Trackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 20: Issue No. 10
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
Diamond Bar has selected Ryan McLean as the city’s new city manager, succeeding Dan Fox, who is retiring after 9-years as city manager. Ryan grew up in Diamond Bar. He began his public service career with Diamond Bar in 2001 as a full-time Recreation Coordinator. He moved to the City Manager’s Office in 2005. Ryan earned a BA in economics from the University of California, Irvine. The Diamond Bar Mayor is currently Steve Tye, a past President of the California Contract Cities Association (CCCA).
Sage Sangiacomo, Ukiah city manager, is riding point on the city’s Ukiah 2026 Reorganization Project to annex unincorporated areas adjacent to the city. Deputy City Manager Shannon Riley has done most of the administrative work for the project. Sage has served as Ukiah city manager since June 2015. The project is aimed at absorbing territories served by the Millview County Water District, Willow County Water District, and the Ukiah Valley Sanitation District. The objective is to unify infrastructure under the newly formed Ukiah Valley Water Authority and capture major available state funding.
Douglas Schulze is the new city manager for the city of National City effective June 17, 2026. National City has been operating with interim city managers since May 2023, when City Manager Brad Ralson left the position. His replacement City Manager Armando Vergara, died of a heart attack two days after being hired. The new city manager, Doug has risen from driving a Zamboni in Sandstone, Minnesota to managing Medina, Washington, to serving as the city manager of Banning, California. He also worked for Bainbridge Island, Washington prior to landing in Banning where he served as city manager from October 2018 until March 2025.
Richmond city manager Shasa Curl, who announced her upcoming retirement, was sworn in as city manager by City Clerk Pamela Christian on April 6, 2022. Shasa has worked for the city for more than two decades. She came to work for the city in 2003. Shasa earned a Master’s degree in urban planning from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She and the Richmond Police Officer’s Association (RPOA) have developed tension recently over the reinstatement of officers involved in fatal shootings, who have been cleared of wrongdoing by the Contra Costa County District Attorneys Office.
Three members of the Calipatria city council are facing a recall effort following their vote to terminate Calipatria City Manager Laura Gutierrez. On April 14, the city council voted 3-2 to terminate the city manager without cause. In a dramatic turn-around, the Calipatria city council met in an emergency session and fully reinstated Laura’s employment agreement, which runs through June 1, 2027. She was hired to serve as the city manager and Finance Officer in June 2025. Prior to June 2023, Laura served as the Director of Administrative Services for the city of Imperial.
Susan Freeman, the wife of Riverside City Manager Mike Futrell — who briefly agreed to become Pasadena’s city manager before withdrawing his application — has filed an official government claim against the City of Riverside, alleging that the city retaliated against her and damaged her reputation. She has reached a settlement with the city, and Mike, who has been the Riverside city manager since January 2023, has resigned. He previously served as the South San Francisco city manager (April 2014-January 2023). Mike is a former Captain in the United State Navy.
Alan Flora is the city manager for the city of Clearlake in Lake County, California. Alan began his public service career as a Student Volunteer when he attended Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He served as a Board of Zoning Appeals and as a Planning Commission Member for the Town of Flora, Indiana from 2004 to 2008. In October 2008, Alan took a Associate Planner position with Lake County, California. He worked as a Redevelopment Analyst and in the Administrative Office of the county before he was appointed Deputy County Administrative Office in June 2012. He became the Assistant Chief Executive for the County of Mendocino in January 2015, before he joined the Clearlake city staff in March 2018 as Finance Director. Alan was appointed Assistant City Manager in July 2018, and he was hired as Clearlake city manager in March 2019. From January 2019 until December 2022, Alan served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Lakeport Fire Protection District. He earned a BA in urban planning & development marketing from Ball State University.
The Rose Institute of State and Local Government at Claremont McKenna College and the San Gabriel Valley City Managers’ Association have conducted research on local perspectives on Los Angeles County governance reforms. Rose Institute Director Ken Miller is the lead researcher on the Measure G project. It is essential that cities are informed about major changes to county government.
City of Perris City Manager Clara Miramontes worked as a Planner for the City of Riverside from 1999 to 2010. Clara was appointed Interim City Manager for Perris in January 2019, and she was hired to serve as city manager in January 2021. Clara earned a BS from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and an MPA and MBA from California State University, Long Beach
Richard R. Powers, the retired Executive Director of the Gateway Cities COG (1995-2017) served as city manager for the cities of Garden Grove (1972-1980) and Norwalk (1988- 1994). Ernie Garcia became the Norwalk city manager following Dick’s tenure. Dick was the Community Development Director for the city of Paramount (1981-1988) working with city manager Bill Holt. Dick began his public service career as an Intern for the city of Anaheim in 1964 before working for La Mirada as Planning Director (1965-1969). He earned an AA from Fullerton Junior College, a BA from the University of California, and an MPA from California State University, Fullerton.
John Edward Maulding spent the 1960s and 1970s working with the office of the Los Angeles County Engineer. While with the County Engineer, John served as a District Engineer, Superintendent of Building (he would say that he was the official county “SOB”), and as Chief Engineer of the County Mapping Division. When John retired from the county, he joined the professional consulting team at Willdan Engineering. Following his Willdan tenure, John served as the Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster, a court-appointment. He was also among the 51-member Board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. John was known for his jokes and simple magic tricks. He took his match games, rope tricks and “woo-full dust” wherever he went. John was one of those “unforgettable” people we are fortunate to have the opportunity meet. He passed away in 2008.
Stanton City Manager Hannah Shin-Heydorn was awarded a “cost of living” pay adjustment that brings her annual compensation to more than $300,000. Hannah became the Stanton city manager in July 2022. She worked as the city manager for the city of Signal Hill from November 2019 until July 2022. Hannah previously worked for the city of Lake Forest. She earned a BA in English from the University of California, Berkeley and an MS in management from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey.
Shorts
- Lee Whittenberg, retired professional municipal planner of Seal Beach and Bellflower, relocated to Summerville, South Carolina, to live near family.
- Darin Hughes, an alumnus of Arizona State University, and Celina Palmer, who earned a BA from the University of California, Irvine, are both Associate Planners for the city of Orinda.
- Santa Clarita City Manager Ken Striplin, host of the “Santa Clarita Voices” podcast, is President of the Board of Trustees for the California City Management Foundation (CCMF).
- Kayla Friederich, who earned an AA at Palomar College and a BS from the University of California, San Diego, worked consultant assignments in Stanton and Rancho Palos Verdes, and served as a Project Analyst for the Imperial Valley Resource Management Agency.
- Peter James, working on regional recovery of infrastructure following the World Cup soccer competition and the 2028 Olympic game, has been working since September 2025 as a Deputy City Manager for the city of Santa Monica serving with City Manager Oliver Chi.
- University of California, Berkeley graduate, Samuel S. McMurry began his tenure as the Redding Assistant City Manager in November 1987.
- Ben M. McMakin worked as city manager in Willits (1969- 1971), Coachella (1973-1978) and Bandon, Oregon in the late 1990s, after he started his career as an Intern in Mountain View in 1964.
- Oceanside city manager Jonathan Borrego was appointed in August 2022, after previously serving as the city’s Deputy City Manager and Development Services Director.
- Donte Watson, former Chief of Parks and Recreation for the city of Santa Rosa, was hired to start June 15 as Stockton’s Community Services Director.
- Mountain View City Attorney Jennifer Logue has been appointed to serve as a judge on the Contra Costa County Superior Court.
- Amy Gallagher is the new Managing Editor of the Tripepi Smith PublicCEO as former Managing Editor Ethan de la Peña joined the Clovis city staff.
- Amy Aller, who previously served in the Fresno County District Attorney and City Attorney’s offices, is the new Fresno City Clerk replacing Todd Stermer, who left the position last year to serve as the Sacramento County Clerk.
- Starting June 1, 2026, Tomás Herrera-Mishler is the new Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Services for the city of Culver City.
- Former Community Development Director Kevin Ingram has been the city manager for the City of Lakeport since August 2020.