Clearlake City Council appoints new city administrator

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council has selected a new city administrator.


Tully Clifford, the current chief administrative officer of Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, Canada, was approved following a closed session discussion at a special Tuesday night council meeting.


Mayor Joyce Overton, Vice Mayor Joey Luiz and Council member Jeri Spittler voted to hire Clifford.

 

Council members Judy Thein and Curt Giambruno, who had missed part of the selection process, abstained, Luiz said.

 

The council will hold a discussion on June 9 to finalize the contract and take public input, Luiz said.


Luiz said Clifford was the No. 1 choice from the beginning in a process that included a total of about 18 applicants, with four candidates who were especially strong.


“I think we made a really good decision,” said Luiz following the Tuesday night meeting.


He said Clifford “seemed to be the best fit.”


In addition to his administrative experience, Clifford offers the city another benefit – he has a civil engineering degree, said Luiz.


When City Engineer Bob Galusha retires later this year, Luiz said Clifford will take on the city engineer's role in addition to his city administrator's duties. That will allow the city to bring back a planner position.


Clifford's three-year contract includes an annual salary of $120,000 the first year, with 3- and 5-percent raises in the second and third years, respectively, Luiz said.


The contract also will give Clifford a $10,000 relocation allowance and a 12-week severance package, according to Luiz.


“I think it's a responsible contract,” Luiz said.


On May 19 Clifford gave his notice – citing “personal reasons” – to officials at Crowsnest Pass. His resignation is effective June 15, according to a report from the Crowsnest Pass Herald.


He'd returned to his native Canada last November, when he left his job as public works director of the city of Solvang, the Santa Ynez Valley Journal reported.


Clifford's other jobs have included transportation engineer positions at the city of Santa Barbara and the city of Calgary, Alberta, director of traffic engineering for the city of Scottsdale, Ariz., and consulting work in Europe and North America, according to various media reports.


He holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada, and a master's in civil engineering and a master's of business administration from the University of Calgary.


In addition to his work experience, Clifford also is a fused glass artist whose work is found in collections around the world, according to the Web site for The Artistic Pony Studio, a Solvang art shop where he work was featured.


Steve Albright has held the city administrator job on an interim basis since February, and was appointed by the council to serve as interim redevelopment agency executive director through year's end.


The city's last full-time, permanent city administrator, Dale Neiman, left last November at the end of his contract and following the election in which Spittler and Luiz won seats on the council.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf , on Tumblr at http://lakeconews.tumblr.com/ and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

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