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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Former City and County Manager Roy Pederson, a past ICMA President, reminds us of a former assistant he worked with, the late Tommy Davis. He served as Assistant City Manager with Roy in Montebello and Scottsdale, and he served as Public Works Director in Yolo County when Roy served there. Roy writes: “I would say, while I had many great managers working with me in various capacities Tommy was right up there with the best and his degree was in Parks & Recreation from Pepperdine.”
Long Beach City Manager Pat West named City of Orange Director of Community Services Marie Knight to the Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Director position. Marie has 27-years in the administration of leisure time activities and services. Prior to joining the Orange staff Marie was the Director of Recreation and Senior Services for Newport Beach. Prior to that she served as the Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs in Orange County Alliance, and Leisure Services Manager for Garden Grove. Marie earned a BA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She replaces former Director George Chapjian, who resigned in June 2015 to take a Community Services Department position in Santa Barbara County. Marie will be taking over from Interim Director Stephen Scott.
Imperial City Manager Marlene D. Best, 55, will start as the new City Manager in Santee in mid-March, 2016. She will take over from Interim City Manager Paul Malone, who has been serving since last September. Prior to that Director of Finance Tim McDermott served after Acting City Manager Pedro Orso-Delgado was placed on paid administrative leave. Veteran City Manager Keith Till served as the Santee City Manager for 14-years before the temporary arrangements were devised. Marlene started her career in 1980 in the Lemon Grove Recreation Department. Since then she worked as a Recreation Supervisor at Lake Poway; Assistant City Manager in Lake Elsinore; and City Manager in Calexico prior to joining the Imperial city staff.
Santa Rosa City Clerk Terri Griffin, 54, is retiring after 24-years in public service. Terri joined the Santa Rosa staff in 1992 in a secretary position in the City Attorney’s office. In 2006 she took the Deputy City Clerk post in the City of Rohnert Park, and she later became City Clerk there. Terri returned to Santa Rosa as City Clerk in 2011. Deputy City Clerk Stephanie Williams has been appointed Interim City Clerk in Santa Rosa.
Former Chief of Police and current Grover Beach Assistant City Manager Jim Copsey will serve as the Interim City Manager with the retirement of long-time Grover Beach City Manager Bob Perrault. Bob served 10-years as the
Dunsmuir Interim City Manager Randy Johnsen has completed his assignment and returned to retirement life. Former Orland City Manager Paul Poczobut has been selected as the next Dunsmuir City Manager. Paul is former career U. S. Navy. Randy is a Life Member of ICMA. He began his career in Lakewood in 1968, and then went on to positions in Santa Fe Springs, Colton and Montclair. He has served as the City Manager in Cotati, Ione, Orland, and Lakeport, and also as Interim City Manager in Gridley. Paul served as a Personnel Specialist in the U. S. Navy between 1974 and 1994. He then served as City Administrator in cities in Kansas and Oregon, and as Assistant Town Manager in Taylor, Arizona before working in Orland. He recently served as City Administrator in Ada, Minnesota (2013-2014).
Deanna Lorson has been appointed Assistant City Manager in the City of Oceanside. Deanna has more than 20-years of experience in local government, including serving as the Assistant City Manager in Riverside. She will be responsible for economic development, property management, development services, water utilities, public works and harbor, and working with the Coastal Commission. Oceanside City Manager is Michelle Skaggs Lawrence. Deanna will be succeeding retired City Manager Peter Weiss, who has been filling in as Assistant City Manager.
Retired City and County Manager Roy Pederson, who is also a past President of ICMA, was recent elected President of the Arizona Outlaws 356 Club, Inc. Roy tells us that the Outlaws is a classic sports car club dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of the 356 Porsches. He explains that the Model 356 was the first mass marketed Porsche, and was produced between 1948 and 1965. Trackdown congratulations to Roy Pederson!
Tracy City Manager Troy Brown announced in January the appointment of André Pichly, 54, as the city’s new Director of Parks and Community Services. André served as a Recreation Superintendent in West Sacramento between January, 1996 and January, 2016 when he joined the Tracy staff. From 1990 to 1996 he served as a Recreation Supervisor for the Auburn Area Recreation & Park District. He earned a BS and MS in recreation administration from California State University, Sacramento. Former San Francisco Giants third baseman Jim Davenport passed away at the age of 82 in Redwood City on Thursday, February 18, 2016 of heart failure. He had a 13-year major league playing career all with the Giants, and later worked in various roles including: scot, coach, minor league instructor and big-league manager. He played on Giant teams that included Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Orlando Cepeda. Jim was a resident of San Mateo.
Retired City Manager Keith Till has completed his Interim City Manager assignment in San Juan Capistrano where former Laguna Beach Assistant City Manager Ben Siegel has been appointed City Manager. Keith “re-retired” and is spending some time in his new part-time residence in Incline Village.
Retired City Manager Louis Shepard tells a story about retired Redding City Manager Mike Warren. Lou notes that Mike previously served in Oregon and Benicia, but started his career as a Recreation Leader in San Pablo where Lou was City Manager. Lou recalls finding Mike telling ghost stories to young Halloween celebrators while laying in a coffin. Lou points out that it was a very popular program and received good comments from the parents. Lou brought Mike into the City Manager’s office part-time, and the rest is history. Mike had the personality and ability to move into a full-time post and went on to a superb city management career.
Former City of Industry Director of Planning Brian James has been caught without a position in a reorganization by City Manager Paul Philips. Brian has always earned high marks as a professional city planner, and will surely land on his feet in short order. Brian worked as the City of Industry Planning Director from July, 2013. Prior to that he was an Associate Principal at PlaceWorks (formerly known as The Planning Center) between January, 1998 and June, 2013. Previous to that he was an Associate Planner with the City of Santa Barbara Community Development Department, and as an Assistant Planner with Huntington Beach from October, 1991 and February, 1996. Brian earned a BS in city & regional planning from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.