The City Manager Newsletter

Hanford Deputy City Manager Hilary Straus, 38, has been selected to be the next Hanford City Manager replacing retiring City Manager Gary Misenhimer. Hilary is a Past-President of Cal-ICMA, and a Past-President of MMANC (2000-2001) during the time he was a Management Analyst in Citrus Heights. Hilary has a BA from the University of California, Davis and an MPA from USC.

State Department of Water Resources hydrologist Maury Roos estimates that 120% of average Sierra Nevada snowpack is needed to make up for the last three dry years, and at this point, he says, “We are somewhere around 100%.”

Members of the California Horse Racing Board include: Keith Brackpool, Chairman; David Israel, Vice Chairman; Jerome S. Moss; Bo Derek; John C. Harris; Jesse H. Choper; and Richard A. Rosenberg. Kirk E. Breed is the Executive Director.

According to the ICMA Who’s Who Directory, Peter M. Callinan served as the Rohnert Park City Manager from May, 1963 until December, 1990…some 27+ years.

Rohnert Park Interim City Manager Dan Schwarz will be the next City Manager of Larkspur, replacing the retired City Manager Jean Bonander, who served the city for 16-years. Veteran City Manager Patricia Thompson has been serving in an interim capacity since Jean left office. Dan will become Larkspur City Manager on May 17. He has a BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Masters degree from UCLA.

Beryl P. Robinson, Jr. served as the City Manager in Nevada City from June, 1965 to June, 2002; a period of 37-years.

Anthony Eulo, the Morgan Hill Environmental Programs Administrator, is the current President of MMANC.

Alhambra City Manager Julio Fuentes serves on the 2010 CRA Board of Directors as the association’s Treasurer.

Livermore City Manager Linda Barton is the President-Elect of the California Redevelopment Association, and also the President-Elect of the City Managers’ Department of the League of California Cities.

Gene L. Wahlers, who served as the Lompoc City Administrator between April, 1967 and December, 1993, began his career in 1956 as a Personnel Technician in Tacoma, Washington.

Leland J. Horner, who worked in South Gate, Gardena, Ventura, and served as City Manager in Millbrae and Livermore before retiring in 1996, currently lives in Redding.

Veteran City Manager Don Jeffers, who retired several years ago, says that he and his wife are enjoying the desert lifestyle as residents of La Quinta.

Retired City Manager Doug La Belle is a gracious breakfast host.

R. Matt Rodriguez, current Deputy City Manager in Pittsburg, California, is the new San Pablo City Manager succeeding veteran City Manager Brock Arner, who is retiring this month.

Captain Bruce A. Fogarty is the new Captain in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Contract Law Enforcement Bureau.

Sonoma City Manager Linda Kelly worked as a Recreation Aide for the City of Bell while she was in high school. She has a BA from California State University, Los Angeles and an MA from the University of California, Riverside.

Scott Wasserman, son of retired City Manager Lauren Wasserman, is Assistant Park & Recreation Director in Commerce where Jorge Rifa is City Administrator. Lauren is currently serving as Interim Director of Water Utilities in Oceanside.

Janice Mathis of the Mathis Consulting Group is a California State University, Long Beach alumnus and she has an MA from National University in San Diego. She previously worked as part of the Pomona management team.

Former Turlock City Manager Tim Kerr is suing the city for withheld retirement contributions. City counter charges are made among Council political campaign tensions.

Mark Deven, City Manager in Woodland, began his public management career as a Community Services Manager in Lakewood in December, 1981. He then worked in Newport Beach, and Anaheim before being appointed the Director of Parks & Recreation in Concord. In 2004 he became the Concord Assistant City Manager and in 2007 he was selected for his current post.

Martinez Assistant City Manager Karen Majors will retire May 31. Karen has an admirable career history that has taken her through the city staffs of San Pablo, Livermore, Benicia and Oakley. She came to Martinez during the time Don Blubaugh was the Interim City Manager. Current City Manager Phil Vince has not indicated whether the city will fill Karen’s post or try to do without for awhile to accrue some salary savings to help the budget picture.

La Puente City Manager Josie Kenline received news that her new Assistant City Manager Amer Jakher, former Victorville Public Works Director, decided that he did not want the position and quit before he started. Current Assistant City Manager Gregg Yamachika was looking forward to returning to the Community Development Department. It appears that he will need to continue to split his time for awhile.

The following listing of items/events/facts/issues was originally distributed in a April, 2010 Special 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 here.