The newsletter is authored by former City Manager Jack A. Simpson. You may see the entire newsletter and all back issues without cost here.
Former Downtown Long Beach Associates Economic Development Manager Todd Cutts is the new SeaTac, Washington City Manager.
Albany is conducting two Community Center Workshops to allow the public to present ideas on City spending. Albany City Manager Beth Pollard has indicated that the city could have a deficit of $500,000 in its General Fund. She notes that 85% of Albany city expenses are for labor costs.
Cerritos College Trustee Bob Epple, 62, a former State Assembly Member, passed away on April 13, losing his battle with leukemia.
San Marcos City Manager Paul Malone, 53, celebrates his 30th anniversary with the city this month. He was born in Hawaii and moved with his family to Vista and then Oceanside in 1960. He attended Palomar College and earned a BS from Humboldt State University. In 1981 he was hired for an entry level Planning Technician post by then-City Manager Rick Gittings.
Brent Jacobsen, President of the Lifeguard Management Association, said that budget spending reductions recommended by Newport Beach City Manager Dave Kiff to help address failing city revenues, will impair the City’s ability to respond to emergencies and is unsafe. It is proposed to cut full-time staff during the “off-season” for budget savings.
Piedmont City Manager Geoff Grote is resuming talks with Oakland to develop a new library services agreement. Isleton City Manager Bruce Pope is dealing with a City approved (purportedly pursuant to State law) medical marijuana growing facility that seems to have caught the attention of the Sacramento District Attorney, who’s office served subpoenas on a dozen Isleton city officials.
Delano Assistant City Manager Kathy Kivley is a former Clearlake City Manager.
Lake County Sheriff Frank Rivero takes issue with the District Attorney’s decision to not file criminal charges against Clearlake’s Interim Chief of Police Craig Clausen for an April, 2010 incident where he allegedly grabbed and twisted the arm of a 65-year-old Lakeport woman. The Sheriff says it gives the public the impression that law enforcement officers are immune from prosecution.
Rohnert Park City Manager Gabe Gonzalez, looking for ways to cut costs, has retained a consultant to evaluate the public safety operations and cost, which consume 54% of the city’s general fund. The City is facing a $1 million deficit. The POA is pushing hard against a contracting out alternative.
Lynwood Administrative Analyst III Daniel Baker has been assisting Gateway Cities City Managers’ group President Roger Haley (Lynwood City Manager) with meeting arrangements and notifications.
Wildomar City Manager Frank Oviedo has had a difficult time making revenue forecasts during the currently economic climate. Wildomar, incorporated in 2008, and pre-incorporation estimates included property taxes from homes that have fallen vacant and a Walmart that was never built. Assistant City Manager Gary Nordquist said that budget cuts were being made across the board.
Retired Wasco City Manager Larry Pennell is the current McFarland Interim City Manager. He says that it is hoped a new City Manager will be in place by early June.
Eastvale Interim City Manager Robert Van Nort served as the first City Manager in Big Bear Lake, Chino Hills and Diamond Bar.
Poway City Manager Penny Riley has announced the appointment of Robin Bettin as the Poway Director of Community Services, replacing Dena Fuentes, who resigned in February. Robin has been serving as the Assistant Director of Community Services in Escondido.
Napa City Manager Mike Parness, 57, underwent surgery on Tuesday, April 12, for an unspecified medical problem. He is expected to fully recover. Mike will be on medical leave through the middle of May. Assistant City Manager Nancy Weiss will serve as Acting City Manager in Mike’s absence.
Retired South Lake Tahoe City Manager David Jinkens currently lives in Manteca.
Bob Murray & Associates has been retained to help the City of Lodi with its current Chief of Police recruitment. Montebello Interim City Manager Peter Cosentini has resigned. He said that he would stay on up to 30-days to allow the City time to find a replacement.
Former City Manager Katie Wilson, currently with Willdan Financial Services, is one of the California State University, Fresno alumni we missed in our last issue. Sorry Katie.
We also extend our apologies to Suisun City Assistant City Manager Ron Anderson, who is also a Fresno State alumnus.
In Long Beach where Pat West is City Manager, a longplanned rebuild of the aging Alamitos Bay Marina has been postponed. An audit shows that funds are not available for the project.
Atwater Police Chief Richard Hawthorne is now the Acting City Manager replacing former Interim City Manager Stan Feathers. Former City Manager Greg Wellman retired last November.
Former Clovis Police Chief and City Manager Raymond Mondragon has been appointed to the Economic Development Director post for the Eastern Plains Council of Governments. Ray takes over from Interim Director Sandy Chancey, who has served in the position since the previous Director Gregg Williams left under a “mutual agreement” with the EPCOG.
Riverbank City Manager Rich Holmer, currently on paid administrative leave, is represented by Palo Alto attorney Bob Aaronson.
Former Roseville City Manager Robert Graham Hutchison died at the age of 84 on April 8, 2011. He was with Roseville from 1968 to 1988. He worked in Santa Monica in 1951 starting as the Assistant Personnel Director. He also worked for Santa Ana and Ontario.
City Manager Richard Ramirez anticipates that water supply will not again be an issues in American Canyon at least for the next couple of years, though additional storage facilities would be beneficial for the longrun. With the drought ended and an ample snowpack, American Canyon water supply will be fine for the next couple of years.
Jurupa Valley has formed an Incorporation Celebration Committee.
San Jose City Manager Debra Figone issued potential lay-off notices to more than 600 city workers that may lose their jobs by the end of June. The positions range from police officers to librarians. Last year San Jose slashed 713 position and laid off 215 to help close a record $118.5 million deficit.
Cotati City Council Member Robert Coleman-Senghor passed away in April at the age of 70. He was a Professor of English at Sonoma State University.
For the 2nd consecutive year, the City of Dublin, where Joni Pattillo is City Manager, has been named a finalist in the National Civic League All-America City Award competition.
Santa Cruz City Manager Martin Bernal, Assistant City Manager Tina Shull and the City’s dozen department heads will forgo cost-of-living raises and increase contributions to their pensions and health care insurance. The total cuts will exceed $300,000 to help close a budget shortfall. It is hoped that the local labor union groups will also agree to such costsaving plans.
Former Arcadia City Manager William Kelly, currently a Managing Principal, With Urban Futures, has held adjunct professorships at California State University, Long Beach and at California State University, San Francisco teaching Public Administration and Policy. He currently teaches at USC and is a member of the USC Advisory Board for the Masters of Public Administration. Bill is a redevelopment consultant to Hawaiian Gardens.
April 14-20, 2011 is scheduled as “Godwit Days, California’s North Coast Spring Bird Migration Festival” in Arcata where Randy Mendosa is City Manager. On Friday evening, April 15, Mark Andre, Arcata Deputy Director of Environmental Services will make a presentation on the environmental restoration efforts around Humboldt Bay.
The Light & Water Department of Azusa, where Fran Delach is City Manager, was among the 82 providers in the nation’s more than 2,000 public power utilities to earn “Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3)” recognition from the American Public Power Association. The City was presented with the award March 21.
Carmel-by-the-Sea has appointed retired veteran City Manager John Goss of the Ralph Andersen & Associates executive recruitment firm to serve as Interim City Administrator while a recruitment is conducted.
A new Barstow noisy animal regulation requires owners to spay and neuter pit bulls and pit bull mixes. Assistant City Manager Oliver Chi said that the ordinance focuses on pit bulls because most service calls involve the breed and most dogs held at the shelter are pit bulls. The breed is also the hardest to adopt out
Calexico, where Oscar Rodriquez is City Manager, has retained Marshall Linn of Urban Futures as the professional consultant for the administration of the Calexico Redevelopment Agency.
