There's another top vacancy at City Hall as Assistant City Manager Karen Masbruch submitted a letter of resignation earlier this month.
The departure by Masbruch, the highest-ranking woman at the city, creates openings in both the city manager's office and at Tucson Water, where she had been the acting director since former Director David Modeer left for Phoenix.
In addition to Masbruch's position and that of the water director, there are several other department head vacancies: police chief, fire chief, community services director, neighborhood services director and finance director.
Masbruch isn't commenting on why she is leaving, other than to confirm she's submitted her resignation. She said she wanted to wait until City Manager Mike Hein got back into town next week from vacation to talk about it.
Her letter to Hein said: "After careful consideration, I have come to the decision to tender the resignation from my position as Assistant City Manager, effective August 8, 2008. As always, it has been my pleasure to work with you and the political leaders of Tucson over the past three years. I offer my assistance to you during the professional transition of my responsibilities prior to leaving."
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Masbruch oversaw the departments of transportation, development services, urban planning and design, water, environmental services and the office of the zoning examiner. Her salary was $149,802 annually.
Masbruch became assistant city manager in 2005, after working as a regional manager for a Tempe-based engineering consulting firm. She worked for the city from 1994 through 2005, first as the director of the environmental management office and then as a deputy director with the Environmental Services Department.
Masbruch was in the manager's office during a time of some turmoil with numerous city staffers leaving and complaining of morale woes under Hein. The City Council made a failed push to fire Hein in June.
Byron Howard, a special projects manager for Hein, said Masbruch's job was always seen as the hot seat.
"She came in during some incredibly challenging times with some incredibly challenging problems," Howard said. "She always had her plate full."
