With all the comings and goings 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 Jack Simpson’s Picking Up the Pieces.
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Santa Rosa City Manager Sean McGlynn, 48, broke his leg while on a weekend hike in the Spring Lake Regional Park. Headed down hill near the South Saddle Dam he rolled his ankle dislocating it and fracturing his tibia and fibula. Surgery was scheduled to install screws and plates, and then about an 8-week healing process. Assistant City Manager Chuck Regalia will be backing up his boss. Sean joined the Santa Rosa staff last September.
Redwood City Community Development Director Aaron Aknin has been appointed Assistant City Manager by City Manager Bob Bell. He will retain his community development responsibilities. Aaron previously served as the Assistant Director of Planning and Community Environment for Palo Alto, and prior to that he was Community Development Director in San Bruno. He also served as an Assistant Planner in San Carlos. Aaron earned a BA from San Francisco State University and an MPP from California State University, Northridge.
Former Alameda City Manager Debra Kurita has retired from city management. Since leaving Alameda in 2009, she has served as Assistant City Manager in San Bernardino, and as Interim Community Services Director in Bell, and Interim Deputy City Manager in Santa Ana.
Alameda Assistant City Manager Liz Warmerdam has been selected to serve as the Interim City Manager when City Manager John Russo leaves for Riverside on May 1. Liz served in the U.S. Army between 1987 and 1992, and reached the rank of Captain. She began her city government experience in Alameda in 1997. Liz then held positions in Pinole, and Hercules before returning to Alameda as Assistant City Manager in 2013.
Paso Robles City Manager Jim App, 63, announced that he will retire December 30 after 18-years as City Manager. Jim has worked as a member of the Paso Robles city staff for 25-years.
Retired Paramount Community Services Director Vince Torres had a birthday on March 21. Vince is well-connect to the Southern California area. He is from Compton and went to high school at Neff High School in La Mirada. He currently lives in Westminster with his wife Nancy Welliver. Vince loves to play golf. In fact he was recently spotted at the Laughlin Ranch Golf Club in Bullhead City, Nevada.
San Rafael Assistant City Manager Jim Schutz, 46, has been selected to serve as the San Rafael City Manager. City Manager Nancy Mackle will retired effective July 31. Jim earned a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master’s in city and regional planning from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. Jim is the 2013 John H. Nail Memorial Award winner. He has served as the San Rafael Assistant City Manager for 8-years.
Eastvale has selected Michele Nissen to serve as Interim City Manager. The city has been recruiting for a City Manager since City Manager Carol Jacobs resigned in August, 2014. Robert Van Nort has served as Interim City Manager, but PERS retirement rules prevent him from continuing in that capacity. Michele has served as the Eastvale Assistant City Manager since December, 2014. Prior to that she was the city’s Public Information Officer (2011-2014). She served on the Eastvale Planning Commission from November, 2010 to April, 2012. She earned an MPA from California Baptist University.
City Manager Keith Breskin has resigned effective March 12 as the City Manager of Canyon Lake. Ariel Hall is now the Acting City Manager, Acting City Treasurer and City Clerk. Prior to Keith’s appointment Canyon Lake had two Interim City Managers: retired veteran City Manager Richard Rowe and retired former professional City Clerk Deborah Harrington. The last City Manager to serve longer than a few months was City Manager Lori Moss (2007-2012).
Palmdale City Manager Dave Childs, a past President of ICMA, was selected by the Davenport Institute and the Pepperdine School of Public Policy School to serve as the 2015 City Manager in Residence in early March. Dave appeared on Pepperdine’s Malibu campus to offer students some insight in to the challenges and rewards of a career in local government.