Coming out of the holiday season, Orange County’s city halls are gearing up for an intense week.
In Anaheim, council members are discussing settlement terms of a civil rights lawsuit that would radically change local elections in a city where activists say the Latino majority does not have proper representation.
Anaheim’s high school district is dealing with similar issues, with a different twist.
Officials at the Anaheim Union High School District will vote on avoiding voter approval of their efforts to adopt voting districts for board members that could avoid similar civil rights litigation.
Anaheim City Council members will also decide on hiring a naming rights broker to help pay operating costs of a massive transit center across the State Route 57 freeway from Angel Stadium.
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In Santa Ana, City Hall watchers are wondering whether City Attorney Sonia Carvalho will update the public on her investigation of Mayor Miguel Pulido.
All of these meetings are open to the public, and anyone can speak during public comments.
If you want to be notified as soon as we publish On the Agenda, just let us know.
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Here’s a rundown of all the issues we’re tracking this week:
1. Corporate Name for Mega Train Station

Anaheim council members are set to move forward with plans to hire consultants to find a naming-rights sponsor for their new, massive transit hub, ARTIC, whose skeleton is already visible off State Route 57 near Angel Stadium.
Under a city proposal set to be debated Tuesday night, The Superlative Group would be paid $129,000 for a year’s work to figure out the name’s value, develop a marketing plan and meet with interested companies.
Freedom Communications, the parent company for The Orange County Register, recently drew negative attention in media circles for pursuing a similar deal to be the naming rights broker. The deal eventually fell apart.
Is it a smart way to pay for running the station? Or will it overly corporatize a public space?
The meeting starts Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Anaheim City Hall. You can click here for the staff report.
2. Public Voting on School Board Boundaries

Should school board member boundaries in Anaheim be put to voters?
The answer could be no, if a waiver request is approved by the Anaheim Union High School District board this week.
The public hearing notice doesn’t explain the reasoning behind the possible move, which comes amid a lawsuit claiming that the city’s voting system disenfranchises Latino residents.
The meeting starts Thursday at 6 p.m. at the district’s board room.
3. Housing Help for Homeless Kids

Up to 30 homeless families in Anaheim could get housing help and other services if a program is approved this week by City Council members.
Because the city didn’t move forward with buying a building, the services will be provided mostly at the Illumination Foundation’s Stanton location.
The meeting starts Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Anaheim City Hall.
Click here for the staff report.
4. Santa Ana’s Downtown Business Tax

Businesses in downtown Santa Ana are set for another round of taxes this year to promote, clean and provide security for the area.
The taxes, which have been calculated under the same formula since 1984, are expected to raise $200,000 this year, on top of $190,000 left over from last year.
The new money would be split 50-50 by Downtown Inc. and the Santa Ana Business Council.
The item comes toward the end of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, which starts at 5:45 p.m. at Santa Ana City Hall.
Click here for the staff report and here for some background on the tax district.
5. Investigation of Mayor Pulido

One of the biggest open questions at Santa Ana City Hall is when will City Attorney Sonia Carvalho update the public on her investigation into the mayor’s property dealings.
The earliest that could happen is at Tuesday’s council meeting.
This Week’s Major Meetings Include:
- Anaheim City Council
- Anaheim Union High School District Board
- Anaheim City School District (special meeting)
- Santa Ana City Council
- Huntington Beach City Council
- Costa Mesa City Council
- Mission Viejo City Council
- Lake Forest City Council
- Tustin City Council
- Yorba Linda City Council
- San Clemente City Council
- La Habra City Council
- Placentia City Council
- Rancho Santa Margarita City Council
- Aliso Viejo City Council
- Laguna Beach City Council
- Laguna Woods City Council
- La Palma City Council
- OCTA Regional Planning and Highways Committee
- OCTA Executive Committee
- OCTA Finance and Administration Committee
- OCTA Transit Committee
- Orange County Water District Board
- Orane County Water District Communications and Legislation Liaison Committee
- South Coast Air Quality Management District Board
See something interesting? Let us know.
Adam Elmahrek contributed to this post.
You can reach Nick Gerda at ngerda@gmail.com, and follow him on Twitter: @nicholasgerda.