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20141222 Late CorrespondenceCrTYOF RANCHO PALOS VERDES TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DEPUTY CITY CLERK DECEMBER 22, 2014 ADDITIONS/REVISIONS AND AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA** Attached are revisions/additions and/or amendments to the agenda material presented for tonight's meeting: Item No. Closed Session Respectfully submitted, Teresa Takaoka Description of Material Emails from: Christy Kelly; Jarel Wheaton; April Sandell; Kathy McKeithen; Amelia Nadal; Noel Park; Mickey Rodich; Mike Segrest; Betty Riedman; Paul Tetreault; Sharon Yarber; Herb Stark; Email exchange between Mayor Knight and Bill Widmer W :IAGENDA\2014 Additions Revisions to agendas\20141222 add itions revisions to agenda.doc From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Christy Kelly <2ckelly@gmail.com> Friday, December 19, 2014 12:19 PM CC; Carolynn Petru Is this our new City Manager? Atherton councilman Bill. .. News _Almanac Online _.pdf ref; Is this our new City Manager? Dear honorable City Council members, The attached article came to my attention via my Google Alert settings for RPV. It is the news of our City Manager selection. I am hopeful that the writer of this extremely poor portrayal of our new manager got it wrong in his reporting. Would we have hired a person that need not devote full time to the position? Would we allow 9 months of commuting? Would we hire a person that is so lackadaisical about our "fairly affluent .... beach community" and who has been "looking for something to do for a while"? If any of this article is valid, including Atherton's tone, then I am hoping we nip it in the bud and rescind the contract proposal. Carolyn is doing a remarkable job-please keep her in the position. Sincerely, Christy Kelly 3565 Starline Dr 1 From: Sent: To: Subject: Jarel Wheaton <jwheat2007@gmail.com> Saturday, December 20, 2014 12:07 PM cc New City Manager Article I just read the article in this morning's Daily Breeze and thought I'd provide a little feedback. First, the new city manager's resume sounds very interesting except for the lack are real hands-on city experience. While I'm a big advocate of adapting private industry best practices to improve city processes , it does concern me a little that experiencing those processes from the outside as a councilman in a small city may not be the same as actually executing the processes within our city. I trust the judgement and wisdom of those of you who were involved in the interviews to decide what is in the best interest of the city. I assume it was probably discussed during your closed sessions. Second, my compliments to Susan for the quote in the article about Mr. Widmer's commitment to his new job in RPV while remaining a council member in Atherton would be like "being in two marriages at the same time." Approval of his contract was placed at the end of the agenda on Tuesday and there was no significant discussion. I noted the comment about a rather large number of vacation and administrative leave days due to other commitments, so it's obvious his delay in making a real commitment to the new job was fully considered. That, combined with up to $27 ,000 to maintain a second residence in/near RPV (plus $10,000 in relocation expenses) is a clear indication that the RPV CC identified compelling reasons why having him spread between two cities for up to none months is in the best interests of RPV. I'm used to private industry, so this kind of flexibility is a little out of my comfort zone. It would help resolve some of the growing concerns if we understood the decision process more fully. It seems like someone coming into a new job, especially without hands-on municipal experience, would have a steep learning curve that would require a special effort at the beginning to learn the new organization and people .. not to mention the various and sometimes conflicting demands from council members. It sounds like he will be a non-resident for 9 months while he continues to perform as a councilman in his old role. The increased drama surrounding his role as councilman combined with the new drama developing on his lack of commitment to his new city manager role are very concerning. We haven't even met him yet and we have more drama that will probably lead to more distractions from achieving our goals. We really appreciate Carolyn Petru's support and dedication as acting city manager this year during the search for the new city manager. It certainly appears she will have to be very heavily involved behind the scenes until the new city manager is able to make a full commitment to his new job in RPV. Since the council voted 5-0 on the new city manager's contract, I would like to encourage you to share more of your rationale for the selection and 9-month phase in as an EARLY agenda item at an upcoming council meeting. That might help reduce some of the drama that seems to be developing on this end. It would also be helpful if he can comment on how the drama on the Atherton end is being handled so it doesn't further distract him from his new duties . Oh, one more thought. Is this similar to trial period for him? Since he can terminate his contract with 90-days notice, does that mean that he could leave us high and dry if during the first 9 months he decides to stay in Atherton? How firm is his commitment to move to/near RPV? 1 J are} Wheaton 2 From: Sent: To: Subject: April Sandell < hvybags@cox.net> Sunday, December 21, 2014 7:41 AM cc Bill Widmer/Special council meeting Monday Dear Mayor and Council Members, I hope the purpose of you're Special meeting tomorrow is to re-think the city contract with Mr. Widmer. He is skilled in the IT management and probably someone Dan Landon would love working with. However, he has pulled the "bully card" on the Mayor of Atherton. I don't know if his actions are due to his less restrictive freedom to speak as a volunteer city council member ....... but paid city managers don't usually speak that way to the Mayor. Moreover, character counts. Also, I don't think Wildmer "gets" that some residents are not comfortable with regular "face time" participation in city council meetings. Distancing his person from the table doesn't ' mean he wouldn't do a good and fair job ...... it just too much tech and not enough touch, so to speak. Thank you for your time and consideration. April 1 From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Kathy McKeithen < kathymckeithen@yahoo.com > Sunday, December 21, 2014 4:55 PM cc Bill Widmer Kathy McKeithen comments to Almanac Town Square re Bill Widmer Dec. 20 2014 .pdf; Kathy McKeithen Letter to Rancho Palos Verdes City Council December 21 2014 .pdf Please find a letter and an attachment I wish to be distributed as soon as possible to each member of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council regarding the potential employment of Mr. Bill Widmer as your City Manager. Many thanks . Kathy McKeithen 1 Kathy McKeithen 11 Maple Leaf Way Atherton, CA 9402 7 December 21, 2014 To the Honorable Members of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council: My name is Kathy McKeithen and I have resided in the Town of Atherton for 30 years. From 2000 to 2012 I was a member of the Atherton Town Council and was elected to serve as Mayor and Vice Mayor two times. I graduated from Smith College and Columbia Law School. I am writing to you today with regard to your consideration to hire Mr. Bill Widmer as your next City Manager. I understand that you intend to meet on December 22, 2014 to reconsider your offer to him, perhaps based on comments made to you by members of the Atherton community. I wish to tell you a bit not only about the nature of Atherton but also about the man Bill Widmer. Prior to 2000 I had no intention whatsoever to become involved in local government. Yet having witnessed several unfortunate events, I conducted an extensive one month public records request of virtually all town records and found truly alarming facts which were consequently reported in the local newspapers. I was asked to run for office. At the time, most members of the Council were people who had been on the Council for approximately 20 years or were relatives or close friends of those who were. It had been impossible to unseat them. Shortly after I decided to run for a seat, I received an anonymous phone call from a leading member of the California Republican Party telling me what a horrendous person I was and how dare I run for this position. He left no name. I star-69'd the number and left a message with the person (he had his name on the recording) offering to speak with him. He subsequently wrote me a letter of apology after learning the facts. As I ran for office, someone in the Town published a notice that there was a restraining order on me against a resident. I had to go to the County Records to prove this was not so. During my years in office I had my irrigation system cut several times after Council meetings, people in my backyard late at night dressed in black, an unsuccessful recall campaign led by someone who later apologized saying she had initiated it based on misleading information, police surrounding my house while I was on vacation but later claiming not to have done so (but neighbors saying it had occurred), and countless other incidents of harassment in an effort to force me out of office -even going so far as defame my dead father. At one point in time my husband was told by a former colleague, who was then working high up in California Government, that there was a campaign on to investigate the backgrounds of my children. Another time a prominent Silicon Venture Capitalist colleague of my husband's was told by a group of women to pressure my husband to have me "back off' or else my husband's job could be in jeopardy -the colleague refused. You may well ask why. Atherton is a town of wealthy people who want what they want. This includes the homes they want, often without regard to building codes, tree ordinances, zoning laws, construction rules, noise standards or other code enforcement. Prior to our current police chief, our police force -which accounts for more than 50% of our non-capital budget --was, to put it mildly, loosely run. Any questions raised with regard to this group were and still can be met with rather unfortunate consequences. At a time when it was it was projected that our town was facing bankruptcy in a few years, it was said by a resident that to even simply analyze the financial consequences of outsourcing our police would lead to World War III. Emotions run high in Atherton. These are just a couple of examples. During my time on the Atherton Town Council I met a great many council members from other communities. They often remarked on the personality of our community and it was frequently not pleasant to hear. I do not know why we are the way we are, but I wish to stress that it should not be the basis of your judgment of Bill Widmer however cogent community members' arguments may seem. Few attend meetings. Even fewer know who Bill Widmer really is and what he has done. I have attached a statement made on the local newspaper's Town Square concerning Bill Widmer. Having interviewed applicants for the position oOf City Manager several times, I only wish we had had a Bill Widmer apply. I know what he can do, his work ethic, his ability to find solutions to difficult problems. I believe he would make an outstanding City Manager. I would be happy to speak with you regarding him or offer you the names of other people who have spent time working with him. My telephone number is 650-321- 3633. Yours sincerely, Kathy McKeithen The Almanac --Town Square Comments -December 20, 2014 -Kathy McKeithen It is with great sadness that I have read the derogatory comments posted here regarding Bill Widmer, a man who has served the Town of Atherton with his heart and soul. As I read these remarks, I cannot help but wonder how many of you have actually attended Council meetings on a regular basis? How many have witnessed the interaction between Council members and the degree to which they are prepared or appear to know what they are talking about? Do you know that Bill Widmer is frequently the one who is willing to compromise in order to find a solution to a problem (do not merely believe me -the Almanac noted this fact in endorsing him and refusing to endorse another candidate)? Insofar as most Council meetings are sparsely attended, it would appear that most "insight" (including many of these Town Square comments) might be based on potential vindictive social gossip and what is read in the papers. - a poor substitute for first hand knowledge. You fail even to have the courage of conviction to give your names. At least one of you has tried to post multiples times under aliases -rather pathetic I would say. Several years ago the Town of Atherton was on the verge of bankruptcy-this is not speculation --this is a fact that has been documented in the Council papers. Bill Widmer was one of the leaders who made the difficult decisions that steered Atherton on the right course, a course which (together with record real estate taxes) has allowed the Town to spend more money on its police, code enforcement, trees and many other services than it has ever spent before. Bill has helped to secure Atherton's long-term health for the future. This includes helping to avoid potential litigation that looked likely to surface, working for almost a year to analyze extensively potential refuse rates in order to secure the best rate practicable, revising outdated purchasing and other Atherton policies, providing for an irrevocable PERS trust, formulating an IT policy and so very much more almost none of you reading this will ever know about. And what is Bill's payment? Generally, grief. Bill Widmer is an honorable, trustworthy, honest man. He is without guile, smart, selfless and an incredibly hard worker. I have co-chaired three search committees for new Town Managers during the 12 years I was on the Town Council and I have reviewed probably over two hundred resumes. Were I to have received Bill Widmer's resume I would, no doubt, be impressed. As I and my fellow Council members have reviewed these resumes we have found that the pool of applicants for the Town Manager position is not what one would expect -many are not of a high caliber. Bill Widmer is. As for government experience ... Bill Widmer has absorbed an incredible amount of government knowledge in his four years on the Council, probably more than many of the applicants we have interviewed. To the extent he might not know something, he is the kind of person who is not afraid to admit it. To the extent he needs to learn, he is the hardest worker I know. I do not know why Bill Widmer wants to stay on the Atherton Town Council and simultaneously work in Rancho Palos Verdes approximately 400 miles away. Perhaps he has some unfinished business here in a town he loves. Perhaps the parties want to make sure the fit is right. For whatever the reason, who are we to question him? He has done right by our Town and he has a right to make a livelihood. We hired our own Town Manager over two years ago on the basis that he would move within a few months to Atherton from Marin County, yet he continues to commute and so far as I know will continue to do so for as long as he holds the position. He apparently has done so good a job that he has received salary increases as well. He even recommended Mr. Widmer for the job in Rancho Palos Verdes. I have heard that there are those in this Town who are now trying to interfere with Mr. Widmer's position in Rancho Palos Verdes. Shame on them. It is not enough to say untruthful things about him anonymously in a Town Square, now some feel the need to reach further. Why? Because Mr. Widmer has questioned what he sees as unnecessary expenses? Because he has tried to protect Atherton taxpayers? Because he is doing his job? We should thank Bill Widmer for being willing to stand up for us all in the face of adversity and wish him Godspeed. In the event a position in Rancho Palos Verdes and serving on the Atherton Town Council should prove to be too much, Bill Widmer will unquestionably be the first to admit it and do what is right by us all. If you truly know him, you know him to be that kind of man. From: Sent: To: Subject: Amelia Nadal <amelia .nadal@cox.net> Sunday, December 21, 2014 10:47 PM cc City Manager Dear Rancho Palos Verdes City Council, The situation regarding the hiring of a new City Manager has come to my attention. As a citizen of Rancho Palos Verdes I do not endorse the hiring of the current prospect for City Manager. Shouldn't the City Manager be fully vested in our community? Why could you not hire the person who has stepped into that position and fulfilled its requirements flawlessly? Just wondering what is going on. Thank you. Amelia Nadal 1 From: Sent: To: Subject: NOEL PARK <noel@jdcorvette.com> Monday, December 22, 2014 8:26 AM cc City Manager This is in response to the Daily Breeze article, "RPV exec torn between cities?", Saturday, December 20: You have GOT to be kidding! I certainly hope that you haven't paid "Bob Murray & Associates" yet. If that's the best they can do, they are clearly in the wrong business. I have stayed out of this up to now out of sort of mixed emotions. But I am bound to say that Carolyn Petru is looking pretty good right now. Noel Park 6715 El Rodeo Road Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 (562) 413-5147 cell 10 i This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active . 1 From: Sent: To: Subject: Mickey Radich <mickeyrodich@gmail.com> Monday, December 22, 2014 10:47 AM cc New City Manager I am sending this email in disgust at the turn of events, after you hired a new City Manager. I don't understand how you, our duly elected City Council, who just hired this new City Manager a week ago, are second guessing your own choice. It does not make sense. You hired a very respected search firm to find a new City Manager. They provided you with 49 candidates that you systematically narrowed down to six and then vetted them down to two candidates, before making your final decision. I trust your judgement and you were unanimous in your selection, so why second-guess yourselves? I think this should be a time for unity and not division. You need to follow your choice and be working together so that this new era for RPV will be a positive beginning for our new City Manager and not a continuation of the previous era where the City Manager ran our City instead of our duly elected City Council. It seems that you are listening to outside special interests that do not respect your judgement and choice and are trying to create a division among you. We the residents will suffer the most, if you allow this to happen . 1 From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Segrest Mike <dmsegrest@gmail.com> Monday, December 22, 2014 10:23 AM cc City Manager Resume CA.doc I have followed with interest you current situation with the hiring of your new City Manager. Obviously you are facing some challenging decisions. I would like to offer my services as Interim City Manager to give you time to sort things out and give your new City Manager time to work through the transition and terminate his obligations in Atherton. Being a new City Manager requires a great deal of time and more than full-time commitment to Rancho Palos Verdes. Whether you select me to provide you with interim services or someone else, I believe you should consider this option. it will still allow you to hire your selected candidate for the long-term, but will avoid putting him in a compromised situation from the start. I wish you the best in your deliberations. I have attached my resume for your consideration. I did apply for the permanent position, but if you select me as interim I would not be a candidate for the full-time position even if you reopen it. That would compromise my ability to serve you during the interim . Sincerely, Mike Segrest 1 D. Michael Segrest Proven track record as an effective leader in reducing cost of services, increasing non- tax revenues, balancing budgets, financing and managing projects, inspiring employees, achieving community objectives, and managing all city services. Experience/Positions Held (budget amounts in present value dollars): Local Goverrunent Consultant, June 2011 to present • Specializing in interim management, strategic planning, strategic resource management, economic development, infrastructure financing, non-tax revenue, and management audits. • Contract General Manager -Pasadena Glen Community Services District. • Management Audit -San Juan Capistrano Water and Sewer Department. • "Integrated Fund Management" © analysis -City of Martinez, CA. • Golf Course Management Study -Commerce City, CO Town of Moraga, California Town Manager, March 2009 to November 2010 • Increased the General Fund reserve by over 30%. • Secured first public financing for the Town with a AA+ rating • Completed Specific Plan for redevelopment of the downtown. • Updated and secured certification of the Town's Housing Element. • Initiated new community outreach program including email newsletter, focus groups and educational program on Town's financial condition . • Established Economic Development Office using volunteer staff. • Negotiated agreements with all bargaining units saving over $400,000. • Resigned due to climate causing health issues for spouse. Town of Snowmass Village, Colorado Town Manager, June 2002 to November 2006 • $53 Million budget and 135 FTE. • Secured approval for a 700,000 sq. ft. redevelopment project with $20 million in developer provided infrastructure and community amenities. • Moved Town from a $300,000/yr deficit to a $400,000/yr surplus, and restored positions in police and public works. • Secured financing for first town hall, recreation center (with solar energy), employee housing project, and community park. • Established public information office and community outreach program. • Initiated innovative "form based" planning model for redevelopment. • Increased services of community wide transit system. • Resigned to care for aging parents. Segrest Resume, page 2 City of Lakewood, Colorado Director of Community Resources, 1993 to 2001 • $45 Million budget and 180 FTE. • Managed Parks, Golf, Recreation, Housing Authority, Human Services, Cultural Arts, Historic Museum, and maintained all city facilities. • Served on team to plan major redevelopment project to replace a regional shopping center with new mixed-use development. • Reorganized department to cut costs and increase accountability. • Secured over $2 million per year in new grant funding. • Secured funding for over $30 million in facilities including community centers, parks, an art center, historic museum, and golf course. • · Negotiated the assimilation of a major park and recreation special district and secured $50 million in facilities at no cost to the city. City of Boulder, Colorado Assistant City Manager, 1990 to 1993 • Preparation and management of a $148 Million budget (900 FTE). • Supervised all city functions including Finance, Budget, Planning, Utilities, Public Works, Transportation, Parks and Recreation, Fire, Police, Libraries, Urban Renewal, Airport, and Human Services. • Secured funding for a $50 million capital improvement program. • Created a fleet replacement program saving over $3 million. • Streamlined the planning review process. • Developed a comprehensive facility management program. Director of Parks and Recreation, 1979 to 1990 • $25 Million budget and 200 FTE. • Managed the Downtown Boulder Mall and worked with merchants and Mall Commission on development proposals and commercial activities. • Managed enterprises generating $5 million/yr in non-tax revenues. • Coordinated a multi-departmental $30 million capital improvement bond issue for Libraries, Fire, Police, and Parks and Recreation. • Financed, designed and constructed a major recreation center, numerous parks, and a greenbelt system along Boulder's creeks and tributaries. City of Austin, Texas Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation, 197 4 to 1979 • $35 Million budget and 350 FTE. • Supervised all operational functions of the department. • Managed design and construction of 3 recreation centers, Town Lake Park, two golf courses, arts center, sports complex and botanical garden. Segrest Resume, page 3 Education/professional development: Bachelor of Science Degree in Park Administration-Texas Tech University Organization Management*-University of Phoenix Executive Development Program Graduate-University of Illinois Rocky Mountain Program Graduate-University of Colorado School of Public Affairs Revenue Development and Management School Graduate-National Recreation and Park Association Certified Public Policy Facilitator Member, International City/County Management Association References (to be contacted only after mutual interest is established): Michael Manchester, Former Mayor Snowmass Village, C0--970-379-4411 Mere Mercatoris, Former Mayor Snowmass Village, C0--970-923-5928 Dave Trotter, Former Mayor Moraga, CA--925-935-3300 Dave Knapp, Former City Manager Cupertino, CA & Boulder, C0-84 7-714-3114 Mike Metcalf, Former Mayor Moraga, CA--925-376-4315 * Graduate studies oriented toward private sector management. Completed approximately 2/3 of the course work for this program to improve understanding and appreciation for private sector management approaches that could be applied to the public sector. From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: BW Riedman <rabbit943@gmail.com> Monday, December 22, 2014 12:56 PM cc CityClerk; CityManager City Manager Position, Rancho Palos Verdes Dear Mayor Knight, Mayor Pro Tern Brooks, Councilman Campell, Councilman Duhovic and Councilman Misetich: Let me get this straight .... After spending a boatload of money on consultants to ferret out the best possible candidates for our vacant City Manager position, you chose Bill Widmer and offered him a salary of $215,000 per year plus up to $10,000 moving expenses and $3000/month for temporary housing for up to nine months which he accepted and signed a contract for same. You must have known that he was a member of the Atherton City Council. Did you just assume that he was going to resign from that position to come to RPV? Did you even bother to ask? Being City of Manager of RPV is NOT a part-time position. lfhe was serious about being our City Manager, he should have been prepared to IMMEDIATELY resign from the Atherton City Council, sell his house that is under construction, and move to RPV. It is plainly obvious that he wants to wear two hats -which, in this case, will not work. As a resident of RPV, it is my opinion that if you hire this man on this basis, you are doing a great disservice to the residents you purportedly serve. Tell him, thanks but no thanks and void that contract. We need someone that can devote all his time, energy and effort to our community. To say that I will be extremely disappointed in you if you hire this man under those terms is i:i. massive understatement. Now how much more money are we going to have to expend to find another candidate? Hopefully one of the candidates passed over will be qualified and still interested. Betty Riedman 3668 Cliffsite Drive, RPV 310-541-8470 1 From: Sent: To: Subject: Paul Tetreault <paul@agajanianlaw.com> Monday, December 22, 2014 1:00 PM jim_knight@juno.com; Susan Brooks <Subrooks08@gmail.com>; Brian Campbell < b.camp@cox.net>; mizie@cox.net; jduhovic@hotmail.com; CC; Carolynn Petru; clynch@reglaw.com City Manager Contract Honorable Mayor and Members ofthe City Council: I read with interest that the search for a new City Manager had come down to two very capable candidates and that the contract had been awarded, on December 16, to Councilman William Widmer of Atherton, California. The search had taken considerable time and attracted some four dozen applications. The fact that Councilman Widmer has just recently been re-elected to his city's City Council was known to our City Council and it was assumed that he would resign that position upon accepting the contract to be the Rancho Palos Verdes City Manager beginning January 1, 2015. By news accounts, Councilman Widmer has thrown both cities into turmoil by not agreeing to step down as a member of the Atherton City Council upon starting as City Manager for Rancho Palos Verdes. Both cities require him to reside in or near the city that he serves. He apparently has a house in Atherton under construction and has or plans to obtain an apartment in or near Rancho Palos Verdes. Through statements to the Daily Breeze it appears that Councilman Widmer has a number of irons in the fire up in Atherton relating to his elected position and as a member of the regional South Bayside Waste Management Authority that he believes he cannot drop at this time . . Councilman Widmer applied for the job as RPV City Manager before he was re-elected to the Atherton City Council. He could not know at that time if there would be a conflict of interest between serving two cities back then. But that election was on November 4 and although he won his seat by a mere 29 votes, he had known for several weeks by the time that you awarded him the contract that he had been re-elected. He cannot serve both communities, effectively or legally. Along with the rest of his fellow members of the Atherton City Council, he serves on several county and regional boards. He is not the only member of the Atherton City Council on any of those boards which are populated by members of many other agencies. Although his input and contributions on these boards may be considerable, there are several other members serving with him. If his presence on these boards is truly irreplaceable, he should have considered that before applying for a job that would require him to resign. Councilman Widmer's reluctance to resign his position as a City Councilman before assuming the position as City Manager for Rancho Palos Verdes shows a poor lack of understanding regarding his obligations to these two cities. This is the very first decision he has to make regarding his new job as City Manager and without question, he has chosen quite unwisely. He has put all of you in a bad position and angered the Mayor and others in Atherton for refusing to resign. This is a really bad way to start a new job - -and to end an old one. If the statements attributed to him by Megan Barnes of the Daily Breeze and Barbara Wood of The Almanac, Atherton's local paper, are accurate, you should withdraw the contract immediately. You cannot give him "nine months to decide what [he] need[s] to do." His focus has to be here and he cannot be allowed to split his time (and loyalty) like that. 1 Councilman Widmer has put you all in a very bad position. There are red flags waiving all around him. His actions as well as your decision to hire him will be scrutinized very closely. What should have been a time of celebration has been turned into a nightmare in two cities. You have discretion in this regard. Please use it to end this controversy. Paul Tetreault Ranch Palos Verdes 2 From: Sent: To: Subject: Dear Members of the Council, momofyago <momofyago@gmail.com> Monday, December 22, 2014 1:22 PM cc City Manager I am very disturbed by what is going on in the City. You have jointly selected the top candidate for City Manager from a field of candidates garnered from the costly efforts of your hand selected, first pick recruiting expert. You selected someone who has the experience that residents asked for in the town hall meetings and surveys; someone with extensive private sector background as opposed to a career civil servant. It is time for you to allow Mr. Wisner to start his new job next week. If it turns out that you made an error and hired someone unfit for the position you have available to you the right under the contract to fire him for cause. Please do the right thing and move forward with your new city manager and let him demonstrate the skill set for which he was chosen not only by you but by Bob Murray. Sharon Yarber Sent 1h:im my Verizon Wi1dcss 4G LTE snHHl:phone 1 Nathan Zweizig From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Dear City Council, ptl 7stearman@gmail.com on behalf of Herb Stark < herbertstark@cox.net> Monday, December 22, 2014 3:14 PM cc CityClerk New City Manager After reading the article on the new City Manager in the Daily Breeze I am astounded that after spending almost a full year, consultants, staff time and money we selected someone that is not committed to the City. If I believe what was published, he does not intend to resign from the Atherton City Council for which he was just elected. Further he is building a new house in Atherton. Did not the City Council know at the time of his commitment to Athertion? I would think that by now you would have learned that we need a full time manager. I would like to point out that the last time the City had an emergency, Portuguese Bend Fires, the City Manager was at City Hall coordinating the City's business and providing information to the residents. Since you cannot predict the next disaster an absentee Manager will not work. Susan Brooks is correct he should resign his position immediately on accepting the City Managers position. Anything else is unacceptable. Herb Stark 32306 Phantom Dr. RPV 1 Carolynn Petru From: Sent: To: Subject: Carolynn, Jim Knight <knightjim33@gmail.com> Monday, December 22, 2014 4:37 PM Carolynn Petru Notice to Mr. Widmer Here is the e-mail I had sent to Mr. Widmer on Dec. 20th informing him of our closed session on Monday. Please include it in late correspondence. Jim Bill, Thank you for your e-mail. I wanted to confirm that we as a Council are meeting at 7pm Monday evening to discuss your status of employment as City Manager for Rancho Palos Verdes. If the Council wishes to further clarify anything I would like to confirm that we can reach you at either or your cell at Thank you, Jim Knight Jim Knight Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor 30940 Hawthorne Blvd. RPV, CA 90275 310/544-5207 cell 310/318-4290 Mr. Widmer's response on Dec. 20th: OK. The numbers are fine. Office or home Bill are best. Cell coverage can be spotty. 1