Agoura Hills Official Gets Malibu Job : Government: City Manager David Carmany will leave his position for a similar post in the seaside city. He’ll start in February.

David Carmany, who has served as Agoura Hills city manager for five years, was chosen Monday by the Malibu City Council to replace Ray Taylor, who is leaving later this month for a similar job in Westlake Village.

“Malibu offers a number of career challenges,” Carmany said, “and I am looking forward to facing those.” Specifically, he mentioned land-use planning.

Although contract details are being reviewed, Carmany, 35, will probably be paid about the same as Taylor’s salary of $85,000 a year, Malibu council members said. Carmany made $80,000 in Agoura Hills.

Carmany, who lost out to Taylor for the Malibu job last year, said he became “very interested” when he learned of the recent opening. He was selected unanimously and is expected to begin his new job in February.

Carmany said his management technique is “very much participation style,” working closely with staff members and the City Council to develop annual goals. That must now include an understanding of current budget constraints, he said.

“The actions of the state Legislature in raiding local government coffers is merely a dress rehearsal for the coming year,” Carmany said, referring to cities receiving lower distribution of county and state revenues. This calls for “complete re-examination of all different aspects of city operations,” he said.

Before taking the Agoura Hills job in 1987, Carmany served as assistant city manager and community development director in Alhambra for six years and assistant to the city manager in Grand Terrace in San Bernardino County. He has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from USC.

Carmany lives in Agoura Hills with his wife, Laura, and three children. He will commute to his new job.

Agoura Hills, a city of 20,300 and incorporated in 1982, is situated north of Malibu across the Santa Monica Mountains. Its general fund budget is $5.7 million, Carmany said. Malibu, incorporated last year, has about 20,000 residents and a general fund of $7.1 million.

Malibu Mayor Walt Keller said Carmany’s name came up during networking discussions with colleagues in the California League of Cities and the League of Contract Cities. Carmany was chosen from eight applicants, four of whom were interviewed, Keller said.

His being a neighbor was a “big plus,” Keller said. “He knows us.”

Agoura Hills Mayor Fran Pavley praised Carmany’s management approach. “He developed an organizational style to allow city staff to function at their best,” she said. “People in the community like David. His door is always open at City Hall.”

Pavley said the Agoura Hills City Council will discuss a new city manager next week, adding that a replacement may be found in-house or through hiring a consultant.