Mission Viejo Leaders Talk City Manager Out of Leaving : City Hall: Fred Sorsabal had resigned Tuesday and cited his irritation over the city’s ‘piecemeal’ goals.

City Manager Fred Sorsabal, who submitted his resignation to the City Council earlier this week, changed his mind Friday night after a three-hour closed-door session with council members.

Sorsabal confirmed Friday that he had resigned Tuesday, the same day he was offered a job running the new city of Lake Forest.

Before the special meeting, two council members who asked not to be identified said Sorsabal’s resignation was prompted by professional and personal differences with Mayor Robert A. Curtis.

But after the meeting, the city manager denied that he had serious problems with the mayor.

“Reports that we could not get along are untrue,” he said.

“Starting a new city is extremely exciting in this business. However, there will be some projects in this city that will be equally exciting,” he said.

Sorsabal tied his resignation to his “inability to get the council to handle some decisive goals rather than do things piecemeal.” The city manager declined to elaborate.

Curtis disagreed with his fellow council members’ comments that Sorsabal had an irreconcilable rift with him.

“I can’t speak to the speculations of others, they’ll have to address that themselves,” he said. “I believe we have the best city manager in California.”

Still, the mayor and city manager have had their disagreements. The most recent one was caused by the city trash contract.

Sorsabal helped negotiate a contract with Dewey’s Rubbish Inc. that was barely approved by the council in August, 1990, on a 3-2 vote. Curtis, one of the dissenting votes, sharply criticized the franchise agreement, which was awarded without a competitive bid.

Curtis then started a campaign to void or renegotiate the contract, which continues. He appointed a committee to negotiate with Dewey’s, including himself, Councilman Robert D. Breton and two lawyers who specialize in trash disputes. Sorsabal, who usually sits on the city’s negotiating teams and had handled the talks for the current contract, was left off the panel.

Lake Forest officials have confirmed that Sorsabal was offered the position of city manager in the new city, which will officially incorporate Dec. 20.

“He is one of our top three candidates,” said Councilwoman-elect Helen Wilson. “Yes, he was offered the job.”

Interim City Manager Dan Miller said earlier Friday Sorsabal had not confirmed whether he would take the job.

“The offer was conditional to what comes out of the meeting with the Mission Viejo council,” Miller said.

Sorsabal took over as Mission Viejo city manager two years ago, replacing William O. Talley, who left to take over the top position in Dana Point.

He was previously city manager in Costa Mesa and worked under Talley for many years as assistant city manager in Anaheim.