Council Near Decision on City Administrator

Efforts to hire a new city administrator could conclude this morning when the City Council meets privately to discuss and evaluate remaining candidates.

“I expect a decision,” Mayor Raul Godinez II said.

The name of the person selected for the city’s top nonelective post could be announced today or at the council’s biweekly meeting Monday evening, he said.

A decision was expected July 18 after council members interviewed candidates, but the announcement was delayed so that applicants could be questioned further.

The council has slowly reduced the field from eight candidates to three, although the names of the finalists have not been revealed.

Council members said they seek an administrator with experience in economic development who also can work well with the city’s diverse population.

Howard Miura, director of the Community Development and Planning Department, became interim city administrator in July 1997 after longtime administrator Mary Strenn resigned. Miura said he does not seek to fill the post permanently.

The council meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month in its chambers at 117 Macneil St.