City Manager of Oxnard Says He Will Retire : Government: Vernon G. Hazen, 57, arrived in 1990 to tackle a financial crisis that would deepen during his tenure.

Oxnard City Manager Vernon G. Hazen, who oversaw a period of explosive growth and mounting money troubles during his three-year run as the city’s top administrator, announced his retirement Wednesday.

Hazen, 57, will leave at the end of this year, ending a 32-year career as a government employee in five California cities.

“I just want to retire while I’m in good health,” said Hazen, who plans to rent himself out as a government consultant on a limited basis. “This business has a way of eating at you at times when you don’t even know it. I’ve always promised myself and my family that I wouldn’t work myself into bad health.”

Oxnard council members said they were sorry to see Hazen go but wished him success in future endeavors.

“I want to thank you for your dedicated hard work,” Mayor Manuel Lopez wrote in a letter to Hazen accepting his retirement. “You certainly have left your mark. All of us on the present and past councils that you have served appreciate your service to the community.”

Hazen arrived in Oxnard in the summer of 1990 only to be met head-on by a financial crisis that would deepen during his tenure.

The first budget he presented to the City Council contained $5 million in cuts. He carved an additional $8 million out of subsequent budgets, weakening municipal services and city employee morale.

“He should have left about a week after he got here,” said Archie Solis, a union representative who has long been at odds with management. “He’s balanced the budget on the backs of blue-collar and white-collar employees.”

Hazen said he pays little attention to such criticism, choosing instead to focus on the effort during the past three years to beef up Oxnard’s economic base.

He was instrumental in luring a Wal-Mart, a Sam’s Club and a Factory Outlet Center, which are planned for the city’s booming northeast side.

Most recently, he designed a plan to shave five departments from city government, a move that is expected to result in an annual savings of $1.6 million.

“I think he was into getting more out of city government for less money,” Councilman Bedford Pinkard said. “He was able to work with fewer and fewer resources.”

Added Lopez: “Other people did the work, but he provided the leadership.”

But Hazen said the job recently began to take its toll. In December, he applied for the city manager’s job in Oceanside, in north San Diego County, after coming under fire for hiring former City Clerk Mabi Covarrubias Plisky to a Police Department job shortly after she lost her bid for reelection.

Residents complained that Plisky sidestepped established procedure to land the police position and that she received preferential treatment because she is married to Councilman Mike Plisky.

Mabi Plisky was eventually fired. Hazen said he withdrew his application for the Oceanside job after the Plisky controversy faded.

Nevertheless, Hazen said he decided to give up his long days and $136,000-a-year in salary and benefits, and take it easy for awhile. He and his wife, Edie, plan to go on a cruise early next year.

And during the final six months, as the council decides whether to recruit his replacement from another city or promote an existing employee to the post, Hazen said he looks forward to finishing some projects he helped get off the ground.

“It’s going to be an exciting time for someone to take the reins,” Hazen said. “This city is going to be dynamite.”