City Council honors retired Building & Safety Director Steve Stuart
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula City Council
Published: June 26, 2009
Retired Building and Safety Director Stephen Stuart received a City Tile and proclamation from the City Council, who thanked him for more than a quarter century of service.
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
Retired Building and Safety Director Stephen Stuart received a City Tile and proclamation from the City Council, who thanked him for more than a quarter century of service. “It is with heavy heart that we are here this evening recognizing Steve on the occasion of his retirement,” and City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz said the Council did not want Stuart to leave “without thanks... he gave exemplary service” as the department head.
Bobkiewicz said Stuart garnered the nickname “Master of Disaster first and foremost because he is a leader among Californians in times of disaster.... He not only responds, but also would teach building officials what to do when those unfortunate” events such as earthquakes strike.
Stuart was “very instrumental in bringing the grant to Santa Paula to retrofit our downtown,” not, noted Bobkiewicz, the most visible improvement, but the most vital in the event of an earthquake.
Bobkiewicz also presented Stuart with a photograph of his staff, noting, “Your colleagues never wanted you to forget who they are.” And flowers were presented to Stuart’s wife Shauna in recognition that the “life of a spouse of a department head is a difficult one” that can mean responding even at all hours of the night.
Stuart thanked the Council for the chance to serve the “citizens of Santa Paula for over 25 years.... I’m extremely privileged and it’s an honor to do that and in all the things we’ve accomplished, all the things we’ve done is for you and the citizens of Santa Paula. I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”
The city’s past and present professional staff deserve much credit, as they are “one of the top and still one of the top in the county... I feel honored to be a part of that.” Stuart also thanked his family for their support.
“I’ve known Steve probably the entire 25 years,” said Mayor Ralph Fernandez, who said he met Stuart “out in the field” as he conducted inspections; and they subsequently served together on various committees and commissions. “He continues to help the city” with special projects, such as the new water recycling plant and the Depot and Mill revitalization projects.
“As you watch those things going up, that’s the type of work Steve does for the city.... The retrofit of the downtown was more under the radar, and I personally appreciate all the work done he has done for Santa Paula.”
Councilman Bob Gonzales, who was a Santa Paula Police Department officer when Stuart joined the city, said, “My recollection is when I first met you” Stuart was changing the way business was done in Santa Paula. “You called the police” because a man was threatening to hit Stuart with a hammer.
“It was a shovel,” said Stuart.
“Through the years it was a pleasure to work alongside with you” and, noted Gonzales, to learn from Stuart, who always was a “man of integrity; I always appreciated your friendship and direction. Sometimes you were too direct, but I appreciate that.”
“When there was a disaster here in Santa Paula” Council Chambers are activated as the Emergency Command Post, and “Steve was always willing” to not only take command, but do so in a way that put others at ease. “No disaster,” said Gonzales, “is too big for Steve Stuart.”
Councilman Dr. Gabino Aguirre said Stuart also helped others as a teacher, utilizing the “broad and deep knowledge that very few people have.... It’s to your credit that you went back to college and instructed hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of others. As a teacher to a teacher, I really appreciate your dedication to your students.”
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