L.A. CITY RECRUITS OVROM BURBANK LEADER TO HEAD CRA.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer

Robert ``Bud'' Ovrom, who transformed Burbank's image and revived its economy in 17 years as city manager, will be named today to head Los Angeles' Community Redevelopment Agency, commissioners said Tuesday.

The Redevelopment Commission will meet in closed session in North Hollywood to make a formal choice from among four finalists, but according to some members they all agree on Ovrom. Mayor James Hahn and City Council President Alex Padilla support Ovrom, who is expected to win easy confirmation from the full council.

``I have watched the Burbank redevelopment project as it has evolved under his leadership, and he's nothing less than terribly impressive,'' said Commissioner Douglas Ring. ``They certainly did not start with the stuff they needed to do what they did out there, and they succeeded despite that.

``My impression is he has worked well with a very diverse set of council members (in Burbank). And that certainly would help in Los Angeles.''

Ovrom, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday, will be taking over an agency in Los Angeles that has endured years of controversy and conflict.

Critics, including some of its own board members, describe the CRA as leaderless and ineffective.

Additionally, along with many other local and state government agencies, it is facing a potentially severe economic crisis. State officials are threatening to withdraw up to $48 million in funds from the agency next year, plus $24 million in the next six months, to help balance the state budget.

The CRA's total budget is around $342 million - more than three times the budget of Burbank's entire city government.

The agency's mission is to foster redevelopment in blighted areas, generating jobs and affordable housing, and its budget is mostly funded by the increase in tax revenue that results from its projects.

But over the past years it has had many critics, who have said that it is heavy-handed, yet ineffective, and that it has been too focused on downtown redevelopment, at the expense of most of the city's neighborhoods.

Just two years ago, the agency was forced - under pressure from Padilla - to abandon a 6,800-acre project in the Northeast Valley after numerous complaints from its critics as well as secession supporters.

CRA officials did not release a proposed salary for Ovrom. The current administrator, Jerry Scharlin, makes $191,016. Ovrom made $182,235 last year in Burbank.

Scharlin is expected to stay on as a part-time consultant with the agency for 18 months, said Commissioner Madeline Janis-Aparicio.

She said the agency is in need of new blood.

``Jerry Scharlin is a good, well-intentioned person who did his best,'' Janis-Aparicio said.

``You can't say negative things about Jerry Scharlin. But I think it's clear Jerry was not able to provide the strength of leadership that the largest redevelopment agency in the country needs.''

Janis-Aparicio said the agency seems to be in turmoil and lacking in a clear strategic direction.

Scharlin could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

``What Bud Ovrom presents for us is strong leadership and strong managerial toughness - someone who is very adept at managing a large governmental entity,'' Janis-Aparicio said.

James Hahn, who appoints the CRA commissioners, met with Ovrom last week.

``We know he's done an excellent job there in Burbank,'' Hahn said Tuesday in a telephone interview during a lobbying trip to Washington, D.C.

``I think Bud has a lot of skills, and obviously our agency has a lot of challenges. We're looking for the CRA to be much more effective again in the future. They have enormous power under state law; they can use it for good or not-so-good.''

Ovrom is credited with transforming Burbank from the ``beautiful downtown Burbank'' butt of Johnny Carson's jokes to a revitalized entertainment capital with expanded movie studios and a bustling retail environment - tripling the city's general fund and sales tax revenues since he was hired in 1985.

``I personally think he is one of the best city managers in the United States,'' said Burbank Mayor David Laurell. ``Bud has been a tremendous leader since he's been here in Burbank. No matter where you turn around in Burbank, Bud has had a hand in it.''

Among the projects that came to fruition in his tenure were the Media City Center, the expansion of three studios, and recovery from the loss of the Lockheed Corp. in 1996 through development of the Empire Center with a Costco, Lowe's and other big-box stores that boost the city coffers.

Business consultant Larry Kosmont said the CRA seems to have been adrift for the past decade, starting long before Scharlin was hired. He said it thrived in the 1970s and '80s but later seemed to lose its way.

``Slowly over the last 15 years, the redevelopment sense of purpose has diminished,'' Kosmont said. ``It's diffused at this point. It's not as clear and direct as they used to be, and they're not as impactful as an agency.''

Kosmont worked under Ovrom for two years as community development director in Burbank in the mid-1980s. He said Ovrom has skills both as an administrator and as someone adept at dealing with politics.

``Bud is definitely up to the task,'' Kosmont said. ``The question is: Is the task manageable for anyone? That's the bigger question.''

Staff Writers Susan Abram and Mariel Garza contributed to this story.

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