Redwood City’s City Council has selected Patrick Heisinger to serve as its next city manager, pending City Council approval of an employment agreement at the November 24, 2025 City Council Meeting. If approved, Heisinger will be promoted from his current role as assistant city manager and assume the role of city manager on December 31, 2025, following the planned retirement of current City Manager Melissa Stevenson Diaz on December 30. The City Council led a competitive recruitment process with support from an executive search firm, including thorough candidate evaluations and multiple rounds of interviews. Community and staff input were among the factors that helped inform the Council’s final decision.
“Patrick is a seasoned local government executive who knows Redwood City well,” said Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos. “He has helped shape the important decisions and long-term planning efforts that keep Redwood City moving forward. Thanks to City Manager Melissa Stevenson Diaz and her team, the City is on solid ground, and Patrick is well-positioned to continue that momentum.”
Heisinger joined Redwood City in 2023 and has served as the City’s assistant city manager since 2024, overseeing the City’s community development, engineering and transportation, housing and homelessness, economic development and real estate functions. He has led efforts to modernize the City’s business license tax, update the affordable housing ordinance and tenant protection ordinance and implement the City’s current economic development workplan.
Working closely with department heads, he helped guide the reorganization of key City departments and the hiring of more than 20 new employees to fill critical roles. He led the City’s approach to establishing the Hopeful Horizons ordinance to address encampments on public property and is responsible for more than $64 million in capital funding across seven City areas. He has also served as acting city manager when needed.
“Since joining the Redwood City team, I’ve been continually impressed by the City Council’s ambitious agenda, our staff’s professionalism and the community’s willingness to engage in shaping the City’s future,” said Heisinger. “I’m grateful for the Council’s confidence in me. Redwood City has a strong foundation, and I look forward to continuing to work with this fantastic team to serve our residents and businesses.”
Before joining Redwood City, Heisinger served as interim city manager and assistant city manager for East Palo Alto, where he oversaw city operations, led annual priority setting and managed labor negotiations with all bargaining units. He directed major capital projects, including two pedestrian bridges connecting the east and west sides of the city. His earlier experience includes leadership roles with Santa Cruz County, the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Clara and the City of San José. Across his career, Heisinger has leveraged more than $750 million in funding to support affordable housing, supportive housing, infrastructure and community development projects.
Heisinger holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s degree in educational counseling from the University of Redlands, as well as a master’s degree in public administration from San José State University.