With all the coming’s and going’s 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 his Picking Up the Pieces:
La Mirada City Manager Tom Robinson has promoted Jeff Boynton, 33, and Anne Haraksin, 41, to Deputy City Manager positions to help replace Assistant City Manager Kevin Prelgovisk, who recently retired. Jeff has been with the La Mirada city staff since 2001 and Anne joined the staff in 2000.
Retired Santa Maria City Manager Tim Ness has accepted the assignment of Interim City Administrator in Guadalupe. He plans to serve until a permanent replacement for former City Manager Regan Candelario is found.
Hemet City Manager Brian Nakamura has been appointed to be the new Chico City Manager. Brian will replace current City Manager Dave Burkland when he retires August 31.
South San Francisco City Manager Barry Nagel attended a ceremony with Chief of Police Mike Massoni, and elected officials recently to honor federal agents who helped arrest the individual now indicted for the 2010 triple homicide in South City.
Corvallis, Oregon Assistant City Manager Ellen Volmert is the new La Palma City manager. She has served as the Corvallis ACM since 1994. She grew up in Fullerton. Ellen has a BA from UCLA and an MPA from California State University, Fullerton. She is an ICMA Credentialed Manager.
Former Baldwin Park CEO Dayle Keller is the new Interim City Administrator in El Monte, as City Administrator René Bobadilla reports to the Huntington Park City Manager post. She has served in interim assignments in American Canyon and Lawndale.
Though the local AFSCME union objects, the Hawaiian Gardens City Council has established a new City Manager form of government in place of the City Administrator model. City Administrator Ernesto Marquez has been named to be the first Hawaiian Gardens City Manager.
Former Redwood City Deputy City Manager Magda Gonzales has been appointed to serve as the new City Manager in East Palo Alto. Magda has also held position with the city staffs in Belmont and San Bruno. She has a BA from California State University, Sacramento and a JD from Santa Clara Law School. She is the President-elect of the International Hispanic Network, a San Jose-based organization for Hispanic government administrators.
Editors for The Sun newspaper of San Bernardino and the Inland Empire have complimented San Bernardino Interim City Manager Andrea Travis-Miller for her handling of the San Bernardino bankruptcy. They say the Andrea “…has become a model of transparency and civility in San Bernardino.” Andrea is a former La Mirada City Manager.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Susan Bryant-Deason ruled that former Manhattan Beach City Manager Geoff Dolan must pay the city $45,187 in attorney fees charged as a result of his breach of contract lawsuit. The amount is half of the $88,760 that the city requested. Former City Attorney Roxanne Diaz is handling the case on behalf of Manhattan Beach.
Elk Grove, where Laura S. Gill serves as City Manager, has launched a new website for instantly downloading business information. ElkGroveSiteSearch.com provides immediate and free access to real estate, demographic and industry breakdowns. The site was launched by the Elk Grove Economic Development Department.
An ICMA Task Force has completed their task of updating the ICMA Guidelines for Selecting A Local Government Administrator. Cal- ICMA members who served on the Task Force include: Troy Brown, Livermore Assistant City Manager, who serves on the ICMA Executive Board as a Regional Vice President; Tony Dahlerbruch, Rolling Hills City Manager; Debra Kurita, former City Manager; and Bob Murray, President of Bob Murray & Associates.
Ridgecrest City Manager Kurt Wilson, 39, is the new Deputy City Manager in Stockton, appointed by City Manager Bob Deis. Kurt previously worked in San Bernardino and Rialto. Former Stockton Deputy City Manager Mike Locke retired in May.
San Carlos Assistant City Manager Brian Moura earned a BA from the University of California, Berkeley and an MPA from California State University, Hayward. He joined the San Carlos staff in 1986.
Retired City Manager George Caravalho has relocated his residence from San Clemente to Santa Cruz. George says that he loves the beach! Chico City Council Member Mark Sorensen has been selected to serve as the new City Administrator/Finance Director in Biggs, California.
After being placed on Administrative Leave, Santa Maria Police Chief Danny Macagni, notified City Manager Rick Haydon that he has retired. He was named Chief in June, 2003 by then-City Manager Tim Ness. Commander Craig Ritz is leading the department.
Sacramento City Manager John Shirey has appointed Dave Brent as the Sacramento Director of Utilities. Dave has served as Interim Director for nearly a year.
Former Sonoma City Manager Mike Fuson, 68, has been appointed Interim City Manager in Belvedere following City Manager George Rodericks’ resignation in June. Mike also served as City Manager in Sausalito, Pismo Beach and as Assistant City Manager in Novato. Belvedere Assistant City Manager Felicia Wheaton served as Acting City Manager following George’s resignation.
Roseville City Manager Ray Kerridge, a former Sacramento City Manager, takes humanities courses online through California State University, Dominguez Hills. He says that he may pursuing a Master of Humanities degree, but is not concerned about finishing the curriculum. He likes to learn for the sake of learning. “I like to do it because I don’t have to,” he said.
David Brandt is scheduled to assume the City Manager post in his hometown Cupertino on September 10, 2012 succeeding former City Manager David Knapp. David has served as the City Manager in Redmond, Oregon since 2009. He previously worked in Alameda. Retired Sunnyvale City Manager Amy Chan is serving as Interim City Manager in Cupertino.
Former Hercules Police Chief and Interim City Manager Fred Deltorchio has publicly joined the city council member campaign of Bill Kelly, an attorney and former San Francisco police officer, one of 7 Hercules candidates for three seats.
Public Works Director Mike Emberton, 50, will add the duties of San Jacinto Assistant City Manager to his position. The ACM post has been vacant since Tim Hults become Interim City Manager after Barry McClellan retired in 2010. Tim has since been elevated to the City Manager position as a permanent appointment.
Russell Dix of Republic Services lost his battle with cancer and passed away at the end of July. Rest in Peace Russell.
Jurupa Valley in Riverside County, where Steve Harding in City Manager and George Wentz is Assistant City Manager, lost $6.5 million out of a $14.6 million budget when the state Legislature voted last year to take state vehicle license fee money that used to go to new cities. The City of about 100,000 people was incorporated in March, 2011. Every Jurupa Valley employee is a retained contractor, including the City Manager, in order to maximize cost-effectiveness. Governor Jerry Brown and the Legislature also hurt California’s three other newest cities: Menifee lost $3.8 million; Eastvale lost $3 million; and Wildomar lost $2 million.
Santa Fe Spring City Council Member Joseph Serrano, 62, resigned and Laurie Rios was appointed to serve the remainder of his term. Council Member Serrano pleaded guilty to a Federal bribery charge for soliciting money from a medical marijuana dispensary. Thaddeus McCormack is the Santa Fe Spring City Manager.
East Palo Alto, where Ron Davis is Interim City Manager, will shut down for 11-furlough days during the next fiscal year responding to the tight economics. With the exception of the East Palo Alto police, all city employees will take a 5% salary cut most through the furlough program.
William Rawlings had more than 23-years of municipal management and economic development prior to being appointed City Manager in Menifee last year. Prior to joining the Menifee staff William served as the Director of Redevelopment & Housing for the City of Vista. He earned a BA at California State University, Fullerton and a JD from Western State University, College of Law.
Former Hawaiian Gardens City Administrator Ray Harris, who retired as the Transportation Deputy on the staff of Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, serves as a volunteer at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda.
Michael Busch, President of Urban Futures, Inc., serves as the Treasurer on the Board of the California Utility Executive Management Foundation. Trackdown Posse member Dr. Bill Mathis, Ph.D. also serves on the Board as a Corporate Representative. CUEMF will have a Dinner At The Aquarium in Monterey during their 2012 Leadership Summit on Wednesday, September 5, 2012.
Westmorland, in Imperial County, has one of the smallest Police Departments in California with a Chief and 5-full-time officers with four patrol vehicles. Westmorland, incorporated in 1934, has a population of 2,225 and is part of the El Centro Metropolitan Area.