Northwest : LOS ALAMITOS : Sylvia Is Unanimous Choice for Mayor

Newly elected Mayor Charles E. Sylvia said this week that while the city’s financial situation is not grim, residents must brace themselves for the tough times ahead in the wake of Orange County’s filing for bankruptcy.

“We’re in for rough times,” Sylvia said. “This will take efforts from all of us to overcome all the difficulties.”

Police and fire services are not in danger of being cut, but street repairs, park upgrades and other projects that would need some county funding could be put on hold, officials said.

The newly seated council Monday elected Sylvia as mayor, the third time that the 61-year-old electronics engineer has held the largely ceremonial post. He also was mayor in 1983 and 1988.

Sylvia’s election as mayor was expected, but he interpreted the council’s unanimous vote as a willingness on the part of his colleagues to work together to weather the city’s financial difficulties. Sylvia was mayor pro tem last year.

The city has $2.2 million invested in the frozen county investment pool, according to City Manager Robert C. Dunek. But he assured council members that city operations will not be immediately affected.

Dunek said a budget review in late January will provide a clearer picture of the city’s financial condition. The city is expected to receive its share of property taxes Sunday, he said.

“We don’t anticipate a cash flow problem for the balance of the year,” Dunek said.

Sylvia, who was first elected to the council in 1975, said that the city has not issued bonds since it was incorporated in 1960.

“We have a very conservative fiscal policy,” he said.

Robert P. Wahlstrom, Alice Jempsa and Marilynn M. Poe were sworn in as council members. It is the third term for Wahlstrom and Jempsa and the first for Poe.

Wahlstrom, 61, director of purchasing for a restaurant chain, was elected mayor pro tem.