Story Created:
Jul 14, 2010 at 4:38 PM PST
Story Updated:
Jul 14, 2010 at 4:38 PM PST
CULVER CITY — The city will have a new city manager in late August or early September.
On Monday night, the City Council unanimously voted to appoint John Nachbar as its city manager at an annual salary of $245,049.
Nachbar is the current city manager in Overland Park, Kan., a post he has held since 2000. During that time, he has been involved as a member of the board of directors of the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Overland Park Rotary Club.
Nachbar first went to Overland Park in 1982 as assistant city manager, serving in that capacity until 1987 when he became city manager in Patterson, Calif., and then city administrator in Albany, Calif. From 1994 to 1999 he served as deputy city manager in Tucson, Ariz.
He graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in general studies in 1978 and a master’s of public administration in 1980.
The council chose Nachbar because of his strong financial background and his ability to connect public and private sectors on a number of projects.
Some of Nachbar’s most notable accomplishments while with the city of Overland Park was his role in opening the state-of-the-art Overland Park Soccer Complex; building and financing the Overland Park Convention Center and Sheraton Overland Park Hotel; completing a $1.1 million analysis and plan for the redevelopment of the Metcalf corridor.
“Culver City is a thriving community on the Westside which has benefited greatly from redevelopment efforts in the 1990s,” Nachbar said in a statement. “My family and I are excited to return to California, particularly to this vibrant city.”
Interim City Manager Lamont Ewell said Nachbar will be challenged with closing the city’s newly projected $2 million structural shortfall and will have to do his due diligence to ensure the city’s financial standing for years to come.
Additionally, Nachbar will have to maintain the city’s level of quality services and programs, while attending to street and infrastructure problems that need addressing.
Despite those worries, the council was enthusiastic about Nachbar taking the reigns.
“I’m excited,” said Councilman Scott Malsin, and “looking forward to working with him.”
Councilman Micheal O’Leary gave a warm welcome to Nachbar, who is currently outside of the country on vacation. “I don’t know if I should say good morning or good night where you are,” he said, but “congratulations.”
The contract between the city and Nachbar is said to be open-ended, giving both the city and Nachbar the right to a 30-day notice if either decides to terminate the agreement. If the city chooses to terminate the agreement, Nachbar could be eligible for six months severance pay if he was not let go due to refusing to perform duties or due to an act of unlawful misconduct.
Other benefits included in the contract is relocation assistance — not to exceed $20,000 — a monthly car allowance of $600, a cell phone and monthly phone allowance, a yearly $12,500 bonus — beginning in 2011 — if duties are satisfactory, deferred compensation in the amount of $17,500 in 2012, a residency incentive which could come in the form of a loan, 7.5 days of vacation, a week of sick leave and 10 days of administrative leave.
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