Anaheim, Calif., Council To City Manager: Resign

LOS ANGELES — Anaheim joined the ranks of several Southern California cities with turnover in top management positions following the forced resignation last week of city manager Tom Wood.

The City Council asked Wood to resign during a closed session at the Nov. 8 council meeting, telling him the city wanted to go in another direction, said spokeswoman Ruth Ruiz.

The council in October had reduced the value of contracts Wood was able to approve without a council vote to $100,000 from $250,000.

Bob Wingenroth, the city’s finance director, was appointed acting city manager last Tuesday while the city conducts a national search to fill the position, Ruiz said. The city attorney and human resources director have been asked to lead search efforts to find a new permanent city manager.

Before being appointed Anaheim’s finance director in November 2010, Wingenroth had amassed more than 30 years of experience in that position, working for 29 years in Phoenix and two years in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Several Los Angeles-area cities have experienced turnover in top-level positions. Compton fired its third city manager in five years in September.

La Puente has gone through six interim or permanent city managers in the last five years.

Bell, a city in which several leaders are being prosecuted for embezzlement, and Montebello, the subject of state and federal investigations and audits, have interim chief administrative officers.

Unlike many cities that lack continuity of service, Wood worked for Anaheim for 20 years, moving up from deputy city manager.

He was named city manager on July 1, 2009.

Wood’s resignation will be effective Dec. 8. He will be paid his salary with full pension and medical benefits through June.

Anaheim has a population of 330,000. It had $823 million of bonds and certificates of participation for governmental activities outstanding as of June 2010, according to its comprehensive annual financial report, and $844 million in enterprise debt, primarily for its electric, water and sewer utilities.

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