Cynthia Kurtz Begins Work at City Hall This Week

Soon to be Interim City Manager Cynthia Kurtz will return to work at Pasadena City Hall this week.

On Thursday, Kurtz will begin the “extra help capacity” portion of her contract.

Kurtz is scheduled to work with outgoing City Manager Steve Mermell to ensure a smooth transition. During that time, she will make $120 an hour.

Mermell guaranteed the City Council he would work to ensure the smooth transition when he announced his retirement.

Kurtz will ascend to the interim city manager position after Mermell retires on Dec. 2.

Because Kurtz is receiving CalPERS benefits, she cannot exceed 960 hours of work from the city. If she does, she could suffer a loss of retirement benefits.

Kurtz served as city manager from 1997 to 2008. She will be paid $145.16 an hour for 960 hours. She will not receive additional benefits.

However, hours worked during the local emergency brought on by the pandemic will not count against the 960 hour limit, according to an executive order by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Not long after Mermell announced his retirement plans rumors began circulating that Kurtz was a candidate for the interim position.

Pasadena has a council-city manager type of government, which calls for the elected City Council to serve as the city’s primary legislative body and to appoint a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations, draft a budget, implement and enforce the council’s policy and legislative initiatives, and oversee 14 of the 16 city departments.

The city manager is one of the three positions the City Council is responsible for filling. The council also hires the city clerk and city attorney.

Since completing her tenure in Pasadena, Kurtz has worked as the interim city manager in both Covina and Santa Ana, as well as the chief operating officer of River LA. She also served as president of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership. She is currently vice chair of the Metropolitan Water District.

Kurtz received her undergraduate degree in Community Development and Housing from Penn State University. She also holds a master of arts degree in transportation and urban development from the University of Iowa.

Mayor Victor Gordo and the City Council will begin a national search for a permanent city manager in the upcoming weeks, assisted by Kurtz and city staff.