With all the comings and goings in California local government, it can be hard to keep track of where your friends are or what’s happening in your neighboring municipalities. But Trackdown Management helps keep the state up-to-date with their newsletter.

PublicCEO presents Jack Simpson’s Picking Up the Pieces.

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Picking Up the Pieces: Goleta City Manager Dan Singer has been selected to be the next Poway City Manager replacing the retired Penny Riley. Dan has been the Goleta City Manager since 2005, and prior to that he served as the Ojai City Manager for a dozen years.

Retired Costa Mesa City Manager Allan Roeder is the new Interim City Manager in Garden Grove. He took over January 1 as City Manager Matt Fertal retired.

Livingston City Manager Jose Ramirez has announced his resignation effective at the end of January, 2015. Jose was appointed City Manager in 2011. He previously served as City Manager in Firebaugh and Orange Cove.

Retired West Sacramento City Manager Joe Goeden is the Board Chair for the West Sacramento Housing Development Corporation. Joe is also serving as an ICMA/League of California Cities Range Rider, where he started in 2004. Joe is also a sole proprietor consultant to public and private sector clients. It can be said that retirement has not slowed down Joe Goeden.

Encinitas City Manager Gustavo Vina is the new Brentwood City Manager. He served in Encinitas for3-years and was Interim City Manager in Sacramento previous to that. He also worked in Stockton and for the State of California.

City Manager Jim Hardy, 59, of Foster City has announced his retirement effective June 30, 2015. Jim has served as City Manager for 21-years. Jim’s retirement follows a number of other Foster City personnel moves: Finance Director Lin-Lin Cheng is retiring December 31 after 31-years with the city; Public Works Director Ray Towne retired in 2012 and was replaced by Brad Underwood, who left to work for San Mateo in September; and Assistant City Manager Steve Toler, who spent 17-years with Foster City, left in June for a similar position in Millbrae.

Santa Monica Assistant City Manager Elaine Polachek will serve as the Interim City Manager when Santa Monica City Manager Rod Gould retires at the end of the year. Elaine has worked for the City for more than three-decades. She has served as Operations Manager for the Santa Monica Pier (1984-1995), Director of Community Maintenance and Deputy City Manager.

Retired Montclair City Administrator Lee McDougal has been selected to serve as the Interim City Manager in Riverside. Lee retired in 2010 after serving 18-years as the Montclair top executive. Lee also serves as President of the Board for Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga. He was inducted into the University of California, Riverside Athletic Hall of Fame as a basketball player. He has earned a reputation for playing well on the golf course too.

Former Orange County Chief Executive Officer Tom Mauk has been appointed to serve as the Interim City Manager in West Covina. Tom is a former City Manager in La Habra, Whittier and Norco. He is a Life Member of ICMA. In 2009 Tom received a rare 40-year ICMA Service Award. He served as a Regional Vice President in 1997-2000, and Tom served as President of the City Manager’s Department of the League of California Cities in 1995-1996.

Walnut Creek City Manager Ken Nordhoff has received a 2.5 percent salary increase on a 4-1 vote. The negative vote comes as a result of the Lesher Center crisis of 2012.

Deputy City Manager Norberto Duñeas has been appointed Interim City Manager in San Jose. Norberto has worked for the city for 28-years in a number of various capacities. San Jose City Manager Ed Shikada resigned his position effective January 1, 2015. He was appointed to the post in December, 2013. Ed joined the city March, 2003 as a Deputy City Manager, and was promoted to Assistant City Manager in June, 2010. He replaced City Manager Debra Figone following her retirement.

Atherton City Council Member Bill Wider was selected to serve as the City Manager in Rancho Palos Verdes, however the job offer has been rescinded. He planned to remain on the Atherton City Council and commute and telecommute. He previously worked in private industry. He earned a BS in Computer Sciences and an MBA from Texas Christian University.

Former Rancho Palos Verdes City Manager Carolyn Lehr resigned to relocate her residence to the Silicon Valley where her husband took a position, and was replaced by Deputy City Manager Carolynn Petru, who has been serving as Acting City Manager. In November Carolyn was appointed Interim City Administrator in Chowchilla, where Mark Lewis had served as City Administrator.

Bob Murray and Associates continues to seek a new Rancho Palos Verdes City Manager.

The Wave news writer Arnold Adler erred regarding his report of the Huntington Park Interim City Manager news. Retired Santa Fe Springs City Manager Donald R. Powell decided not to take the assignment. We relied on The Wave’s report in our last newsletter issue. Don has served as the Interim City Manager in Villa Park and Artesia. He was appointed City Manager in Santa Fe Springs in July, 1980 and served in that post for the next 19-years.

Scott Wasserman, son of retired City Manager Lauren Wasserman, serves as the Director of Parks and Recreation in the City of Commerce; one of City Administrator Jorge Rifa‘s Department Heads. Scott started with Commerce in 2008 and was appointed to the Director’s post in November, 2012. Previously he worked as a Human Services Administrator in Santa Monica (2006-2008), and with the City of Pico Rivera (2000-2006). Lauren served as City Administrator in Montclair (1970-1978), City Manager in Rancho Cucamonga (1978-1989) and City Manager in Encinitas (1994-1999).

On Monday, Jan. 5 the Huntington Park City Council appointed John A Ornelas as Interim City Manager. Mr. Ornelas has over 30 years of experience in municipal management. Mr. Ornelas has served as City Manager in the cities of Bell Gardens, San Fernando and as Deputy City Manager for the City of San Gabriel. Mr. Ornelas will serve as Interim City Manager pending the city’s search for a permanent City Manager.