HomeMy WebLinkAboutCORRESPONDENCE - 65AMitre -Ramirez, Norma
From:
Ivan Enriquez <ivane.work@icloud.com>
Sent:
Tuesday, November 17, 2015 7:13 PM
To:
eComment
Cc:
Reyna, Roman; Martinez, Michele; Amezcua, Angelica; Tinajero, Sal; Benavides, David;
Sarmiento, Vince; Pulido, Miguel
Subject:
Public Comment on Agenda Item 65A
Hello member of the City Council and Mayor Pulido,
Thank you for taking the time to hear me on Agenda Item 65A. I was notified by the City Clerk's office last
week that you were considering residency requirements for commissioners, specifically the Youth Commission,
among other things of importance at tonight's city council meeting.
If you were not aware, I chose Sacramento State as my school. I chose the "Capital University" because of the
access it offered to stellar opportunities to learn and grow in the fields of government, public administration,
and, most importantly, public service in Sacramento. The transition to college is unique because you adapt to
school and class schedules that are much less rigid and structured than high school. In other words, you become
an adult.
I am not sure if this is appropriate but I feel it provides much needed context. Sacramento State was not my first
choice. I actually wanted to stay home, attend San Marcos or Fullerton, or UCI. However, I chose Sac State
because it is the place that matters to me, and it matters to the residents of Santa Ana as well. This is the place
where laws are born, leadership is grown, and public service is fostered. In the time I left in August and now, I
was able to gain contacts with non-profit organizations like the California League of Cities, and the Institute of
Local Government. Both maintain rather important data and information regarding the way councils and
commissions operate and exist. Santa Ana is not included in with CLC as a member and the Youth Commission
is also not recognized by ILG, which maintains a list of active Youth Commissions. There are cities, like
Sacramento, where the requirements for commissioners vary and it surprised me when I found they differed on
common practices like residency requirements and citizenship requirements.
To continue, I would like to let you know that the average ticket to Sacramento is a mere $30. The weekend of
Halloween, I took a bus to Los Angeles, and rode the Metrolink train to the Santa Ana Regional Transportation
Center. It makes me proud that a few days later, the train station became a destination for members of the
community as the Viva la Vida event took place. It is indicative of the leadership Santa Ana is home for -- and
is known for.
So I address agenda item 65A: we are no longer in the 90's. It is almost 2016. Video calls and audio calls can be
made on Facebook, Microsoft Office and Skype, FaceTime, Google, Youtube, the list goes on and
on.Technology has not only advanced our ability to overcome the obstacle of distance, it has become a part of
our daily lives. Free to use, simple to set up. We save carbon emissions from being emitted in our atmosphere
by adopting technology.
We can do it already. When members of the council travel to conferences, going far away, they attend our
meetings by phoning in and soon by video. We made this a priority by purchasing the necessary equipment. So
lets put it to use.
CCM 11/17/2015
65A
I reach out to you this way because the voice and opinion of youth and young people matter. The handbook
referenced was created in September and distributed in early October. Had those policies truly been in effect,
the Youth Commission would not have been the way it was a year ago. In fact, never does it explicitly state the
residency requirements of commissioners beyond the requirement that they have residence in the city. I am
registered to vote in Santa Ana, I pay taxes in Santa Ana, and I am a product of Santa Ana. The state of
California itself state that residency is maintained on the basis of two years minimum.
It is not specific in stating the definition of "relocation", in explicit language. If you vote to adopt the residency
requirement, a person who attends UC Irvine and lives in the dorm while school is in session but lives with their
family in the El Salvador neighborhood will not be eligible to be a commissioner. Same applies to a student at
Cal State Fullerton who lives in the dorm but has residence at her family's apartment in the Logan
neighborhood, or a Chapman University student who lives in the dorms, but helps her family pay the mortgage
for the house and calls Santa Ana home. Those are not our values. We do not turn our backs on family or
friends. I am registered to vote, I pay taxes, and I am a product of Santa Ana. Passing the residency requirement
would also bar students, technically, from Coastline Community College or Orange Coast College or Irvine
Valley College because if a commissioner is required to attend school within the city limits, they would only be
eligible to be a commissioner if they attend Santa Ana College because all of the schools mentioned here are not
located in Santa Ana.
What is my solution? The commission is not ready yet; when I was appointed at first, I was the only
commissioner who showed up. I have had experience playing with roles in government, like State Senate and
Assembly committees, in the California YMCA Youth and Government organization. I am now an intern,
helping other high school students learn civic participation and the legislative process. The question, however,
is not whether I am qualified. The questions is if the City Council feels that the commission is ready to use city
funds without adequate structure. I encourage a work study session and that members of the council and the
mayor attend this weeks commission meeting on Friday so commissioners can receive feedback from you, and
so you can hear feedback from them. Then from there, please make an informed decision on the future of the
commission.
Thank you,
Ivan Enriquez
Chairman I City of Santa Ana I Youth Commission
California State University, Sacramento I Government, BA I Class of 2019
Godinez Fundamental High School I Santa Ana, CA I Class of 2015
ivan.enrigna,icloud.com 1 (714) 975-0924