Trackdown ManagementTrackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 17: Issue No. 18

For over 15 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

Boulder City, Colorado is getting close to concluding a recruitment for a new city manager. All three of the final candidates are currently working in California. Among the candidates are Carson Deputy City Manager Tarik Rahmani; Milpitas city manager Ned Thomas; South Pasadena city manager Christopher Jordan. Christopher served as Los Altos city manager before inking an employment agreement with South Pasadena.

Justin T. Clifton is the new City of Murrieta city manager. Justin joined the Murrieta city staff as assistant city manager earlier this year. He earned a BA from Fort Lewis College and an MA in philosophy from Colorado State University, Denver. He is an ICMA Credentialed Manager. In Murrieta he succeeds the retiring City Manager Kim Summers. Prior to working in Murrieta, Justin served as the city manager for the cities of Palm Springs (April 2021- September 2022), Sedona, Arizona (April 2015-April 2021), Delta, Colorado (October 2012-April 2015) and Town Manager for Bayfield, Colorado (January 2006-March 2011). In 2017, Justin received a 10 Year ICMA Service Award. Chris Constantin former San Dimas city manager is the new Los Gatos Town Manager.

Assistant City Manager Brad McKinney served as the interim city manager, and on October 8, 2024, the San Dimas City Council unanimously appointed Brad to serve as city manager. Brad has previously worked in executive assignments in Alhambra, Rosemead, Claremont and Anaheim. He earned a BA and Master’s degree from Azusa Pacific University, where he played college baseball. Brad’s wife Janay is a well-known soccer player and coach.

Scott Collins has been hired as the new assistant city manager for the City of San Luis Obispo. He is coming from the executive director position with the Housing authority of San Luis Obispo. Scott was the Morro Bay city manager from November 2017 to Mar 2023. Prior to his Morro Bay employment, Scott served as the deputy city manager for Santa Cruz. He earned a BA in U.S. history from the University of California, Santa Cruz and an MPA from The George Washington University.

Carlsbad City Manager Scott Chadwick has been hired as the chief executive officer for the Port of San Diego. Former CEO Joe Stuyvesant was placed on leave in July 2023. Randa Coniglio was the interim CEO. Scott has served as the Carlsbad city manager since August 2018. He worked for the City of San Diego from July 2004 until joining Carlsbad in 2018. He served as the San Diego chief operating officer from October 2013 to February 2018. Scott earned a BA in political science from Purdue University. In 2024 he received a 20-Year ICMA Service Award.

John Kunkel is the new interim general manager for the San Lorenzo Valley Water District. John is a former chief of police and he has served as city manager for several communities, most recently interim city manager for the City of Huron in Fresno County. Among others he served as city manager for the City of Buellton, and he worked as the city administrator for the City of Exeter.

Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) officials decided that Palo Alto City Manager Ed Shikada will not be allowed to participate in decisions that involve Stanford University. On September 7, Ed married Sandra Jung, who works for Stanford Health Care, a university-affiliated nonprofit that includes Stanford Hospital and various clinics. The FPPC directed Ed to also recuse himself from all matters that pertain to Stanford University. The FPPC decision means that any item involving the university will now be overseen by his top deputy, Assistant City Manager Kiely Nose. While the university and the hospital are separate legal entities, the FPPC concludes that their close relationship is enough to extend the conflict-ofinterest provision. Stanford Hospitals and Clinics and Stanford University employ about 10,000 people together, making them the largest employers in Palo Alto.

San Jose Council Member Omar Torres was arrested on charges stemming from child sex crime allegations. The alleged crimes are purported to have taken place more than twenty-five years ago. He was arraigned at the San Jose Hall of Justice on three felony charges for raping a child. The San Jose City Manager is Jennifer Maguire and Paul Joseph is the chief of police.

Bessie Marie Scott is the new Antioch city manager. She is a former deputy inspector general for the City of Seattle, Washington. Bessie earned a BA in law, society and philosophy from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MPA from the University of Washington. Bessie is Antioch’s fifth city manager in three years. Parks and Recreation

Director Brad Helfenberger is the acting assistant city manager for Antioch. Scott Collins, executive director of the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo, is the new City of San Luis Obispo assistant city manager. He will be working with City Manager Whitney McDonald. Scott previously served 5 years as the city manager for the City of Morro Bay. He also worked as the deputy city manager for the City of Santa Cruz. Scott earned a BA from the University of California, Santa Cruz and an MPA from George Washington University.

Kevin Thompson has been selected to be the next Cloverdale city manager. Kevin joined the Cloverdale staff in 1999 as an assistant planner. He served as the community development director and as assistant city manager. Kevin previously worked planning positions in Ukiah, Calistoga and with a private consultant firm. He earned a BA from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and an MBA from Sonoma State University.

Indian Wells City Manager Chris Freeland, who previously served as the West Covina city manager (September 2015-March 2019), just graduated with a Ph.D. in political science from the Claremont Graduate University. Chris celebrated his birthday and his graduation as “Dr. Freeland” in November 2024. Chris also previously earned a BA in political science and a BS in Civil Engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He also earned an MPA from California State University, Long Beach. In 2024, Chris received a 25-Year ICMA Service Award. He is an ICMA Credentialed Manager. Chris served as president of the Municipal Management Association of Southern California (MMASC) in 2006-2007.

David Rowlands is the new Santa Maria city manager. Dave left the city manager’s job in Fillmore after serving there for 11 years. He was appointed to the position in August 2013. Dave is expected to start in Santa Maria in December. Fillmore Assistant City Manager Erika Herrera-Terriquez is the interim city manager in Fillmore. Dave earned a BA from California Lutheran University and an MPA from California State University, Stanislaus. In 2021, Dave received a 30-Year ICMA Service Award. Dave is the son of David D. Rowlands, Jr. former city manager for Antioch (1991-1998) and Chula Vista (1998- 2006).

Clovis City Manager John B. Holt is retiring at the end of the year. He has served as Clovis city manager since 2021. He joined the city staff in 2000 as a management analyst and he became city clerk in September 2004. John left the service of the United States Navy as a Captain in January 2016. He began his military service in August 1985. John joined the city staff in Visalia in December 1994 in Financial Services before joining the Clovis staff. He earned an MBA from Pacific Lutheran University. In 2024 John received a 30-Year ICMA Service Award.

Rancho Palos Verdes has obtained $42 million from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to mitigate the expanding and accelerating landslide problems in the city. Rancho Palos Verdes City Manager Ara Mihranian indicates that the money will help buy the most problematic properties; the homes that have been most damaged. The city estimates that the FEMA money will allow the purchase of about 22 homes in the landslide area.

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a proposal to expand the film & TV tax credit program. This proposal would position California as the top state for film incentive programs, surpassing other states like New York. The Governor says that expanding this tax credit program will help keep production in California, generate thousands of good-paying jobs and strengthen the state’s film and TV industry.

San Francisco Giants baseball fan Tim Kerr served as City Manager in Turlock (2005- 2009), Ceres (1998-2005) and Livingston (1990-1998). Tim earned a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MPA from Syracuse University, Maxwell School.

Shorts

  • Arcadia city manager Dominic Lazzaretto, an MPA graduate of California State University, Long Beach, previously served as the city manager for the City of La Palma (2006-2012) and he is a Founder of “Ukraine Relief Effort Arcadia” in November 2022.
  • Retired Whittier city manager Jeff Collier was seen having a “…great sandwich” at Eric Schat’s Bakery in Bishop during a drive to Cold Springs, Nevada.
  • Retired city manager John Bramble was spotted in Solvang this month celebrating his son’s birthday.
  • Former City of El Monte Recreation Manager Cathy Fisher, who started with the city as a Recreation Leader, is the University of Southern California (USC) basketball Official Scorer.
  • Retired Vallejo City Manager Joe Tanner currently serves with the California Municipal Finance Authority.
  • Rocklin City Manager Aly Zimmermann, who once worked as the League of California Cities liaison to the CCMF Board and served as the Vista assistant city manager for nearly 9 years (2012-2020), earned a BA from the University of California, Davis and an MPA from San Diego State University.
  • Palmdale City Manager Ronda Perez, who previously worked as the Assistant City Manager and the Director of Parks, Recreation and Arts for the City of Lancaster, recently completed the prerequisites to earn an ICMA Credentialed Manager designation.
  • Oceanside Chief of Police Kedrick Sadler retired on November 10 after 24 years of service in Oceanside. *Corsicana, Texas Interim City Manager Jim Holgerson previously worked as a deputy city manager in San Jose, as city manager for Modesto and interim city manager in Emeryville.
  • CCMF President Ken Striplin, city manager for Santa Clarita, led the annual New & Future City Manager’s Seminar, November 6-8, 2024, at the Westin Pasadena.
  • Former Antioch city manager Ron Bernal is the new Antioch mayor.
  • Johnathan Nicks, who began his public service career as a Recreation Leader for the City of Norwalk, is the assistant city manager for the City of Indio starting in September 2024.
  • Karan Reid, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), is the director of finance for the City of Concord and previously served as the finance director in Benicia and chief financial officer for the City of Emeryville.
  • Retired El Cajon City Manager Bill Garrett is a former member of the governing Board for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District.
  • Former Long Beach Chief of Police and Los Angeles County Sheriff, Jim McDonnell is the next Los Angeles Chief of Police.
  • EKA tells us that the Vincent Thomas Bridge that crosses the Los Angeles Harbor and links San Pedro with Terminal Island will be completely closed for 16 months to complete a major renovation beginning in late 2025 or early 2026.
  • Lourdes Castro Ramirez was appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to serve as the city’s new Chief Housing and Homelessness Officer.
  • Ronald Kiedrowski, who earned BA degrees from North Dakota State University and an MUP from Wayne State University, served as City Manager for American Canyon (1992-1994), La Quinta (1986-1992) and Show Low, Arizona (1984-1986).
  • Former U. S. Marine Corps officer Paul Connelly of the San Diego Police Department is the new Coronado Chief of Police.