Millions Have City Manager to Thank

Anaheim City Manager James D. Ruth, the one-time aspiring baseball player who instead devoted his career to public service, announced his retirement Friday, leaving behind a largely reinvigorated city.

In his 11 1/2-year tenure, Ruth helped shepherd major projects including the Arrowhead Pond sports arena, a second Disney theme park and an expanded convention center. At 65 and with a history of heart problems, Ruth said, “It’s time for me to step aside.”

“He has played a key role in the progress of the city and he is leaving a positive legacy,” said Mayor Tom Daly, one of the City Council members who voted to hire Ruth in 1990.

Before taking the city’s top post, Ruth served as deputy city manager and director of parks and recreation. He also worked as parks and recreation director in Maywood, Lynwood, Downey, Long Beach and Los Angeles County.

The City Council is expected on Tuesday to approve a one-year consulting contract that would help the transition and though no successor has been chosen, Ruth said the city has “built the bench” with a strong management team.

But he is leaving the city at a time when it could face major economic challenges from the downturns in travel and tourism.

Daly said he hopes to find a replacement with strong financial skills, the ability to attract new businesses, encourage fresh ideas and focus on improving Anaheim’s neighborhoods. No decision has been made about whether to promote from within or to recruit nationally for the job.

During Ruth’s announcement Friday, he reflected on his retirement decision. He told stories about the arm injury that ended any future as a professional pitcher and the high-stress negotiations that helped cement Anaheim’s Arrowhead Pond, a project Ruth considers one of his most rewarding achievements.

“At some point you think you’ve been a part of something very special and you’ve got to just pick a time to back off,” Ruth said.

That time is now, Ruth said, when he can come home from work, look in the mirror and “feel pretty good” about the day’s accomplishments. After he underwent a seven-bypass heart surgery five years ago, Ruth said he wants to take advantage of his health now and travel the country--visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., and maybe even every major-league ballpark.

Ruth’s love of sports has perhaps helped shape his goals. He was instrumental in the construction of the Arrowhead Pond and was the chief negotiator in keeping the Angels in Anaheim and starting a hockey team.

“There are city managers all over this country that dream of bringing to fruition the types of projects he’s been associated with,” said Arrowhead Pond general manager Tim Ryan.

“Millions and millions of fans who have walked through the doors of Arrowhead Pond have Jim Ruth to thank because he never looked back. . . . He was always looking forward.”

Even as the city was facing multiple lawsuits over the project and failed negotiations for property, it was Ruth who sat down with members of the city’s Phoenix Club, a German organization with its building in a prime location.

They gathered at the Beer Garden--even though Ruth hates beer--and the club agreed to sell the city the property on one condition: Ruth had to promise to keep their building intact before a new one was built.

Ruth got out his tape measure, decided there was enough room to construct the Pond without tearing down the Phoenix Club and he kept his word--with only six inches to spare.

“We left it standing the whole time,” Ruth said, chuckling.

It was a project, he said, that set the tone for the city.

If there is any unfinished business, it is the redevelopment of west Anaheim and the NBA team he hopes to attract. He plans to be around to help his successor.

“I’m never going to totally retire,” Ruth said. “I can tell you that right now.”

A Michael Jordan-like comeback maybe? No, Ruth said, “I’m not going to play basketball.”

Just maybe bring it to Anaheim.