Trackdown ManagementTrackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 19: Issue No. 06

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

Tim Chapa, retired as city manager for the City of Sanger in 2023. Tim also worked as the city manager for the cities of Arvin and Rio Vista. Tim currently works part-time as the district administrator for the Calwa Recreation & Park District in Fresno. He is proud of having just installed a dual-pitch Musco Futsal court in the park. This project is funded through Proposition 68, State Water and Park Bond of 2018, the U.S. Soccer Foundation and District capital reserves. Calwa officials say both courts will provide for a “5-a-side” play, which has become the “standard” in youth soccer development. Additionally, these courts will provide for year-round soccer play for the youth and community.

Sebastopol City Manager Don Schwartz has stepped down with a mutual separation agreement with the city following a performance evaluation on April 14. Assistant City Manager Mary Gourley was appointed acting city manager. Don is receiving 9 months, or $183,000, in severance, according to the Sebastopol Times. Don served as an instructor at Sonoma State University from January 2019 until May 2023. Prior to joining Sebastopol as city manager in January 2024, Don worked nearly 10 years as the assistant city manager for the City of Rohnert Park (April 2014-January 2024). Don earned a BA is sociology from the University of California, Berkeley and an MPP from the Kennedy School at Harvard University.

Shawn Bayliss is the new City of Hidden Hills city manager. Shawn has been serving as executive director for The Bel-Air Association, a San Fernando Valley gated community. He takes the reigns in Hidden Hills from Interim City Manager Gloria Molleda. Shawn previously worked in planning and land use & development for the City of Los Angeles. He is an alumnus of The Ohio State University.

Incorporating in July 2024, Mountain House is the newest city in California. In 1849, Thomas Goodall installed a big blue denim cloth tent that served as a midway stopover for miners and prospectors heading to and from the Sierra Nevada gold fields and San Francisco. The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved the Mountain House community in November 1994. Steven Pinkerton is the City Manager and Jodi Almassy is deputy city manager. The Administrative Services Director is Sarah Ragsdale and the finance director is Thomas Retchless.

Santee City Manager Marlene Best has left her position, and the city is looking for an interim replacement. No reason for Marlene’s leaving has been announced. She became the Santee city manager in March 2016 after she served as city manager in Calexico (2005-2006) and Imperial (2006-2016). Marlene was the Lake Elsinore assistant city manager from December 1998 until January 2005. She was born and raised in Lemon Grove. In 2023, she received a 25 Year ICMA Service Award. Marlene earned a BS in physical education from San Diego State University. In 2019 she was one of seven leaders recognized at a Women in Leadership Luncheon hosted by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce.

Former Santa Clara City Manager Dianna J. Santana has been hired to serve as the Milpitas interim city manager. She was the Santa Clara city manager from October 2017 to April 2022. Dianna also worked as the city manager for the City of Sunnyvale from June 2014 to October 2017. She was the Oakland City Administrator from August 2011 to March 2014. Dianna earned a Master of City Planning, from the School of Architecture & Planning of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Antioch has a new chief of police and assistant city manager. It has been announced that interim chief Joe Vigil and Interim Assistant City Manager Brad Helfenberger will continue in those positions on a permanent basis. Antioch City Manager Bessie M. Scott is pleased with these personnel moves. Joe replaces retired Chief Brian Addington. Brad came to Antioch in February 2021 as the director of parks and recreation. He earned a BS in recreation from San Jose State University.

City Manager Benjamin Martinez is working through “…a mutual agreement of separation” from the City of National City. Ben’s three-year employment agreement has been terminated early. He began his city manager tenure in National City in November 2023. Stephen Manganiello is the Acting City Manager. Officials selected Armando Vergara to replace former City Manager Brad Raulston, but Armando died of natural causes in late June 2023. Deputy City Manager Scott Huth stepped in as acting city manager. In August 2023, Ben was appointed as the interim city manager prior to being hired for the job.

Retired city manager Mike Egan, a Director with Tripepi Smith, has been hired to serve as Interim City Manager for the City of La Palma. La Palma City Manager Conal McNamara is leaving to accept the city manager position for the City of Whittier. He will be the ninth city manager in Whittier’s 127-year history. Mike’s first city position was with the City of Bellflower. He worked his way up to serve as the Bellflower city manager for 14 years, starting in 1997 following Linda Lowry. Mike served as the Norwalk city manager from August 2011 until his retirement in September 2017. Since retiring, Mike has worked as a Director for Tripepi Smith, and he served as the Interim City Manager for the City of Artesia in January 2022. Mike earned a BA in Behavioral Science from California State University Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Fred Davis, who served the City of Chico for 45 years and retired as city manager in 1992. Fred was born June 7, 1924, and passed away at the age of 90 on Thursday, April 23, 2015, in Chico. Fred was born in San Francisco in 1924. In 1942 he enlisted in the U. S. Army Air Corps and served in the European theater during WW II. He earned a BS in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Fred began his local government career as Assistant Public Works Director in the City of Napa. He became the Director of Public Works for Chico in 1953. Fred was appointed city manager in 1957. After retirement, he operated a consulting firm for the next 15 years. A celebration of life was held for Fred on Tuesday, June 16, 2015.

Lodi city manager Scott R. Carney, who was placed on administrative leave regarding alleged misuse of public funds issues, was hired to serve as the city manager in June 2024. He served as Deputy Director at the California Department of Health Care Services from July 2021 until June 2024. Scott worked as a Deputy City Manager for the City of Stockton (September 2014 – February 2020). In Lodi Scott succeeded former City Manager Steve Schwabauer, who left the city to become the Manager for the North San Joaquin Water Conservation District. Christina Jaromay the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director, is the Acting Lodi City Manager.

Special Report: Cultivating Tomorrow’s Local Government Visionaries; the four (4) California’s representatives in the 2025 Class of Leadership ICMA include Corey Costelloe, Assistant City Manager for Tehachapi; Stone James, Twentynine Palms City Manager; Brian MacDonald, Tracy Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services; and Jackie Rocco, West Hollywood. Seth Floyd, the Director of Community Development for the City of Las Vegas, Nevada is the lone participant invited from Nevada cities, and the Oregon cities are represented by City Manager Tyler Deems of Sandy, Oregon.

Sydney Fitch is a Junior Business Analyst for Tripepi Smith. Sydney joined the firm in July 2023. One of her responsibilities has been until recently to provide distribution services for the City Manager Newsletter by Trackdown. Sydney graduated from Foothill High School in Santa Ana, and she earned a BA in communications from San Diego State University with minors in Spanish and digital and social media studies. Sydney is a past President of Lambda Pi Eta – Pi Beta Chapter in San Diego.

San Marino City Manager Philippe Eskandar, known to many for his lush-full-beard, began his public service career in April 2007 as a Recreation Leader for the city of Newport Beach. In 2005 he worked as a Recreation Leader in the city of Burbank. Philippe joined the Glendale city staff in 2010 as a Program Specialist. He became Administrative Officer in Glendale in April 2014. In Mary 2017, Philippe took an Administrative Analyst job in the city of Westlake Village. By July 2019, he was appointed Deputy City Manager. He was appointed San Marino in July 2023. He earned a BA in criminology from the University of California, Irvine, and two Master degrees from Pepperdine University.

Shorts

  • Former Hawaiian Gardens and Bellflower staffer Sylvia Rodrigues was seen enjoying dinner this month at Las Casuelas Nuevas in Rancho Mirage, and Sam and Sharon Olivito were seen having dinner at the Cowboy Cantina at The River, also in Rancho Mirage.
  • Thirty-year law enforcement veteran David Dickey is the new Chief of Police for the City of Ventura.
  • Berkeley Cjty Manager Paul Buddenhagen initiated a citywide hiring freeze to help address a budget deficit.
  • Tom Corning was sworn in as Chief of Police for the City of Ukiah by former Chief Cedric Crook.
  • Darin Gale is the new Interim City Manager for the City of Brentwood as City Manager Tim Odgen leaves the position to become General Manager of the Cosumnes Community Services District (CCSD).
  • Dana Point City Manager Mike Killebrew has worked for the city more than 16 years, and he was appointed city manager starting in March 2020.
  • Harlingen, Texas native and Brea resident Jessica Balandran, who earned a BA and MPA from St. Mary’s University is a Senior Administrative Analyst for the Public Utilities Department in the City of Anaheim, and previously worked for Vernon, Cudahy and Tripepi Smith.
  • Rebekah Smith is the Director of Operations for Willdan Financial Services.
  • M. Cleve Morris was appointed city manager for Placerville in January 2011 and previously served as city manager for Patterson.
  • Danny Jimenez is the Finance Manager for the City of Orange Cove where Daniel T. Parra is the City Manager.
  • Santa Rosa City Manager Maraskeshia Smith, earned a BS from the University of Kentucky and an MBA from Eastern Kentucky University, Is a Board Member for Women Leading Government and a Foundation Board Member at Sonoma State University.
  • Woodland city manager Ken Hiatt joined the Woodland city staff in 2013 and previously worked 20 years for the City of Davis.
  • Mariana Mitchell, who previously worked for Murrieta, Riverside and Fontana, is the new Menifee Community Services Director effective March 2025.
  • Hawaiian Gardens City Manager Ernesto Marquez, previously worked for the California State Department of Fish & Game and with the City of Long Beach and earned a BA and MPA from California State University, Long Beach.
  • After working as the Soledad city manager (September 1981 – August 1984), Dr. Carlos A. Urrutia, who is an ICMA Credentialed Manager, retired and currently operates Carlos Urrutia Consulting, served as the City Manager for the City of Rocklin from August 1984 until his retirement in December 2010.
  • Since 2009, La Shelle Dozier has been the Executive Director for the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency.
  • Gavin Curran is the Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer for the City of Laguna Beach and earned a BBA and BS from Loyola Marymount University.