TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Jarad Hildenbrand, City Manager
1. Subject
title
Approval of the Santiago Creek Commission’s proposed Santiago Creek Strategic Plan implementation strategy
body
2. Summary
On February 24, 2026, the Orange City Council adopted the Santiago Creek Strategic Plan, and directed the Santiago Creek Commission to bring back alternatives to help put the Santiago Creek Strategic Plan into action. After considering different options, the City Council directed the Commission to work with Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) and community groups to develop an implementation strategy for the City Council’s consideration. The Santiago Creek Commission has developed the attached implementation strategy for the City Council’s consideration and approval.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
Approve the Santiago Creek Commission’s proposed Santiago Creek Strategic Plan implementation strategy.
end
4. Fiscal Impact
None.
5. Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 3: Enhance Public Communication Strategy and Quality of Life.
Goal 5: Improve Infrastructure, Mobility, and Technology.
6. Discussion and Background
At the April 22, 2026, Santiago Creek Commission (Commission) meeting, the Commission discussed different implementation options for the Santiago Creek Strategic Plan (Plan). After discussing the options presented by staff, the Commission voted to create three subcommittees that focus on distinct topics detailed in the Plan. The topics include the following three categories with the correlating Plan project numbers identified under the column “Project Numbers.”
|
Subcommittee Topic |
Project Numbers |
|
Ecological Preservation and Restoration |
Project Nos. 1.1, 1.4, 1.9, 2.1, 3.10 |
|
Historical, Cultural, and Archeological |
Project Nos. 1.1, 1.4, 1.9, 2.1, 3.10 |
|
Recreational Enhancement and Safety |
Project Nos. 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.8, 1.10, 1.11, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.11, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9 |
The Commission proposes that the following individuals be appointed to each subcommittee:
|
Subcommittee Topic |
Commissioners |
|
Ecological Preservation and Restoration |
Vice Chair Galera and Commissioner Knight |
|
Historical, Cultural, and Archeological |
Commissioners Tillou and Baca |
|
Recreational Enhancement and Safety |
Chair Moeller and Commissioners Hillman and Adams |
The subcommittees will act in an advisory capacity and work with staff, Townsend Public Affairs, and community groups in the implementation of the Plan projects as detailed in the above subcommittee assignments. The subcommittees will dissolve in January 2027 with a progress reported issued to the City Council at that time.
7. ATTACHMENTS
• Santiago Creek Strategic Plan Implementation Strategy