Naperville city manager resigns

After guiding Naperville through a decade of massive growth, City Manager Peter Burchard has decided to guide something else.

Being purposefully vague, Burchard said he is resigning for a possible position in the private sector.

"I have a strong possibility in the private sector, out of state," Burchard said. "It's an opportunity within the field of health care."

Burchard had not talked about his job-seeking, as Tuesday's announcement caught many city officials by surprise.

"Absolutely it's a surprise to me," Councilman John Rosanova said. "His hiring was the first major task I had as a councilman after being elected in April of 1997 and I remember he was our guy from the start of the process."

Burchard said he met with Mayor George Pradel Tuesday afternoon to inform him of his decision.

Pradel read Burchard's resignation letter to start Tuesday's city council meeting. The letter makes no mention of his future career plans.

"No one has dedicated more time, vision and energy than Peter," Pradel said. "He knows our employees and cares about every one of them and they know it, and that's what matters."

Burchard is widely regarded as the city's second loudest cheerleader -- behind the mayor -- and well-liked by his administrative staff.

"This is somewhat of a shock to me," said Dave Van Vooren, the city's public works director. "I've known Peter for close to 20 years and he's not only a great leader but a great friend, and I'll miss him."

Burchard's last day will be Dec. 7. He is currently on medical leave after undergoing back surgery last week, but said he'd be back at city hall before his final day.

"I'm finally walking around a little bit," Burchard said. "I'm feeling better."

Burchard came to Naperville after 16 years working for the village of Hoffman Estates, 11 of those years as village manager.

With children still in school in Naperville, Burchard said the decision to uproot his family was not easy.

"It's excruciating," he said. "It's clearly the most difficult decision of my career."

Burchard led the city during one of the largest residential and commercial growth spurts in the city's 176-year history.

When Burchard was hired, most of the south end of the city was still farm land. The population in 1997 was around 119,000 compared to the current estimated 145,000 residents. Burchard also oversaw the city's transition to a major corporate hub. Among the accolades the city received during Burchard's tenure was being named Money magazine's second best city to live in the country in 2006.

However, he will be leaving the city in state of flux. The downtown area is undergoing a major landscape change with three different parking deck proposals coming on line.

City, park district and Naperville District Unit 203 officials are also looking at redeveloping the 212-acre Caroline Martin Mitchell property where Naperville Central High School, Knoch Park, Naper Settlement and Naperville Cemetery, among other city amenities, are located.

Burchard said he was confident the city would be as successful in his absence.

"Things are always finished and things are always unfinished," he said. "We're in a constant state of building a bridge and no one can say we're done."