City Government Description

Santa Ana operates under a council–manager form of government. The City Council comprises six elected councilmembers and a directly elected Mayor, each serving four-year terms, with a Mayor Pro Tem selected by fellow Councilmembers from among themselves. The current Mayor is Valerie Amezcua, alongside Mayor Pro Tem Benjamin Vazquez and Councilmembers Thai Viet Phan, Jessie Lopez, Phil Bacerra, Johnathan Ryan Hernandez, and David Penaloza. The Council’s meetings and policy decisions guide the city’s strategic direction, while daily operations are overseen by City Manager Alvaro Nuñez.

They manage all core municipal functions including urban planning, public safety, infrastructure, utilities, parks & recreation, community development, and municipal finance. City staff support the Council in implementing capital projects—from road, drainage, and facility improvements to downtown revitalization—and oversee department operations aligned with Council goals. Public involvement is encouraged through neighborhood meetings, commission appointments (e.g., Community Development Commission), and annual city-wide events such as “State of the City.”

The city hall and Civic Center campus also house several county and federal facilities, including the Old & current Orange County Courthouse, the Ronald Reagan Federal Building, and the Public Law Library. Santa Ana partners with the Orange County Fire Authority for fire protection (post-2012), and maintains its own Police Department featuring specialized units like SWAT, K‑9, and mounted patrol. The city also collaborates with OCTA, Metrolink, and Amtrak for regional transit services, and manages its own water utility. As the county seat, Santa Ana serves as a hub for municipal, county, and federal services.