John Russo is Alameda's New City Manager

The mood was largely upbeat in Alameda's City Council chambers Tuesday night as the council voted 4-1 to approve a five-year contract with a $215,000 annual base salary for John Russo.

Russo, a former Oakland city councilman, will step down from his current post as Oakland city attorney before taking over the Alameda city manager job on June 13.

"Alameda is entitled to a government that is accountable, responsible and transparent," Russo told council after his contract was approved. "Not just because it is the morally correct thing to do, but because government works best when it is accountable, responsible and transparent."

Russo, who was chosen after an , said he was happy to be taking over the helm of the city of Alameda and asked for the assistance of Alamedans in governance.

"I need the help of all Alamedans. We need to know when we fail and when we do things correctly," he said. "We need to know when our systems are working as well as when they’re not working."

Councilman Doug deHaan, who cast the lone vote against the selection, said he was concerned about Russo's lack of city manager experience, campaign donations Russo made to sitting council members, and the size of Russo's compensation package, while other city employees will likely be facing pay cuts. 

"I have concerns and I have to be transparent in my opposition," deHaan said. "And this evening I will be voting 'no.'"

With city revenues sagging and costs rising, especially for , Russo said he would look at all the choices he faces with an eye toward fiscal sustainability. He said he asked for a five-year contract because the changes Alameda needs will take that long to implement.

"We need organizational stability as well as long-term fiscal sustainability," he said. "We talk about doing things in new ways, and a lot of them are going to be difficult and a lot them are going to be very unpopular."

A string of supporters addressed council, praising Russo, a Brooklyn native who earned a bachelor's in political science and economics from Yale and a law degree from New York University, for his capability as a leader.

Allen Michaan, of Michaan's Auctions and the Grand Lake Theater, spoke about his experience working with Russo in Oakland. Russo served as his city council member, said Michaan, and he was "responsive" and "intelligent" in his service to the community. 

"If I could pick up the Grand Lake Theater and move to Alameda, believe me, I would," Michaan said.

Robert Sullwold spoke on behalf of his wife, Jane, who serves on the city's Golf Commmission. "Russo has a long background of working for a city with even larger problems than ours," he said. "He is charming, articulate and forthright."

Kate Quick, former head of Alameda's League of Women Voters; Rob Ratto, head of the Park Street Business Association; and civic leaders Honora Murphy and Lil Arnerich also addressed the council, each speaking favorably about Russo.

"He is respected, not afraid to make hard choices," said Arnerich.

had been out for some time, but it was not final until yesterday's vote. 

"I'm gratified that so many people came up to speak for me," Russo said. "But I can guarantee that in the next year every one of them will be angry at me, but that is what it will take" to get the city back on course.

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