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Council approves Riverview Golf Course operator agreement after residents urge preservation
Summary
After extensive public comment supporting Riverview Golf Course, the Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved an operator agreement (item 16) intended to improve maintenance, increase community programming and stabilize operations at the city-owned course.
The Santa Ana City Council on March 3 voted to approve an operator agreement for the city-owned Riverview Golf Course after a string of residents urged the council to preserve the facility and support a new management partner.
The measure cleared the council unanimously after proponents described Riverview as a vital recreational asset for families and youth. Multiple speakers, including Craig Kessler and members of the Pinedo family, directly urged approval during the public-comment period; Kessler told the council he and his organization wanted to "help" and support the contract.
Mayor Amezcua framed the item as a chance to secure better maintenance and new capital improvements for the site, noting that "the city of Santa Ana acquired this property in 1964" and that the city is looking for opportunities to expand access and oversight. Councilmembers emphasized that the agreement includes oversight provisions intended to address long-running neighborhood concerns about damage and nuisance activity near the course.
Councilmember BenjamEDn VE1zquez praised the operator approach for delivering "supervision, maintenance and potential capital investment" and pointed to youth involvement as a reason to back the motion. Several resident speakers had described youth programs and ease of access as key community benefits.
The motion to approve the agreement was moved and seconded on the council floor and recorded as passing unanimously. Council members did not adopt any amendments at the meeting; staff said they would continue community engagement as the operator transitions.
The council27s action means the city will move forward with the selected operator and begin negotiating the implementation details and timeline. City staff said the operator could bring possible facility upgrades, programming and additional oversight of perimeter maintenance in coordination with neighborhoods.
The council returned to other agenda business after the vote; there were no recorded dissents on item 16.
