Politics & Government

Updated: PVE City Manager Fired

Joe Hoefgren was fired by the Palos Verdes Estates City Council during a Saturday closed-door session.

Palos Verdes Estates City Manager Joe Hoefgren was fired by the Palos Verdes Estates City Council during a closed-door session on Saturday.

Hoefgen had run the city for about four years.

"In his four years with the city, Joe has delivered balanced budgets and implemented well the City Council's policy of sound fiscal management," the Council said in a statement. "We appreciate Joe's contributions to the city and wish him well in his future endeavors."

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Assistant City Manager Judy Smith will become acting city manager.

Members of the City Council declined to comment, telling the Daily Breeze they were allowed to do business in secret under state laws that exempt certain personnel issues from public disclosure.

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Hoefgen was paid about $164,000 last year and lives in a city-owned Bluff Cove home, where his annual rent is $25,000, the Daily Breeze reported. Hoefgren came to Palos Verdes Estates in 2007, after working for the San Diego County city of Del Mar for 15 years. He replaced Jim Hendrickson, who was city manager for 17 years.

Legally, the closed-door meeting Saturday morning was a continuation of one started Tuesday, the city attorney told the Daily Breeze.

Hofgren's contract, renewed in 2009, enabled the council to remove him with or without cause. Under his contract, he is entitled to six months' severance pay if fired "without cause."

City News Service contributed to this report.


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