S.D. wastewater manager to leave for Chula Vista

San Diego Union Tribune

by Mike Lee

October 31, 2006

The manager credited with turning around San Diego's Metropolitan Wastewater Department and slashing the city's sewage spills will leave for a job with Chula Vista, he confirmed yesterday.

The departure of Scott Tulloch, 60, comes at a critical time for the region's largest sewage agency. San Diego is about to roll out a new sewage rate schedule, and it is debating a potential $1 billion in upgrades to the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Also under way are long-running legal talks with the federal government and environmental groups over how to upgrade and maintain the city's sewage infrastructure.

“He calmed the waters in a troubled department, and I think he . . . (made it) stronger, more effective and more able to work with other regional entities,” said Mayda Winter, an Imperial Beach councilwoman and vice chairwoman for a regional coalition of wastewater agencies.

Tulloch said he will become director of Chula Vista's engineering department in early December. He will manage infrastructure planning for the region's second-largest city. Tulloch said he made the switch to explore new challenges, including a major bay-front development in Chula Vista.

Tulloch downplayed the influence of San Diego's budget woes and the suite of major issues facing his department.

“Any job you have in city government has its own challenges,” he said.

Tulloch said he anticipated the city would start a nationwide search for his replacement as soon as next week. The new director not only will have to manage numerous projects but also find a way to get along with a variety of interest groups and regulators.

“I am not sure there is anyone currently on staff who can fill Scott's shoes,” said Marco Gonzalez, an environmental attorney who has pressed the city to upgrade its sewage system for years.

Like others, Gonzalez praised Tulloch's ability to get things done, particularly his leadership in reducing the city's sewage spills by 83 percent between 2000 and 2005.

Tulloch also is respected for mending political fences thanks to his calm and straight-talking style.

“At least on the legal side, there was no partnership to speak of between the environmental community” and the wastewater department before Tulloch became director in 2001, Gonzalez said. “Now, Scott could be credited with avoiding a number of lawsuits while still achieving a number of gains for the city.”

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