Glendale City Manager Starbird decides to stay put

Tim Willert

The Glendale City Council made City Manager Jim Starbird an offer he

couldn’t refuse earlier this week, agreeing to increase his pay and

autonomy in order to keep him from bolting for more peaceful climes.

After meeting Monday night, the council pledged its support for

Starbird, thwarting a possible move to Burbank to become the city’s

chief executive. Burbank City Manager Bud Ovrom’s last day was

Friday. He accepted a job heading Los Angeles’ Community

Redevelopment Agency.

“I knew there was a possibility of Jim considering employment with

the city of Burbank because they called me and told me they would be

approaching him,” Glendale Mayor Rafi Manoukian said.

The Glendale council agreed to raise Starbird’s base salary from

$15,790 a month to $16,343 -- effective Feb. 1, and give him an

additional 3% raise Feb. 1, 2004. The council also agreed to double

Starbird’s severance package to 12 months if he is fired.

Starbird, who is not a civil-service employee, serves at the

pleasure of the council.

Starbird came under fire from Glendale Councilman Bob Yousefian,

who publicly criticized Starbird earlier this month over the

selection of Steve Zurn to succeed Kerry Morford as Glendale Public

Works director. Yousefian questioned whether Zurn was chosen fairly,

and called for more council say in the selection process.