City eyes Burbank Water and Power GM as interim city manager
With Burbank City Manager Mark Scott set to leave his post early next month, the City Council is looking to make Ron Davis, general manager of Burbank Water and Power, his interim replacement while a professional search firm hired by the city seeks Scott’s permanent successor.
An employment contract with the long-time head of the city-owned utility is on the consent calendar for a council meeting on Tuesday, which typically means no discussion of the item is expected before a vote is taken.
In late November, Scott announced his intent to retire, though last month he was hired by the city of San Bernardino to serve as its interim city manager for a year, beginning in early February, and Burbank officials began to seek an interim replacement at that time.
Mayor Bob Frutos and Vice Mayor Jess Talamantes negotiated with Davis, who was the finalist in that process.
“Ron Davis has a proven track record of success here in Burbank,” Frutos said in a statement. “[He] and Assistant City Manager Justin Hess form an outstanding team with the ideal experience to guide the city through the upcoming budget process and leadership transition.”
Since 1998, Davis has served as general manager of the utility, which is among the most reliable electric utilities in the country, according to research by PA Consulting Group. He oversees a $316-million budget and a staff of 340 people. Under his leadership, the utility earned a Platinum Reliability Award from the American Public Power Assn.
Regarding the interim city manager post, Davis said in a statement that he considers it an honor “to be entrusted with helping maintain the high standards we’ve come to expect here.”
Scott’s last day with the city will be Feb. 5. The employment contract states Davis will assume interim city manager duties the next day at his current salary level — nearly $11,100 every two weeks — and with the same benefits, plus a $500 car allowance.
Davis’ base pay in 2014 was $281,441, according to city records, the second-highest in the city behind Scott, who was paid $301,154. Gross pay and benefits amounted to more than $319,000 for Davis and more than $324,000 for Scott, the records show.
Davis will be eligible to apply for the permanent post, but the employment agreement will also give him the option to return to managing the utility.
The agreement lets the city council raise his pay at any time, but if he returns to managing the utility, his pay would revert to what it was prior to the agreement, plus any increases for his prior work as general manager and any other across-the-board increases to the city’s executive pay levels.
The city has also hired Avery and Associates to conduct a search for Scott’s permanent replacement.
The recruitment process will involve a public meeting seeking input to create the “ideal candidate profile” of attributes Burbankers want in a city manager, Talamantes said last week during a City Council meeting.
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Chad Garland, chad.garland@latimes.com
Twitter: @chadgarland
