Kurtz to resign

PASADENA — After 10 years as Pasadena’s chief executive, City Manager Cynthia Kurtz announced Thursday she will resign from that post by the end of January.

Kurtz’ announcement comes near the end of a year that has seen one of her greatest successes — the reopening of City Hall — but also sharp criticism from members of the City Council for her handling of a controversial development process.

“It has been my honor to serve the Pasadena City Council, and I believe there is no finer group of men and women committed to public service than Pasadena city employees,” said Kurtz in a statement released by the Public Affairs office. “Leaving such a fulfilling position will be difficult but it is time to begin the next phase of my life, which will bring new and exciting opportunities.”

The first woman to hold Pasadena’s top administrative position, Kurtz joined the city in 1987 and was promoted to director of Public Works four years later before ascending to city manager in 1998.

Kurtz did not return a call seeking comment, but according to the statement, she will join Planning Company Associates, a transportation firm based in Pasadena, as a vice president beginning January 22.

Planning Company Associates helped develop the Gold Line project, which Kurtz oversaw for the city during its development and construction.

Mayor Bill Bogaard said Kurtz was “a major factor in our success” through “energy deregulation, the NFL controversy and the City Hall project.”

She will remain at City Hall into January to see through the selection of a developer to build the Heritage Square project, a process that instigated a divide on the council and in the community since it began in April.

As frustrations mounted inside and out of City Hall, several council members quietly complained about how Kurtz managed the process, with Mayor Bill Bogaard publicly describing her office’s work as “incompetent” and suggesting possible impropriety by staff serving under her.

Kurtz was “in command and in control” when Heritage Square returned to the council earlier this week, Bogaard said Thursday, something he’d previously expressed was overdue.

“That was the first time on this project, but I think that she had delegated the project work to others on the staff,” he said. “The council regrets to see her go, and we are grateful for her willingness to remain with the city through the Heritage Square developer selection process.”

One of the lead staff on the project, Housing Administrator Greg Robinson, was removed from that post prior to Monday’s council meeting and reassigned to a new position created in Kurtz' office.

Robinson’s reassignment came after he refused to retire voluntarily and threatened to sue the city under the American with Disabilities Act because he is diabetic and has suffered from clinical depression, according to a letter sent to members of the council by his lawyer.

Bogaard said the council will move quickly to begin a search process to find Kurtz’ successor.