groups that comprise Santa Monica, as she was able to do, they said.
“We have a benchmark of what high-quality leadership is,” said John Deasy, superintendent of the Santa Monica- Malibu Unified School District. “More specifically, I am interested in a city manager who can work with all of the variety of constituency groups that actively exist in Santa Monica, all of whom wanting to have their voices heard and concerns understood.”
COMMUNITY GROUPS WEIGH IN In addition to the need to be able to speak to various groups, Deasy said he would hope the new city manager has the understanding that the public schools are an integral part of the health of the economy and the wealth of local real estate.
“I want to maintain the great working relationship between the city and public schools,” Deasy said.
Denny Zane, who founded Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights, a powerful group with a long-standing history working for social causes in the city, said a key characteristic of the new city manager should be an understanding of Santa Monica’s past history and appreciation that residents want little done to the complexion of their neighborhoods.
“The objective of the new city manager should be preservation of what we have, not a modification of it,” Zane said. “We need someone who is committed to our high quality of life and environmental stewardship.”
Calls to Santa Monica development community, including business organizations and their legal representatives, were not returned by press time.
Through McCarthy’s efforts, Santa Monica has maintained its triple A bond rating while supporting big-ticket capital improvements that have been in the works since the 1990s. Some of those projects are expected to open this year, including the $55 million Main Library, the $13 million Virginia Avenue Park expansion and the new $722,000 skatepark at 14th Street and Olympic Boulevard. She garnered support for the recently increased hotel room tax in order to strengthen Santa Monica’s present and future financial base.
McCarthy will be leaving her successor to complete a two-year overhaul to the city’s planning and traffic plan, which will set policy for development and transportation in Santa Monica for the next 20 years. The $120 million Civic Center complex, a $90 million downtown parking plan and the redevelopment of Santa Monica Place mall are further undertakings she has helped manage, which will be carried on by other leaders.
Carole Currey, chair of Santa Monica College’s board of trustees, said she would like to see an administrator who is responsible and responsive to the electorate. She said McCarthy has helped facilitate recent issues between SMC and City Hall, and she hopes the next city manager may also be amenable to the college.
Oscar de la Torre — a local school board member and director of the Pico Youth & Family Center, a city-supported organization which helps struggling youth and their households — said the new city manager needs to be skilled in integrating the community voice in every decision or proposal that is made.
Santa Monica’s top administrator will also have to be effective at holding every city group accountable, including the Santa Monica Police Department, he said. “(The new city manager) should be a fearless champion of non-violence, equity and social justice,” de la Torre said.
THE SEARCH SO FAR The City Council agreed in September to authorize the service of a headhunter, Lisa Mills, to help fill the city manager vacancy. Mills has a background in recruiting for public service positions and came highly recommended from city staff.
City Councilman Bob Holbrook said the decision to go with Mills, which the City Council decided in closed session, also was a reasonable one from an economic standpoint. Mills is charging City Hall a flat fee of $17,000. Other fees, such as advertising costs, also are expected to be passed on to City Hall, but Mills intends to keep those close to $4,000, Holbrook said.
Mills said she has received interest from more than 30 individuals for the position. She has prepared a brochure, which includes the salary and benefits, and mailed it to 150 people in California, primarily to managers of cities with populations of more than 65,000.
Mills also has sent an e-mail to the city managers with the brochure attached as a PDF file, to be certain they are aware the position is available.
The brochure advertises a salary range of $225,000 to $250,000 per year, with perks that range from free health care to 12 holidays and one vacation day accrued per month.
Mills also has advertised the position on the Web site and a monthly publication issued by the International City Managers Association, a group that is well-regarded in the area of public service, she said.
Holbrook said Assistant City Manager Gordon Anderson has expressed interest in the position.
The City Council hopes to interview the candidates in coming weeks and have a new city manager signed on by December, when Holbrook is expected to become mayor.
The City Council anticipates a possible one-month lag during which it may appoint an interim city manager.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 18, 2005. Read the original PDF.