RIVERSIDE DISMISSES CARAVALHO CLASHES WITH COUNCIL CITED.

Byline: Eugene Tong  Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Former City Manager George Caravalho, Santa Clarita's first chief administrator, was fired this week from the top post in the city of Riverside after repeated clashes with the mayor and City Council.

Caravalho, who served as Santa Clarita's first full-time city manager after incorporation in 1987, was known for his hands-on approach to municipal administration.

``George was very solid in his convictions, and he certainly wasn't shy about standing firm on his ground when he saw issues come across the city,'' Santa Clarita Mayor Bob Kellar said Wednesday. ``He would give his insights to the city at large and the elected representatives.''

Caravalho came to Santa Clarita after serving as Bakersfield's city manager. When he left for the Inland Empire in 2002, the fledgling community he guided during his 14-year tenure had grown into a city of more than 150,000. The sports complex here bears his name.

``In the city council, you want somebody who has a lot of experience and knowledge,'' Kellar said. ``A milquetoast individual probably does not serve the best interest of the city.''

But that same firm hand apparently found strong opposition in the Riverside City Council. Caravalho was fired Tuesday in a 4-3 vote after the seven-member panel met in closed session.

Caravalho, who has vacated his office, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. His annual salary was $197,336, and under his contract, he remained entitled to the sum plus benefits for one year.

Of the former city manager's most vocal critics on the Riverside council, Ed Adkison did not return calls seeking comment, and Frank Schiavone declined to comment, saying personnel matters are confidential under state law. Both voted to dismiss Caravalho.

Chani Beeman, a member of the city of Riverside's Human Relations Commission, praised Caravalho for his community outreach efforts.

``He simply opened up space at the table for community members,'' she said. ``Prior to George Caravalho, it was a closed process. City Hall was just a fortress that had cut itself off from the community.

``He was very successful at building trust with the community. But there were also some concerns about that. People asked, What is he doing out in the community?''

Critics also said Caravalho did not keep local economic development on pace, Beeman said. The ranks of his opponents grew with each election, until a majority gathered to oust him, she said.

``This is a fairly typical struggle that occurs whenever there is a change in the City Council,'' Beeman said. ``What I find frustrating as a community member is the apparent lack of effort to try to work together. Personality shouldn't be a part of this. ... There are times you bite back your opinion of someone's personality to get the job done. I just hope we can recover.''

Caravalho also clashed with the five Santa Clarita council members the year before he resigned, over such issues as cleanup and development of the defunct Bermite munitions factory, the city's trash contracts and the city's cash-strapped budget.

During the budget process, Caravalho repeatedly warned the City Council that it was taking on too many projects in economically precarious times. Some council members, especially Councilwoman Laurene Weste, criticized Caravalho for not following the council's direction.

The policy disagreements, and criticism that Caravalho did not follow the council's directions, came to a head with then-Mayor Laurene Weste's failed bid to oust the city manager at a special meeting.

Weste did not return a call seeking comment.

Despite the occasional arguments, Kellar said he valued Caravalho's input.

``George and I did not always agree on matters,'' he said. ``We would sit down and would literally have discussions - sometimes very direct discussions.

``But that's OK. It is really not important that we agree. It is important that we respect one another's opinion ... and continue to make our decisions as best we can for the city that we represent.''

Councilman Cameron Smyth agreed.

``George never wanted to be the sixth council member,'' he said. ``He understood that, ultimately, the council sets the direction to the city, and, ultimately, it was the council that is accountable to the public.''

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com

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