DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO
–
Downtown's redevelopment authority will go leaderless well into next year as the San Diego city agency doesn't want to hire a new president until an audit is done in April, officials decided yesterday.
The nonprofit Centre City Development Corp. also is waiting to learn its fate after the Nov. 4 election, which will put four new faces on the City Council.
All the council contenders support changing the way the agency operates. Sentiment ranges from minor steps to folding CCDC into the city's larger redevelopment division.
Former President Nancy Graham resigned in July amid suspicion about her business relationship with a developer. Since then, she has been charged with three misdemeanor criminal counts related to alleged conflict of interest. Many of the agency's projects are on hold due to investigations of Graham's ties, and the economy.
CCDC's board voted yesterday to hire a Sacramento-based executive search firm for $40,000 to lock in a price now, though the company won't start work until at least January.
It's the same firm working to find the Port of San Diego's new president. Heather Renschler of Ralph Andersen & Associates wouldn't answer any questions about her process.
CCDC board member Jennifer LeSar said there has been no discussion yet about how the hiring will be done, whether in closed or open meetings of the board, or how many finalists will be brought forward for consideration.
City Councilwoman Donna Frye has suggested the council should be the one to pick the winning candidate, though that hasn't been the case in the past.
When Graham was hired, the CCDC board had the final word and the decision was made behind closed doors.
Jeanette Steele: (619) 293-1030; jen.steele@uniontrib.com
»Next Story»
