Rolling Hills manager goes to PVE
Tony Dahlerbruch, former Rolling Hills city manager, this week took over as city manager of neighboring Palos Verdes Estates.
The move affords Dahlerbruch a slightly higher salary at $200,000 per year and also commands a higher level of responsibility. Rolling Hills, the quiet gated community of less than 2,000 people founded mostly for equestrians, is ruled almost as much by the homeowners association as the city council.
Palos Verdes Estates, with more than 13,000 people, has a police force, commercial businesses and manages the roadways – all things devoid from the life of a city planner in Rolling Hills.
“It’s hard to leave because I’ve built such close ties here to the residents and the city staff,” Dahlerbruch said. “In the same vein, I’m looking forward to the opportunity. It’s going to be really great.”
Some of the things Dahlerbuch said he’s most proud of during his stint at Rolling Hills include settling the Poppy Trail landslide issue that resulted in a lawsuit following a 2005 slide that covered a roadway. Following the settlement two years ago, a permanent roadway was built and two adjacent lots were opened up for development.
“We were able to settle that lawsuit and remediate the landslide and open up the road for the residents,” Dahlerbruch said. “It was quite a complicated project that was a win-win for everybody. More than the money aspect the settlement resolved and remediated the landslide.”
He also points to his accomplishments in preparing residents for brush fires and other disasters. The city put in place a green waste program and advised area landscapers on fire prevention barriers.
“It’s all part of public service and providing the most responsive government that people want,” he said. “We have to manage to maintain, improve and sustain the quality of life.”
FormerHermosa BeachCity Manager Steve Burrell will serve as the interim city manager for Rolling Hills, but reportedly has no plans to come out of retirement and take the job permanently. Police Chief Dan Dreiling has been serving as interim city manager of Palos Verdes Estate since Judy Smith left earlier this year.
Before taking the job at Rolling Hills fulltime back in 2006, Dahlerbruch served as the interim city manager for a short while on loan from his job in Beverly Hills. He had commuted for years, having lived on the Peninsula since 1996. ER