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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE <br />DAVIS • IRVINE • LOS ANGELES • MERCED • RIVERSIDE - SAN DIEGO • SAN FRANCISCOtjjh SANTA EARRARA• SANTA C0.UZ <br />Environmental Law Clinic <br />UC Irvine School of Law <br />April 29, 2020 <br />Sent Via Electronic Mail: strategicplan@santa-ana.org <br />City of Santa Ana <br />City Council & Planning and Building Agency <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />PO Box 5479 <br />Irvine, CA 92616-5479 <br />(949)824-9660 <br />Re: Environmental Justice and Santa Ana's General Plan Update <br />Dear City Planners: <br />The University of California, Irvine School of Law, Environmental Law Clinic represents the <br />Madison Park Neighborhood Association ("MPNA"). MPNA is a resident -driven, non-profit <br />organization that strives to promote education, health, fitness, and community for the <br />approximately 8,000 residents that live in the Madison Park neighborhood of Santa Ana. Many <br />of MPNA's members are disproportionately affected by toxic pollution near their homes, schools, <br />and parks;l and they have a strong interest in how the City will deliver environmental justice <br />through its future planning efforts. <br />SB 1000 requires cities and counties with disadvantaged communities to address environmental <br />justice in General Plans updated after January 1, 20IS. 2 The law makes environmental justice a <br />vital part of the planning process by requiring local governments to identify environmental <br />justice issues in their communities and address those issues through tailored policies. The City <br />has neither identified those issues nor made public how it plans to address them through the New <br />General Plan. It is our understanding that no public workshops have shared information with or <br />sought input from the public on the subject of environmental justice or on proposed amendments <br />to the General Plan that are meant to address SB 1000's requirements. <br />Santa Ana previously has recognized the importance of providing residents timely access to <br />information and opportunities to provide input to government officials to guide their decision - <br />making and actions.3 Such transparency ensures that residents remain in control of the <br />f California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, CalEnviroScreen 3.0 (June <br />2018), https:Hoehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/report/calenvirosereen-30. <br />2 Cal. Gov. Code § 65302. <br />3 Santa Ana Ordinance No. NS-2838 § 1(B). <br />1/4 <br />