Trackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 13, Issue No. 6

For over 13 years, Jack Simpson’s Trackdown Management has published the City Manager Newsletter. Jack is a retired city manager and former Willdan executive. His newsletter content weaves together the personal side of the profession in California and helps keep the city manager community, especially retired city managers, connected with each other. 

Long Beach Acting City Manager Tom Modica is the new City Manager replacing City Manager Pat West, who retired in September, 2019. Tom started work for Long Beach in 2002 as a Management Assistant. He worked his was through a number of assignments and became Assistant City Manager in 2014. Tom is a past participant in a “Proof of Life” lunch.

City Manager Jeff Moneda of Foster City has resigned to take a position in Southern California. Jeff joined the Foster City staff in 2014 as the Public Works Director. He was appointed City Manager in 2018. Jeff previously worked in the Public Works Departments of the Cities of Chula Vista, La Palma and Milpitas.

El Centro City Clerk Diane Caldwell retired after 38-years of public service. “It’s bittersweet, I will miss my co-workers and my friends but I’m super excited to see a permanent vacation,” she told well-wishers. She was originally hired by former El Centro City Clerk Rita Noden in May 1981 as a 17-year old student at Central Union High School. Norma Wyles is the new El Centro City Clerk.

Mill Valley has extended the city’s City Manager recruitment efforts. The city had planned to have a new City Manager in place by mid-May. However, with the coronavirus pandemic continuing, the City now expects to have a new City Manager installed by early June. Mill Valley City Manager Jim McCann began his tenure in 2010 and announced his retirement in October of last year.

San Bernardino City Manager Teri Ledoux’s employment agreement is set to expire December 31, 2020. The City has retained an Orange County-based executive recruiter to find her successor. Teri was appointed City Manager last year in June, a month after former City Manager Andrea Miller was dismissed. Andrea recently reached a $750,000 settlement agreement to conclude her breach-of-contract suit against the city.

David Gassaway is the new Assistant City Manager in the City of Fairfield. Most recently David served as the City Manager in Solvang. He previously worked as Assistant to the City Manager in the Cities of Rancho Cordova and Indian Wells.

Eureka City Manager Dean Lotter started working in the position in December 2019. He took over for City Manager Greg Sparks, who retired after serving Eureka for five years. Dean previously served 13-years as the City Manager in New Brighton, Minnesota. He earned a BA from the University of Wisconsin and a Master’s degree from Mankato State University. Dean grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Former Placentia City Administrator (2008-2015) and former City Manager in Azusa (2015-2017) Troy Butzlaff, is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Athenian Partner, LLC. Troy served as the Director of Administrative Services in the City of La Puente from 2017 until his retirement in 2019. He previously served as the Assistant City Manager in Palm Springs and Indian Wells. Troy earned a BA and MPA from the University of La Verne. He is an ICMA Credentialed City Manager, and a veteran of the “Proof of Life” lunch program.

Reno, Nevada Assistant City Manager Susan C. Schlerf began her public service career as a Research Analyst for the City of South Lake Tahoe in 1985. She worked her way up in the organization and became Assistant City Manager in 1995. Susan left South Lake Tahoe in 2003. She earned a BA from Humboldt State University.

Henry T. Garcia, a UCLA graduate, served as City Manager in Colton (1998-2001), Rialto (2001- 2011), and Moreno Valley (2011-2013).

Retired veteran City Manager Timothy J. Casey served as an Administrative Intern in Manhattan Beach starting in September 1972.

After serving as City Manager in Morgan Hill (1990-1992) and Fremont (1992-2004), Jan Perkins, a former member of the California City Management Foundation (CCMF) Board, has worked as a management consultant since 2005.

Danielle Foster has served as the Housing Policy Manager for the City of Sacramento since October 2019.

Hermosa Beach City Manager Suja Lowenthal served as a Long Beach City Council Member for ten years (June 2006-July 2016).

Irvine Deputy City Manager Michelle Grettenberg earned a BS in criminal justice from California State University, Los Angeles and an MPA from California State University, Fullerton.

Matthew West is the City Manager in the City of Tustin, where he started with the city in September 2001 as an Assistant Planner.

Since June 2019 Brad McKinney has served as the San Dimas Assistant City Manager, and previously to that he served in assignments in Anaheim, Claremont, Rosemead and Alhambra.

Fabiola Wong has served as the Planning Manager in San Dimas since January 2016.

Retired City Manager Daniel P. Joseph served as the Assistant City Manager in the City of Seal Beach in November 1980.

Menifee Economic Development Director Gina Gonzalez began her public service career in 2007 as a Field Representative for a State Assembly Member and then a State Senator in 2010.

University of San Francisco Professor Dr. Monika L. Hudson is a former East Palo Alto City Manager (1999-2002).

John L. Ruppel Jr., who earned a BA from the University of Notre Dame, served as the City Manager in the City of Riverbank from August 1975 to February 1978,

James S. Mocaus served as the City Manager in South Pasadena (1967-1971), Baldwin Park (1971- 1975) and San Juan Capistrano (1975-1981).

Mill Valley has extended the application deadline for the City’s City Manager recruitment following City Manager Jim McCann’s retirement.