City Manager Brimhall Will Retire Next Month

City Manager Grant Brimhall, who for two decades oversaw Thousand Oaks’ growth from small-town youth to big-city maturity, announced Tuesday night he will retire on Valentine’s Day.

His announcement at a City Council meeting appeared to shake his elected bosses, but the news was not entirely unexpected. Brimhall, 60, just returned to work Tuesday after two months recuperating from quintuple-bypass surgery. The city’s top bureaucrat had hinted earlier in the day that the absence made him reexamine his priorities.

“Avie and I started our service in Thousand Oaks in January 1978,” said Brimhall, referring to his wife, Avis, in an address to council and audience members that was both serious and lighthearted.

After two decades serving the city, “My wonderful wife, our children and our grandchildren have all requested that I come home, that I hang up my city manager’s hat, that I commit to a change of venue,” Brimhall said. “In short, that I retire.”

Brimhall said he and his wife want to resume missionary work for the Mormon Church during his retirement. They also would like to travel to Israel, but first will spend some “dedicated time” together, he said.

Since arriving in Thousand Oaks from his post as Glendora city manager, Brimhall has inspired passion in the city’s corridors of power.

Some regard him as a visionary who has secured a first-class library, a stunning Civic Arts Plaza and every spare tax dollar for his city. Others see him as a schemer who is a little too cozy with developers.

Brimhall’s announcement caused some tears from council members and a few laughs as well. The audience answered his remarks with a standing ovation.

“Valentine’s Day, how ironic,” said a tearful City Councilwoman Judy Lazar. “He truly has had a love affair with the city of Thousand Oaks, and the city has had a love affair with him. . . . I knew it was only a matter of time, but I didn’t want to be here when he left.”

“I appreciate his service and his ability to keep a professional demeanor while all around him things are pretty chaotic,” said City Councilwoman Linda Parks. “He always keeps his cool.”

His decision left the City Council with a lot of decisions to make: who to tap as interim city manager, a post filled by Assistant City Manager MaryJane Lazz during Brimhall’s two-month recuperation; whether to choose an in-house replacement or conduct a nationwide search for a new city manager; and whether to hire a new city manager before or after the November City Council election.

His departure, some fear, could prompt an exodus from the city staff. The planning director, assistant city manager, finance director and city clerk are all approaching retirement time.

Lately, being a city staffer has become a complex balancing act in this politically polarized suburb. The city has just undergone a contentious council recall battle. And three of the council’s five seats will be contested in November.

The city manager had enjoyed the support of the council majority--Mayor Mike Markey and council members Judy Lazar and Andy Fox. But he often is criticized by Councilwomen Linda Parks and Elois Zeanah.

Given the political climate and Brimhall’s previous allusions to retirement, city officials have already given some thought to finding a replacement, council members said.

More likely than not, Brimhall said, he will help the City Council pick out a search firm to hunt for a replacement.

“I’m not happy about this. This is a big loss for the city,” Markey said. “Grant has a vision. He can look a year or two down the road and see where the city should be. But I’ve told him his family and his health are the most important.”

In his lifetime, Brimhall has collected a bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees and a doctorate. He has earned accolades from the League of California Cities, the Conejo Valley Historical Society, the United Way and other service groups.

Council members credit him for the city’s sound fiscal condition, high-paying businesses, strong police department and active teen and senior centers.

The announcement came at the end of Brimhall’s first day back at work, in which he cranked out some paperwork on his computer, attended a staff meeting, spoke with council members, caught up with colleagues, took a brief respite to rest and meet with his wife, and then attended the City Council meeting.

Brimhall returned to City Hall a little tired and about 30 pounds lighter. He said his illness had given him a lot of time to think.

“I was raised on a horse ranch in Arizona, and my father taught me that when you have a problem with an animal, you get back in the saddle again,” Brimhall said early Tuesday. “I got bucked by medical problems, but I’m back on the horse now.”

The city manager has been recovering since November from surgery to clear five blockages in his heart. Brimhall had expected to return to work sooner, but a bout of influenza kept him home.

His extended absence prompted some speculation that Brimhall would retire. Staff members in the city manager’s office were abuzz with news of his return Tuesday. They gushed about how fit Brimhall looked. They marveled at how he just waltzed into the office and scanned the newspapers as if he hadn’t been away at all. They checked to make sure he wasn’t overexerting himself.

“It’s wonderful to see him looking so good,” said city executive assistant Cynthia Ross early Tuesday. “We just want him to take care of himself and stay healthy. It’s not an easy recuperation. We really love him, you know.”

While at home, Brimhall said he read a lot, spent time with his wife and took long drives--with the car phone turned off--to admire his city’s 14,000 acres of rolling green open space.

“I’ve had time to be introspective about what’s really important,” he said. “What’s most important is my relationship with my wife and families and my relationships with friends. There are also some professional things that I hold dear, and I will continue to work hard on them.”

Brimhall tried not to think about work too much. His detailed daily calendar has been blank since Nov. 14, when he went in for a physical after his twin brother suffered a heart attack--from which he is recovering. Brimhall himself was on the operating table three days after his physical.

“I deliberately did not deal with a lot of council issues or watch the council meetings,” he said with a grin.