Trackdown ManagementTrackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 17: Issue No. 19

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

Carlsbad has hired Geoff Patnoe as its new city manager starting December 19. Geoff was hired as the assistant city manager in March 2020. He has more than 20 years of local government working experience. He served as former San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob’s chief of staff, and he worked as the executive director of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association. Prior to joining the Carlsbad city staff, Geoff worked as the director of the county’s Office of Strategy & Intergovernmental Affairs.

Moorpark City Manager Troy S. Brown will retire next year at the end of June. Troy is a past ICMA President (2022-2023). He began his public service career in July 1994 as a recreation leader for Santa Clarita. He was promoted to recreation coordinator in March 1997, information technology specialist in April 1998 and he was hired as a Santa Clarita management analyst in August 2000. Troy worked as assistant to the city manager in Riverside starting in February 2003 and took a similar position in Elk Grove in November 2004. In 2008, Troy worked as the Elk Grove budget manager. He was appointed assistant city manager for Livermore in January 2009. Troy left Livermore in September 2014 to become the city manager for the City of Tracy. Moorpark hired Troy as city manager in March 2018. Troy earned a BA from California State University, Northridge and an MPA from California State University, San Bernardino. In 2020 he received a 25 Year ICMA Service Award.

Long Beach, where Tom Modica is the city manager, was awarded a grant of $346,500 from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to focus on improving pedestrian safety, promoting safe streets, and reducing preventable collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists. Former Long Beach and Paramount City Manager Patrick H. West is an avid bicycle rider.

City Manager Don Reynolds of San Juan Bautista will retire December 31. Don began his public service career working for the City of Moorpark for 12 years before he joined the city staff in the City of Salinas. Don has been the San Juan Bautista city manager since July 2019. Don earned a BA and MPA from California State University, Northridge. In 2024, Don received a 25 Year ICMA Service Award.

Named after the League of California Cities’ first female president, Helen Putnam, the Helen Putnam Awards celebrate cities demonstrating innovation in service delivery. The 2024 awards went to Vacaville for youth engagement through its Summer at City Hall program. Livermore was recognized for intergovernmental collaboration with their Horizons Family Counseling, and Watsonville was celebrated for economic development efforts through its Watsonville to Work initiative.

Retired Palmdale City Manager James “Jim” Purtee passed away, apparently as a result of a heart attack on Saturday, November 23, 2024. Jim served as the city manager for the City of Palmdale from October 2015 until December 2019. Previous to joining the Palmdale city staff, Jim served 27 years with the City of Simi Valley as a housing planner, deputy city manager, director of administrative services and assistant city manager. Jim earned a BA in Earth science and an MA in geography from California State University, Northridge. He also earned four Certificates in Public Leadership from the Kennedy School of Political Science and Government at Harvard University.

Placentia City Administrator Damien R. Arrula resigned. Damien began his Placentia tenure in March 2016. Prior to joining the Placentia city staff, he held positions in Claremont, El Monte and Sierra Madre, and earned a highly professional reputation. Damien earned a BS from California Polytechnic University, Pomona and an MPA from the University of La Verne. He was named “City Manager of the Year” in 2017 by the Association of California Cities Orange County (ACC-OC). He was cleared of all accusations of improper credit card spending by City Treasurer Kevin Larson. All spending was within city policies and approved by the city council.

American Canyon Finance Director Juan Gomez is the Interim Assistant City Manager for the city. Juan has been the Finance Director since January 2023. City Manager Jason Holley elevated Juan effective November 14, 2024. Prior to joining the American Canyon city staff, Juan held positions with West County Wastewater and the cities of Fairfield and Pleasanton. He also worked for the Contra Costa Water District. He earned a BS in accounting from California State University, East Bay.

West Covina Fire Chief Vincent Capelle was confirmed on administrative leave and fired by the city on November 27 pending a hearing. Paulina Morales is the West Covina City Manager. Chief Capelle said that he was blindsided and completely shocked when he received the notice of separation.

Encinitas City Manager Pamela Antil is leaving the city. Pam and the City Council “amicably agreed” to terminate her employment agreement effective November 20, 2024. Assistant City Manager Jennifer Campbell is the Interim City Manager. Pam has served as the Encinitas cjty manager since October 2020. Prior to that she was the Assistant City Administrator for the City of Santa Barbara from August 2015. She was Assistant City Manager for the City of San Jose from May 2014 until January 2015, and she served as Palo Alto Assistant City Manager for four years starting in April 2010. She is the Chief Administrative Officer for the League of Women in Government. Pam earned a BS from Central Michigan University and an MPA from California State University, Long Beach.

Former Vista city manager and Mayor Morris Vance passed away at 85 on Friday, November 22, 2024. Morris began his tenure as the Vista city manager in 1981 and served in that position until retirement 17 years later. He previously served as the Lomita city manager, and he held positions with the City of Carson and Los Angeles County. He was elected to be the Vista Mayor in 2002 and again in 2006. Morris was born in Fairview, Utah on September 20, 1939. Paso Robles City Manager Ty Lewis has returned to work from months of medical leave. Ty reports that his health problems were caused by Council Member Chris Bausch. He accused the Council Member of harassment and defamation, claiming he reported false rumors to the news. Ty filed a $2.275 million claim against the city, paving the way for future legal action.

Ventura Chief of Police Darin Schindler will retire effective December 28, 2024. Darin is closing out a 36-year law enforcement career, including the past 30 years with the City of Ventura Police Department. He began his law enforcement career in 1989 with the Port Hueneme Police Department before joining the Ventura department in 1995. He was appointed chief of police in April 2020. Bob Murray & Associates has been retained to conduct an executive search for a new chief of police.

Shorts

  • Cathedral City Assistant City Manager Anne Ambrose, who worked for the City of Palmdale for more than 24 years, was on the staff of Wichita State University in 1992-1997.
  • Retired Irvine city manager John Russo, a past President of the League of California Cities, and retired California Contract Cities Association Executive Director, Sam Olivito were seen having lunch with Jack Simpson at Maracas Mexican Cantina & Grill in Rancho Mirage this month.
  • Tulare Assistant City Manager Josh McDonnell, who is going to work for a private engineering and planning company, loves coaching track and field and soccer.
  • Stephanie Roseen is the new City Clerk for the City of Menifee, succeeding City Clerk Sarah Manwaring, who retired after 20 years of public service.
  • Former longtime member of the San Jose Police Department, Carlos Acosta is the new Chief of Police for the City of Salinas, and Acting Police Chiefs Danny Warner and John Murray will remain with the department.
  • West Covina Fire Chief Vincent Capelle was confirmed on administrative leave and fired by the city on November 27 pending a hearing; Paulina Morales is the West Covina City Manager.
  • West Covina Chief of Police Richard Bell will retire December 27, 2024.
  • Vacaville Chief of Police Ian Schmutzler will retire on December 31, 2024.
  • Clayton Chief of Police Richard McEachin will become the Chief of Police for the City of Atwater effective December 19, 2024.
  • Julian Lee has served as the Interim City Manager for the City of Lynwood since City Manager Ernie Hernandez was appointed City Manager for the City of Commerce.
  • Ojai Recreation Manager Matt Davis, who worked with City Manager Ben Harvey, submitted his resignation effective February 15 following public opposition to proposed cutbacks in a popular gymnastics program, and Kristy Rivera is the Interim Recreation Manager.
  • Roseville City Manager Dominick Casey announced that Ryan Harrigan will succeed Roseville Fire Chief Rick Bartee, who is retiring following a 43 year career as a fire service professional.
  • Melissa Klawuhn is the next chief of police for the City of Pinole.
  • Big Bear Lake City Manager Erik Sund received a unanimous 5% raise in his annual salary.
  • Retired city manager David Jinkens won election to the City Council for the City of South Lake Tahoe at the November election.
  • La Verne City Manager Ken Domer, who served as city manager for the cities of Villa Park (May 2005 -December 2008) and Fullerton (July 2017-April 2021) and who held executive positions in Placentia, Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach, is a USC Trojan through and through, graduated with a BA and an MPA from the University of Southern California (USC).
  • Retired Pico Rivera City Manager Dennis Courtemarche, a longtime resident of Seal Beach, served as the Seal Beach city manager from November 1971 to December 1980.
  • Rand-Scott Coggan, who served as the Fire Chief in Oxnard in 1995, and was the County of Ventura Fire Chief in1988-1990, earned a JD from Stetson University College of Law in Florida.
  • John Jameson served as the City Manager for Signal Hill and for the City of Bellflower before pursuing his career in land development.
  • Congratulations to Carlsbad Environmental Specialist Hallie Thompson on becoming a Certified Professional in Storm Water Quality.
  • Congratulations to El Cajon Director of Human Resources Marisol Thorn on her promotion to Deputy City Manager.
  • San Jacinto City Manager Rob Johnson worked as a Program Director for the San Diego County YMCA from 1991 to 1997.
  • Guitarist-singer George Watts served as city manager for the cities of Arcadia and Indian Wells.