T.O. OFFICIAL'S DEDICATION, EFFICIENCY HAILED.

Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer

MaryJane Lazz's universe takes in weekend motorcycle rides, an enduring interest in ``Star Trek'' and a public service career that began in libraries and has propelled her close to the pinnacle of Thousand Oaks City Hall.

Now, she is facing the career-defining decision as to whether to apply to replace retiring City Manager Grant Brimhall, either as interim city manager or as his permanent successor.

Brimhall, for one, has no doubt that Lazz could make the transition to the city's top administrative post.

``I would trust her with anything I have - everything I have,'' he said.

Lazz controlled the reins of the city during Brimhall's recent heart bypass surgery, working with a divided City Council following a bitter recall election and a continuing debate over growth.

Her strengths as a facilitator and implementer are what the city needs now, said Councilwoman Linda Parks.

``She's a lot more hands-on. The job is different. It requires that,'' Parks said, comparing Lazz and Brimhall. ``I'm looking toward that and wondering whether she would be the best for the job. To me, it's who's best for the job.''

Lazz started her professional career as a librarian, then switched venues because she wanted to be where the action was.

``It became very apparent that decisions weren't made in libraries,'' Lazz said. ``They were made in the city manager's office.''

For three years she worked as the assistant city manager in Oxnard. Then Brimhall offered her the position as his assistant in 1980.

``She was just head and shoulders above the rest,'' said Brimhall, who is still out on medical leave. ``She was a real star. She immediately started taking on additional responsibilities, one after another, as they were assigned to her.''

Lazz said she fell in love with Thousand Oaks as soon as she started her job in August 1980. Even now, driving around the city as she runs errands, Lazz said she makes a mental list of problems that need correcting and successes that need repeating.

Lazz's dedication gives her a unique blend of integrity, courage and moxie, Brimhall said.

``I don't know anyone who gets more done than she does,'' he said. ``The quality of her work is exceptional. She will never ask anyone to work harder than her.''

Despite her hard work, Lazz can enjoy herself.

``She's a lot of fun,'' said Councilwoman Judy Lazar. ``She has a great sense of humor.''

The stresses of City Hall get thrown to the wind when Lazz and her husband, Keith Lazz, take to the skies in their airplane or hit the road on their motorcycles.

``It's the freedom,'' MaryJane Lazz said. ``It's just very relaxing.''

MaryJane and Keith first dated in seventh grade. On Tuesday, they will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary.

Lazz is an avid reader and regularly devours tomes of science fiction. Her office features a ``Star Trek'' poster and a working model of the ``Next Generation'' Enterprise.

Every two or three years, she reads the ``Dune'' series of futuristic novels because she likes the way author Frank Herbert crafts the governmental, religious, sociological, philosophical aspects of the numerous planets.

``I just love how it's a complete picture of a big universe,'' she said.

Lazz's appetite for reading aids her work with the city, Brimhall said.

``She just consumes an enormous amount of information,'' he said. ``Her retention I can't hold a candle to.''

Above all, Brimhall said Lazz is fair.

Through the years, other cities have tried to lure Lazz away, but her love of the work and the city kept her in Thousand Oaks.

``There just wasn't any need (to leave),'' she said. ``Title is not that important to me. It's getting things accomplished.''

There also is the matter of Brimhall having urged Lazz to stay with the city as long as he did.

On Feb. 14, Brimhall is set to end his 20-year stint as the city's chief executive. The City Council plans to appoint an interim manager on Feb. 10, before conducting a national search for a permanent successor.

Lazz, who turns 50 in April, has not yet decided whether she is interested in applying.

If she does, the council must decide whether her talents as an assistant would translate well.

``MaryJane has taken care of the business of operating the city. She makes sure that things are done the way they're supposed to be done,'' Lazar said.

For two months before Brimhall's announcement, Lazz served as interim manager while he recovered from quintuple bypass surgery.

Two weeks ago, her husband retired as a detective sergeant in the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

While her husband still has plenty of avocations to keep him busy, his retirement will be a factor in whether Lazz decides to apply for the city manager's post and the increased responsibilities that would come if selected.

``The transition is going to be a real challenge,'' Lazz said. ``It's been a real cohesive team that's been working together.''

Most of the top managers at City Hall have been in their positions for a decade or more. That type of longevity might be a thing of the past. Lazz said studies show that the typical city manager today spends an average of three to five years at the position.

Under Brimhall's two decades of leadership, Thousand Oaks grew from a sleepy suburb of 66,068 residents to an edge city with a population of 113,749.

Brimhall and his staff engineered the Lang Ranch, MGM Ranch and Dos Vientos specific plans, attempting to ensure ample parks, schools and other public services in those massive housing developments. Some of the significant public developments were the Civic Arts Plaza, teen and senior centers, and the East Valley Sheriff's Station.

Lazz said the city's new chief executive must deal with issues of community recreation and increased citizen participation while maintaining the city's financial stability.

``What we were doing is building the different pieces of the pie or the cake,'' Lazz said. ``Now we're at the point where we need to get the frosting on and dress it up a bit.''

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PHOTO (Color in Conejo Edition only) MaryJane Lazz has been Thousand Oaks' assistant city manager since 1980.

Evan Yee/Daily News