Is Levitt looking to leave?
Photo 
Eric Levitt
JANESVILLE — As of Tuesday afternoon, officials from Simi Valley, Calif., were in Janesville conducting a background check, hoping to hire Janesville City Manager Eric Levitt to lead the southern California city.
The Simi Valley City Council announced Tuesday that Levitt is the only finalist for its vacant city manager position.
The city will conduct a background check that could last two weeks, according to a news release. If the results come out as expected, the city and Levitt could move into contract negotiations, said Simi Valley Mayor Bob Huber.
"Everything that we've heard so far has been positive," Huber told The Gazette on Tuesday, adding that the council had not yet been briefed on interviews that took place Tuesday in Janesville. "He's a delightful man."
Levitt has been Janesville's city manager since December 2008. He has faced "some of the toughest challenges" any city manager has faced, said former Janesville council member Tom McDonald.
McDonald was on the committee that in 2008 went to Sedona, Ariz., to interview references and residents about Levitt, who was then Sedona's city manager.
Among challenges he faced were floods, major snowstorms and managing the response to Janesville native Paul Ryan being named as a candidate for vice president.
Levitt noted he is the only city manager in Janesville's history to lead when the General Motors plant was closed. The experience has been challenging and educational, he said.
"(The closure of the plant) is a huge shift in the paradigm for this community," Levitt said. "I knew it was a volatile time coming in."
Forward Janesville President John Beckord said Levitt came on board when city leadership was turning over. Levitt's predecessor, Steve Sheiffer, had held the job for more than 30 years, Beckord said.
Many senior city officials retired around the time Levitt started in Janesville, Beckord said.
"He had a rebuilding task or challenge on many levels," Beckord said. "I know he's worked very hard to make that transition and obviously guide the community in a way that guides us to economic recovery during a recession that has been stubborn.
"His tenure here has been one of a really difficult environment to operate in."
Despite the challenging environment, Levitt said his work in Janesville has been a positive experience.
"I have a lot of mixed feelings right now," he said. "It's been a good experience considering the environment. It's been good because of the people, the quality of the people I've worked with and of the residents."
If Levitt leaves Janesville, it will leave two big holes in city management. Vic Grassman, Janesville's economic development director, resigned Friday. At the time, Levitt said Grassman resigned for personal reasons.
Levitt's search for a new job and Grassman's resignation are not related, Levitt said Tuesday.
"There's no relationship between the two," Levitt said. "This announcement from Simi Valley is after a lengthy recruitment process. This had to do with a unique opportunity that my wife and I decided I couldn't pass up at this time."
Levitt said the Simi Valley job is not a done deal and he remains committed to working in Janesville.
"At this point, my focus is still on Janesville and on its economic development," he said. "I'm still engaged in a variety of projects."
Huber declined to comment on the range of pay Levitt could expect. A March 2 story in the Ventura County Star listed the salaries of the county's 10 cities as being between $120,000 and $229,000. The current interim city manager of Simi Valley makes $199,500, according to the news report.
Levitt's last review was in August, at which time he got a positive review but no raise, leaving his salary at $140,080. Other elements of Levitt's compensation package have not changed through the years and include a $5,100 annual vehicle allowance, $6,000 for a deferred compensation account, $1,200 cell phone allowance and five weeks vacation.
Simi Valley is a city of 126,500 people northwest of Los Angeles. The city was rated the eighth-happiest city in the United States in a recent University of Vermont study of more than 1 million tweets in 400 locations, Huber said.
Janesville City Council President Kathy Voskuil said the council was made aware last week that an announcement of some kind could come this week. She said it is too soon to speculate on what it would mean for Janesville if Levitt left.
"Given the preliminary nature of what the announcement is, we will have to wait for more information," Voskuil said. "Otherwise, he's still our city manager."
Mar 23, 2013 at 1:51 p.m.
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I see Grassman will be paid till July 1st. How long will Levitt be paid?
Mar 23, 2013 at 5:31 a.m.
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Sandman, those are all decisions made by the council. You do realize that the city manager reports to the council, right? That is not "low profile", that is how the council-manager system works. He is only an employee, not a leader. The elected council sets policy.
Mar 21, 2013 at 11:08 p.m.
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LEGACY:
1. Millions wasted money on an aging and little-used ice arena that should have been closed, torn down - perhaps to make way for a new fire station on existing city property (but then...I guess it's lucky he didn't get to waste millions more of taxpayer money on the "double-sheeter" arena proposal he was so ardently pushing for...or a children's museum, or an ill-placed, unnecessary I-90 pedestrian overpass!).
2. Complete indecision and a hands-off lack of leadership displayed on perennially recurring Janesville "sidewalk plan" issue.
3. Rarely seen or heard otherwise, no major successful job initiatives.
Q: Will Eric keep that "low profile" going in the next job and let the council do the dirty work there too? It has apparently served him well(but not particularly this community).
"California here you come," eh? Careful of that door on the way out, Eric! Toodle-loo.
Mar 21, 2013 at 3:51 p.m.
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The length of the city manager's contract is one of the negotiable elements of his or her hiring.
A non-open ended contract makes it easier for the council to change city managers.
Mar 21, 2013 at 10:14 a.m.
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Seems like nice pay to me with nice benefits. True $200k in Calif isn't that much.
Mar 21, 2013 at 10:11 a.m.
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Re: "Common sense". Pascal: "What is truth on one side of the Pyrenees is falsehood on the other."
Mar 21, 2013 at 10:06 a.m.
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Has to be the weather. It can't be money. If Mr. Levitt has done his homework he will realize that in order to maintain the same buying power of his current salary in Janesville he has to earn around $215,000 in Simi Valley. Everything is way more expensive out there.
Mar 21, 2013 at 8:20 a.m.
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"City managers are professionals who move from job to job"
That is why you have a mayor.
That is why you make provisions in a city manager's contract.
That is why you don't get crazy with his/her pay. Make him want the job, don't pay extravagant money to keep him/her.
Some people just don't quite understand common sense.
Mar 20, 2013 at 7:49 p.m.
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Janesville...love it or Levitt!
Mar 20, 2013 at 7:39 p.m.
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City managers are professionals who move from job to job. This is normal, they do not swear fealty to the city for life, and while a year or two sooner than we might have hoped it's clear that Levitt is a man of superior capability and would look for openings eventually. That speaks well of our own selection process.
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So we start the cycle anew, in due time (we will have to negotiate and set an end date for his employment first), and advertise the position nationally so that we get the best possible candidates again. Janesville is a city with a number of interesting challenges, but also a number of solid advantages, so it's likely we will get people looking to do something out of the ordinary in the course of their career.
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At this time I would like to thank Mr. Levitt for his service to our community and, assuming his employment with Simi Valley is sorted out, wish him well in the next phase of his career. Maybe, as with Deaton and Sheiffer before him, he will also select Janesville as the place to retire to!
Mar 20, 2013 at 5:37 p.m.
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This is terribly disappointing news for all of us. Mr. Levitt has been committed to this city's well-being since he arrived, and we've been lucky to have him. His aptitude for analyzing numbers and problem solving is beyond belief. And so, this combined with our climate makes the news perfectly understandable. I wish him all the best.
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:48 p.m.
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A city manager's pay and benefits are a matter of what the market will bear.
The city council is elected by the people, therefore the council is enacting the will of the people when it chooses a city manager.
The city manager is there at the will of the people. If the people don't want him or her there anymore, they can have the council remove him or her.
The attempt to change Janesville's system about ten years ago to the mayoral system failed.
Mar 20, 2013 at 3:36 p.m.
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Guess that no-raise strategy really paid off! Now the City gets to start all over again; what will that cost........?
Mar 20, 2013 at 1:13 p.m.
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Thank you Mr. Levitt. You've done a wonderful job and made a positive impact in our community. Best of luck to you and your family.
Steve Knox
Mar 20, 2013 at 12:43 p.m.
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Really I'm so surprised considering all the wonderful uplifting and forward thinking people in this town, those who want everything, but don't want to pay for it. Why would anyone leave?
Mar 20, 2013 at 12:37 p.m.
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I have had the opportunity to work with Mr. Levitt. I find him to be a quiet man who listens well and gets things done. I for one will be sad to see him go if he does accept the job in S. California.
Mar 20, 2013 at 12:29 p.m.
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http://www.simivalley.org/index.aspx?rec...
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It looks to be a done deal unless they find a skeleton in Levitt's closet
Mar 20, 2013 at 12:26 p.m.
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Nothing a ice rink won't fix.........
Mar 20, 2013 at 12:18 p.m.
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Anybody that moves to California is nuts. That state is a mess and getting worse!
Mar 20, 2013 at 12:17 p.m.
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I know the city has visited this issue in the past but it may be time now that GM is gone to revisit the idea of a mayor vs a high paid stepping stone city adminstrators position. The last administrator left earning a huge salary and sweet departure package. With all do respect after living in larger cities, Janesville might be better served by election of a MAYOR. The people decide not the counsel, the mayor is more representative and responsive to the constituents needs not only to the special interests. Looking back at history it may also even the gender opportunity and playing field.
Mar 20, 2013 at 11:53 a.m.
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Why can anyone blame the guy? A nice bump in pay-although 200K per year in Simi valley is not a lot of money and the median home price is north of 500K vs 150K in Janesville.
Weather alone is a no brainer decision-althought the State of California is an abject mess.
Mar 20, 2013 at 11:32 a.m.
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duh! if he applied for the job he is looking to leave, Janesville should start looking to replace him as soon as his contract is up.
Mar 20, 2013 at 10:42 a.m.
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Simi Valley welcomes Eric Levitt and the Stepping Stones in concert for five years only...
I'm just sayin'...
Mar 20, 2013 at 10:34 a.m.
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'Who can blame him?'...not me! Best of luck in SoCal
Mar 20, 2013 at 10:26 a.m.
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forward janesville..............................................................
Mar 20, 2013 at 10:13 a.m.
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The guy is just looking for the next step up and a better quality of life. Who can blame him? Simi Valley is a pretty darn nice place to live and work. Ever hear of the term career path?
Mar 20, 2013 at 9:45 a.m.
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don't let the door it him in the ass on the way out.
Mar 20, 2013 at 8:33 a.m.
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Well said Gary.
For you folks that don't get it, Janesville should start looking now. Don't wait until Levitt gives his resignation.
Mar 20, 2013 at 8:08 a.m.
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I know that it is very subtle
and that some of you may have difficulty
making the connection,
but it just might be possible.
Mar 20, 2013 at 8:04 a.m.
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Applying for a job somewhere else
could be interpreted by some as a sign
that someone is planning to leave.
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