Tucson finally has a permanent city manager.
The City Council voted unanimously to appoint Richard Miranda, who has held the position on an interim basis since September.
The council approved a contract that will pay Miranda $200,000, said City Attorney Mike Rankin. Former City Manager Mike Letcher made $211,806, Rankin said. Before Letcher, the previous city manager, Mike Hein, was paid $212,621, Rankin said.
Miranda took over as interim manager after Letcher was fired, but council members said they wanted to do a national search so they could find the best person for the job.
In the end, council members determined Miranda fit that description.
"I trust that you love Tucson and will do what is ethical and best for not only mayor and council, but most importantly, for the residents of our community," Councilwoman Regina Romero said during Tuesday's City Council meeting.
Miranda said after his initial appointment that his goals included plans to enhance core services such as public safety, parks and recreation, and transit services.
He reiterated those points at Tuesday's meeting.
"I see my job now as providing an environment of leadership, an environment of trust and competency," he said. "We will continue to provide quality services to our great city."
Miranda has been a city employee since becoming a police officer in 1975, rising to become police chief in 1998. He retired from that position and was appointed as assistant city manager in 2008.
Street paving plans
The City Council approved a measure to spend $20 million for street paving in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins in July.
The city would use about $16 million from Highway Revenue User Funds.
Council members instructed the city manager to find the additional $4 million for the work from other city funding sources.
The council also instructed the manager to look into general obligation bonds as a long-term solution for road problems. Over the past few years of city budget cuts, streets have suffered from reduced maintenance, and many have fallen into significant disrepair.
The council wants the manager to research how much bonds would cost over time and how it would increase taxes.
Pay raises approved
The City Council approved a 1 percent pay increase for all city employees for the first time in five years. The increase would take effect July 1.
The council voted 5-2 to approve the raises.
Council members Paul Cunningham and Steve Kozachik voted against the measure.
Cunnningham said the raises would not do much to help lower-income city employees.
"I wanted something better for lower-wage workers," he said. "We're kind of taking the easy, lazy way out."
Cunningham proposed a measure that would give a 2.5 percent increase to those who contribute a higher percentage of their income to their pension, he said.
Contact reporter Jamar Younger at jyounger@azstarnet.com or 573-4115.
