Trackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 13, Issue No. 10
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.
Lakeport City Manager Margaret Silveira will retire this summer after a long public service career. Margaret joined the City of Lakeport as City Manager in April 2010. Prior to that she served as the Gustine City Manager between November 2007 and March 2010. Prior to Gustine, Margaret worked as the Director of Housing and Economic Development for the City of Riverbank for nearly 10-years, starting in May 1998. She earned a BA in organizational leadership from Chapman University, and she also completed the Certificate program for strategic management of public organizations at the University of California Berkeley, Goldman School.
Banning city officials are moving ahead with a ballot measure that would make the elected City Clerk and City Treasurer positions appointed positions instead. The current Banning City Clerk is Marie Calderon. The thought is that instead of selecting an individual based on a popularity contest at the polls, the selection should be based on qualifications and experience.
Veteran City Manager Michael K. Rock has been spotted in Palos Verdes Estates. He left the City Manager post in Yuba City after just 6 months on the job. Michael previously worked as Town Manager in Fairfax (2008-2012), City Manager in the Cities of Lomita (2012-2015), Banning (2015-2017) and Santa Paula (2017-2019). Prior to his management posts, Michael served as the Public Works Director in Fairfax (2007-2008) and Operations Manager in the City of Rocklin (2002-2007). He earned a BA and MPP from California State University, Sacramento. In 2018 Michael received a 25-Year ICMA Service Award.
Chula Vista City Manager Gary Halbert is retiring and Assistant City Manager Maria Kachadoorian will serve as the new City Manager. Maria has worked for the City of Chula Vista for 22-years. She is the first woman City Manager and first Hispanic to serve in the role. Gary was appointed City Manager in 2014. Maria began her public service career as an Internal Auditor for the County of San Diego, and she joined the Chula Vista city staff in 1998. She earned a BS in accounting and an MPA from San Diego State University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She graduated high school from Mar Vista High School in Imperial Beach.
Jennifer Campbell is the new Acting City Manager for the City of Encinitas, taking over for the retiring City Manager Karen Brust. Karen, who’s last day is on June 12, serve as the Encinitas City Manager for the past 5-years. Jennifer and Karen are working in tandem until Karen’s last day. Jennifer has been serving as the Encinitas Director of Parks and Recreation since 2016. She previously worked in Glendale, Arizona as Assistant City Manager, and before that the City of Maricopa, Arizona. Jennifer has earned a BA in recreational management from the University of Arizona, and a Master’s Degree in education from Northern Arizona University.
The late Kevin J. Murphy, a UCLA alum, served as City Manager in Alhambra (1983-1992) and Newport Beach (1992-1998). Kevin passed away in 2011 of cancer at Hoag Hospital. Kevin served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) for 13-years. Prior to becoming a City Manager, Kevin worked in administrative and assistant management capacities in the Cities of Walnut, Stanton, Lancaster and Alhambra. He earned a BA in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and he completed graduate work in public administration at California State University, Long Beach. Kevin was 57-years old at the time of his death.
CAPIO’s Young Communicator Scholarship goes to Bobby Horner this year. Bobby was a student intern with the San Bernardino County Superior Court. She says that her 6-month internship has inspired her to pursue a fulltime position with the San Bernardino County Superior Court.
Malibu City Manager Reva Feldman and Assistant City Manager Lisa Soghor explain that the proposed 2020-2021 city budget remains balanced due largely to one-time revenue from the Southern California Edison Company’s cash payout due to the 2018 Woolsey Fire.
Eureka city official Rob Dumouchel, a former U.S. Army Specialist, is a candidate for the City Manager position in Homer, Alaska.
Chico City Manager Mark Orme said the City has had to lay off 11-staff members and instituted a hiring freeze for 24-vacant positions.
Shad S. Springer, who began his public service career in Wyoming, and earned an MPA from the University of Wyoming, is the Director of Utilities for the City of Santa Maria.
Jon Cicirelli, San Jose Assistant Director of Public Works has been with the city for more than 17-years and earned a BS from George Mason University and an MPA from California State University, San Bernardino.
Paul W. Salfen served as City Manager in Los Altos Hills (1960-1966); Willows (1966-1968); Thornton, Colorado (1968-1969); and Cotati (1970-1973; and also worked as the Assistant City Manager in Milpitas (1970).
Chula Vista Deputy City Manager Kelley Bacon previously worked for San Diego County and Mesa County in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Retired City Manager Kevin O’Rourke and Trackdown daughter Samantha Simpson celebrated birthdays of June 9th.
Those needing expert consulting services from retired Long Beach City Manager Pat West may contact him at 562-331-9812, or email him at pat@patwestllc.com