In its last meeting of 2020, the Cypress City Council ratified the November election returns, honored two termed-out members, and elected new leadership.
State and federal officials also participated in the virtual meeting, sending good wishes to outgoing Mayor Rob Johnson and Mayor Pro-tem Mariellen Yarc before the Council installed new members and elected leaders for the new term.
Johnson and Yarc have both served two-full terms, which is the limit allowed in the Cypress city charter.
“I’d like to thank the council members that are leaving for their great work,” said Congressman Alan Lowenthal, who also welcomed incoming council members Anne Hertz and Francis Marquez.
State Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva thanked both Johnson and Yarc for their service to the city.
Before turning over the gavel to the new council, the city played a video in which the outgoing and incoming officials had a chance to make comments to the public.
The video also included brief snippets from remaining council members Stacy Berry, Paulo Morales and Jon Peat, who generally thanked both for their service to the city with a personal touch.
Berry thanked Johnson for his jokes, saying “I will always miss your sports jokes and little puns” which she said had always provided levity during serious considerations, and lauded Yarc’s “passion and compassion for people in our community.”
Morales credited Johnson with getting him interested in serving and thanked both for their sacrifices and insights. “Mariellen, you’re very direct and I will miss that.”
“We haven’t always agreed,” said Peat, who thanked Yarc for “helping me to see the other side of the issue quite often.” Johnson had become “a really good friend,” said Peat and thanked both of them “for getting some really great things done.”
Yarc thanked her husband Paul and paid tribute to the Woman’s Club of Cypress, whose support Yarc said helped her to initially seek public office to become the first woman in a long time to serve. “When I was sworn in, they all wore pink for girl power,” she laughed.
She thanked the community, “you elected me twice, what’s wrong with you,” she smiled.
Yarc was instrumental in establishing the Cypress Woman’s Conference for the past seven years, which she said “grew every year” and although it was cancelled due to COVID, Yarc pleaded with the council to keep it going following her departure. Likewise, she said, for the Veterans Recognition program. “I hope it goes on forever,” she said.
“We are termed out, but I consider myself to be the luckiest man in the city we know as
Cypress,” said Johnson. “As I reflect on the past eight years, I recall meeting many wonderful people, residents and businesses alike.”
Johnson thanked them for expressing “nothing but kindness and encouragement over the past eight years, especially during the pandemic.”
He thanked current and former council members for their mentorship and thanked his wife Nancy and extended family. “It may not take a village, but it does take a family to provide support, understanding and prayer,” said Johnson.
City clerk Alisha Farnell read aloud the election results, which were ratified by the council, before administering the oath of office to Hertz and Marquez.
Lowenthal, in the video, welcomed both of them to public service but reserved a special dedication to Marquez, whom Lowenthal credited with helping him learn his way around Washington.
“She (Marquez) took me every place when I didn’t know anyone there,” said Lowenthal, noting that the newly elected Council member become his first legislative direction.
The Congressman said Marquez “did a great job,” but deep down “she is a daughter of Cypress” and returned home to be with her family. “I can’t imagine anyone more qualified or committed,” he said.
Marquez thanked everyone and promised to be inclusive. “I know our community is counting on us as elected leaders to deliver solutions,” noting that she planned to “involve more community members from all backgrounds and ages in city hall governance.”
“Additional voices in our process will lead to more significant equity and opportunity, building a healthier, stronger and more prosperous Cypress.”
Hertz, a nonprofit executive, also reached out to the Cypress community. “Thank you so much for electing me to be a member of this amazing City Council,” said Hertz, adding that
“I’m so honored to serve each and every one of you.
“I want you to know that I will listen to you and I will represent you to the very best of my ability,” she said, adding that she was “honored and so excited.”
“I look forward to getting to know all of you even more as we take this train together for the next four years,” she said.
The new council then elected Peat as mayor and chose Berry as Mayor Pro-tem and took care of other routine business.
Peat said he understood these are “very challenging time(s) of uncertainty and we have some challenges” ahead. Nevertheless, he said, the council put into place some things that will “be exciting to watch” going forward, including the Shea Properties development and the new, yet unnamed, 9-acre park.
“I promise to work hard to find solutions in the challenging times of the pandemic,” said Peat.
Berry too suggested challenging times ahead, while also “looking forward to serving” when “we can actually meet in person.”
