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La Palma mayor touts strong reserves, new city manager and public‑safety results in State of the City address
Summary
Mayor Mark Waldman highlighted La Palma’s solid fiscal reserves, the appointment of a new city manager, an upcoming police‑chief retirement and robust public‑safety programs, while outlining community events and private‑development activity.
Mayor Mark Waldman said La Palma remains in strong fiscal shape during his 2025 State of the City address, pointing to the city’s reserves and a conservative budgeting approach while announcing key personnel changes and program highlights.
"La Palma continues to demonstrate strong fiscal health, maintaining over 133% in fungible reserves," Waldman said, describing reserve balances that the city projects will provide stability even amid broader economic pressures. He said the city’s adopted general fund budget is about $15.4 million and that police and administrative services account for roughly 70% of expenditures.
Waldman announced several staffing changes: Norma Ali was recently hired as city clerk following an 18‑year tenure by the previous clerk, the city completed a competitive recruitment that resulted in the appointment of Peter Kim as city manager, and Police Chief Joe Guerrero, a 29‑year law‑enforcement veteran, will retire later in 2025.
On public safety, Waldman highlighted department performance and community programs. "Our response time averages just 3 minutes for priority 1 calls," he said, and described the zone‑patrol model that divides La Palma into five patrol zones. He also introduced Officer Perez as the city’s new school resource officer for the 2025–26 school year and thanked the Anaheim Union High School District for its support of the program.
The mayor reviewed the city’s community programs and upcoming events, including a Halloween anniversary carnival on Oct. 26, a new Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 8 and the Dec. 3 holiday tree lighting. He thanked volunteers who contributed more than 3,200 hours to policing programs and Meals on Wheels volunteers who delivered roughly 1,400 meals to La Palma seniors last year.
Mayor Waldman closed by thanking visiting elected officials, staff and community partners and inviting attendees to continue the evening’s reception. The formal State of the City program concluded with no council action taken during the address.
"We thank you for our beautiful city," said Peter Hernandez of La Palma Christian Center during the invocation before the address.
