Cypress Ca Government Officials

The City Council elected Cecilia L. Age as mayor Monday night by a 4-1 vote. Councilwoman Gail H. Kerry, who cast the dissenting vote, said Age's selection was a decision by the council's "majority of three" referring to Age and members Margaret M. Arnold and Councilman Walter Bowman. "I feel the choice is disappointing but to be expected, with a 2-to-3 block vote," Kerry said. Age, referring to rifts among council members, stressed unity during the coming year.

Local artists were recognized recently by Mayor Anna Piercy and City Atty. William Wynder after the Celebrate the Arts event, where several dance scholarships and cash prizes for works of art were awarded. Elementary school winners were presented with ribbons and gifts of easels and art supplies. Resident Ron Hoshi was given the highest honor, Outstanding Contribution to the Arts, by the Cypress Cultural Arts Commission.

A group has been formed to oppose the recall of two City Council members and simultaneously support a controversial carpet warehouse. The recall drive was launched last month by city residents angry at the City Council's Sept. 26 vote to allow construction of a large carpet distribution warehouse at 11400 Valley View St., where trucks would enter and leave 24 hours a day.

The City Council has appointed Patrick P. Importuna to fill the city manager's position that had been left vacant for nearly six months. Importuna, currently city manager for North Las Vegas, will begin work May 22. He succeeds City Manager Mike Ochenduszko who resigned Sept. 15 to become city manager of Coronado in San Diego County. "I'm very pleased," said Mayor Anna Piercy. "We had more than 50 applicants but he is already very familiar with our area and has quite a bit of experience already."

After investigating an incident in which political signs for next week's recall election were pulled, police have decided that no charges will be filed, a spokesman said Tuesday. Lt. John Schaefer said officers on Monday morning investigated complaints that recall signs were being taken down in the Moody Street area.

In what may be the quietest election in several years, six candidates are vying for three seats on the City Council in the Nov. 6 election. Now that major development projects, including the Los Alamitos Race Course, have been put to rest, City Hall has settled down into its business-as-usual mode, leaving candidates searching for issues. Five challengers and one incumbent are squaring off in the election.

The City Council unanimously elected Anna Piercy mayor Monday night before the final meeting of the year. She was formerly mayor pro tem. Piercy, an art teacher at Lexington Junior High School for 20 years, has been a council member since 1996. She vowed to continue outgoing Mayor Tim Keenan's policy of being accessible to the public, and said her goals as mayor are to continue improving the city's economic base by luring new businesses to the area and the selection of a new city manager.

Darrell Essex, who retired recently from his position as city manager, received praise and honors from the City Council this month. The council awarded him a Community Service Plaque and voted unanimously to have a bronze plaque installed at City Hall commemorating Essex's 34 years of service as Cypress' city manager. Essex, who retired June 30, drew long, loud applause as he approached the microphone to accept the plaque and to give a few remarks.

Selecting and hiring a new city manager will be the most important task before the City Council in 1996, according to Mayor Walter K. Bowman. After more than 30 years as city manager, Darrell Essex will retire in June. "It's a big task, and it's just something we're not used to--it hasn't happened in more than 30 years," said Bowman, referring to the job of looking for a new executive. "The search for a replacement is going on right now," Bowman said.

The City Council's meeting Tuesday will include a historic moment: installation of a plaque in City Hall commemorating Darrell Essex's 34 years of service as Cypress city manager. Essex, who retired June 28, served longer than any other city manager in Orange County history. League of California Cities officials said his service record for a single city also may be a state record.

A bronze plaque honoring retired City Manager Darrell Essex is to be unveiled and mounted on a wall at City Hall in November, officials said. The City Council voted to buy a plaque that will feature a bronze likeness of Essex. He retired June 30 after serving as city manager for 34 years. At the direction of the council, city officials solicited bids for both granite and bronze plaques. The council voted to take the low bid of $1,896.