Dublin City Manager Linda Smith has announced plans to retire from the City of Dublin in October of this year after a distinguished 15-plus year career with the City. Smith has served as the City Manager for nearly five years, successfully leading the organization during the pandemic and the subsequent period of growth and transformation.
Smith became City Manager in December 2019 and was on the job for 75 days before the start of the pandemic. During that time, she led both the City of Dublin and served as the Chair of the Alameda County City Manager’s Association, where she helped to spearhead efforts with the Public Health Officer regarding closures and restrictions. Smith led the City’s economic recovery efforts during the pandemic, including efforts to support businesses and help them pivot during the closures. She facilitated the creation of several programs, resulting in $2.68 million being provided to the community to support local businesses and residents in need.
“Working for the City has been an honor and privilege over these last 15 years. This community, even during its stages of growth, has kept its connectivity and small-town character,” said Smith. “I am so proud of the team we have here serving this community and I know that the great work will continue on behalf of the residents and businesses.”
As the City’s chief executive, Smith provided solid fiscal stewardship and led major efforts to promote affordability in the community. During her five years as City Manager, the City amassed a $120 million surplus that was used to fund key capital projects and bolster the City’s reserve funds. She also worked to gain approval of more than 730 units of affordable housing.
During Smith’s 15-plus years, she successfully negotiated two school sites (Cottonwood Creek and Shamrock Hills), which have assisted the Dublin Unified School District in meeting its student population needs and resulted in the District saving $69 million in land costs. She led the negotiations to bring the Kaiser Campus to Dublin, along with the Zeiss Innovation Center and the Persimmon Place Shopping Center.
Smith initiated the efforts for the Downtown Dublin Preferred Vision, resulting in the planned redevelopment of the Dublin Place Shopping Center. She is also the architect behind the creation of the future Fallon East Economic Development Zone and continued advocacy for the Dublin Boulevard Extension Project.
Smith has led the development of capital projects to benefit the community, including the Don Biddle Community Park; Fallon Sports Park, Phase 3; the all-abilities Imagine Playground at the Dublin Sports Grounds; and the future Cultural Arts Center, Iron Horse Trail Nature Park, Wallis Ranch Community Park, and Sunset Park.
“Linda has had such an incredible impact on the City of Dublin over the last 15 years. Her leadership of the team and her leadership in the community are well known. It has been my great pleasure to work with Linda over the last few years and we are a better community because of her service to our residents and our businesses,” said Mayor Michael McCorriston. “I have no doubt that Linda will continue to make an impact after leaving Dublin.”
Smith began her career with the City of Dublin in 2009 as Assistant to the City Manager focused on economic development and public information. In 2013, Smith was named Assistant City Manager by former City Manager Chris Foss and became Dublin’s fourth City Manager upon Foss’ retirement in 2019.
Smith is a member of several organizations, including the International City Management Association (ICMA) and Municipal Management Association of Northern California (MMANC). She is currently President-elect for Dublin Rotary.
The City Council will discuss the future vacancy in closed session at its upcoming meeting.