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Published on 05/26/1999 All articles from this issue

LAH council begins process for new city manager

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Town Crier Staff Report

Los Altos Hills City Council members interviewed two candidates last week for interim city manager as they sought to fill a void created by the impending departure of Jeff Peterson.

"They were both very well qualified," said Councilwoman Elayne Dauber, who noted the council may appoint an interim manager by the second week in June. Peterson, who announced his resignation last month, plans on leaving his current post June 11 to join a Foster City-based engineering firm.

Dauber said the town will be advertising for a permanent city manager in a League of California Cities publication. The council will begin looking over resumés after June 30, Dauber said.

Peterson has had joint duties as city manager and city engineer the past four years.

In other action, the council denied a variance request by deadlocking 2-2 on an application by Bill and Patricia Burger of Menlo Park. Mayor Bob Johnson was not in attendance due to illness.

The council denied a variance request to exceed "allowable development area" for a lot on Westwind Way after the town planning commission voted 5-0 to deny the applicant's request for a site development permit at its April 14 meeting.

Council members also received a town hall inspection report from Peterson, which identified "a significant number of deficiencies with existing buildings." Peterson noted termite damage, inadequate foundation, roofs in need of replacement and the facilities not meeting current building codes.

"The inspection report lends a sense of urgency to the town hall replacement project in light of the condition of the building," Peterson noted, "especially in the areas of structural soundness and electrical system status and safety issues were noted that require prompt attention."

Carl Mileff & Associates of San Jose, which performed the inspection report, estimated replacement of town hall facilities could cost between $913,000 and $1.215 million.

Town hall replacement or repair will be a "top priority," Dauber said, in 1999-00 budget discussions slated to begin at a special meeting prior to the regular council meeting, June 3.