Parks director moves up in city
Ryan Carter
After three years as director of Park, Recreation and Community
Services, Mike Flad is moving up. Flad has been appointed assistant
city manager and will begin his new duties effective today, City
Manager Mary Alvord said Tuesday.
“I think he is the right person at the right time,” said Alvord,
who selected Flad last week following a lengthy recruitment process.
“I think he has got a wealth of experience that varies from a stint
in finance to risk management.”
Flad, a 37-year-old Burbank native and graduate of John Burroughs
High School, has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from
UCLA and a master’s in public administration from Cal State
Northridge.
“I am absolutely thrilled with the decision, and look forward to
assisting Mary and the department directors in continuing to provide
the highest level of municipal service,” he stated in a press release
issued by the city.
Flad went to work for the city in 1988 as a trainee while still in
college. He moved from police cadet through several positions,
including workers’ compensation director. He was named Burbank parks
director in 2000, following a brief stint as assistant city manager
in Ukiah, Calif.
Alvord said that job gave him a sense of what it means to run a
city, and when he returned to Burbank he immediately gained the favor
of city department directors. Alvord said the trust of the city’s
executive team played a significant role in his appointment.
Flad will be responsible for managing the city’s day-to-day
operations along with capital projects and neighborhood issues,
Alvord said. Flad will be paid between $10,303 and $12,518 per month.
Between now and the end of the year, Flad will work with Interim
Assistant City Manager Dave Newsham on making the transition.
Newsham has been the acting assistant city manager since March,
when Alvord succeeded Bud Ovrom as city manager. Ovrom left to become
community development director for the city of Los Angeles.
Eric Hansen, deputy director of the city’s parks department, will
serve as director until a replacement for Flad can be found. Hansen
is not interested in being the permanent director, city officials
said. Alvord said a recruitment process will ensue, and could last
until 2004.