Rancho P.V. : Environment Head to Leave

Sharon Hightower, city environmental services director who once was acting city manager, will leave on Jan. 15 to head the Planning Department of San Bernardino County. “It’s more pay, better benefits and a larger job because the county is the largest in the United States, with 20,000 square miles,” Hightower said. Rancho Palos Verdes covers about 13 square miles.

Hightower came to the city in 1973 as planning director. She served as city manager in 1980 before City Manager Don Guluzzy was hired. Hightower later became environmental services director in charge of planning, code enforcement and building and safety with a staff of 14. She will have a 70-person staff in San Bernardino.

Hightower would not disclose her current salary. Finance Director Greg Beaubien also refused to say how much she is paid. He said City Atty. Steve Dorsey has ruled that the city must disclose only salary ranges, not exact salaries. The monthly range for Hightower’s position is $2,700 to $3,702. In San Bernardino the range for her new job is $3,248 to $3,952.

Ann Negendank, senior planner, will become acting environmental services director when Hightower leaves.