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Council amends FY24–25 budget to add construction services section and 13 full-time positions
Summary
The Santa Ana City Council voted to amend the FY24–25 budget to create a construction services section in Public Works and add 13 full‑time positions. The measure passed 6-0; public comment raised concerns that the proposal’s financial analysis lacked loaded costs and a clear timeline for savings.
The Santa Ana City Council voted to amend the fiscal year 2024–25 budget to create a construction services section in the Public Works Agency and add 13 full‑time positions.
Mayor Mesquah moved the resolution and Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez seconded; the motion passed 6-0 with Councilmember Phan absent.
Councilmembers described the change as a move to reduce reliance on outside consultants and speed project delivery. “I frankly can't believe we didn't have this before,” one councilmember said during the discussion, noting the city had been relying heavily on outside consultants for work that could be staffed internally.
A public commenter on Zoom, Victor Mendez, told the council he supported the goal but said the proposal lacked basic financial detail. Mendez said the report provided wage levels but did not include loaded benefit costs, retirement expenses, workers' compensation, equipment, training or an estimate of how long it would take to recoup costs. “The financials are incomplete,” Mendez said on the record, urging the council to request a more complete proposal before committing ratepayer funds.
The council adopted a resolution to amend the FY24–25 annual budget to add the positions; the clerk recorded the vote as six ayes and no nays with Councilmember Phan absent. The staff report was waived at the meeting and council proceeded directly to the motion.
— Ending — The council directed the Public Works Agency to implement the staffing changes through the amended budget; specific funding sources for the positions were not detailed in the meeting record.
