RES-9924 Loyal Service Appreciation For Joanne CoontzRESOLUTION NO. 9924
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ORANGE EXPRESSING APPRECIATION
TO COUNCILMEMBER JOANNE COONTZ AND
COMMENDING HER FOR EIGHTEEN YEARS OF
LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE
RESIDENTS OF ORANGE
WHEREAS, Joanne Coontz, a strong leader and faithful servant to the people of the City of
Orange for almost thirty years, has decided to hang up her government hat and pursue other
avenues of importance and interest.
She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a Bachelor of Science
Degree and worked within the private sector for several years. She was no stranger to the
political environment as her father was a California State Assemblyman and an officer in the
U.S. Marine Corps. She was a self-professed "Marine brat" as her parents moved to
many interesting places, including several years in Shanghai when she was a
child.Joanne and her husband Leland moved to Orange in 1961 and raised their four children
here.When her children were young, she got her feet wet in local government when she fought
to secure protective fencing around a dangerous drainage culvert. Other areas she took on
were athletic field lighting, the need for an elementary school on the north side of Orange and the
need for a branch library in the vicinity of Taft
Road.Her involvement in the community led to an appointment to the Planning Commission in 1976,
a position she held until 1984. In 1986, she ran for City Council and became the first woman
to serve in that capacity in Orange's century of incorporation. Eight years later, she
became another "first" as she was voted in as Mayor of the City of Orange, and was twice reelected.
For the past four years, she has again served as a
Councilmember.During her tenure on the Council, Joanne represented the City on several regional
Boards,Committees and Commissions. Her civic participation included long range planning in land
use,housing, education, transportation and fiscal accountability in government. She is a
long-standing supporter of community-based non-profit organizations, and during her
first term as Mayor, she implemented the concept of a more "
user-friendly" City Hall.Joanne has been actively involved in fundraising efforts for a
number of community projects,most recently the complete renovation of the Main Branch of the Orange
Public Library. She is a Founding Director of several organizations, including
the Orange Housing Development Corporation and the Friendly Center. The addition of one of the newest,
yet most honored, city landmarks - the Veteran's Memorial, will also stand for years to come as a reminder
of her hard work and dedication to the Veterans
One of Joanne's strengths is the ability to look ahead and plan for the future, while preserving
the rich history of the Orange community. She has the spirit of a pioneer and the tenacity to see
that projects are carried through. Many Orange residents have benefited from her leadership and
friendship over the years.
Joanne leaves behind an unmatched legacy of Council service. Her "can do" attitude has been
inspiring to all.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council, City staff, and
citizens of Orange express sincere gratitude to Councilmember Joanne Coontz on eighteen years
of loyal and dedicated public service to the City of Orange and its residents.
ADOPTED, this 23'd
day of November, 2004.
of Orange
ATTEST:
MaryE.M
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 23'd day of November, 2004 by the following
vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
COUNCILMEMBERS: Ambriz, Alvarez, Murphy, Cavecche
COUNCILMEMBERS: None
COUNCILMEMBERS: None
COUNCILMEMBERS: Coontz
ZL
M~hY, City~ of Orange