Dirk Brazil ready to take on interim city manager role for South Lake Tahoe

Recently retired from the City of Davis, Dirk Brazil has been selected to become the City of South Lake Tahoe's interim city manager starting June 5.

Even though he doesn't start officially until next month, Brazil has been in town meeting with various stakeholders and getting to know the city.

He said a lot of things in a city are the same, departments and their functions are similar, but each one has its own issues.

During the May 15 City Council meeting Brazil was selected to take the job that has been held by Fire Chief Jeff Meston since the departure of Nancy Kerry. The plan is to have him on board for six months, or 960 hours, before a person is found to hold the job on a permanent basis.

Brazil brings with him experience on many issues South Lake Tahoe is dealing with, including legalized cannabis, affordable housing/rental housing, homelessness, economic development, sustainability, public finance, public art and labor negotiations.

The new interim city manager said he is going to do a lot of listening as he familiarizes himself with the city and the geography.

"I'm an inquisitive guy," Brazil told South Tahoe Now.

Brazil already has a working relationship with some people in town from his previous jobs. He knows Tahoe Prosperity Center Executive Director Heidi Hill Drum from when he worked for Yolo County as the Assistant County Administrator from 2006-2014. He also knows the California Tahoe Conservancy Executive Director Patrick Wright from the years Brazil was the Deputy Director of the California Department of Fish & Game (which has since changed its name to Fish & Wildlife).

Since Brazil retired from the City of Davis on December 4 he can't officially start getting paid until June 5 according to retirement rules, though he'll be in the office starting June 4. He can work up to 960 hours as the interim city manager so the plan is for Brazil to work 40 hours a week in June, then 30 hours a week. He will be paid $103.85 per hour.

"I love retirement," said Brazil. "But this is an intriguing opportunity. This is the fun stuff!"

He said he'd be laying the groundwork for the next manager.

"I'm going to leave it turnkey," he said. "I'll tidy up any problems."

Brazil and his wife Nora have two grown children and one grandchild. They'll be looking to rent a home for their time in South Lake Tahoe. Nora is still a school teacher, so she'll have to be based in Davis once school starts.

He said he enjoys running, swimming, golf and being outdoors, all things South Lake Tahoe can supply him with.

"Summer over 6,000 feet is very appealing," said Brazil.