Post by Bill on Dec 3, 2004 9:00:35 GMT -8
Tribune, Dec 1
Azusa's city manager Gutierrez resigns
Former Pasadena official held position for just five months
By Marianne Love, Staff Writer
AZUSA -- Residents find themselves for the second time this year without a city manager.
Julie Gutierrez, who became the city's first deputy city manager in August 2003 and rose to the city manager position July 1, resigned Tuesday after a performance evaluation the night before.
In a letter to the mayor, Gutierrez thanked the council for the opportunity to serve as city manager.
"I submit this resignation with the understanding that although it is effective immediately, I will continue to be paid through the end of this calendar year. My final paycheck should include any outstanding vacation hours accrued as of today," Gutierrez, 41, wrote.
Gutierrez, Pasadena-born-and-raised and a former Pasadena chief financial officer and public works director, drew an annual salary of $138,000, plus benefits, as Azusa city manager. She replaced Rick Cole, who left in April to be Ventura's top official.
Some of her accomplishments during her short tenure included bringing Albertsons to a proposed shopping center in town and setting the framework to pay for the infrastructure of a major housing development that breaks ground early next year.
"I was also instrumental in moving Block 37 forward," said Gutierrez, about a proposed retail project in the downtown area that has attracted Starbucks.
Mayor Cristina Madrid, who was out of town on city business and did not attend Monday's performance evaluation, said Gutierrez was unable to synthesize all of the council members' voice into one cohesive idea.
"Council members expect our manager to weave our voices into one. That was the difficulty, and I think that was the frustration for Julie and the council members," Madrid said. "It manifested itself with council members being frustrated with her method."
Madrid said the matter will be discussed at Monday's 7:30 p.m. City Council meeting.
Gutierrez, an at-will employee, will be paid until the end of the year, Azusa spokesman Martin Quiroz said.
At the beginning of her tenure, Gutierrez, who has a master's degree in business administration from the University of La Verne, said her greatest challenge was to eliminate the city's $2.8 million deficit, which she accomplished.
"I definitely brought more financial stability with long-term forecasting of our revenues," Gutierrez said.
As Pasadena's public works director, Gutierrez was responsible for one of the Emerald City's largest departments.
She was also involved in the Old Pasadena Streetscape and Alleyways and Pasadena ARTS buses and oversaw the Hahamongna Watershed Park master plan, the expansion of sports fields, the city's recycling programs and the Gold Line light rail construction.
-- Marianne Love can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2108, or by e-mail at marianne.love@sgvn.com
Azusa's city manager Gutierrez resigns
Former Pasadena official held position for just five months
By Marianne Love, Staff Writer
AZUSA -- Residents find themselves for the second time this year without a city manager.
Julie Gutierrez, who became the city's first deputy city manager in August 2003 and rose to the city manager position July 1, resigned Tuesday after a performance evaluation the night before.
In a letter to the mayor, Gutierrez thanked the council for the opportunity to serve as city manager.
"I submit this resignation with the understanding that although it is effective immediately, I will continue to be paid through the end of this calendar year. My final paycheck should include any outstanding vacation hours accrued as of today," Gutierrez, 41, wrote.
Gutierrez, Pasadena-born-and-raised and a former Pasadena chief financial officer and public works director, drew an annual salary of $138,000, plus benefits, as Azusa city manager. She replaced Rick Cole, who left in April to be Ventura's top official.
Some of her accomplishments during her short tenure included bringing Albertsons to a proposed shopping center in town and setting the framework to pay for the infrastructure of a major housing development that breaks ground early next year.
"I was also instrumental in moving Block 37 forward," said Gutierrez, about a proposed retail project in the downtown area that has attracted Starbucks.
Mayor Cristina Madrid, who was out of town on city business and did not attend Monday's performance evaluation, said Gutierrez was unable to synthesize all of the council members' voice into one cohesive idea.
"Council members expect our manager to weave our voices into one. That was the difficulty, and I think that was the frustration for Julie and the council members," Madrid said. "It manifested itself with council members being frustrated with her method."
Madrid said the matter will be discussed at Monday's 7:30 p.m. City Council meeting.
Gutierrez, an at-will employee, will be paid until the end of the year, Azusa spokesman Martin Quiroz said.
At the beginning of her tenure, Gutierrez, who has a master's degree in business administration from the University of La Verne, said her greatest challenge was to eliminate the city's $2.8 million deficit, which she accomplished.
"I definitely brought more financial stability with long-term forecasting of our revenues," Gutierrez said.
As Pasadena's public works director, Gutierrez was responsible for one of the Emerald City's largest departments.
She was also involved in the Old Pasadena Streetscape and Alleyways and Pasadena ARTS buses and oversaw the Hahamongna Watershed Park master plan, the expansion of sports fields, the city's recycling programs and the Gold Line light rail construction.
-- Marianne Love can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2108, or by e-mail at marianne.love@sgvn.com