Trackdown ManagementTrackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 19: Issue No. 05

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

Lodi City Manager Scott Carney has been placed on leave after reporting issues with overspending. Scott is concerned with “…widespread misuse of public funds and the use of city credit cards to purchase personal items.” There is a concern that the city manager may have inappropriately released privileged information publicly. Scott has served as Lodi city manager since June 2024. He previously worked as the deputy director for the California Department of Health Care Services (July 2021-June 2024). Among his former work assignments, Scott served as the deputy city manager for Stockton (September 2014-February 2020). Scott earned a Doctor of Education degree from the University of the Pacific, Benerd College. Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Christina Jaromay has been appointed Lodi acting city manager.

Former Sacramento City Manager Howard Chan has reimbursed the city for the legal fees used to negotiate his contract extension. The acting city manager is Leyne Milstein. Howard spent $3,215 on attorney representation to help negotiate an extension to his employment agreement. Howard currently is an assistant city manager with the city, a provision granted in his employment agreement.

Brentwood city manager Tim Y. Ogden has accepted the general manager position for the Cosumnes Community Services District. Tim took the Brentwood city manager position in February 2020. Previous to Brentwood, Tim served as the city manager for the cities of Manteca (July 2017-January 2020) and Waterford (2011-2017). He began his public service career with work assignments in economic development in Modesto, Riverbank and Ceres. Tim received a 10 Year ICMA Service Award in 2016. He earned a BA from Weber State University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Tim is an ICMA Credentialed Manager. He served as a scout leader for the Boy Scouts of America from January 2002 until March 2018, and Tim has been known to enjoy playing some basketball in his spare time.

City Manager John Nachbar of the City of Culver City will retire at the end of the year. John has been the city manager for Culver City since 2010. Before coming to Culver City, John served as city manager for Overland Park, Kansas and deputy city manager for Tucson, Arizona. Prior to his Tucson assignment, John was the city administrator for Albany, California (1991-1995) and city manager of Patterson (1987-1991). He began his public service career in 1979 with Wichita Falls, Texas and as assistant city manager of Overland Park, Kansas. John earned a BGS and MPA from the University of Kansas.

Palmdale City Manager Ronda Perez has a year remaining on a three-year employment agreement. Ronda joined the city staff in October 2021 as assistant city manager. She was made acting city manager when City Manager J. J. Murphy was placed on administrative leave. Following J.J.’s dismissal, Ronda was named interim city manager in March 2022. She was hired as city manager on February 1, 2023. One of her previous work assignments was with the City of Lancaster, where she worked as a senior operations manager, director of Parks, Recreation and Arts and assistant city manager. Palmdale has been evaluating Ronda’s performance as city manager.

Bonnie Lipscomb is the new Santa Cruz deputy city manager. Bonnie is going from the director of economic development and housing positions to deputy city manager. She joined the Santa Cruz city staff in 2007. From November 2000 until September 2007, Bonnie worked in economic development with the City of Vallejo. She earned a BA in cultural anthropology and Pre-Columbian architecture from Tulane University, and a Master’s Degree in resource policy and behavior from the University of Michigan.

St. Helena Assistant City Manager Dr. April Mitts has accepted the assistant city manager position for the City of Healdsburg. April joined the St. Helena city staff in November 2014 as the finance director. She became the sdministrative services director in June 2021, and she has been the assistant city manager since June 2022. April earned a Doctorate of Public Administration (DPA) from the University of La Verne. Anil Cornelo is the city manager for the city of St. Helena.

Dr. Peter Pirnejad is the Town Manager for the Town of Los Altos Hills. Peter began his public service career as a planning assistant for the City of Vernon in January 1998. Since then, he has worked for Westlake Village, Selma, Lodi, Daly City, Palo Alto, Napa and Foster City. He served as president of the planning and community development department of the League of California Cities (2013-2014). Peter earned DPPD (Doctor of Policy, Planning and Development) from the University of California Sol Price School of Public Policy. He received a 20 Year ICMA Service Award in 2022.

Consumer Affairs ranks Roseville as the best city to move to in California. High rankings are given to the economy, outstanding quality of life and excellent community amenities.

Congratulations to retired California Contract Cities Association Executive Director Sam Olivito on the successful renewal of his California Driver’s License for five more years. Sam will turn 90 years old in July. From January 2018 until July 2020, Willows City Manager Marti Brown served as the city manager for the City of Marysville. Marti became the Willows city manager as interim in August 2021. She was appointed city manager beginning in November 2021. Marti had previous work assignments in Berkeley, Sacramento and Arvin. Marti served as a member of the City Council for the City of Vallejo between December 2009 and January 2014.

Sunnyvale Public Safety Chief Phan Ngo will step down at the end of April 2025. City Manager Tim Kirby will appoint an interim chief of public safety. Phan joined the city staff in 2017. Before that he worked for the San Jose police department starting in 1989. His retirement caps 36 years in Silicon Valley law enforcement. Phan became the director of public safety in January 2017. He earned a BA from San Jose State University and an MS in criminal justice from Boston University.

Novato City Manager Amy Cunningham previously had work assignments in Dublin, Moraga, Walnut Creek and Half Moon Bay. Amy began her public service career as a family support officer for the district attorney’s office in the County of San Mateo, starting in June 1996. She worked for Dublin nearly 17 years before moving on to the Town of Moraga and Walnut Creek. She joined the Novato city staff in February 2020 as finance director. She became administrative services director in August 2022.

Shorts

  • Cottonwood, Arizona is recruiting a city manager and the current city manager for the City of Hanford, Mario Cifuentez, is among the final three candidates.
  • Former Alameda city manager Debra Kurita, an ICMA Credentialed Manager Retired, lives in Fullerton.
  • Retired city manager Greg Korduner, who served as city manager in South El Monte, El Monte, Huntington Park, and as interim city manager for La Habra Heights and Los Alamitos, tells us that the next “Proof of Life” lunch is scheduled for Thursday, July 17, 2025, at the La Mirada North Woods Inn Restaurant.
  • Jason Simpson, Lake Elsinore city manager, is excited about the 10,000 square feet addition to the Lake Elsinore library currently under construction.
  • United State President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom are working together with the California Coastal Commission to prevent unnecessary impediments and delays with rebuilding after the recent California wildfires.
  • Matt Huffaker, who is a former Watsonville city manager (2018-2021), and earned an MPA from California State University, East Bay has served as the Santa Cruz city manager since December 2021.
  • Anaheim City Manager Jim Vanderpool reports that the city agrees with the recommendations of a recent State audit, including the city’s ability to inspect Angels Stadium in Anaheim.
  • Cecilia Gallardo-Daly, Costa Mesa Assistant City Manager, previously worked as the assistant city manager for the City of San Clemente.
  • Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, changing the position of his predecessor, will seek the death penalty in rare cases of defendants charged with special circumstance murders.
  • MMASC Past President Laura Biery is the director of economic development for the City of West Hollywood.
  • Yvette Walker is a community improvement officer with Claremont Code Enforcement.
  • Former Palmdale city manager and past President of ICMA  Dave Childs is currently working as a culture coach from Coeur D’ Alene, Idaho.
  • Sibely Calles, who earned an MPA from the University of San Francisco, a senior management analyst for the City of Daly City, joined the city staff in July 2014.
  • Sydney Fitch, a San Diego State University graduate who earned a BA in communication, is the Tripepi Smith team leader for the distribution of the City Manager Newsletter by Trackdown.
  • Sonoma Finance Director Prapti Aryal presented a new fraud policy at the March 5 Sonoma city council meeting.
  • Aaron Laurel was appointed to the West Sacramento city manager position in July 2018.
  • City Council Member Vince Yu of Temple City is the deputy director of the Department of Public Works for the County of Los Angeles.
  • Fortuna Public Works Director and City Engineer Brendan Byrd is leaving the city to become the executive director for the Humboldt County Association of Governments.
  • Artesia Deputy City Manager Melissa (Gobas) Burke earned an MS in recreation administration from California State University, Long Beach.