City Guide

First Elected: November 1994

Term Expires: December 1998

Key Issues: Carefully managing new development in the city; maintaining a balanced budget; assessing potential impact from a toll road that may run through the area.

City Councilman Jim Dahl

Occupation: Fire captain with Orange County Fire Authority

Age: 54

First Elected: November 1996

Term Expires: December 2000

Key issues: Opposes special assessment districts; wants to expand gang suppression program; wants to bring in more sales taxes by continued development of the Rancho San Clemente Business Park.

City Councilman Joseph Anderson

Occupation: Insurance company executive

Age: 55

First Elected: November 1990

Term Expires: November 1998

Key Issues: Maintain street rebuilding plan; ensure that development of ranchland is balanced; construction of phase one of the coastal trail; achieve fiscal stability following the passage of Proposition 218; complete the restoration and development of Casa Romantica.

City Councilman Steve Apodaca

Occupation: Vice president of T.G. International Insurance

Age: 46

First Elected: November 1994

Term Expires: December 1998

Key Issues: Continue economic development progress; maintain balanced fiscal budget; capture more sales tax dollars for the city; enhance tourist and recreation areas.

City Councilwoman Lois R. Berg

Occupation: Retired school nurse

First Elected: November 1996

Term Expires: November 2000

Age: 72

Key Issues: Address lack of funds for budget; attract new businesses; get city departments to work together.

Other Key Officials

City Manager: Michael W. Parness

Age: 43

Time in Office: 6 years

City Clerk: Myrna Erway

Age: Declined to State

Time in Office: 12 years

City Attorney: Jeffrey M. Oderman

Age: 47

Time in Office: 16 years

City Treasurer: Paul Gudgeirsson

Age: 47

Time in Office: Appointed July 1994; elected November 1996

Police: Services provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Department

Fire: Services provided by the Orange County Fire Authority

How to Reach Them

Council Meets: First and third Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Avenida Presidio; a second building that houses the city's building, planning and engineering departments is at 910 Calle Negocio

Hours: City Hall is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Calle Negocio building is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Telephone: (714) 361-8200

Fax: (714) 361-8283

Factoids

Motto: "The Spanish Village by the Sea"

Sister City: San Clemente del Tuyu, Argentina

Celebration: Ocean Festival

Flower: Bougainvillea

Incorporated: Feb. 28, 1928

Population: 47,764

City Budget: $67.5 million

Redevelopment Budget: $2.1 million

Number of Employees: 159 full-time employees; 32 part-time

Council Perks: Council members are paid $200 a month for council meetings; no benefits; no reimbursement for miscellaneous expenses, such as travel for city business; a conference room is shared and mailboxes are on site.

RESEARCHED BY SUSAN DEEMER