Local City Hall Vet Named Albany Interim City Manager

Patrick O'Keeffe, who has handled several top city hall jobs in Emeryville and El Cerrito, began serving as Albany's interim City Manager on Tuesday, the day after the Albany City Council gave the nod to his temporary contract.

O'Keeffe, 60, retired in April as Emeryville's City Manager, a post he held for six years. Before that, he served 12 years as Emeryville's Director of Economic Development & Housing, a position that followed 10 years as El Cerrito's  Community Development Director and Executive Director of El Cerrito's former Redevelopment Agency.

Albany's current City Manager, Beth Pollard, announced in May that she will step down in August after 12 years in the job.

Under the employment terms approved by the council Monday, O'Keeffe will be paid an hourly rate "equivalent to the base rate of compensation for the incumbent City Manager."

Between now and Pollard's retirement on Aug. 23, he will work on an "on call" basis at $83 per hour "to participate in meetings and discussions for on going matters that need the consultant’s involvement for continuity" and possibly to perform special assignments under Pollard's direction, according to a staff report from Pollard to the council.  

From Aug. 23 to Dec. 31, he will assume full duties as City Manager. The contract for that period will cost approximately $14,386 per month, according to the staff report. The total cost authorized for the contract through Dec. 31 is capped at  $75,000.

City staff estimates that it can complete the recruitment process and have a new City Manager on board by Jan. 1. "If the recruitment is not complete by this date, ... the City and the consultant can mutually agree to extend the contract further at a later date," the staff report says.

The council decision was officially an act of the Albany Municipal Services Joint Powers Authority Board, which is a different legal hat that the council wears when making decisions on management employees.

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