Dozens of residents, youth coaches and league leaders used public comment to press the City Council for transparency after what they said were secret negotiations to grant exclusive use of city soccer fields to an outside organization.

Multiple speakers said they and their league players were contacted infrequently or ignored by city staff and the city manager, that contract talks were not publicly announced and that an outside group was negotiating preferential access to municipal fields. Karen Pérez, who said she represents United Latin and other local leagues, read a list of local coaches and parents she said had been labeled “mafia” by a councilmember during previous exchanges. “We have asked for meetings, public records, answers to emails — and we have been ignored,” Pérez said (timecode 4307–4337).

Other speakers — including Mark Spratt, Brian Leos, Tommy Hernández and Melissa Burto — said their teams travel outside Santa Ana for fields because they lack reliable access to city fields and because they lack timely responses from the manager’s office. Tommy Hernández said he would file a California Public Records Act request and pushed for public consultation and required public hearings before any transfer or exclusive arrangement with a private entity.

City staff indicated negotiations had been paused. Community leaders asked for (1) an immediate public meeting with the city manager to explain the halted talks, (2) copies of any proposals and communication under CPRA, and (3) a formal process guaranteeing public notice and public hearings before any city facility access changes.

Councilmembers and staff did not take formal action on new policy at the meeting, but several councilmembers urged the city manager to meet with the groups, and staff said they would coordinate follow-up. The dispute has generated multiple requests from community members for records and for ongoing public oversight of field access.

Why it matters: Youth sports fields are public assets. Community members told the council that perceived backroom negotiations undermined trust in city decision-making and could limit access for local youth programs.

What’s next: Residents said they will file CPRA records requests and keep asking the council for a public meeting with the city manager and formal assurances about how field access is allocated.