After receiving more than two dozen applications for the vacant Escalon City Manager position, city council members have zeroed in on just a handful of candidates.

“They narrowed the recruitment down to seven,” explained city Finance Director Tammy Alcantor. “They will interview them on Sept. 17 and hopefully, do the second round of interviews on Sept. 18.”

The goal, Alcantor added, is to meet individually with each of the seven remaining candidates on Tuesday, Sept. 17 in a formal interview session and then pare down that pool even further. The final top three or four candidates would then be brought back for a second interview the next day, Wednesday, Sept. 18.

Former City Manager John Abrew left the post earlier this summer, and Alcantor has stepped in as acting city manager, with assistance from former interim chief Henry Hesling as needed.

“We had 25 total applicants,” Alcantor said of those seeking the job.

Council members are hopeful of finding the new city manager from among those still in the running.

Meanwhile, the council will also consider seeking some legislative intervention when they gather for the next council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Previously purchased land designated for development as the Robert Cabral Regional Park at the corner of Ullrey and Brennan has gone unused for several years. Initially, developer fees were going to help with the development of the family-friendly park with a variety of sports playing fields, but a planned housing project in the area never panned out and no funds became available.

“We haven’t been able to do anything with the land,” said Alcantor. “So the council is going to consider going to Assemblymember Kristin Olsen, to see if she can sponsor legislation that would allow us to sell that property, re-invest in a property more centrally located in the city, something that would be more feasible to develop.”

The city needs the legislative intervention because the land was originally purchased with state grant funds and therefore would need state approval to sell it off and use the money for development of park land elsewhere in the city. Olsen represents Escalon in the 25th Assembly District.

The item is part of the consent calendar for the Sept. 3 agenda, though it could be pulled by any council member for further discussion.