Trackdown Management’s City Manager newsletter: Volume No. 14, Issue No. 8
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.
San Clemente Interim City Manager Erik Sund has been selected to be the next San Clemente City Manager. Erik worked with former City Manager James Makshanoff and Interim City Manager Bob Dunek for the past 6-years. James left in January 2020 for a position in Pomona, and Bob, who came out of retirement from his Lake Forest City Manager post, left in June. Erik has served as Interim City Manager since Bob left. Erik previously worked as the Director of Financial Management in Long Beach, purchasing Manager in Downey, and he was a Senior Buyer for the City of Irvine.
Enrique C. Zaldivar is the new Chief Executive Officer (City Manager) for the City of Baldwin Park. Enrique will replace longtime CEO Shannnon Yauchzee, who is retiring after 7-years in the position. Enrique previously served 13-years as the General Manager for the Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment District (LASAN). He began his career in 1985 as an Associate Engineer with the City of Los Angeles. Enrique, after attending classes at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), earned a BS in civil environmental engineering from California State Polytechnical University, Pomona. He will start his new Baldwin Park assignment on June 7, 2021.
San Joaquin County Sheriff Pat Withrow told the Lathrop City Council that there will be no more service contracts between the Sheriff’s Office and the city as long as the Lathrop City Manager is Stephen J. Salvatore. Lathrop is in the process of transitioning to its own police department after more than 30-years of contract law enforcement services from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff contends that the City owes a million dollars on the current services contract. Steve has served as City Manager since September 2012. Before that he was the Deputy City Manager and then served as Interim City Manager in Lathrop.
City Manager Christopher Boyd will retire this month after a long law enforcement and management career. He has worked for the City of Citrus Heights for the past 16-years. Chris served as the Chief of Police in Menlo Park from March 2002 until January 2006 when he became the Chief of Police of Citrus Heights. Chris began serving as the Citrus Heights City Manager in October 2016. He graduated from the FBI National Academy in 1999. He also earned a BS from the University of Idaho and an MPA from the College of Notre Dame. He is a past President of the California Police Chiefs Association (2014-2015).
Steve McClary is the new Interim City Manager in the City of Malibu. Steve previously worked as the Assistant City Manager in Camarillo, and as the City Manager in the City of Ojai. He began his local government career in 1997 in the City of Fillmore. He was a newspaper reporter in Fillmore before embarking on his public management career.
Lauren Lai is the new Director of Finance for the City of Milpitas. Lauren is a CPA and previously served as Finance Director for the City of Monterey. She is also the former Finance Director in Marina and Capitola. Lauren earned a BS in accounting from San Jose State University, and an MPA from the University of Missouri. She succeeds Finance Director Wlter Rossman, who is not the Milpitas Deputy City Manager.
Former Pleasant Hill City Manager James Alkire passed away April 22, 2021 at the age of 86. Jim began his public service career in Highland Park, Illinois where he served as Assistant City Manager and Finance Director (1964-1966). In 1966 he moved to Centralia, Illinois as City Manager. Jim moved to California in 1970 to become the Pleasant Hill City Manager until his retirement in 1987. Jim was an avid Oakland A’s fan. A Celebration of Life was held May 8 at the Pleasant Hill Community Center. Retired City Manager Joe Tanner said, “Jim was a great guy, smart as hell and a very tough person to follow as the Pleasant Hill City Manager. He was unquestionably one of the best in the business and always supported me.” Jim earned a BA from the University of Texas and a Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1986 he was recognized with a 20- year ICMA Service Award.
Tom Hatch served as the City Manager in the City of Costa Mesa from March 2011 until December 2018. Tom earned a BA and an MPA from California State University, Fullerton. He currently serves as the Chief Human Resources Officer for the County of Orange.
Indicating that he finds the State regulatory structure coercive, Galt City Council Member Jay Vandenburg asked, “Has anyone ever pushed back on them (the State) to drop the fees to actually make it easier to build affordable housing?” Galt City Council Member Rich Lozano said the State is blackmailing local jurisdictions with grants and revenues. Lorenzo Hines, Jr. is the Galt City Manager.
*Cerritos Senior Business License Officer Arcy Hinojosa is planning to retire after 30-years of PERS service, and she may be looking to fill her time with a new private-sector position.
*Temecula City Council Member Jessica Alexander received criticism after referring to COVID-19, which originated in China, as the “China Virus.”
*Murrieta City Manager Kimberley Summers was selected by Assembly Member Kelly Seyarto to received the 2021 Woman of the Year Award for the 67th Assembly District.
*Joseph M. Tanner, Sr., the CEO at JT Associates in Pleasant Hill, a Life Member of ICMA, served as City Manager in Galt, Emeryville, Pleasant Hill, Pacifica and Vallejo.
*Randy Davis, former Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of American Canyon, a supporter of live music performances, says, “Parks make life better.”
*Retired Indio City Manager Mark Scott (2017-2021) previously served as City Manager in Beverly Hills (1990-2003), Spartanburg, South Carolina (2003-2009), Culver City (2009-2010), Fresno (2010-2013), Burbank (2013-2016), and San Bernardino (2016-2017).
*Bishop City Attorney Dean J. Pucci is the son of Inyo County Supervisor Rick Pucci, who is a former Bishop City Administrator and Assistant City Manager in Temple City.
*Calistoga Parks and Recreation Director Rachel Melick previously worked as an Aquatic Director for the Tiburon Peninsula Club (2008-2015) and as a Program Coordinator for Sonoma County Regional Parks (2015-2016) after earning a BA from San Jose State University.
*Jennifer Pierce, a Marketing Professional and Proposal Specialist with HdL Companies for nearly 10-years, who earned a BA from California State University, Fullerton, once worked as Public Relations Assistant for Capitol Records (1989-1992).
*Every City Manager is seeking direction moving forward regarding public events.***