Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves one‑year LAZ Parking lease for SARTEC, urges activation of retail storefronts
Summary
The council approved a one‑year lease with LAZ Parking for office space at the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center and pushed staff to pursue an RFP and broker outreach to attract retail and food uses to the station’s ground floor.
The Santa Ana City Council approved a one‑year lease with LAZ Parking for approximately 190 square feet of non‑retail office space on the first floor of the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (SARTEC), voting 7–0 to carry out the staff recommendation.
Councilmembers used the discussion to press staff on broader activation of the station’s ground floor to serve commuters, advocating for coffee, grab‑and‑go food, and other amenities. "What I'd like to see is perhaps coffee shops, a bakery, sandwich shop...something where I could buy a Santa Ana shirt," Councilmember Hernandez said.
Staff outlined plans to release an RFP within the next two weeks to attract retail or food establishments; if interest is insufficient, staff said they would retain a broker. The city manager and economic development staff said they are also evaluating tenant improvements needed to make the spaces viable.
Vote: Motion by Councilmember Becerra, seconded by Mayor Meskwah to approve the lease. The clerk recorded 7 ayes, no nays; the motion carried.
Next steps: Staff will release the RFP for retail activation and report back to the council on responses and any additional broker outreach. The city manager said tenant improvement needs and infrastructure work are underway to make the space marketable.
Source: Council discussion and vote (item introduced at SEG 1706; vote recorded at SEG 1919).
