Thursday, May 24, 2012

STORYLINE Sacramento City Hall / Politics

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Interim City Manager Gus Vina’s resignation comes just weeks before the city must propose a budget for the next fiscal year.

In Sacramento’s city government, the city manager prepares a proposed budget and the City Council makes final budget decisions. Vina told the Sacramento Press on Friday afternoon that the proposed budget will be on time even though he is leaving April 8.

“We are very close to finishing the proposed budget,” Vina said. “It will be ready to meet the May 1 deadline … I committed to council that I would get the budget done and I will.”

He said he was leaving because he was not supported by the full City Council. “I need to move on and pursue other opportunities because I feel that for a city manager to be effective, you really have to have the confidence of the entire council,” he said. “I don’t feel that’s the case right now.”

The City Council voted 5-4 on Jan. 25 against promoting Vina to the permanent city manager position.

Council members Sandy Sheedy, Rob Fong, Kevin McCarty, Darrell Fong and Bonnie Pannell voted to conduct a national search for a new city manager.

Mayor Kevin Johnson said then that the council felt that Vina did a “great job” as interim city manager.

Vina said in February that he planned to compete in the national search.

It’s unclear at this point who will replace Vina as interim city manager, said city spokesoman Maurice Chaney. The City Council will decide the next steps, Chaney said.

“In terms of identifying who will fill that void, (that) has yet to be determined,” Chaney said.

The City Council selected Vina for the interim post one year ago. Former City Manager Ray Kerridge resigned in February 2010.

Read in-depth coverage of the impact of Vina’s resignation Sunday.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Editorial Note: This is an updated version of an earlier story.

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Conversation Express your views, debate, and be heard with those in your area closest to the issue.

Lee Middleton

March 25, 2011 | 10:42 AM

Not only is City Hall an awful place to work, it's obviously a very unhealthy environment as well. To work and have to produce results under stress and the “blame-games” among Sacramento city’s “leaders” should be enough for anyone in their right mind to throw in the towel and say, “I’m out of here!” Good for you, Gus Vina! You were insulted enough! Now let’s see who takes charge. No one comes to mind. Absolutely no one! What a mess and an embarrassment to the city.

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PocketGOPer

March 25, 2011 | 1:09 PM

Just remember that Rob Fong is the leader of this anti-business, pro-city labor union faction of the council and his famous quote regarding his constituents: "Well I didn't ask them what they want me to do cause I've never asked people what they wanted me to do or how they wanted me to vote." Rob Fong, Sheedy, McCarty, Darrell Fong and Pannell all led to Vina's resignation. I for one seriously doubt any person of caliber will even bother to apply for this job.

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LisaB23

March 25, 2011 | 9:36 PM

We'll get another disaster like Mr. Kerridge most likely

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bestathair1

March 26, 2011 | 11:54 PM

Darrel Fong is the best member on the City Council. He isn't even taking in a salary, while the other Council members get paid handsomely. Darrel Fong is trustworthy and has alot of integrity.

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cogmeyer

edited on March 25, 2011 | 1:55 PM

I didn't think that Gus Vina was really the right guy for this job. But any criticism of his performance pales in comparison to the complete lack leadership and action from our elected City Council. He made a good career move to separate himself away from this council of bumblers and complainers.

It is comical that a guy like Rob Fong thinks he is next in line for the mayor's seat when he can't even lead fellow council members to agree on a strategy to replace a city manager.

We have a city council that is quick to agree on nonsense like condemning the Iraq war, boycotting Arizona and approving half-baked "crash taxes". But it seems like working on behalf of their constituents on issues actually pertinent to the city is beneath them or something.

We really need this old guard of dusty do-nothings Rob Fong, McCarty, Sheedy and Pannell voted out of office in 2012.

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MyQuest

edited on March 25, 2011 | 2:38 PM

To loose two city managers in 13 months, during budgeting, is not a city leadership problem. It's a leadership crisis.

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Zackridge

March 25, 2011 | 2:48 PM

A real opportunity for the Council to pull together and fill the void in leadership.

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Lee Middleton

March 25, 2011 | 3:09 PM

The City Council has no idea what the word "opportunity" means. They had their chance and they blew it big time...

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IZonTruth

March 25, 2011 | 10:50 PM

Time for more changes in top management!

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cogmeyer

March 25, 2011 | 4:35 PM

In the picture at the top of the article, Gus looks like a character in a Southwest Airlines "Want to get away?" ad.

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Rhys02

March 25, 2011 | 5:39 PM

It is getting harder and harder for KJ and the rest of the Council to blame everyone else for their lack of vision and leadership...

Vina's resignation is probably the strongest argument yet against giving the Council OR the Mayor any more power. If they had to apply for their jobs, I doubt if any would even make a best qualified list much less be selected based on demonstrated skill sets and experience.

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Ben Ilfeld

March 25, 2011 | 11:02 PM

Sounds great, so who get the power when we take it away from the elected officials?

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Rhonda Erwin

March 25, 2011 | 9:46 PM

Vina stated, " “I need to move on and pursue other opportunities because I feel that for a city manager to be effective, you really have to have the confidence of the entire council,” he said. “I don’t feel that’s the case right now.”

1) Kudo's to anyone who wants to move on, pursue other opportunities….
2) I think to be effective you don't necessarily have to have the confidence of the entire council--but YOU DO have to have confidence in yourself.

Vina's resignation is probably the strongest argument why the council should have decided to search nationwide. Vina could have competed for the position shown himself to be a strong candidate and convince some on the council to see his strength. But he decided to resign. You can't have tissue paper feelings and manage a city.

In my opinion, the city manager has to be strong- strong enough to fight off the wolves some of whom are in sheep’s clothing and to be honest I hadn't seen that fighter strength in Vina. He's a nice guy, I know wherever he goes he will be an asset and do his best. ....

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Rich E.

March 26, 2011 | 6:42 AM

on the flip side of that coin, he does have to feel insulted in the delay in the process. in the private industry it would be like a position opening up at a higher level, i apply for it, they assure me they are interested but for the sake of the "legality" of the situation they need to put an ad in the paper and then continue to delay the advertisement of the job. what vina is basically saying is "it is obvious they don't want me, so i am moving on". unfortunately no one on the council has the coconuts to say they don't want vina so they are letting him flounder out there in the breeze. vina may or may not be the best person for the permanent job, but the council has yet again messed up another situation that shouldn't have received as much press as it has.

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JOS

edited on March 26, 2011 | 10:35 AM

Sorry Rhonda, I feel Rich E has it right on, IMO. Your "tissue paper" and self confidence reference to Vina is off base. Everyone I know who either worked under Vina or dealt with him felt he was a straight shooter and a fair person to work with/for. Two city managers walking away in a years time is reflective of the council, not them.

This is a complete and utter failure of the council. The members who didn't want to hire Vina have no idea what they want, so a national search will probably be a debacle. I have no opinion of the Strong-mayor idea, but feel this current WEAK council is going to give it momentum. Ironically, the council members most strongly against the SMI are the one who are helping it along with their short sighted leadership.

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Rhonda Erwin

March 26, 2011 | 5:13 PM

Rich, I see what you mean but I don't know that he was assured they were interested in him having the position permanently and that it was for legality.... I didn't think they were delaying it I thought they were letting him know he is eligible to apply but they were going to see what is still out there... He shouldn't feel, "it's obvious they don't want me...." I would feel 'the city has obstacles to overcome, a huge deficit, mismanagement.... I think I am the best person for the job so I will put my best foot forward but if their is someone more qualified to run this city that I love then I understand being passed over for the position" and work harder to fill the position at a later date or another of equal or greater value here or elsewhere that I may be needed.... But that's just me. I don't think he should take it personal.... when i feel it is business. The city does need to look for the best man/ woman for the job here or elsewhere..... I also agree it really shouldn't have received this much press.....I think we're making a mountain out of a molehill..... But that's just my opinion

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Rhonda Erwin

March 26, 2011 | 5:22 PM

JOS: I never said Vina was not a straight shooter or a fair person to work with or for. In fact I thought perhaps that's the reason the council didn't explain their reasoning. I like the guy and I think he is a nice guy. I wrote, "you can't have tissue paper feelings and run a city" I did not say Vina has tissue paper feelings. However the article states, “...I need to move on and pursue other opportunities because I feel that for a city manager to be effective, you really have to have the confidence of the entire council...I don’t feel that’s the case right now." Having read it again, I stand by my comment, regarding tissue paper feelings and confidence. It seems a confident person wouldn't care if they were supported by the entire council but would prove them wrong and still compete and put their best foot forward. I wouldn't care what they thought of me, and it wouldn't hurt my feelings, if I felt I was qualified and could do the job.... But that's just my opinion.

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LisaB23

March 25, 2011 | 10:00 PM

he's likely very close to snagging a much better job elsewhere - who can blame him for taking a job in another city that proabably has a lot less BS to deal with daily than this place.

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justdafax

March 26, 2011 | 8:39 AM

Finally! How many ways can you see move on? Now lose more of the fat cats at top management. It will help save the jobs of people that actually work at the city.

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