DEPARTURE IS LEAVING A DILEMMA BURBANK YET TO DECIDE HOW TO REPLACE MANAGER OVROM.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

BURBANK - With the likelihood that City Manager Robert ``Bud'' Ovrom will be the new head of the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, Burbank city leaders will have to decide soon how to replace him.

City leaders said Tuesday that they had not yet discussed Ovrom's replacement, nor the procedure, instead choosing to wait to discuss the matter until after today's formal announcement.

``The announcement will trigger our staff to lead the council to discuss that,'' said Assistant City Manager Mary Alvord.

Alvord said the council will decide on the hiring process and whether to initiate a nationwide search or hire from within. ``In the past, they have done it in all kinds of ways,'' Alvord said.

City Councilman Jef Vander Borght said Ovrom's likely takeover of one of the largest redevelopment agencies in the country comes as no surprise to Burbank officials, since Ovrom informed them last week that he had the unanimous backing of the CRA commission members.

``It sure looks like it's moving in the right direction,'' Vander Borght said. ``It'll be a major loss for our city.''

Vander Borght said that if Ovrom accepts the post, the changeover could occur in a month or less.

``Ovrom said they were pushing for a very fast decision and a very prompt changeover,'' he said. ``His term would come to an end fairly rapidly.''

Ovrom, 57, announced last month to his staff that he had applied to head the CRA to replace Jerry Scharlin, who resigned.

In a memo sent to his staff, Ovrom stated that helping to revitalize downtown Los Angeles presented a challenge he couldn't resist after 17 years as Burbank's city manager.

Burbank leaders have said despite their city's loss, Los Angeles would benefit from Ovrom's foresight.

They also said Ovrom has left a lasting legacy in Burbank - from transforming Burbank's image of a sleepy, industrial town to a thriving media capital where film and television studios, movie houses and retail shops now dominate and generate the bulk of the tax revenue.

When Ovrom was hired in 1985, the city's total assessment value was $3.6 billion. In the past fiscal year, its value had tripled to $10.7 billion.

Yet even if he leaves, Ovrom's staff is well-prepared to continue his work, city leaders said.

``Bud will leave a strong base here,'' said Councilwoman Stacey Murphy. ``If he leaves, he leaves the city in good shape.''

But Murphy, like other council members, said facing the local impact of the state's projected $34 billion deficit will be a challenge without Ovrom.

``That is one of his strengths - the fiscal budget,'' said Councilwoman Marsha Ramos. ``Bud knows where we've been. He always knows where we need to go.''

Ovrom could not be reached for comment Tuesday.