San Luis Obispo chooses Beverly Hills city executive as new city manager

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• SLO city managers to cut pay, forgo raises

  SLO city managers to cut pay, forgo raises

  Top city managers in San Luis Obispo have taken pay cuts ahead of major union negotiations in the hope of persuading workers to do the same.

  San Luis Obispo’s top managers have agreed to forgo any salary increases for two years and to reduce their compensation by about 8 percent. That will save the city an estimated $807,000 annually.

  The move comes at a critical time as the city works to negotiate about $3.1 million in employee compensation cuts — or 6.8 percent per employee. The proposed savings from management covers about 26 percent of the $3.1 million the city is trying to save.

• Next SLO police chief may be from Atascadero force

  Next SLO police chief may be from Atascadero force

  Atascadero police Cmdr. Stephen Gesell is the top candidate of two finalists for police chief in San Luis Obispo, The Tribune has learned.

  Gesell, 45, who was raised in San Luis Obispo, has a long history of working in law enforcement. That service includes 10 months as acting chief of police for the Atascadero Police Department after the sudden resignation of Chief Jim Mulhall in January.

  Gesell served 20 years in Arizona with the Scottsdale Police Department, rising to division commander, before joining the Atascadero Police Department in 2009.

• Pay cut for top SLO managers

  Pay cut for top SLO managers

  A proposed pay cut to the city’s top earners narrowly passed Tuesday night —drawing a clear line between the San Luis Obispo City Council members who feel that the city is doing enough to cut expenses and those who don’t.

  A 3-2 vote, with Councilwoman Kathy Smith and Councilman Dan Carpenter dissenting, passed the $807,000 cut in annual pay and benefits to the city’s top managers and unrepresented employees.

  Smith chastised City Manager Katie Lichtig, whose total compensation was reduced by $39,500, for not doing enough.

• Search for new SLO police chief down to two finalists

  Search for new SLO police chief down to two finalists

  The search for a new police chief in San Luis Obispo is now down to two candidates, according to City Manager Katie Lichtig.

  More than 60 candidates from across the country applied for the job following the July announcement by Chief Deborah Linden that she planned to retire at year’s end after nine years with the department.

  Her last day is Dec. 21. Lichtig would not disclose the names of the two finalists.

• SLO police chief search down to 4 finalists

  SLO police chief search down to 4 finalists

  The search for a new police chief in San Luis Obispo has been narrowed to four finalists.

  San Luis Obispo officials say they expect to make a decision in the next few weeks and are confident that the person selected will be a good match for the community.

  More than 60 candidates from across the country applied for the job following the July announcement by Police Chief Deborah Linden that she planned to retire at year’s end after nine years with the department. Her last day is Dec. 21.