Livermore City Manager Linda Barton, President of the California Redevelopment Association, and other RDA supporters are encouraged with the decision of the California Supreme Court to hear a lawsuit challenging the State’s actions to take Redevelopment Agencies funding.

Michael McHatten, 48, is the new City Manager in Angels Camp replacing Dave Richards, who’s employment agreement was not renewed. Mike was previously the Director of Administrative Services in Madera.

In June, Cotati City Manager Dianne Thompson appointed former Santa Barbara RDA Deputy Director Vicki Parker to the Cotati Community Development Director post, allowing Marsha Sue Lustig to return to the Assistant to the City Manager post.

Stockton City Manager Bob Deis, 55, announced his retirement. About 13-months ago he took over for Interim City Manager Kevin O’Rourke. Stockton Police Chief Blair Ulring has also announced his resignation.

Orland City Manager Paul Poczobut Jr.’s employment agreement expires November 1 and will not be renewed. Paul will have served three-years in Orland. He is an ICMA credentialed city manager, and he is looking for another position in local government.

Atherton is working with Interwest Consulting Group to outsource services and, according to Interim City Manager John Danielson, will save the city $350,000 in the current fiscal year.

Bret Plumlee is the new La Puente City Manager. He served previously as Assistant City Manager in La Quinta, Director of Administrative Services in El Segundo and Assistant Finance Director in La Mirada. La Puente has had a quick succession of City Managers during the past few years. Hal Ledford was appointed in 2002 and left La Puente in December, 2006; Carol Cowley replaced Hal in January, 2007 and retired in September, 2008; Frank G. Tripepi became Interim City Manager and he was replaced by Josie Kenlinein 2009; Al Holliman became Interim City Manager when Josie resigned and veteran City Manager Raul Romero replaced Al in the Interim City Manager post. Raul brought Bret on to assist him as a contract employee.

Early in August, though the beach remained open, sharks were sighted and warning signs were posted at Pismo Beach where Kevin Riceis City Manager.

When Assistant City Manager Karen Majors retired last year, Martinez City Manager Phil Vince selected Alan Shear to fill the vacancy. Alan had been the Assistant City Manager in Huntington Park working with City Manager Gregory Korduner. Phil and Alan previously worked together when they both served on the Novato city staff. While with Novato, Phil served for a time in 2004 as President of MMANC.

Coalinga City Manager Bill Skinner left the job in August. The Fresno County Grand Jury critical of the city reported in 2009 that Coalinga had 17 city managers and 9 police chiefs in the previous 18-years. Bill Skinner took the City Manager post in 2009 after City Manager Stephen Julian was dismissed in April, 2008. In Bill’s absence, Assistant City Manager and Financial Services Director Robert Barron III will serve as Interim City Manager.

Laura Snideman, former Economic Development Manager in San Mateo, has served as Half Moon Bay City Manager since December, 2010. Laura took over for Interim City Manager Michael Dolder.

Former Redondo Beach administrator and Tustin City Manager David Biggs, 51, will replace Carson City Manager Jerry Groomes, who resigned to take a top redevelopment post in San Diego. David has been working as a part-time City Administrator in Montebello with the Kosmont Companies.

Bell has appointed retired San Mateo City Manager Arne Croce as the city’s Interim Chief Administrative Officer while a permanent replacement is being recruited. Arne replaces Interim Chief Administrative Officer Ken Hampian, retired San Luis Obispo City Manager.

Windsor Assistant Town Manager Christa Johnson is the new Laguna Beach Assistant City Manager. Former ACM John Pietig is the new Laguna Beach City Manager.

Woodland City Manager Mark Deven will leave office September 23 to become the City Manager of Arvada, Colorado, a community with a population of 106,433.

Tony Manolatos, 41, the former Deputy Chief of Staff for San Diego Council Member Kevin Faulconer, was recently arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and vandalism.

Joe Felz serves as the Fullerton City Manager.

Hemet City Manager Brian Nakamura is looking to add an Executive Analyst to his management team who will be responsible for monitoring the public safety cost-effective performance.

With former City Manager Karen Brust taking the City Manager post in San Juan Capistrano and former Coronado City Manager Mark Ochenduszko serving as Interim City Manager, the City of Del Mar has retained an executive search firm to help with the recruitment of a new City Manager.

Atascadero Assistant City Manager Jim Lewis is a successful winemaker.

Vista City Manager Rita Geldert is a graduate of Anderson Union High School in Anderson, California, and the University of California, Davis.

Susan George, 59, Woodside City Manager for the past 18-years, will retire in January. The city is in the process of recruiting for a replacement.

Stockton City Manager Bob Deis has been harassed and intimidated by Stockton police officers, according to Mayor Ann Johnston. The POA bought the residence next door to the City Manager’s home. Though the union claims they only bought it as an investment, it is noted that County records show that the union does not own any other property in San Joaquin County. The City has filed a civil complaint against the union at behalf of the City Manager.

Joyce A. Venegas is the Interim City Manager in Corcoran. Former Corcoran City Manager Ron Hoggard resigned in June. Ron served in Corcoran as City Manager for nearly 10-years. He made headlines in 2007 when he was lost on a hike in the Yosemite National Park, but was found in good health two days later following a massive multiple agency search.

Eureka City Manager David Tyson continues to be under-the-gun due to the dismissal of Police Chief Garr Nielson. A council member helped organization and passing petitions calling for David’s dismissal.

Delano Director of Economic Development and Redevelopment Agency Maribel Reyna has been appointed to be the next Delano City Manager. Maribel previously work as a Development Associate in the Bakersfield Economic and Community Development Department.

Tim Chapa was appointed to the Arvin City Manager post in June during the current economic downturn, and has been focusing on the city budget shortfall. All travel and city conferences have been eliminated for Arvin city officials across the board.

Brentwood City Manager Donna Landeros, 62, will retire September 30 to spend more time with her husband at their Lake Tahoe home. Assistant City Manager Paul Eldredge will become Brentwood City Manager October 1. Donna has served as City Manager for the past seven years.

Former Midway Sanitary District General Manager Greg Nordbak is currently a Public Affairs Managers for Republic Services, Inc. Greg is also a member of the Whittier City Council.

Former Ridgecrest City Manager Harvey Rose passed away at the age of 66 on Thursday, August 25, 2011. Harvey served in Ridgecrest for seven-years before retiring in 2008. He came out of retirement to serve as Interim City Manager when City Manager Mike Avery stepped down, and prior to the appointment of current City Manager Kurt Wilson.

Long-time Palos Verdes Estates city employee Judy Smith, 55, has served as Interim City Manager since City Manager Joe Hoefgen was dismissed. She has been unanimously appointed City Manager. She first came to the Palos Verdes Estates management team as the Finance Manager in 1995.

New Oakland City Administrator Deanna Santana has appointed San Jose Finance Director Scott Johnson, 55, to serve as an Oakland Assistant City Administrator. He will be responsible for internal business: the finance and budget departments, information technology and human resources, including labor relations and pension issues.

Budget cutting like most California cities, Wildomar City Manager Frank Oviedo is taking 17.25 furlough days for $15,000 in salary savings and City Hall will be closed on Fridays. Frank was appointed following the service of Wildomar Interim City Manager John Danielson.

South Lake Tahoe City Manager Tony O’Rourke is dealing with public safety departments reorganization. Fire Chief Lorenzo Gigliotti has resign and Police Chief Brian Uhler has added the Fire Department to his command.

Past-MMASC President John Keisler has been promoted within the Long Beach organization from Animal Care Services Manager to Business Operations Manager for the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department. Long Beach City Manager Pat West knows a good man when he sees one.

Fullerton City Manager Joe Felz recommended an independent internal investigation into the Fullerton Police Department’s policies and handling of the death of a suspect and into the departments use-of-force and methods for dealing with the homeless and mentally ill.

CCMF President Wade McKinney, Atascadero City Manager, urges everyone to take a look at the new CCMF web site at: http://www.cacitymanagers.org/