By Sarah Lombardo
Recently ousted City Manager Harry Peacock has been offered a position as city manager of affluent Malibu in Southern California, the Saratoga News has learned.
Peacock would not comment on the offer, except to confirm it has been made. Peacock said he has been offered jobs in several cities, including one in San Diego County and one in Northern California, but that the offers are "nothing that he can talk about."
The Malibu City Council is expected to approve the contract for Peacock this week. That City Council, described as aggressively "no-growth," ousted its own city manager, David Carmany, in August.
Mark Lorimer, interim city manager for the city of Malibu, said he could not comment on the city's search for a new manager, reported in a Malibu newspaper. "Our negotiations with our candidates are confidential and have not been made public by the city at this point," he said.
Peacock said that he and his wife plan to put their Saratoga home on the market and have been "packing a few things up."
Peacock was terminated by the City Council Feb. 19. Councilmembers said they felt his philosophy as a city manager no longer reflected residents' desire for a no-growth policy on development. He had been with Saratoga for 11 years.Peacock's departure comes at a time when the city is facing a budget shortfall of $1.4 million from the loss of the utility users tax in November, Saratoga merchants are trying to promote themselves and compete with outside area malls, and the city is engaged in several lawsuits. The current climate of the city has led some to wonder just how easy it will be for the city to find someone to replace Peacock.
"I do think that it will be a challenge to find someone to serve as city manager of the caliber that I believe the City Council will want and of the caliber that I believe the residents will expect," Public Works Director and Acting City Manager Larry Perlin said. "Saratoga is going through some very difficult times right now financially and organizationally, and it's not the kind of environment right now that city managers are eager to get involved with."
Citing Peacock's education and experience, Perlin said he doubted the city would ever find someone as knowledgeable as Peacock. "Is it going to be easy to find someone who can fill those shoes? Absolutely not," Perlin said. "I think it will be a miracle to find someone who has half the talent and the background as Harry."
Councilman Jim Shaw seemed a little more optimistic about finding a replacement.
"I'm thinking there is somebody out there who can meet the objectives of the council," Shaw said. "I think it's going to take a certain kind of person who is not on the fast track and doesn't regard Saratoga as a stepping stone."
Peacock, 55, has 30 years of municipal service and holds a master's degree and a doctorate from the University of California. A native of San Diego, he previously was city manager of Rolling Hills Estates in Southern California.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, March 12, 1997.
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