A New City Manager by April?

Come April, San Juan Capistrano may have a new city manager.

A timeline included in a human resources report to the City Council lists the week of April 4 as an estimated deadline in the hiring process. More than 25 candidates are vying for the well-paying position.

The seat is currently held by Joe Tait, a former top executive at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Although he had worked with the city as a consultant in 2007, Tait was hired in 2009 to simultaneously fill the jobs of interim city manager and acting utilities director. He was brought aboard to deal with the leak of a gasoline additive into the city's water supplies that now appears to be nearing resolution.

He has indicated he will not reapply to the head administrative positions in City Hall when .

The city's human resources department is looking to replace Tait with two new employees. Whoever fills the city manager position will receive between $190,000 and $225,000, and whoever fills the utility director spot will get between $126,156 and $153,335. Neither amount includes benefits, which Tait does not receive but the new hires will.

According to information provided by human resources, the total of the starting salary, medical insurance, pensions and other benefits for each position will likely be at the midpoint of each range ($325,975 and $212,792, respectively), but by the end of a three-year period will likely meet the top of each range ($352,750 and $234,604).

It is estimated that the total cost for the two new employees over a three-year period will be $1.68 million. Tait has made $921,000 over a three-year period.