MAYOR’S COLUMN -- John J. Collins

This is my last column as mayor.

On Tuesday I will pass the gavel to Guy Carrozzo, who will become

Fountain Valley’s mayor for the year 2000.

This is my third one-year term as mayor in the last six years, and I am

amazed by how fast time can go.

I realize that the mayor is a lightning rod for complaints, as well as

praise.

This creates more involvement and a greater commitment of time by a

mayor, causing days to pass as if they were propelled from the muzzle of

a machine gun.

When my whirlwind term commenced a year ago, a reporter asked me if I had

specific goals for the coming year.

My answer was that I wanted Fountain Valley residents to go about their

daily business of making a living, bringing up their children and

enjoying life without having to worry about what their city government

would do ‘to them’ or ‘for them.’

As I ponder the activities of the past year, I feel confident that city

residents do not need to worry about reliable and quality services from

their city government.

Our police and fire departments are properly staffed, highly trained and

are provided state-of-the-art equipment that is often the envy of other

cities. Our public works department consistently receives outstanding

compliments from residents, while maintaining water and sewer

infrastructures, streets and parks at a very high standard.

Our neighborhood improvement programs have pro-actively helped improve

some of the aging areas of our city without the threat of a heavy hand of

intimidation.

Our community services programs provide recreational activities that

consistently draw residents from neighboring cities. With the addition of

23.5 acres to our Recreation Center at Heil Avenue and Brookhurst Street,

we will expand these programs to an even higher level in the years to

come.

While I talk about ‘departments,’ ‘programs,’ and ‘projects,’ I never

lose sight of the fact that it is ‘people’ who power the city.

City Manager Ray Kromer effectively directs the daily efforts of our 241

employees. City Attorney Alan Burns’ distinctive legal knowledge and

practical advice and counsel have benefited the city’s residents many

times and in many ways.

Our department managers, support staff and city hall employees are driven

by a customer satisfaction standard that would be the envy of most

Fortune 500 companies.

And let’s not forget those five elected individuals who work well with

staff and are open and attentive to resident input, who do the job of

establishing city policy.

We don’t always agree on every issue, but we resolve our differences in a

mutual, nonegotistical manner. It is not by accident that Fountain Valley

has a reputation throughout Orange County as being a very well-run city.

We balance our budget without new taxes or dipping into our emergency

reserves. We are financially sound and well managed.

My thanks to Linda Short, city council secretary, whose skills and

personality add to the professional reputation of each one of those she

serves.

My special thanks to my wife, Barbara, whose understanding and support

have allowed me to devote as much time as I do to the effort of helping

make Fountain Valley the best place it can be.

When you put your head on your pillow at night, you may think about

concerns you have in life.

Some of you may worry about paying next month’s mortgage. Or an illness

that affects a family member.

Some may worry about straightening out that slice on the golf course or

what they should wear tomorrow.

Whatever your concerns are in life, I hope, and I believe, that you need

not worry about your city government.

JOHN J. COLLINS’ last day as mayor of Fountain Valley is Tuesday.