Hiring New Manager Is Council’s Top Task

Selecting and hiring a new city manager will be the most important task before the City Council in 1996, according to Mayor Walter K. Bowman. After more than 30 years as city manager, Darrell Essex will retire in June.

“It’s a big task, and it’s just something we’re not used to--it hasn’t happened in more than 30 years,” said Bowman, referring to the job of looking for a new executive.

“The search for a replacement is going on right now,” Bowman said.

In an interview, Bowman listed other concerns he has for the city in the new year. These include continued revitalization of Lincoln Avenue, more development in the Cypress Business Park and putting a bond issue for improved flood control on the November ballot.

“I think there’s a good possibility for building an entertainment center on Lincoln Avenue, near Valley View Street,” said Bowman. He said a company is interested in building a movie complex in that area, which could spur developers to build other entertainment-related stores in the vicinity.

City voters on Nov. 7 overwhelmingly approved an advisory ballot measure that proposed $3.5 million worth of flood-control improvements. Bowman said he and other City Council members believe that is a mandate to proceed, and the next step is to put a bond issue on the ballot this year to finance the flood-control construction.