W E Walt Donovan

Facing a $6-million budget deficit and with no signs of an imminent boost in sagging revenue, the mayor of Garden Grove said this week that the city is destined to become "a damned slum" because his City Council colleagues don't have "the guts to raise taxes." Mayor W.E.

Mayor W.E. (Walt) Donovan's wife, Diane, will try to keep alive a family tradition when she runs for the City Council in November. She's taking out nomination papers just as her husband of 44 years makes his exit from the political scene after serving 16 years as either a city councilman or mayor. Diane Donovan, 64, is the only woman in the field of 12 candidates. She could become only the second woman to serve on the City Council, following Kathryn Barr, who left office in 1974.

Mayor W.E. (Walt) Donovan's wife, Diane, will try to keep alive a family tradition when she runs for the City Council in November. She's taking out nomination papers just as her husband of 44 years makes his exit from the political scene after serving 16 years as either a city councilman or mayor. Diane Donovan, 64, is the only woman in the field of 12 candidates. She could become only the second woman to serve on the City Council, following Kathryn Barr, who left office in 1974.

Facing a $6-million budget deficit and with no signs of an imminent boost in sagging revenue, the mayor of Garden Grove said this week that the city is destined to become "a damned slum" because his City Council colleagues don't have "the guts to raise taxes." Mayor W.E.

The City Council held its annual council reorganization last week, but there were no changes in leadership. Because the mayor is elected by the voters rather than selected at-large from the council members, Mayor W.E. (Walt) Donovan remains in that post. Mayor Pro Tem Frank Kessler was unanimously selected for another year in the No. 2 spot without any discussion by the council.

The city will dedicate a 27,000-square-foot children's "garden park" at 3 p.m. Friday in ceremonies at the site, 12631 Keel Ave. in the Buena-Clinton neighborhood. The park was developed at a cost of $190,500 in funds provided by the city and state, a city spokesman said. Mayor W.E. (Walt) Donovan and other city and state officials will speak.

The City Council has taken the first step toward the construction of a three-story senior citizen housing project. In a unanimous vote, council members last week approved a six-month negotiating agreement with Axiom Development & Investments Inc. of Van Nuys for a proposed 195-unit building with an adjacent 70,000-square-foot medical office building. The project would be on six acres on the east side of Palm Street, between Aspenwood Lane and Garden Grove Boulevard.

The city's first sculpture, a statue entitled "We the People," will be dedicated at a special ceremony at 4 p.m. today at the northeast corner of Harbor and Garden Grove boulevards. The 15-foot bronze, which sits on top of a 3-foot base of polished granite, shows people from three historical periods ascending to modern times. The work includes a couple embracing, which suggests hope for the future, artist Raymond Persinger said.

The City Council has hired a consulting firm to prepare a report on the feasibility of building a convention center that officials hope would lure business turned away by the logjam at Orange County's larger meeting complexes. Acting as the Redevelopment Agency, the council Monday voted 3 to 1 to retain Economic Research Associates for the first phase of a report to determine the viability of building a "smaller scale" convention center.

The City Council this week approved the formation of an ad hoc citizen's committee to review the city's budget and finances. The Garden Grove Citizen's Committee on Government Efficiency will review city expenditures and services before the adoption of next year's budget. They will make cost-saving proposals to the City Council and staff in a report to be completed by next May.

From now on, it's taboo to utter the blunt barnyard synonym for bull manure during City Council meetings. The Garden Grove City Council unanimously passed a measure Tuesday night prohibiting profanity of any kind when the council is in session. Swearing was already off limits for folks who address the council during meetings, but a slip of the tongue by the mayor several weeks ago prompted elected officials to consider revamping the policy. During a Redevelopment Agency meeting, Mayor W. E.

The City Council has instructed the city staff to return with a report on smoking in businesses and workplaces in the city. Mark E. Bradshaw, who designs computer software for a Garden Grove firm, wrote the council asking officials to consider a smoking policy that would require businesses to establish no-smoking areas. He made his plea in person at Monday night's council meeting. He was supported by Kirk Wilkes of the American Cancer Society, who called secondhand smoke "the silent killer."