MAYOR LAYS OUT MANAGER CRITERIA EVALUATION COVERS AIRPORT STRATEGY.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Continuing an effort to clarify city managers' goals, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Tuesday released criteria he wants used in the performance evaluation of Airport General Manager Lydia Kennard.

While Villaraigosa lured Kennard back to the post last October, he said in a letter to Airport Commission President Alan Rothenberg that the seven-member panel should begin developing evaluation criteria.

The letter included a five-page list of 40 categories in 12 broad areas - many of which already have been accomplished as part of a recent settlement over the modernization plan for Los Angeles International Airport.

In assessing Kennard's work in her $292,466-a-year job, Villaraigosa said he wanted to review areas including ethics, the decision-making process, customer service, relations with neighboring communities, environmental concerns and improving the local economy.

Several aspects involve the LAX modernization plan, including accommodating A-380 Airbus flights, improving security, developing plans to limit passenger growth, and developing detailed plans to expand use of Ontario and Palmdale airports.

Part of that also is expanding efforts to regionalize air transport in the region and easing traffic congestion around LAX. Among the projects being given priority is establishing more FlyAway stations.

Villaraigosa also laid out three specific items for the Van Nuys Airport: decentralizing management to give greater autonomy to officials at the airport, implementing the new master plan and completing a federal study to minimize noise from Stage 2 airplanes.

Kennard said she welcomed the mayor's letter.

``I think that we need to have a strategy on where we are going and what we will be doing,'' Kennard said. ``This is a way to accomplish that.''

She said the letter is similar to a 100-day report she prepared and submitted to the mayor on what she had accomplished since being named to the post and areas where she believes the department needs to move.

``When I was director before, we had a strategic planning process to engage all our stakeholders. Now, we need a strategy to move ahead,'' she said.

Under the City Charter, the mayor is required to conduct annual reviews of department heads and the mayor's letter on Kennard is similar to one he sent last month to the Board of Water and Power Commissioners on the evaluation of its top executive, Ron Deaton.

Aides to Villaraigosa said a similar letter is to be prepared regarding new Harbor General Manager Geraldine Knatz.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com