Trackdown Management’s City Manager newsletter: Volume No. 14, Issue No. 13

Foster City Assistant City Manager in the City of Hercules. Dante replaces City Manager David Biggs, who is the new City Manager in the City of Orinda. Steven Falk has served as Interim City Manger since David left for Orinda. Dante began his public service career in Pasadena, and then held executive positions in El Monte, Half Moon Bay and Moreno Valley. Dante earned a BA from Azusa Pacific University and an MPA from the City University of New York.

Santa Clarita City Manager Dr. Kenneth (Ken) Striplin is being recognized by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) with the Mark E. Keane Award for Career Excellence. Ken joined the Santa Clarita city staff in 1996 as an Administrative Analyst and began earning his way up in the organization. He served as Assistant City Manager from 2004 to 2012. He began his service as the Santa Clarita City Manager in January 2013. Ken is the current President of the Board of Trustees for the California City Management Foundation (CCMF) following retired City Manager Wade McKinney. He earned a BA and MPA from California State Unversity, Northridge, and a Doctorate from Pepperdine University.

Scotts Valley City Manager Tina (Shull) Friend is the new City Manager in the City of Coronado. She has served as the Scotts Valley City Manager since June 2019. She will report to Coronado in September. Retired Coronado City Manager Mork Ochenduszko will continue to serve as the Interim City Manager until then. Former Anaheim City Manager Dave Morgan, working with the executive search firm Ralph Andersen & Associates, was retained to help Coronado find a City Manager to replace City Manager Blair King, who served 11- years in the position before taking a City Manager position in Bainbridge Island in the State of Washingon. Tina worked in the City of Santa Cruz starting in 2005 and became the Assistant City Manager in August 2020. She earned a BS in geology from the University of Idaho, and MPP from Georgetown University and a JD in public law from Santa Calra University School of Law.

Berkeley Deputy City Manager David A. White, a former Fairfield City Manager, has been appointed to the City Manager position in the City of Santa Monica. David is a Southern California Native who grew up in Studio City. He will replace Interim City Manager John Jalili. David received a 10-year ICMA Service Award in 2014. He earned a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a Masters from MIT.

Livingston terminated City Manager Jose Antonio Ramirez after his fifth performance evaluation in the past 11-months. Protesters gathered outside the City Hall offices seeking answers to way such an action was taken, and who will take Jose place. Livingston Finance Director Vanessa Portillo will serve as Interim City Manager. Jose is a former City Manager in the City of Orange Cove. He earned a BS in construction management and an MPA from California State University, Fresno.

Retired Fontana City Manager Ken Hunt left his position in July 2019. After Ken left office, veteran retired City Manager G. Michael Milhiser served as the Fontana Interim City Manager. Ken has been offered the job as Chief of Staff for the County of San Bernardino Board of Supervisor’s member Janice Rutherford. After serving 10-years on the Fontana City Council, Janice was elected in November 2010 as the Supervisor representing the 2nd District in San Bernardino County. She is termed out in January 2023.

Vallejo Interim City Manager Anne Cardwell named Kyle Long as the Fire Chief. Kyle has been serving as Interim Chief since the resignation of former Chief Daryl Arbuthnott in April. Anne also promoted Gillian Hayes to Interim Assistant City Manager, and Analyst Felicia Flores to Assistant to the City Manager.

City Manager Anna Linn resigned from her position with California City. Former Palmdale Director of Administrative Services Anne V. Ambrose will serve as Interim City Manager. Anne worked as a member of the Palmdale city staff for more than 24-years. She served as the Director of Administrative Services from 2013 to April, 2021. She earned a BA from Kent State University, an MPA from California State University, Northridge and she complete the Certificate curriculum for the Learning, Educating and Developing (LEAD) Program for Public Officials at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.

Thomas M. Martinsen, Jr. retired as the Town Manager of Paradise Valley, Arizona in 2008. Tom began his public service career in 1966 as an Associate Civil Engineer for the City of Inglewood, California. In 1971 he was appointed City Engineer in Manhattan Beach. He was then elevated to Director of Public Works in Manhattan Beach in 1976, and in 1983 he moved to Glendale, Arizona as Deputy City Manager. Tom took the Deputy City Manager position in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1989, and returned to California as the Executive Director of the Alameda County Waste Management District in 1990. He returned to Arizona in 1995 in waste management, and took the Paradise Valley Town Manager post in 1997. Tom received a 40-year ICMA Service Award in 2007.

Morgan Hill City Manager Christina Turner stepped up to the job in October 2017 after joining the city staff in March 2016 as Assistant City Manager for Administrative Services. Christina previously worked as the Finance Director and City Treasurer for the City of Gilroy. Christina is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and earned a BS from Santa Clara University. She is a past President of the Fiscal Officers’ Department of the League of California Cities.

SHORTS: *Armando G. Villa, Menifee City Manager since December 2017, previously served as the City Manager in the City of Calexico, and worked as the Assistant County Executive and Planning Director for the County of Imperial.

*Retired Indian Wells City Manager Wade G. McKinney, who lives in Riverside, also worked for the Cities of La Puente, Taft, Shafter, and Atascadero before receiving a 40-year ICMA Service Award in 2019.

*Brad McKinney, Assistant City Manager in San Dimas, who earned an MBA from Azusa Pacific University, previously worked for the Cities of Anaheim, Claremont, Rosemead and Alhambra.

*Woodland Finance Officer Kimberly McKinney, another “McKinney,” serves as a member of the Yolo County Financial Oversight Committee.

*Loretta McKinney, who served as the Director of Library Services for the Murrieta Public Library (2005- 2013) after serving as the Deputy City Librarian in Escondido (1998-2005), is currently a Project Advisor for the Pacific Library Partnership in San Mateo.

*David Doyle, Aliso Viejo City Manager since 2014, replaced Interim City Manager John Whitman, who had replaced City Manager Mark Pulone, who became the Yorba Linda City Manager.

*Sylvia Miledi is the City of Needles Finance Director.

*Casey Estorga, Scotts Valley Administrative Services Director, reports that her city is in line to receive $2.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

*Marin General Services Authority Executive Officer Michael Frank served as the Novato City Manager (2009-2015) following service as the Director of Administrative Services in Santa Rosa (2005-2006).

*Former Huntington Beach City Manager Fred Wilson works for the executive recruitment firm Ralph Andersen and Associates.

*Tony O’Rourke is the new Town Manager in Frisco, Colorado.

*Mark Stowell, Director of Public Works and City Engineer for the City of La Mirada, previsously worked for the cities of Corona, Irvine and Yorba Linda.

*HdL Companies Principal Bret Plumlee previously served as City Manager in Los Alamitos and in the City of La Puente.

*West Covina City Manager David Carmany was recently seen as Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio at a Cleveland Indians MLB baseball game.