Guides
How to File a Public Records Request: FOIA and State Laws
How to file a public records request: federal FOIA vs. state laws, finding the records officer, a sample request letter, fees, deadlines, appeals, and MuckRock.
Local government directory
Santa Ana, CA: council, meetings and contacts
Santa Ana is the 65th largest city in the United States with about 315,586 residents, in Orange County. Here is who governs it, when they meet in public, and where the agendas are posted.
City government at a glance
- Form of government
- Council-manager
- Governing body
- City Council — 7 members
- Regular meetings
- First and third Tuesday of each month; closed session between 3 and 5 p.m., public meeting at 5:45 p.m. in the Council Chamber
- City Hall
- 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
- Main information line
- —
- Population (2025 est.)
- 315,586 (2020 census: 310,227)
- County
- Orange County
- Planning body
- Santa Ana Planning Commission
County seat of Orange County; the council chamber is at 22 Civic Center Plaza next to City Hall.
Official links
- Santa Ana official website
- City Council
- Agendas, minutes and meeting video
- Orange County Board of Supervisors
- Santa Ana Unified School District
The bodies that decide things in Santa Ana
| Body | What it decides | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| City Council | Ordinances, the city budget, zoning changes, contracts, police and fire funding | Official page |
| Orange County Board of Supervisors | County budget, sheriff and jail, public health, elections administration, county roads | County website |
| Santa Ana Unified School District board | School budget, boundaries, calendar, curriculum adoption, superintendent | District website |
| Santa Ana Planning Commission | Rezonings, site plans, variances and long-range land use recommendations | City website |
Questions people ask about Santa Ana government
When does the Santa Ana City Council meet?
First and third Tuesday of each month; closed session between 3 and 5 p.m., public meeting at 5:45 p.m. in the Council Chamber Always confirm the date and location on the official agenda before you attend, because meetings can be cancelled, moved or continued.
How do I speak at a Santa Ana public meeting?
Find the agenda for the meeting, check the sign-up deadline (many cities close the list before the meeting starts), prepare remarks for the posted time limit — usually two or three minutes — and state your name, your district and your specific ask.
No debates for Santa Ana yet. If something is on the council agenda — a rezoning, a fee increase, a transit change — open the first debate and invite both sides.
Start here if you are new to this
Guides
How to Write to Elected Officials: Letters, Emails and Calls That Work
How to write to your congressman or city council: email, letter, and call templates, what staff actually do with your message, and a clear do/don't table.
Guides
How to Find Your Representatives by ZIP Code or Address
Find my representative by zip code: official tools for your U.S. House member, senators, state legislators and council district — and why ZIP codes mislead.
Guides
How to Start a Petition: Local and State Rules Explained
How to start a petition in your state or city: informal vs. legally binding petitions, initiative states, signature validation, and a step-by-step checklist.