Importuna Returns to O.C. as City Manager

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.”

One key factor in the Monday decision to appoint Importuna, she said, was his interest in Cypress.

“He noticed Cypress a long time ago,” said Piercy. “He wanted to be here.”

With the city currently putting together its budget for fiscal 2001, city staff view Importuna’s appointment as timely.

“It has been a matter of holding the status quo, anticipating new leadership, because we’ve not had a full staff for a few months,” said Assistant City Manager June Liu.

Importuna previously worked as city manager in Lawndale and deputy city manager in Garden Grove.

Importuna received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in urban planning from California State Polytechnic University. He and his wife, Camille, have three daughters and three grandchildren.

Andre Briscoe can be reached at (714) 966-5848.