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<br />19 <br /> <br />4826-7904-2280v7/200434-0005 <br />activities and a public library. The City has contracted with the Orange County Fire Authority and CARE <br />Ambulance Service to provide fire suppression and emergency medical services, respectively. <br />Government and Administration <br />The City had 1,262 budgeted full time equivalent employees as of July 1, 2021. City employees are <br />represented by seven employee associations, which represented approximately 1,251 authorized employees. <br />Relations between the City and the employee bargaining units are governed by memoranda of understanding <br />(“MOU”), four of which (covering confidential employees, full-time and part-time general employees and <br />middle management employees) expire on June 30, 2022 and two of which (covering police employees) expire <br />on June 30, 2021. The City has begun negotiations with the two groups with expiring MOUs, as well as the <br />part-time civil service group with an MOU that expired June 30, 2017. A total of 11 management and <br />confidential employees are exempt from collective bargaining. Salaries for exempt employees are set by the <br />City Council. The City has never experienced a strike, slowdown or work stoppage. <br />The City operates under a Council/Manager form of government. The City Council members and the <br />expiration dates of their respective terms are as follows: <br />Name Office Term Expires <br />Vicente Sarmiento Mayor December 2022 <br />David Penaloza Mayor Pro Tem December 2022 <br />Phil Bacerra Council Member December 2022 <br />Johnathan Ryan Hernandez Council Member December 2024 <br />Jessie Lopez Council Member December 2024 <br />Nelida Mendoza Council Member December 2022 <br />Thai Viet Phan Council Member December 2024 <br /> <br />The City Council employs a City Manager to carry out its policies, to serve as executive officer of the <br />City and to supervise the work of other City administrators. The names and backgrounds of the City Manager <br />and some senior administrative staff are set forth below. <br />Kristine Ridge, City Manager. Kristine Ridge has served as the City Manager since May 2019. Ms. <br />Ridge has worked over 30 years in local government, primarily in executive city management roles. Ms. Ridge’s <br />previously served as the City Manager for the City of Laguna Niguel prior to being appointed City Manager of <br />the City in 2019. Prior to that Ms. Ridge worked for the City of Anaheim for 24 years, including serving as its <br />Assistant City Manager. Ms. Ridge began her career as a financial auditor and CPA and holds a Bachelor of <br />Science in Accounting from Arizona State University and a Masters in Organizational Leadership from Chapman <br />University. <br />Steven Mendoza, Assistant City Manager. Steven A. Mendoza serves as the Assistant City Manager <br />and Executive Director of the Community Development Agency for the City. As Assistant City Manager, Mr. <br />Mendoza implements the vision, broad policy goals, and ongoing strategic programs of the City Council and <br />City Manager to ensure that operations remain true to, and consistent with, the mission and General Plan and <br />Strategic Plan of the City. Since 1989, Mr. Mendoza has advised policy makers on Economic Development, <br />Redevelopment, Planning, Housing, Legislation and Public Works. Mr. Mendoza has worked over 30 years in <br />local government, and previously served as the Community Development and Public Works Director for the <br />City of Los Alamitos. Prior to that Mr. Mendoza worked for the City of Desert Hot Springs and the City of La <br />Mirada for 18 years. Mr. Mendoza holds a Bachelor of Political Science from California State University at <br />Fullerton and a Master in Public Administration from California State University at Long Beach. <br />Kathryn Downs, Executive Director of Finance and Management Services. Kathryn Downs has <br />served as the Executive Director of Finance and Management Services since October 2018. Ms. Downs has <br />worked over 20 years in local government. Ms. Downs previously served as the Director of Finance for the City