The City Manager Newsletter

Lodi City Manager Blair King, 52, has been selected to be the new Coronado City Manager following the retirement of City Manager Mark Ochenduszko.

Claremont McKenna College Alumnus Ann Williams, who has also earned an MBA and JD from USC, is the new Vice President of Legislative and Legal Affairs for the Central City Association, which is a Downtown-Los Angeles based business advocacy group.

Former American Canyon City Manager Mark Joseph, 55, has announced his candidacy for an American Canyon City Council seat. Mark is currently the Financial Services Manager in Suisun City, and has worked more than 30-years in local government. He worked in Atascadero prior to joining the American Canyon staff in 1993 as the Finance Director. He served as City Manager between 1996 and 2005.

Elk Grove City Manager Laura Gill has lost the services of Deputy City Manager Cody Tubbs, 36, who resigned his position with the city to take an impressive public relations position with the Southern California Edison Company. Cody first came to work for Elk Grove in 2003 as the city’s first intergovernmental relations officer under then-City Manager John Danielson.

Former Pasadena City Manager (1973-90) and Orange County Sanitation District General Manager Don McIntyre has been appointed Interim City Manager in Monterey Park. Former Monterey Park City Manager June Yotsuya left office in March and the City’s Interim Police Chief Jim Smith has been Acting City Manager since.

During most of the 1970s and early 1980s, former Los Alamitos Mayor Dean Grose was a Public Information Officer for the City of Anaheim, assigned to the City Manager’s office.

Orange County Vector Control District Manager Gerard Goedhart has been terminated.

Former Escalon City Manager Greg Greeson is the new Interim City Manager in Gustine.

Through the leadership of Sonoma City Manager Linda Kelly and the Sonoma County Master Gardeners the Sonoma Community Center was able to create the “Maloney Memorial Garden” as a water-wise demonstration garden that will use 70% less water than the lawn it replaces to honor the memory of the four members of the Maloney family who were lost in a tragic traffic accident last November. The new garden is a showcase for water conservation and provides the community with environmental educational opportunities.

PG&E is installing so-called “smart meters” for gas and electric usage in Cotati, where Dianne Thompson is City Manager.

Former Huntington Beach City Administrator Penelope Culbreth-Graft has resigned as Colorado Springs City Manager effective April 16. After 32-years in public service she is launching a public speaking, consulting and writing business.

Napa City Manager Mike Parness says the City’s budget is about $10 million out of balance with most major revenue sources down requiring some major budget trimming during the next year. Napa Police Officers Association’s head Sgt. Tim Cantillon does not believe that the budget picture is really that bad and seems to think the deficit report is a negotiation tactic.

Atascadero Assistant City Manager Jim Lewis and his wife Debi Lewis (Gracie’s Mom & Dad) are the winners of the Atascadero Dancing with the Stars fundraiser for the Atascadero Library last month. Nicely done Jim and Debi!

Inglewood City Manager Tim Wanamaker submitted his resignation effective March 18. Tim served in the Inglewood post for nearly two-years.

After 22-years as Downey City Manager, Gerald Caton has announced his retirement December 31, 2011, and a succession plan is approved bringing Assistant City Manager Gilbert Livas to the top administrative post in a smooth transition. Jerry previously served as Cudahy City Manager.

Bakersfield Assistant City Manager John Stinson, 56, has announced that he will retire this summer after 25-years in the City Manager’s Office. He is looking forward to playing golf and music. John was a professional musician prior to joining the Bakersfield City Manager’s Office. He plays drums, acoustic and bass guitar.

Watsonville Associate Planner Bradley D. Olin is taking some time off to care for his wife and newborn daughter, Vivienne Claire Olin. Vivienne was born February 10, 2010 in Santa Cruz. She weighed in at 3 pounds, 5 ounces and was 15 inches long.

Retired Santa Monica City Manager Lamont Ewell is the new Culver City Interim City Manager. Mark Scott is leaving the Culver City post after only 9-month on the job to become the City Manager in his “home town” of Fresno.

Lathrop City Manager Cary Keaten has developed staffing changes in pursuit of budget savings. A Parks Project Manager position has been eliminated, and the Assistant Community Development Director post has been reduced to a Principal Planner level.

Redwood City City Manager Peter Ingram has suggested that his city and San Carlos consider consolidating their police services. San Carlos City Manager Mark Weiss had already been looking for ways to address a budget deficit and continue to provide needed public services. Peter’s preliminary study indicates that a two-city service delivery model provides an improved “service base” and perhaps better service than a contract-out approach.

Here is an historical footnote to a recent luncheon meeting that included retired City Manager/consultant Andy Lazzaretto and Gateway Cities COG Executive Director Richard R. Powers (also a retired City Manager). At the conclusion of the meeting, Richard visited the men’s room on his way to the exit. A few minutes later the lights went out. He fumbled his way in the dark, and immerging found that the staff was gone and he was locked in the restaurant. “This is meant as a testament as to how important these lunches are. Yesterday was a great lunch,” said Dick. At the very least, it was a memorable lunch.

Though city staffing has been cut some 30%, meaning 100 jobs lost, with more cuts to come to address the projected $5.2 million deficit. Vacaville City Manager Laura Kuhn addressed the local Chamber of Commerce and underscored that even with bad times Vacaville is a great place to live.

Fairfield City Manager Sean Quinn has been named: PublicCEO’s Public Official Of The Year. Sean has been the Fairfield City Manager since 2007 when he took over for the retiring Kevin O’Rourke (who is currently the Interim City Manager in Stockton).

The Eleventh Annual Knapp Golf Classic is planned for June 14, 2010 at Western Hills Golf and Country Club in Chino Hills. The Shotgun Scramble format will start at noon, and has a $175 entry fee/ $35 for Dinner only. The tournament is a fund raising event for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. Retired Cerritos and Lake Forest City Manager Gaylord Knapp was lost March 8, 2008 to Huntington’s Disease. Inquires may be directed to retired City Manager Doug La Belle at email address: mauidoug3@hotmail.com

Santa Fe Springs City Manager Fred Latham has planned a Special Birthday Celebration in honor of retired City Manager Bob Williams on Friday, April 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to help celebrate Bob’s 90th Birthday. Please RSVP by calling City Manager Fred Latham at 562-868-0511. Bob is a warrior who served as City Manager in the Cities of: Needles, Tracy, Eureka, Santa Fe Springs, Paramount, Norco, Pico Rivera, Signal Hill, Santa Paula and Commerce. He was also the Interim City Treasurer in Los Angeles, and he began his career in 1950 on the Montebello staff.

The 51st Annual Municipal Seminar of the California Contract Cities Association’s is planned for May 13 – 16, 2010 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Hotel in Indian Wells. The 2010 program is entitled: “The Economy: Woe to Dough?” Inquiries should be made to the Associations office at 11027 Downey Avenue, Downey, CA 90241, or by calling telephone number: 562-622-5533.

The following listing of items/events/facts/issues was originally distributed in a April, 2010 Issue of the City Manager Newsletter by Trackdown. The newsletter is authored by former City Manager Jack A. Simpson. You may see the entire newsletter and all back issues without cost at the Trackdown Management Services web site: www.trackdownmanagement.net

–