Trackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 13, Issue No. 18
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.
Vista Assistant City Manager Aly Zimmerman has been selected to serve as the City Manager in the City of Rocklin. Aly has worked as the Vista Assistant City Manager since 2012. She is expected to begin her new assignment in Rocklin on November 16. Aly began her public service career as a Policy Analyst with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research from 1996 to 1998. She then worked as a Policy Analyst with the League of California Cities (2000-2003). During that time Aly served as the League’s liaison with the California City Management Foundation (CCMF). Aly earned a BA in international relations from the University of California, Davis, and an MPA from San Diego State University.
Claremont City Manager Tara Schultz resigned after three years in the position. She will serve until October 31, 2020. Tara joined the Claremont staff in February 2018. She previously served in the Cities of Sierra Madre and Alhambra. Tara attended classes at California State University, Northridge. She earned a BA in Recreation Administration and an MPA. Tara is a longtime resident of the City of Pasadena.
San Leandro City Manager Jeff Kay is the new City Manager in the City of Healdsburg in Sonoma County. Jeff became the San Leandro City Manager in July 2018. Jeff has worked for San Leandro since 2009 when he served as the City’s Business Development Manager. He will continue working in San Leandro until December.
Del Rey Oaks City Manager Dino Pick was asked to serve as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense in the Pentagon for a four and a half month period. While Dino is in Washington D.C., Police Chief Jeff Hoyne will serve as the Acting City Manager during Dino’s absence. As the Chief steps up, Commander Chris Bourrquin will serve as Acting Chief of Police.
Palm Springs veteran City Manager David Ready will retire at the end of the year. David came to Palm Springs in 2000 after working for the City of Flint, Michigan and his hometown of Canton, Ohio. David earned a BA from Kent State University, a Master from the University of Akron, and a Doctorate from Kent State University plus a law degree. In 2018 David received a 35-year ICMA Service Award. It has been said that David is the only City Manager in the country with a law degree and a doctorate degree.
Retired Irvine City Manager Sean Joyce, 57, has been appointed Interim City Manager in South Pasadena to replace City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe, who has purportedly retired following her dismissal. Paul Riddle has been serving as the Acting City Manager. Sean served as the South Pasadena City Manager from 1996 to 2004 before heading to Irvine. He earned a BA and MPA from California State University, Fullerton.
California City has retained HdLCompanies to conduct audits on cannabis businesses manufacturing and distribution in the city. City Manager Anna Linn requested bids for the service. City Attorney Christian Bettenhause told the City Council the goal is to train city staff to absorb the role HdL Companies will perform, or evaluate the ongoing cost of keeping HdL Companies performing the function. The audit service will be paid from the city’s cannabis permit fee revenue.
Chad Clanton is the Director of Parks and Recreation for Tustin. Chad began his tenure in 2000 as a Recreation Supervisor for the City of Garden Grove. Chad joined the Tustin city staff as a Recreation Superintendent in 2008. He was promoted to Deputy Director in March 2014 and then Director in January 2020. Chad earned a BA in psychology from the University of California, Irvine and an MS in recreation administration from California State University, Long Beach.
Calistoga City Manager Mike Kirn joined the city staff as the Public Works Director and City Engineer in June 2013. Previous the coming to Calistoga, Mike was the Director of Public Works and City Engineer for the City of Healdsburg (2007-2013). From 2002 to 2007, Mike served as the Public Works Director and City Engineer in Fresno. Between 1992 and 2002, he worked as County Engineer and Couty Surveyor for the County of Madera. Mike was appointed City Manager in Calistoga in June 2019. He earned a BS in civil engineering from California State University, Fresno. University of Kansas graduate,
Jan C. Perkins served as City Manager in Morgan Hill (1990-1992) and Fremont (1994-2004). Jan earned a BA and MPA from KU, in addition to completing the Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard University. Jan began her local government career as an Administrative Analyst in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1975, and then served as the Director of Community Development in Adrian, Michigan (1970- 1981). Jan is a former member of the CCMF Board.
For more than 40 years, Dr. Bill Mathis of the Mathis Group has served as one of the very few public sector management psychologists in the country. Bill has worked with school districts, police departments, city managers, elected officials and utility districts throughout California. Bill is a past longtime member of the CCMF Board.
Monrovia City Manager Dylan Feik began his city management career as a Management Analyst Inter in Olathe, Kansas (2010- 2011). After serving as a Budget Analyst for Olathe, Dylan was hired to be the Assistant City Manager in Knoxville, Iowa, the home of one of the biggest and best Sprint Car Racing Tracks in the country. He came to California in 2014 to serve as the Administrative Services Director in the City of Auburn. Dylan served as the City Manager in Calistoga from February 2016 to 2019, when he came to Monrovia. Dylan earned a BA from Weber State University and an MPA from the University of Kansas.
Benicia City Manager Lorie Tinfow submitted her resignation after serving three years in the City; Chief of Police Erik Upson is serving as the Acting City Manager.
Robert A. Rizzo, of the City of Bell corruption scandal, served as City Manager in Hesperia from May 1988, until June 1992, after working on the Rancho Cucamonga city staff from September 1980 to 1988.
Richard Mollica, who has served as the City of Malibu Assistant Planning Director for more than a year, has been appointed Acting Planning Director in the wake of the announcement that Planning Director Bonnie Blue is leaving the position to move to Florida to be closer to her family.
Folsom City Manager Elaine Andersen announced that Folsom Fire Department Division Chief Ken Cusano is the next Folsom Fire Chief, effective October 31, 2020.
League of California Cities officials awarded John Russo the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Tripepi Smith & Associates founder Ryder Smith served on the City of Tustin Planning Commission from April 2013 to August 2018.
Alex Waite, Senior Management Analyst with the City of Tustin since August 2007, previously worked for the City of La Mirada as an Administrative Aide (2001- 2006).
South Pasadena Assistant to the City Manager Lucy. L. Demirjian, who served as the Acting Finance Director from July 2019 until January 2020, earned a BA from the University of California, Irvine, and an MPA from California State University, Northridge.
Claremont City Manager Tara Schultz is a graduate of California State University, Northridge where she earned a BA in recreation administration and an MPA.
Sean Joyce, a retired Irvine City Manager, will serve as the Interim City Manager in the City of South Pasadena.
Retired City Manager Terry Matz has relocated from his Cerritos home to a Brea location.
Grass Valley City Attorney Michael Colantuono of Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley also serves as the General Counsel for the Calaveras County Local Agency Formation Commission, among other assignments.
Duane Wroe was ACM in Rosemead (1961-1965) and Carpinteria City Manager in 1972-1973.