HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence- #21 Resolution for River View Park
A RESOLUTION OF THE SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL APPROVING THE
CREATION OF THE RIVER VIEW PARK
WHEREAS, the City Santa Ana has significantly less park space per person than other
American cities of similar size; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana severely lacks open space and parkland; and,
WHEREAS, the COVID Pandemic demonstrated the need for open spaces and parks in
the City of Santa Ana; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana is committed to increasing open space and parkland
for its citizens; and
WHEREAS, open spaces and parks are essential to the physical and mental well-being of
all our residence, by providing space for social, recreational, and educational activities as well as
improving air and water quality;
WHEREAS, city parks strengthen local economies by attracting residents and businesses
and investment, and lower costs by mitigating flooding and helping to manage stormwater.
WHEREAS, the lease for the golf course at River View ends in January 2026 the City of
Santa Ana recognizes the opportunity to transform the golf course to a park that benefits
residents of the City of Santa Ana; and,
WHEREAS, the River View already has all the essential facilities in place for a new park
including ample parking, management offices, restroom facilities, irrigation systems, and
maintenance structures; and,
WHEREAS, the creation of a sprawling urban park along the Santa Ana River, with acres
of undulating hills and wetlands will provide the residents of Santa Ana an outdoor place to
gather, walk, relax, picnic, bike, explore, study, garden and learn; and,
WHEREAS, the creation of a River View park will help Santa Ana achieve its goal of
providing three acres of parkland per every 1,000 residents.
WHEREAS, transforming River View into a park will benefit the marshes that support an
aquatic ecosystem with native and nonnative frogs and fish that attract watchable wildlife such as
Snowy egrets, Great Blue Heron, and numerous migrating ducks and geese; and,
WHEREAS, River View Park is a soft bottom channel that percolates fresh water into the
groundwater table and prevents salt water intrusion into the aquifer and serves as an example of
how concrete can be removed on other downstream sections of the flood control channel to create
additional parkland and habit. It also benefits Orange County water district with additional
groundwater percolation; and,
WHEREAS, the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program, which builds upon more than 50
years of trail and parkway planning at the local and regional levels, was created as part of the
State Coastal Conservancy in 2014 with the goal of completing the 100-mile Santa Ana River
Trail and development of the Santa Ana River Parkway; and,
WHEREAS, the funding for the creation of the River View Park is currently available
through the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program and the State Coastal Conservancy, and other
State and Federal sources, but may not remain. The City of Santa Ana recognizes time is of the
essence.
WHEREAS, the State Coastal Conservancy and The Wildlands Conservancy, which have
a long history of working to bring open space to the City of Santa Ana, have committed to working
with the City of Santa Ana to bring the River View Park to fruition; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana and its residents will benefit greatly from the creation
of open space and parkland.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa Ana, that:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby pledges to not renew the
lease at River View for a golf course or any purpose that does not create parkland; and,
Section 2. The City Council of Santa Ana commits to convert the land currently in
use as the River View Golf Course to parkland and other compatible uses that retain its nature as
open space; and,
Section 3. The City of Santa Ana commits to work with the Santa Ana River
Conservancy Program of the CA Coastal Conservancy, The Wildlands Conservancy and other
interested parties on the creation of the River View Park; and,
Section 4. The creation of open space for its residents is a moral duty of the City of
Santa Ana and consistent with the objectives of creating spaces to better the physical and mental
health of its residents and strengthening the economy.
Section 5. Recognizing that time is of the essence to secure support and funding the
City of Santa Ana will work expeditiously to secure funding and assistance for the conversion of
the land to parkland during the time remaining on the lease for the River View Golf Course.
Section 6. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the
City Council, and the Clerk of Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this
Resolution.
ADOPTED this day of
Resolution for River View Park
A RESOLUTION OF THE SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL APPROVING THE
CREATION OF THE RIVER VIEW PARK
WHEREAS, the City Santa Ana has significantly less park space per person than other
American cities of similar size; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana severely lacks open space and parkland; and,
WHEREAS, the COVID Pandemic demonstrated the need for open spaces and parks in
the City of Santa Ana; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana is committed to increasing open space and parkland
for its citizens; and
WHEREAS, open spaces and parks are essential to the physical and mental well-being of
all our residence, by providing space for social, recreational, and educational activities as well as
improving air and water quality;
WHEREAS, city parks strengthen local economies by attracting residents and businesses
and investment, and lower costs by mitigating flooding and helping to manage stormwater.
WHEREAS, the lease for the golf course at River View ends in January 2026 the City of
Santa Ana recognizes the opportunity to transform the golf course to a park that benefits
residents of the City of Santa Ana; and,
WHEREAS, the River View already has all the essential facilities in place for a new park
including ample parking, management offices, restroom facilities, irrigation systems, and
maintenance structures; and,
WHEREAS, the creation of a sprawling urban park along the Santa Ana River, with acres
of undulating hills and wetlands will provide the residents of Santa Ana an outdoor place to
gather, walk, relax, picnic, bike, explore, study, garden and learn; and,
WHEREAS, the creation of a River View park will help Santa Ana achieve its goal of
providing three acres of parkland per every 1,000 residents.
WHEREAS, transforming River View into a park will benefit the marshes that support an
aquatic ecosystem with native and nonnative frogs and fish that attract watchable wildlife such as
Snowy egrets, Great Blue Heron, and numerous migrating ducks and geese; and,
WHEREAS, River View Park is a soft bottom channel that percolates fresh water into the
groundwater table and prevents salt water intrusion into the aquifer and serves as an example of
how concrete can be removed on other downstream sections of the flood control channel to create
additional parkland and habit. It also benefits Orange County water district with additional
groundwater percolation; and,
WHEREAS, the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program, which builds upon more than 50
years of trail and parkway planning at the local and regional levels, was created as part of the
State Coastal Conservancy in 2014 with the goal of completing the 100-mile Santa Ana River
Trail and development of the Santa Ana River Parkway; and,
WHEREAS, the funding for the creation of the River View Park is currently available
through the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program and the State Coastal Conservancy, and other
State and Federal sources, but may not remain. The City of Santa Ana recognizes time is of the
essence.
WHEREAS, the State Coastal Conservancy and The Wildlands Conservancy, which have
a long history of working to bring open space to the City of Santa Ana, have committed to working
with the City of Santa Ana to bring the River View Park to fruition; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana and its residents will benefit greatly from the creation
of open space and parkland.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa Ana, that:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby pledges to not renew the
lease at River View for a golf course or any purpose that does not create parkland; and,
Section 2. The City Council of Santa Ana commits to convert the land currently in
use as the River View Golf Course to parkland and other compatible uses that retain its nature as
open space; and,
Section 3. The City of Santa Ana commits to work with the Santa Ana River
Conservancy Program of the CA Coastal Conservancy, The Wildlands Conservancy and other
interested parties on the creation of the River View Park; and,
Section 4. The creation of open space for its residents is a moral duty of the City of
Santa Ana and consistent with the objectives of creating spaces to better the physical and mental
health of its residents and strengthening the economy.
Section 5. Recognizing that time is of the essence to secure support and funding the
City of Santa Ana will work expeditiously to secure funding and assistance for the conversion of
the land to parkland during the time remaining on the lease for the River View Golf Course.
Section 6. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the
City Council, and the Clerk of Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this
Resolution.
ADOPTED this day of
VICENTE SARMIENTO
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
SUPERVISOR, SECOND DISTRICT
COUNTY ADMINISTRATION NORTH BUILDING
400 W. CIVIC CENTER DRIVE. SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92701
PHONE (714) 834-3220
Office of the City Manager
20 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, CA, 97201
03-07-2023
Re: Support for Agenda Item 21 - Exploring the Feasibility of the Conversion of the City
of Santa Ana-Owned Parcels within the River View Golf Course to Parkland.
Dear Mayor Amezcua and Santa Ana City Council,
As the 2nd District Supervisor, I am supportive of the conversion of the River View Golf
Course into publicly accessible parkland.
As you may be aware, a significant portion of the River View Golf Course is currently
being leased from the Orange County Flood Control District. I have instructed my staff to
work with the relevant County agencies to identify ways in which we can also convert
these County owned parcels into publicly accessible parkland.
Thank you to Mayor Pro Tem Lopez and Councilmember Hernandez for bringing this item
to the Council. I look forward to a productive partnership with the City o f Santa Ana to
bring additional open space to District 2.
Sincerely,
Vicente Sarmiento
Orange County Board Supervisor, District 2
cc: Honorable Congressman Lou Correa