There is no longer any doubt — Miranda Lutzow is the Manteca City Council’s choice to serve as city manager without a qualifying asterisk.

Lutzow was awarded a contract to serve three years as city manager effective May 1 at an annual salary of $233,500 on a 4-1 vote on Tuesday with council member Dave Breitenbucher dissenting.

The council two months ago gave Lutzow a one-year contract ending in February 2021 to serve as interim city manager. The contract allowed Lutzow to return to her former job as administrative services director at the end of the contract if she chose to do so. That came after they appointed Lutzow as interim city manager effective Jan. 1 after she served as acting city manager after the council placed her predecessor Tim Ogden on paid administrative leave.

Then over a month ago a proposal was made to drop the term “interim” from Lutzow’s title while giving her a contract with no expiration date.

By removing the interim qualifier, it is expected to make recruiting to fill existing department head vacancies more effective. The vacancies are the top positions in finance, public works, and the city clerk’s office and now administrative services given Lutzow is the city manager voiding the interim contract. The police chief’s position may also be vacant depending upon what Lutzow does with Police Chief Jodie Estarziau who Lutzow placed on paid administrative leave in mid-November hours after she received an anonymous letter outlining complaints against how she was running the department.

The contract the council approved dropped a proposal to provide Lutzow with a city vehicle to drive to and from her home to work as well as to use for work purposes. Instead Lutzow will be provided as $300 monthly allowance to use her own vehicle. She will also receive a standard $120 a month cell phone allowance that department heads are allowed. Most cell phone service plans are $60 a month or less.

Wendy Benavides, who had to submit a public comment in advance due to social distancing requirements barring the public from the meeting, mirrored the position of other city hall critics that she believed the public would be better served if the council opted to conduct a wide search for city manager candidates.

Benavides decried the lack of transparency in the process that was made worse with the public not being able to actively share their thoughts given the meeting was closed to the public.

Making it clear Lutzow is the city manager as opposed to the interim city manager is expected to send a clear message to the public, developers, and employees as well as potential department heads who are being interviewed that Lutzow is not a caretaker city manager.

The council has entrusted her to lead efforts for a major reorganization of the city creating more departments in a bid they say to improve the efficient delivery of services and projects they expect to save money in the long run.
There is no law requiring councils to open up city manager positions to invite qualified candidates to apply. 

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com