Del Rey Oaks has ditched its mayoral perks, traded in the police chief’s Hummer, and tempered a staff revolt – all in a matter of months. The turnaround, which stands in sharp contrast to the ongoing civic turmoil in Seaside and Carmel, comes after DRO experienced its own share of bloodshed – leading to the exit of longtime mayor Joe Russell and the new leadership by City Manager Daniel Dawson and Mayor Jerry Edelen.

Russell resigned in August, a month after staff and volunteers submitted a vote of no confidence, accusing him of micromanaging and harassing employees. Edelen says the first thing he did when the council appointed him mayor was tear up Russell’s credit card and remove his parking spot. Edelen also split up outside agency board assignments among the council, whereas Russell had represented the city on most boards. “We’re working together as a collaborative unit rather than the omnipotent mayor,” he says.

Dawson came in as the city’s first non-interim city manager in 10 years just as Russell was on his way out. Dawson immediately began combing the budget for savings and eyed Police Chief Ron Langford’s Hummer, which a reserve officer donated to the city. “It just didn’t look too good: The police chief driving a Hummer around with budget cuts,” Dawson says. “It’s not very green.”

The city traded in the Hummer and retired three other vehicles, Dawson says; Langford now drives a Ford F-150 pickup with a camper shell. “It gets a lot better mileage than the Hummer and it has a lower profile,” Dawson says.

Through other cost-saving measures, such as attending Planning Commission meetings instead of paying the city attorney to do so, Dawson says he has trimmed expenses and added revenue totaling $237,500 this fiscal year, including $71,900 in recurring revenue. The city also hired a new auditor, and has put out a request for proposals for legal services, something that it hadn’t done in 35 years. Edelen says the move isn’t meant to denigrate current attorney Robert Wellington’s law firm: “We felt it was time to go out and see if we can go and save money for the citizens of Del Rey Oaks.”

Kim Carvalho, deputy city clerk, says City Hall is much more welcoming and staff morale is high since Russell stepped down. “It has created a completely different work environment,” Carvalho says. “It’s positive for a change instead of all negative.”

Councilman Jeff Cecilio, who was the only councilmember to call on Russell to resign, adds: “Everybody can act and do what they need to do without all that unwanted pressure and intimidation.”

Apparently, Russell was also the Grinch that stole Christmas: Cecilio says he did away with Christmas parties several years ago, but this year staff and their families had dinner and drinks.

Even one of Del Rey Oak’s biggest critics notices a difference. “The council seems to be a lot more interactive than they were when Joe Russell was there,” says former councilwoman Kathi Buckley Smith. But Smith says she is reserving judgment on whether City Hall will be transparent.

Looking ahead into 2010, Dawson says he may seek a new developer to take on DRO’s slice of Fort Ord. Federal Development has until Jan. 15 to pay the city about $900,000 for consultants and legal services. “If they don’t,” Dawson says, “we’ll have to move on.” Just like the city is moving on without Russell.