RES-10903 Loyal Service Appreciation For Abel BernalRESOLUTION NO. 10903
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ORANGE EXPRESSING APPRECIATION
TO ABEL BERNAL AND COMMENDING HIM FOR
THIRTY YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED
SERVICE.
WHEREAS, Abel Bernal began his employment with the City of Orange on September 6,
1984, as a 19 -hour Maintenance Worker I in the Tree Maintenance Division. Throughout the
course of his career, Abel expeditiously rose among the ranks to a full -time Temporary
Maintenance Worker I; a Regular full -time Worker I, and then transferred from the Tree
Maintenance Division to a Leadworker in his "forever home" in the Parks Division in 1989; and
WHEREAS, On July 10, 2000, Able was promoted to Acting Field Maintenance
Supervisor and officially promoted to this position in 2003. Following the retirement of the Parks
Superintendent, Abel was placed in the Acting Parks Superintendent position where he held down
the fort for over two (2) years until a new Superintendent was hired in 2005, and retires today in
his role as Park Maintenance Supervisor; and
WHEREAS, Abel is well respected within the Community Services Department and
throughout the City of Orange for his outstanding work ethic and his positive, cheerful demeanor.
Abel's exceptional ability to diffuse issues before they escalate, his flexibility to "step in"
whenever needed, his very non - cliche "can do" approach, and his dedicated service has become a
critical and stabilizing influence to all those who know and work with him; and
WHEREAS, throughout the course of his career, Abel cultivated many wonderful personal
and working relationships and has left a positive impact for others to follow through his leadership
and supervisory methods. During his many years with the Community Services Department, Abel
was a stabilizing force, always there to provide background and important history on a particular
issue in a park or about a resident concern; and
WHEREAS, Abel is well known to many residents as the Face of the Parks Department,
always striving to provide excellent customer service as he has dedicated his career to making life
better here in Orange for our residents and park visitors through his hard work, diligence, loyalty,
and dedication to ensuring that our public places and spaces are clean, safe, and of the highest
quality; and
WHEREAS, during his career he has been a part of the growth of our parks system with
the construction of eight new parks including Grijalva, Fred Barrera, Serrano, Santiago Hills, and
Steve Ambriz Memorial parks, as well as the renovation of the Hart Park Pool, the addition of the
Santiago Creek Bike Trail, and the Sports Center at Grijalva Park; and
WHEREAS, Abel has never been known to turn down an invitation to a party and in most
cases, is the first to arrive and the last to leave. Abel is always more than willing to celebrate
anything. Abel's infectious "let's get this party started" attitude has led his co- workers to join him
in many fun after -work escapades such as Angel games, weekend getaways to the desert, vacations
to Mexico, and even on what was supposed to be a family Cruise. Abel is not just a co- worker
who is retiring, he is a dear friend and a loved member of our City Family. Though he leaves his
job to enter a new chapter in his life, his attachment to the Community Services family will not be
broken. Abel, and his festive spirit and classy dance moves such as the shopping cart, will truly be
missed by the Community Services Department and within the City of Orange; and
WHEREAS, Abel announced his retirement effective December 30, 2015.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Orange,
expresses sincere appreciation and congratulations to Abel Bernal for his 30 years of loyal and
dedicated service, and wishes him a long and happy retirement.
ADOPTED this 8th day of December 2015.
lam'
fe E. Smith, Mayor, City of Orange
ATTEST:
COG
Mary E. rp , City Clerk, City range
I, MARY E. MURPHY, City Clerk of the City of Orange, California, do hereby certify that
the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly adopted by the City Council of the City of Orange
at a regular meeting thereof held on the 8th day of December 2015, by the following vote:
AYES:COUNCILMEMBERS:Alvarez, Whitaker, Smith, Murphy, Nichols
NOES:COUNCILMEMBERS:None
ABSENT:COUNCILMEMBERS:None
ABSTAIN:COUNCILMEMBERS:None
Mary E. y, City Clerk, Ci of Orange