Former casino exec to take city job

Denise Cardinal

Thursday, Feb. 5, 1998 | 10:16 a.m.

A former executive of the Stratosphere hotel-casino has been picked by Las Vegas City Manager Larry Barton to fill a third deputy city manager position that has yet to be created.

Barton is asking for a third deputy city manager to be added to his staff. The request goes before the City Council to approve at the Feb. 9 meeting. Sources at City Hall said the request will be receiving the council's full approval.

Barton already has a candidate lined up for the $100,000-a-year job -- Ann Holland, previously senior vice president of hotel and tower operations at the Stratosphere. He declined to use an executive search firm or to place an ad nationwide for the position.

Mayor Jan Laverty Jones recently married Richard Schuetz, former president of the Stratosphere.

"Ms. Holland has demonstrated strengths in the areas of executive management, operations, fiscal controls and customer service," said Barton in a prepared statement. "Her private sector background will bring a fresh perspective to Las Vegas city government."

Only $15,000 of Holland's proposed salary is considered an addition to the budget because $85,000 will come from a manager's position that has been eliminated.

Currently, there are two deputy city managers, each overlooking a number of city departments. If a third deputy is added, the management structure would be rejiggered and the city's departments would be divided three ways rather than two.

Barton, who announced his retirement in December, has been retained as city manager on a month-to-month basis until his replacement is hired.

The city's growth is the reason for the addition, according to Barton. Because the city is organized under a city manager strong government, almost all of the day-to-day operations are handled by the city managers and staff rather than the elected City Council and Mayor.

As the city's population has increased -- so has the size of the City Hall staff, Barton said. As well as the number of long-term issues the city has been forced to address.

"We have a broader range of issues facing the city today," Barton said. "Plus the responsibility of running a government."