Trackdown Management’s City Manager newsletter: Volume No. 15: Issue No. 15
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.
Picking Up the Pieces
With city manager Bob Nisbet leaving the City of Half Moon Bay for the City of Goleta in Santa Barbara County after a 4-year tenure, assistant city manager Matthew Chidester is the selection to replace him. Matt earned an ABA from the College of San Mateo, a BSBA from Hawaii Pacific University and an MS from Western Governors University. Before coming to Half Moon Bay Matt worked for the County of San Mateo starting in October 2003.
Jonathan Borrego is the next city manager for the City of Oceanside. He has served as the interim city manager since former city manager Deanna Lorson retired. Jon joined the Oceanside city staff in 2017 as the development services director. He was promoted to assistant city manager in 2019. Jon worked for the City of Anaheim for nearly 30-years prior to coming to Oceanside. Most recently he worked as the development services manager. He earned a BA and an MPA from California State University, Long Beach.
San Clemente City Manager Erik Sund is the new city manager in the City of Big Bear Lake. Erik has been with San Clemente for nearly nine-years, since 2013 when he was hired as assistant city manager to city manager James Makshanoff. James left to be the Pomona city manager in January 2020. After Bob Dunek served as acting city manager, Erik was appointed city manager in June 2020. Prior to San Clemente, Erik worked for the City of Long Beach (2007-2013) and worked for the City of Long Beach (2007-2013) and the City of Downey (2002-2007). He worked for the City of Irvine in 2000-2002. Erik earned a BA from the University of California, Irvine.
Marcus Fuller is the city manager in the City of Rialto. Marcus worked as the Palm Springs Assistant City Manager from December 2014 until June 2021. That year, he was appointed to the Rialto City Manager post in June. Fire Chief Sean Grayson served as the acting city manager following city manager Rod Foster’s retirement. Marcus served as the Rialto public works director (2012-2014) prior to his Palm Springs tenure. Marcus earned a BS in civil engineering from Northern Arizona University and an MPA from California State University, San Bernardino.
Jesse Duff will serve as the Interim City Manager in the City of La Verne following the retirement of City Manager Bob Russi, who has been city manager since 2010. Jesse has more than 40-years of local government experience. He recently served as the Executive Director of the Tri-City Mental Health Agency that serves Claremont, Pomona and La Verne. He had a long tenure in the City of Duarte, including serving as the Duarte city manager. He also was the interim city manager in Claremont.
Jaime M. Fontes was appointed city manager in Seaside in June 2022. Prior to Seaside, Jaime was the city manager for East Palo Alto. Jaime also served as the Greenfield City Manager in 2018. Former Seaside city manager Craig Malin left for employment in Wisconsin. Seaside retained Peckham & McKenney for executive recruitment services. Jaime earned a BA from Arizona State University and a Juris Doctorate from the Western State University College of Law in Irvine.
Bishop city administrator Ron Rhillips was put on administrative leave and released from his position in the City of Bishop in January 2022. Public Works Director Deston Dishion was appointed to serve as the acting city administrator. City Attorney Dean Pucci confirmed that Ron was placed on paid administrative leave. Dean is the son of former Bishop City Administrator and Inyo County Supervisor Rick Pucci. Deston has been serving as City Administrative since April 2022.
Those serving as the League of California Cities City Manager Department Officers for 2021-2022 include President John Gillison, Rancho Cucamonga city manager. President-elect is Martinez city manager Eric Figureroa and the second vice president is Justin Hess, Burbank city manager. The department director is Pismo Beach City Manager Jim Lewis, a past President, and the immediate past president is Yountville City Manager Steven Rogers. At-large representatives include Jennifer Cervantez, Rancho Santa Margarita city manager; Kim Summer Murrieta city manager; Rene Mendez, Gonzales city manager and Kelly McAdoo, city manager in Hayward.
Robert Hinderliter is a founder of HdL Companies. He began his public service as an assistant planner in the City of Fullerton (February 1965-June 1967). In July 1967 Bob began his City of Commerce tenure as the assistant to the city administrator. He was appointed city administrator in August 1973 and worked in that position until 1983. Bob earned an AA from Fullerton Junior College, a BA and MPA from the University of California.
Morris B. Vance started his public service career as an administrative assistant for the City of Los Angeles in February 1965. He had earned a BS from Brigham Young University and he was ready to start his career. In June 1966 Morris joined the city staff in Vernon, and he worked there until June 1969 when he was hired to serve as the assistant city administrator for the City of Carson. In August 1975, Morris became the City Administrator for Lomita. He joined the City of Vista staff as city manager in January 1981. Morris held that position for 17-years and then retired. He was then elected Mayor of Vista in 2002 and served in that post until December 2010. In addition to his BS, Morris earned an MPA from the University of Southern California (USC). He received a 30-year ICMA Service Award in 1994.
After Franklin D. Aleshire served as the assistant city manager in Ontario (1951-1956), he served as city manager in La Puente (1956-1958); Pico Rivera (1958-1964); Palm Springs (1964-1973); San Diego County CAO (1973-1975); Scottsdale, Arizona (1975-1979) and Carlsbad (1980- 1987). After retiring from Carlsbad, he served as interim city manager in Temecula. Frank earned a BA from Stanford University and an MA from Occidental College. He was also a Coro Foundation member. Frank’s son David Aleshire is a longtime City Attorney.
In July 1998 Fortuna City Manager Dale W. Neiman was paid a salary of $68,000 a year (and he had to contribute a portion of that toward his retirement plan). Dale also served some time as the city manager in Clearlake leaving that position in 2010. He earned a BS from Metro State College, Colorado. Dale is reported to currently live in Miranda, California which was previously known as Jacobsen’s. It is an unincorporated area in Humboldt County in the heart of redwood country. The Miranda post office opened in 1905. The town is a short walk from the Eel River among a giant redwood tree forest.
Retired Antioch City Manager Ron Bernal is offering management consultant service from Ron Bernal Consulting in Antioch. Ron worked in Antioch for nearly 24-years, the last nearly 5-years as city manager. Ron earned a BS in civil engineering from the University of California, Davis. Ron is a registered civil engineer in California.
Shorts
Robert W. Semple served as the city manager in Solana Beach (1994-2001) after he had served as the Placerville city administrator (1988-1994), and assistant city manager Luci Romero Serlet was Solano Beach acting city manager following Robert’s dismissal.
Daryl Parrish, retired Covina city manager and former city manager in Colton, is a Budget Committee Member for the Bend Park & Recreation District (a volunteer post) in Bend, Oregon.
Recently retired Santa Cruz City Manager Martin Bernal was one of four authors of an August PM Magazine piece on understanding the importance of the CAO relationship with elected officials before, during and after an election.
Gary M. Luebbers, former officer with the U. S. Air Force and former Redlands and Sunnyvale city manager, is now a “city manager at large” out of Ivins, Utah.
Assistant city manager Teresa Gallavan will serve as interim city manager when Palm Springs City Manager Justin Clifton vacates to position in September.
Former Emeryville city manager and Oakland official Sabrina Landreth is the general manager of the East Bay Regional Park District.
Paul D. Cayler served as city manager of Willits (2008- 2013) and city manager of Cloverdale (2013-2018) and received a 25-year ICMA Service Award in 2018.
Daniel “Dan” Buffalo is the finance director for the City of Ukiah, and previously served as the finance director for the City of Lakeport.
San Diego State University alumnus James M. Andersen retired as the CAO of Mendocino County in 2012.
Former NASCAR race driver and current television commentator Jeff Burton is nicknamed: “The Mayor.”
Seaside Human Resource Director Roberta Greathouse earned an AA from the Monterey Peninsula College and a BA from Colorado State University.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is the scheduled luncheon speaker for the September 7 Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities.
Wade McKinney is recovering at home from successful surgery.
R.I.P. Ray Harris and Frank G. Tripepi.