Santa Ana : Hearings on Proposed Election Changes Set

A series of public meetings that are designed to let residents aire their opinions on proposed changes in the structure of city government will begin tonight at Saddleback High School.

A proposal placed on the June ballot by a citizens group would require that the mayor be elected by a citywide vote and council members elected by voters in their wards. The council now is chosen by all Santa Ana voters and the mayor is selected by a vote of the council.

A Charter Review Commission that was set up by the council to study the issue will oversee the series of four public sessions. The commission is also studying charter amendments that could go before the voters in November, and its recommendations on those proposals also will be discussed during the meetings.

Tonight’s forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be held at the school, which is situated at 2802 S. Flower St. The meeting is expected to last about two hours.

Another meeting will be held Wednesday at the Newhope Library, 122 N. Newhope St.

The third session in the series is scheduled for April 22 and will be conducted at Lathrop Intermediate School, which is situated at 1111 S. Broadway.

The final forum will be held at City Hall on April 24.

For residents unable to attend, the final meeting will be broadcast live on Channel 3, the city’s cable channel. Viewers will be able to call in during the show and questions city officials about various aspects of the proposals.