SEAL BEACH : Council Chooses Interim City Manager

A former San Diego area official has been hired to serve as interim city manager during the search for a permanent replacement for Jerry L. Bankston.

Jack Shelver, who retired last year after 17 years as city manager of Lemon Grove, a city in eastern San Diego County, will be paid roughly the same salary Bankston earned as city manager--about $7,000 a month.

Bankston surprised council members by announcing late last month he planned to leave the city June 30 to become city manager of La Habra. City officials estimate it will take three to six months to hire a full-time city manager.

Seal Beach Mayor Marilyn Bruce Hastings said Shelver was chosen because of his previous experience in beach cities. He was city manager of Imperial Beach from 1973 to 1977, where he had also served as assistant city manager from 1962 to 1967. He was city manager of Del Mar from 1967 to 1973.

Council members moved quickly to hire an interim city manager because the city is reviewing the 223-home Old Ranch development project proposed by the Bixby Ranch Co. Planning Commission hearings on the project began this week and will continue at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the North Seal Beach Community Center.