendments are the result of a thorough review and collaboration among <br />City staff from the City Manager’s Office, City Attorney’s Office, Police Department, and <br />Police Oversight Ad Hoc Committee members comprised of Mayor Amezcua, Mayor Pro <br />Tem Vazquez, and Councilmember Bacerra. <br />Background <br />On November 15, 2022, the City Council adopted an ordinance establishing a Police <br />Oversight Commission. The purpose of the Police Oversight Commission is to enhance <br />transparency, increase accountability of and public confidence in the Santa Ana Police <br />Department (SAPD), and provide for an Independent Oversight Director to provide the <br />Chief of Police, City Manager, and City Council independent investigations of, analysis,