Trackdown ManagementTrackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 16: Issue No. 17

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

South Lake Tahoe City Manager Joe Irvin hired Hilary Roverud as the assistant city manager. Hilary began her public service career as an assistant planner with the City of Arcata in May 2001. In September 2002, she took a similar assistant planner position with San Luis Obispo. After working for a private consulting firm (2003-2005), Hilary joined the South Lake Tahoe staff as an associate planner and became the planning manager in January 2007. She took the director of development services post in October 2020. Hilary earned a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Masters in City and regional planning from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Clare Hartman, City of Santa Rosa director of planning & economic development was surprisingly replaced by Deputy Director Gabe Osburn in an Interim capacity. Clare worked for the City of Santa Rosa for nearly 24 and a half years. After returning from a Peace Corps assignment in the Czech Republic (1994-1996), she joined the Santa Rosa staff as a city planner in May 1999. She worked her way up in the Planning & Economic Development Department to be appointed director in February 2022. Clare earned a BA in environmental studies and planning from Sonoma State University and an MCRP from the University of Oregon. No reason has been given for Clare’s dismissal. Since January 2022 the Santa Rosa City Manager is Maraskeshia Smith, who previously worked as deputy city manager in Stockton.

Scott Koll is the new deputy city manager working with City Manager Steven Spedowfski for the City of San Ramon in September 2023. Scott most recently worked as deputy city manager for the City of San Leandro. Scott worked for the City of Roseville for nearly 11 years in law enforcement as a community services officer, crime scene investigator, and as supervisor. In June 2015, he joined the San Leandro City staff as a police business manager (2015-2017). He served as business manager, financial services manager and deputy city manager with San Leandro. Scott earned a BA from Southwest Minnesota State University, and a Master’s degree in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley.

Scott McBride is the new city manager for the City of Merced. Scott succeeds City Manager Stephanie Dietz who served nearly seven years. Scott joined the City of Atwater City staff in 1994 as an enterprise zone coordinator. He worked his way up in the organization during his almost 24 years with Atwater. He served as the director of economic development and special projects (2007-2012) and as the community development director (2012-2017). In August 2017, Scott took the director of development services for the City of Merced. Scott earned a BA in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz and an MPA from California State University, Stanislaus.

Lakeport City Manager Kevin Ingram is pleased to be working with the City’s new Community Development Director Joey Hejnowicz. After working with the Hyatt Hotels Corporation (2008- 2011). Joey worked about a year in the wine industry before joining the City of Santa Rosa staff in March 2013 as a customer service representative. After working in various positions over a little more than 10 years, Joey served as the Santa Rosa zero waste coordinator (September 2021-June 2023). He began his tenure in Lakeport in July 2023. Joey earned a BS from San Diego State University and an MPA from Sonoma State University.

Longtime “contract City” Lancaster will have its own local police department in 2024. The City is forming its own police department due to staffing shortages at the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station. The new department will work in conjunction with Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department personnel. Lancaster Public Safety Director Rod Armalin, who served the LASD for 32 years, will be the new chief of police and will lead a close partnership with all other service entities. Jason Caudle is the Lancaster city manager and previously served as the Tehachapi city manager (1998-2007).

Mike Luken of MNJ Advisors, Inc. is the interim city manager for the City of Colfax. He was appointed in June 2023. Mike is filling in behind the resignation of City Manager Wes Heathcock, who moved on to become the Town Manager for the Town of Loomis. Wes replaced Town Manager Sean Rabé, who, since April, has been the new city manager in the City of Auburn. Mike is the former executive director of the Placer County Transportation Planning Agency. Colfax is accepting applications for the city manager position until Monday, October 16, 2023.

Imelda M. Huerta has been promoted to assistant city manager for the City of Vista. City Manager John Conley selected Imelda following a selection process that included interviews and recommendations from local stakeholder groups. Imelda worked for worked in Vista for more than 11 years (January 2000-January 2011) as a senior office specialist and development services technician before working for the City of Escondido as a development technician (2011-2013). She rejoined the Vista staff in August 2013 development services technician in the Community Development Department. Imelda joined the City of Menifee Community Services Department staff as a management analyst in January 2019. She was appointed acting assistant to the city manager in July 2019, and in January 2022 she again returned to the City of Vista, this time as the assistant to the city manager position in January 2022. Imelda became the assistant city manager in September 2023. She earned a BA from California State University, San Marcos and an MPA from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Eric Scriven, NHA Advisors LLC Principal in the San Francisco Bay Area, worked with Kosmont Financial Services in 2001-2002.

Chuck Robinson, a former City of Tustin, Walnut and Laguna Beach executive, has been the owner and CEO of Building Blocks Therapy 4 Kids, LLC, in San Dimas since May 2014.

San Dimas Assistant City Manager Brad McKinney, an Azusa Pacific University BA and MBA graduate and former university baseball player, has a reputation as an outstanding youth sports coach.

City Manager Shohreh Dupuis agreed with the City of Laguna Beach on a “mutually agreed upon” employment separation.

Palm Springs City Manager Scott Stiles succeeded City Manager Justin Clifton, who left the position last September. Scott is a former Garden Grove city manager (2015-2023), and prior to that he served as assistant city manager in Cincinnati, Ohio. He worked for Cincinnati for 27 years in various positions, including interim city manager. Scott earned a BS in journalism and geography from South Dakota State University and an MCP in community planning from the University of Cincinnati.

Suisun City put City Manager Greg Folsom on paid administrative leave until further notice. Greg was hired to be the city manager of Suisun City in 2019. He replaced City Manager Suzanne Bragdon, who retired. He served as the city manager for the City of Clearlake prior to coming to Suisun City. Starting in May 1993, Greg worked as the deputy director of economic development for the City of Stockton. He left that position in December 2011. In February 2014, Greg was the director of economic development for the County of Riverside and he served there until February 2015. Greg was city manager for Clearlake starting in June, 2015. He was a planning commissioner for the City of Menifee in 2015. Greg earned a BS from San Jose State University and an MBA from the University of Southern California (USC). In 2020 he received a 35-Year ICMA Service Award.

Alex Posada is the new interim city manager for the City of Santa Maria. He will succeed City Manager Jason Stilwell, who resigned effective September 22. Alex has worked for Santa Maria since 1978 and has served as the Recreation and Parks Director since 1993. He grew up in the East Bay near San Francisco and attended San Jose State University. The City plans to retain an executive recruitment firm to help find its next city manager.

Replacing retiring longtime City Manager Art Gallucci, Robert A. Lopez is the new City of Cerritos city manager. Art has served as city manager since 1991. Robert has worked for Cerritos since 2002, when he joined the City staff in Advanced Planning and as redevelopment manager in 2005. He became planning manager in 2009 and was appointed director of community development in 2020. In 2022 he became director of public works and water & power. He earned a BS in civil engineering from Stanford University and an MPP from the University of Southern California (USC). Robert is a lifelong Cerritos resident where he is a past valedictorian for his Whitney High School class.

Shorts

  • Daryl Parrish, retired Covina city manager and former Colton city manager, currently lives in Bend, Oregon.
  • San Ramon’s new Deputy City Manager Scott Koll served as a women’s tennis coach while at Southwest Minnesota State University.
  • Orinda City Manager David Biggs, a former city manager in Hercules, Carson, Tustin and Morgan Hill, received a 40 Year ICMA Service Award in 2020.
  • Former San Marino City Manager (1991-2002) Deborah O. Bell served as the personnel and loss control manager for the City of Chino.
  • Retired City Manager John M. Bramble served as city manager for Commerce City, Colorado (1981-1984); Pueblo, Colorado (1984-1987); Brighton, Colorado (1996-2008) and Merced (2008-2016), as well as city administrator in the City of Bell (1988-1993) and county administrator for Adams County, Colorado (1993-1996).
  • Word is that Sam and Sharon Olivito, longtime former California Contract Cities officials, were recently spotted at J’s Deli in Palm Desert.
  • NASCAR is bringing modern auto racing back to the Los Angeles Coliseum on February 4, 2024.
  • Sparks, Nevada City Manager Neil Krutz was unanimously dismissed from his position allegedly for poor treatment of his subordinate staff and for the mishandling of a dismissal.
  • Former Simi Valley Director of Administrative Services, Joseph Toney, who earned a BA from the University of San Diego and an MPA from California State University, Long Beach, is the Assistant City Manager for the City of Malibu.