Retired Monterey County Administrative Officer Lew Bauman will be the City of Monterey’s interim city manager beginning Jan. 1, as the search continues to replace the retiring Hans Uslar.
Uslar announced his retirement in July after 28 years with Monterey, seven of which he served as city manager.
Bauman worked for the County of Monterey for 20 years prior to his 2019 retirement. He has served in various interim roles since then, including community development director in Pacific Grove and general manager of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency.
The Monterey City Council will consider an agreement with Bauman on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Under the proposed contract, Bauman will be paid $146.36 an hour, and will be limited to working at most 960 hours under retirement law.
In September, the council approved a $36,800 contract with Bob Murray & Associates to conduct the search for a permanent city manager. A job posting lists the salary at $304,440.
The council is expected to review candidates during a closed-session meeting on Dec. 1.
The next city manager will inherit a role that must contend with a $10 million budget deficit.
On Dec. 2, the council will hear a report on a poll that gauged residents’ thoughts on a possible sales tax increase and parking tax to help close the budget gap.