Gonzalez Appointed City Manager

South Pas appointed Sergio Gonzalez as City Manager at Wednesday's council meeting, reports the Pasadena Star-News.

Gonzalez came to South Pas in 2003 as a part of the community services department. He was promoted to Assistant City Manager in December 2008 and has been serving as Interim Assistant City Manager (with a annual salary of $143,000) since John Davidson left in October 2011. 

In November, Patch reported that City Council had two options to fill the permanent position: It could appoint someone using its own judgment or conduct a formal recruitment process.

"Typically, recruitment at this executive level are conducted by a professional recruitment firm and can cost upwards of $20,000 to $30,000," Gonzalez told Patch in November.

"A firm is brought on to meet with the Council to get feedback in regard to the background, experience and specific expertise they are looking for." 

But Pasadena Star-News reports that City Council felt confident in Gonzalez's skills—especially after handling the windstorm and city labor negotiations. 

"I think the general consensus of the council is they were very happy with his performance," Cacciotti told the publication. "The institutional knowledge he's built up over the past 5 to 6 years about the city is irreplaceable."

Cacciotti said the city attorney will finalize Gonzalez's contract. Council is expected to approve it at the next meeting in May, according to Pasadena Star-News.

Patch Asks: Do you think Gonzalez is the right choice? Should the city have conducted a formal recruiting process?