City Manager

It has come to our attention that the City Council has begun discussions on the selection process for the next city manager for Glendale (“Glendale city manager to retire,” July 13). We believe this change in leadership presents a singular opportunity to hire an individual who not only has the requisite expertise in the field, but someone who will be able to address the root causes of challenges that our city will face in the coming years. Hiring such an individual can only and best be accomplished through an open selection process, allowing you to choose from a diverse list of qualified individuals from across the country.

The far-reaching impact of the state's decision to dissolve local redevelopment agencies could end up walloping Glendale, inflating the city's budget deficit to $15 million and forcing widespread layoffs. In a two-page letter sent to city staff this week, City Manager Scott Ochoa mapped out the dire situation that includes the probability of layoffs in June before the start of the next fiscal year. About half of the budget shortfall comes from the loss of redevelopment - a steady stream of incrementally higher property taxes that helped bring in the Americana at Brand and affordable housing.

Monrovia, from which Glendale's new city manager hails, was named Los Angeles County's most business-friendly city in its category on Thursday. The Eddy Awards, handed out by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp., recognizes two cities each year based on their commitment to economic development, business services, tax rates and fees, incentives and communication with business owners, according to an announcement from the organization....

Glendale's new city manager, Scott Ochoa, will be making nearly as much as his longtime predecessor - $235,600 plus benefits - according to an agreement approved by the City Council Tuesday night. Ochoa, who is currently Monrovia's city manager, will be replacing Jim Starbird, who makes roughly $240,000 a year, in January. The agreement approved on Tuesday is an upgrade for Ochoa, who makes $180,000 plus benefits in Monrovia - a city less than one-fifth the size of Glendale.

On the day the redevelopment money machine died, the opening scene of “Saving Private Ryan” came to the mind of Glendale's new city manager, Scott Ochoa. It was the scene where medics are frantically trying to stop the bleeding of a soldier wounded in the D-Day landing and when they do, a bullet hits the solder in the head. “That's sort of how I feel today,” Ochoa said, reflecting on the chaotic situation cities across the state are facing with the termination Feb. 1 of all 400 redevelopment agencies by the governor and Legislature.

CITY HALL — The City Council on Tuesday promoted Deputy City Manager Yasmin Beers to the No. 2 position at City Hall. As the new assistant city manager, Beers will work as the city's chief operating officer and oversee the general operations of all 15 city departments. City Manager Jim Starbird said Beers has extensive experience with citywide budget oversight, personnel and employee relations, and general operations after 10 years as deputy city manager. "Her experience and knowledge of the organization are a big plus," he said in a statement.

Glendale's new city manager, Scott Ochoa, will be making nearly as much as his predecessor - $235,600 plus benefits - according to an agreement approved by the Glendale City Council Tuesday night. Ochoa, who currently is Monrovia's city manager, will be replacing Jim Starbird, who makes roughly $240,000 a year, in January. The agreement approved on Tuesday is an upgrade for Ochoa, who makes $180,000 plus benefits in Monrovia - a city less than one-fifth the size of Glendale.

Marshall Allen LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE -- La Canada Flintridge City Manager Jerry Fulwood looks forward to his annual evaluation, which began this week, calling it a time of growth and reassessment. "I enjoy the opportunity to better understand how I am doing from the City Council's perspective," Fulwood said. The five members of the La Canada Flintridge City Council met individually with professional facilitator Dr. Bill Mathis on Tuesday. Each gave Mathis their thoughts about Fulwood's performance, which will be shared with Fulwood in a closed-session City Council meeting led by Mathis on June 3. The process is important because "every person wants to know from his boss how they're doing," Mayor Dave Spence said.

Buck Wargo CITY HALL -- A senior administrative assistant for the Glendale Public Library system has been named deputy city manager. Yasmin Kamria, 29, replaces Steve Adams, who in June was appointed assistant city manager manager in Westlake Village. Kamria was chosen from a field of 90 applicants, said Asst. City Manager Bob McFall. Kamria, who is president of the Soroptimist International of Glendale, will take over on Feb. 14. She will be responsible for working on the city's budget, long-range financial plan and capital improvement program.

I recently read an article in the News-Press in which City Manager Jim Starbird "blackmailed" taxpayers and the City Council for money. I believe now that we do not have a City Council running this city. We have a mayor named Jim Starbird who has the city hostage. It is a shame that for weeks we were told that the issue with the city manager was his integrity and his management of the city. However, last week we found out that the entire commotion was about one thing: money and more benefits.

City officials are reviewing whether a rule that blocks full-time employees from holding other jobs applies to newly elected City Treasurer Rafi Manoukian.  Manoukian, who left his council seat early after winning the treasurer post, holds a second job as chief operating officer of Ameria Group, an Armenian advisory and financial services provider. Councilman Ara Najarian is calling on City Atty. Mike Garcia to enforce the rule, which exempts outside employment approved by the city manager.

Police say a series of tire slashings on luxury cars and SUVs early Saturday in Northwest Glendale was a "random act" of vandalism. In some cases, all four tires were slashed on the high-end cars, most of which were parked in home driveways and on the dimly-lit streets of Vista Drive, West Mountain Street, Grandview and Winchester avenues and Cumberland and Kenneth roads, according to Glendale police. One of the cars, a Cadillac CTS, belonged to City Manager Scott Ochoa and had all of its tires slashed.

First, I want to acknowledge the fine reporting of Veronica Rocha in the News-Press regarding the double-dipping of our latest civil servant to jump from the sinking ship of the city of Glendale (“ De Pompa stays, gets hourly pay ,” March 29). Glendale Police Chief Ron De Pompa told the city manager last year that he wanted to take the money while it was still there for the taking. City Manager Scott Ochoa has had plenty of time to begin and finalize the process of selecting a new police chief without having De Pompa continue to plunder the city coffers.

I'd like to encourage all voters to vote yes on Measure A on April 2. Your City Council placed this measure before you with the belief that it is time for our city treasurer to be appointed rather than elected. Our investment portfolio is currently around $400 million. That is a far cry from decades past. It is extremely important that a skilled career money manager oversee our investment portfolio. More than 350 cities in California, many of them smaller than Glendale, have realized the wisdom of an appointed treasurer.

When it comes to managing skyrocketing pension obligations, Glendale's either done all it can or is failing horribly, depending on who you talk to. While most City Council candidates have criticized city pensions, the city manager, incumbents and union leaders say Glendale has already implemented comprehensive reform and nothing more can be done. Glendale has taken big steps to curb rising pension costs, but more - albeit controversial - options are available. “The first thing I would say is, I have no magic formula.

Should voters continue to elect the city treasurer? Or should we let Glendale's city manager appoint the treasurer, who would then serve at will? The question will be on the ballot as “Measure A” in the upcoming election April 2. A “yes” vote means you're in favor of an appointed treasurer. Clearly, the treasurer's job has gotten more complex in recent years as cities struggle with getting their finances under control. That may explain why an increasing number of California cities, especially larger ones, are voting to convert the treasurer's position to an appointed one. For the record, Pasadena's treasurer is appointed, Burbank's is still elected.

As city manager, I am precluded from advocating for or against a ballot measure. Yet as city manager it is incumbent upon me to help ensure the public has reliable and factual information in voting on such measures. In the case of Measure B, the consideration of amendments to the Glendale city charter regarding generally accepted accounting principles and the charter-authorized General Fund transfer, it is important voters know what is real and what is not. A recent letter to the editor by Harry Zavos on Feb. 20 distorts both the facts and history of the General Fund transfer by GWP Glendale Water & Power.

The outgoing city treasurer, and the city councilman vying for his job, will be facing off on April's ballot as they try to convince voters to either keep the treasurer as an appointment, or change it to an elected position. Councilman Rafi Manoukian and Treasurer Ron Borucki are set to file their 300-word arguments by Jan. 25, a day after the four people who have indicated they want to run for the open seat will have to turn in 100 signatures each to make their candidacy official.

The outgoing city treasurer, and the city councilman vying for his job, will be facing off on April's ballot as they try to convince voters to either keep the treasurer as an appointment, or change it to an elected position. Councilman Rafi Manoukian and Treasurer Ron Borucki are set to file their 300-word arguments by Jan. 25, a day after the four people who have indicated they want to run for the open seat will have to turn in 100 signatures each to make their candidacy official.

The Glendale City Council election in April has a crowded field already. By midday Friday, 12 people had pulled the paperwork necessary to declare official candidacy, already surpassing the six who ran in 2011. They include City Hall insiders and newcomers, but the pool of candidates aspiring for the highest political office in Glendale have until Jan. 24 to not only pick up the paperwork, but also turn in at least 100 signatures to get on the April ballot, which means the final number could still fluctuate greatly.