Trackdown ManagementTrackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 20: Issue No. 14

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

Vacaville Assistant City Manager GeorgeAnne Meggers-Smith is retiring in November 2026. She began her city employment in 2007 as a management analyst. She joined the city manager’s office in 2020 as a program manager and deputy city manager. She was appointed Assistant City Manager in 2022. She served as Director of Parks and Recreation for a time. City Manager Savita Chaudhary gives GeorgeAnne high marks as an outstanding assistant. GeorgeAnne earned a BS and an MS from California State University, Sacramento.

Auburn is at the heart of Northern California’s horse country, and hosts the world famous Tevis Cup, which is a legendary 100-mile, one-day equestrian endurance ride. Former Auburn City Manager John Donlevy was active with the Auburn horse riding community. John is also known as an avid ultramarathon runner and endurance athlete

Gary Milliman, retired South Gate and Brookings, Oregon City Manager now serves as a Municipal Court Judge in five rural Oregon cities: Brookings, Bandon, Port Orford, Powers and Sublimity. In addition to South Gate, Gary, served as City Manager in Fort Bragg and Cotati, as Deputy City Manager in Bell Gardens and on the staff of the League of California Cities. In Oregon he served as City Manager in Ashland and Talent. Gary and his wife Liangfeng reside in Medford, Oregon.

Former Stanton city manager Greg Hulsizer (1993-1995), who previously served as an Assistant City Manager for the city of San Clemente, is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of USA Surfing, the national governing body for the sport in the United States. Greg assumed the CEO position on June 7, 2026, succeeding Beck Fleischauer. Greg’s major task is to prepare USA Surfing for the LA28 Olympic Games, where the surfing events will be held at Lower Trestles in San Clemente; a world-class wave Greg has personally surfed for more than 50 years. Greg began his public service career working nearly a decade as an Ocean Lifeguard and Lieutenant (1973-1982) for the city of San Clemente before serving as Assistant City Manager and as Deputy City Manager for Fontana.

Eric Figueroa is a part-time senior consultant with The Consulting Team, LLC and a consultant for Renne Public Management Group. He left the Martinez city manager position in January 2023. Eric earned a BA from Claremont McKenna College and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business.

Longtime Temecula city manager Aaron Adams is retiring following a 31- year public service career that he began as a 22-year-old, intern in 1995. Aaron will be succeeded by Assistant City Manager Luke Watson. Aaron was named the 2026 City Manager of the Year by the California City Management Foundation (CCMF). Aaron served 14-years as the Temecula city manager. He earned a BSBA from Northern Arizona University and an MA from the University of Redlands.

Sausalito City Manager Elaine Forbes pleaded not guilty on August 11, 2026, to misdemeanor charges levied when she was arrested last month on a yacht she does not own. She faces four misdemeanor counts: one for prowling, two counts of unauthorized lodging on different vessels and one count of petty theft. She allegedly took some woman’s clothing. Her defense attorney, Randy Knox, said there are plans to apply for California’s mental health diversion program. If accepted and she successfully completes the program, the criminal charges will be dismissed. There will be a follow-up hearing on February 10, 2026, to check the status of the diversion application. Sausalito Assistant City Manager Brandon Phipps is currently serving as interim city manager.

Hilary Roverud is the next South Lake Tahoe with the approval of an employment agreement on August 11. She has served as Interim City Manager since February and previously since October 2023 she has worked as the city’s Assistant City Manager. Hilary joined the city staff in 2005. She served as Director of Development Services starting in 2020, and Assistant City Manager starting in 2023. Hilary earned a BA in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an MS in city and regional planning from California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo.

Thomas R. Hatch is the Interim City Manager for the city of Riverside since City Manager Mike Futrell resigned to take the Pasadena city manager position. Mike has since withdrawn from the Pasadena opportunity. Thomas brings 36-years of local government experience to the new position. He served with the cities of Walnut, Brea, South Pasadena, West Covina, El Monte, Costa Mesa, Orange, Santa Ana, Santa Fe Springs and Placentia, as well as, with the County of Orange. He earned an AA degree from Mr. San Antonio College, and a BA and MPA from California State University, Fullerton.

There are two city managers in California cities named “Eric;” Eric Levitt of San Bernardino and Eric Wier of Crescent City. Former city manager Eric Figueroa, a former Martinez city manager, is a well-known professional public manager.

Dixon city manager Jim Lindley officially retired in July 2026 following a 28-year career in public service and moved to Texas to be closer to family. Jim served as a Hesperia city council member, December 1998 to December 2006. Jim served as the San Bernardino Director of Public Health from 2005 to 2010, when he was fired. He was city manager for the city of Dunsmuir from June 2010 to March 2012. Jim was Dixon city manager from March 2012 until his July 2026 retirement. Jim earned an AA degree from Victor Valley Community College, a BA and an MPA from California State University, San Bernardino.

Shorts:

  • Ninety-six-year-old Glenn “Hutch” Hutchinson, a retired Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff and Bellflower Public Safety Manager, called from his Palmdale home this past week to touch base and say “Hello.”
  • Retired Indian Wells and Atascadero city manager Wade McKinney called this past week to check in and chat about the old days and how things are currently going.
  • The late city manager Ralph Henry Webb II (December 22, 1947-September 3, 2014) was toasted at a memorial service reception on September 27, 2014, at Spaghettini’s in Seal Beach.
  • Orland Fire Chief since June 2022, Justin Chaney assumed the Interim City Manager position in July 2026 following the resignation in 2025 of city manager Pete Carr.
  • Retired Fairfield (1997-2007), Buena Park (1885-1997) and Stanton (1981-1985) city manager Kevin O’Rourke studied for the priesthood prior to taking a human service coordinator position with the city of Stanton in 1977, which lead to his city manager career.
  • Erin Spragan is the new Culver City Chief Financial Officer, and Stephen J. Agostini is the new Assistant City Manager of Fiscal Sustainability and Transparency.
  • Mayor Ana Maria Quintana of the city of Bell where Michael L. Antwine II is the city manager, is the new President of the Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities.
  • Atherton has reclaimed its title as the country’s most expensive ZIP code, overtaking Florida’s Fisher Island, with median home sales reaching $9.93 million through the first 6 months of 2026.
  • Former Newport Beach city manager Grace Leung enjoys paddling her outrigger in the Newport Harbor.
  • Hannah Shin-Heydorn is the city manager for the city of Stanton in Orange County.
  • Former city managers Dr. Carlos A. Urrutia and Ann Marie Gallant have joined the Board of the Institute for Local Government along with former Mountain View Mayor and Council Member R. Michael Kasperzak, Jr.
  • Elaine Winer, a “transplanted Fed,” who served as Personnel Manager among her various positions, retired from the city of Torrance in March 2011, after 35-years of service to the city that started in January 1976.
  • Perry Minasian, 46, General Manager of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, from November 2020, was fired June 26, 2026, after his sixth losing season unfolded, pushing losing Angel seasons to eleven, and John Mozeliak, a former longtime St. Louis Cardinals General Manager, was hired as a consultant to fill in behind Perry’s vacancy until a new General Manager is hired.
  • Past President of the California Contract Cities Association (CCCA), Larry Chimbole, a past Palmdale Mayor and council member, served as a member of the California State Assembly from 1974 to 1978 representing the High Desert and Antelope Valley areas.
  • James C. Hankla, former Long Beach city manager, concluded 52 years of public service when he retired from the Board of Harbor Commissions on June 30, 2009.