Jeffrey Kay

The Healdsburg City Council on Oct. 5 appointed Jeffrey Kay to be the new city manager of the City of Healdsburg. His first day in this new role will be January 1, 2021. Dave Kiff, Healdsburg’s interim city manager, will continue to lead the City until Kay’s arrival.

Kay is the city manager of the City of San Leandro, a full-service city of 90,000 residents and 435 city employees in Alameda County, with an annual operating budget of $190 million.

A national search to fill this top role at the City of Healdsburg started after David Mickaelian stepped down as city manager in July for a new position in the private sector. While there were several strong candidates, it became clear that Kay was the right choice for Healdsburg, said Healdsburg Mayor Evelyn Mitchell.

“Please join me in welcoming Jeff to our City. He has a tremendously diverse background and range of experience in the areas important to our community such as economic development, affordable housing and community engagement,” she said.

“He has a strong financial background and budget experience, which is so critical right now with our revenue shortfall due to COVID-19. Jeff values collaborative teamwork and has experience building strong professional teams. He also partnered with a committee of residents to adopt and implement a bike and pedestrian master plan, which is music to our ears.”

Healdsburg Vice Mayor Shaun McCaffery added that Kay’s development experience will serve him well.

“Jeff’s strong background in community development will help Healdsburg navigate ongoing and upcoming area-planning and master-planning efforts,” he said.

Kay has served in the City of San Leandro since 2009, first as a business development analyst, then in increasingly senior roles before stepping into the city manager position in January 2018. His accomplishments include helping to develop San Leandro’s fiber-optic network, a public arts program, and voter-approved revenue measures.

He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Vassar College and a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“I am thrilled to have been appointed to serve as Healdsburg’s next city manager, and I’m grateful to the mayor and city council for granting me this opportunity. I look forward to partnering with the community, the council, and the staff to help achieve the City’s priorities, including the continued development of affordable housing,” Kay said.

“Healdsburg is an amazing place and I’m excited to get there, get to know the community, and join the City team.”