Community Voice

The City was preparing a new topic about the City Manager recruitment, but you beat us - thank you for the suggestions. The City Council is seeking public input regarding the type of candidate the community desires for the new Manager. There will be a community Study Session regarding the City Manager recruitment, during the March 20 City Council meeting, which starts at 7:00 p.m. We encourage you and the entire community to attend the meeting and provide more details about the type of person you think should be the next executive leader of the City.

I AGREE with Mr Tom T

Mr Tom is right on. Hire him for city manager.

Perhaps we need to look for someone who doesn't fit the traditional City Manager mold. The freshest apples come straight from the tree. Doing things the same way every other city does them yields the same result. As we've seen in cities like Santa Ana, Stanton, Fullerton and other neighboring communities, those results aren't always desirable. We are a small city with limited resources but an enviable quality of life and wonderful citizenry. Lets not emulate Anaheim or Costa Mesa. We are a unique community with specific needs and capabilities. We need a City Manager who understands and is comfortable with those facts. Ultimately, we must be able to afford whoever we hire and the right candidate will understand and support that fact.

Well folks, the "community Study Session regarding the City Manager recruitment" has come and gone last Tuesday; perhaps the least publicized agenda item of such importance in years. Unfortunately, it was the last agenda item 90 mins into the mtg. and I was the only one to speak. After the mtg. I spoke to two council members and got the full impression that we are stuck with the status quo. I was told the City Mgr. must be the highest paid person on city payroll. According to the city website, we have 5 Director level positions, including the Chief of Police, that range in salary from $114K to $152K, plus the bloated City Mgr job @ $172K. Add another 15-20% for benefits and pension annually. Council is fully on board with this process and endorses the status quo, wasteful government spending we have here in La Palma and in all of CA, so when you get your mailbox jammed with campaign re-election promises this fall, vote for someone who will cause real change & keep campaign promises.