AGOURA HILLS : Council to Interview Manager Applicants

City officials will begin interviewing finalists next month for city manager, a job that has been vacant since March.

The current, 16-candidate field will be narrowed to 10, officials said. Interviews with the 10 will be held May 10, officials said. The field will then be narrowed again.

The city received more than 100 applications, mostly from California, said Councilwoman Joan Yacovone. “We took seriously people who live in California. We were looking for people with city manager experience, and people familiar with California law and regulations.”

The former city manager, Terry Matz, resigned to become city manager of Stanton, in Orange County, a post he had held before coming to work in Agoura Hills.

Interim City Manager David Anderson, who was the city’s community development and planning director, is a candidate.

Matz became a lightning rod for criticism during a stormy period in which the entire five-member City Council was the target of a recall attempt.

Anderson, who is viewed as being closely aligned with the council, said he is not bothered by the controversy.

“It comes with the territory,” he said.

Yacovone said her ideal candidate would have five years experience as a city manager, a master’s degree, experience in redevelopment and finance, and general government experience.