City Guide

PLACENTIA

Mayor: Michael L. Maertzweiler

Age: 51

Occupation: Cost analyst

First elected: 1992

Term expires: 1996

Key issues: Managing the city budget is a prime concern of Maertzweiler, along with maintaining police and fire services at current or higher levels. He also favors equal access for girls to city-sponsored or city-supported sports programs. He said city ordinances should be applied fairly to all residents and businesses. “I’m hard on alcohol licenses and signs,” he said, “but that’s about it.”

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Mayor Pro Tem: Carol Downey

Age: 53

Occupation: Elementary school teacher

First elected: November, 1986, but was appointed in 1985

Term expires: 1998

Key issues: Downey is concerned about managing the city’s budget and maintaining the current level of services while adjusting to the loss of state funding in recent years. Other issues, Downey said, include developing East Placentia Park, keeping the city a family-oriented community, retaining businesses and fending off any further efforts by the state to siphon property taxes from cities.

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Councilman: Norman Z. Eckenrode

Age: 56

Occupation: Pizza parlor owner

First elected: 1978

Term expires: 1998

Key issues: Balancing the budget and maintaining city services are among the main issues in the city, Eckenrode said. He favors redevelopment that will provide low-income housing and encourage the establishment of retail stores. He also wants to see sensible development of the city’s remaining open space, and the filling of 19 employee positions that have been left vacant due to budget cuts.

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Councilwoman: Maria Moreno

Age: Declined to state

Occupation: Associate executive director, Boy Scouts of America

First elected: 1988

Term expires: 1996

Key issues: Moreno wants to establish clearer standards for reporting council member expenses that are paid for by the city. She favors a review of benefits paid to elected city officials, particularly retirement benefits paid after five years of elected service. Moreno also wants the city to take a more proactive stance on business development.

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Councilman: John O. Tynes

Age: 77

Occupation: Retired school superintendent

First elected: 1950

Term expires: 1996

Key issues: Tynes wants to increase the accountability of officials in reporting city-paid expenses and wants to limit expense accounts for city-sanctioned functions. He is opposed to a concentration of businesses with liquor permits in any neighborhood. Tynes wants to expand the business community and maintain important city services despite a diminishing budget.

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Other Key Officials

City Administrator: Robert D’Amato

Age: 47

In office: Six years

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City Attorney: Carol B. Tanenbaum

Age: 59

In office: Seven years

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Police Chief: Manuel Ortega

Age: 51

In office: Four years

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Fire Department: Contracts with the Orange County Fire Department

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How to Reach Them

Council meets: First and third Tuesdays of the month at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers, 401 E. Chapman Ave.

Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

Telephone: (714) 993-8117

Fax: (714) 961-0283

Fast Facts

Motto: Placentia, A Pleasant Place

Incorporated: 1926

Population: 44,000

Legislative districts: 72nd Assembly District; 33rd Senatorial District; 39th Congressional District

Operating budget: $23 million

Number of employees: 135

Highest-paid employee: The city manager is paid $89,200 a year.

Council pay: $210 a month; after five years of service as elected officials, council members and the city clerk become eligible for paid health benefits for themselves and their families, plus retirement benefits equal to those of paid city employees.

RESEARCHED BY HOLLY J. WAGNER