Optimistic, effective, and decisive local government professional with 35 years of city management experience. Currently serving as City Manager of West Covina, California.
CITY MANAGER OF WEST COVINA, CA 2019-Present
Los Angeles County
Population 109,501
Manage a 16.04 square mile city with 109,501 population. This full-service city operates its own police, fire, local transit system, housing & economic development, public works, information technology, finance, human resources/risk management and community services. West Covina has 300 full time employees and a $128 million budget in 2022-23.
Built an exceptionally strong Leadership Team. Every City department improved service levels based on objective metrics.
Enhanced financial management. Increased the City’s total net position by 142% or $37.6 million, mostly due to a decrease in long-term debt related to the City’s net pension liability. Increased capital assets by $11.7 million as the City is investing into needed upgrades to community infrastructure. Enacted expenditure control budgeting, surgical cost‐cutting, strengthened reserves, and achieved a Standard & Poors A+ bond rating.
Provided unparalleled financial support for local schools and developed excellent working relations with West Covina School Districts and Mt. San Antonio College.
Advanced sustainability. Negotiated comprehensive waste hauling franchise to achieve compliance with SB 1383, California’s significant landfill waste reduction mandate. Completed a comprehensive risk management evaluation, established a formal risk management program. Negotiated muti-year contracts with all 9 employee unions, none of which were under contract in 2019.
Managed aggressive capital improvement budget ($79.5 million in FY 22-23) to significantly upgrade critical infrastructure. Led major reinvestment in capital improvements program, including technology and equipment.
Established current Emergency Preparedness and Hazard mitigation plans; Crime reduction to lowest levels since early 1950s.
CITY MANAGER OF LA PUENTE, CA 2013-2018
Los Angeles County
Population 37,712
Managed a 3.4 sq. mile primarily residential city located twenty miles east of Los Angeles. Services included public safety (contract law enforcement and fire service), public works (including water, sewer and storm water utilities and parks), development services, successor redevelopment, and community services.
Through implementation of known principles of community-based policing, for 3 years the City won an award for being one of California’s 50 safest cities. Negotiated multi-year labor agreements with SEIU. Restored community image and reputation. Established La Puente Live, a quite successful weekly Air Certified Farms Market. Focused on economic development; sales tax revenue up 20% over a 13-quarter period. Assumed administration of a Los Angeles County street light district, with a cash fund balance of $8.2 million dollars. Wrote State legislation facilitating the transaction.
CITY MANAGER OF MANHATTAN BEACH, CA 2010-2013
Los Angeles County
Population 33,852
Managed a full service 4 sq. mile affluent coastal city located 20 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. Services included police, fire, public works, planning, library and cultural services, recreation and childcare, beautiful municipal parks & beaches, management services and redevelopment. Administered $64 million combined budget and oversaw 450 FTE employees.
Oversaw all management responsibilities of a high-profile, full-service Los Angeles beach Community with engaged, participatory citizenry. Focused on the horizon with organizational development, succession planning and facility plans. Through strong financial management found economies of operation while maintaining city’s AAA credit rating. Achieved net present values savings of $4.5 million through refinance of outstanding debt instruments, COPs. Negotiated major redevelopment for 100,000 square-foot expansion of regional mall. Negotiated three-year labor agreements with police, fire and Teamster unions establishing employee financial contributions for pension and health care. Facilitated several cooperative agreements including Los Angeles Country for constructions of a new award-winning (LEED GOLD certified) library, AYSO for construction of a new soccer field and the Manhattan Beach School District for joint use of facilities.
CITY MANAGER OF SEAL BEACH, CA 2007-2010
Orange County
Population 25,242
Managed a vibrant and quaint full service 16 sq mile coast city in northwest Orange County, with police, fire, community development, public works, parks, utilities (water & sewer), recreation, administrative services. Assisted the City Council with goal setting and delivery of first-class municipal services. Major focus on financial management including finance department reorganization and addressing unfunded liabilities with pension obligation bonds and GASB 45 compliance for retiree health care. Addressed capital project needs and construction of new pier, fire station, storm drains, sewer collection system, streets, sidewalks and street trees. Recipient of national award for beach restoration project in coordination with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
REGIONAL MANAGER OF PARS 2003-2007
Opened the PARS Midwest office and served as a principal consultant for government agency clients across the country. Designed, implemented, and administered retirement products designed for the unique needs of public agencies. Served as a consultant to several public agencies across the country, implementing common-sense solutions including early retirement incentives, alternate-to-social security, and pension plans. PARS offers retirement services designed specifically for each public agency’s unique needs with the underlying objective of providing superior employee benefits while increasing management effectiveness and reducing operating costs.
CITY MANAGER OF PACIFICA, CA 1997-2003
San Mateo County
Population 38,640
Assisted the City Council of full-service coastal city (population 39,000). Major focus on economic and organizational development, policy analysis, and risk management. Right sized the organization and established financial controls. Financed, permitted, and constructed the pioneering Calera Creek Water Recycling Facility – a $52 million 18 million-gallon-per-day UV tertiary treatment sewer plant with direct ocean outfall, including a successfully restored wetland. Financed and constructed a new Police Station, arranged complex financing package for the Ocean View Senior Housing complex. Recipient of Outstanding Leadership “People Who Care” award from San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and Commission on Disabilities. Addressed capital needs including pavement management utilizing gas tax COPs.
Other Positions Held Before 1997:
- CITY MANAGER MALIBU, CA 1993-1997
- CITY MANAGER AGOURA HILLS, CA 1987-1993
- ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, ALHAMBRA, CA 1981-1987
Education, Professional Activities, Publications & Awards
- University of Southern California B.S. Public Affairs, Public Administration focus. Specialization in
Urban & Regional Planning with a Certificate in Environmental Studies - USC City Management Foundation Board of Advisors
- Full member of International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
- Recipient of Outstanding Leadership “People Who Care” award from San Mateo County Board of
Supervisors and Commission on Disabilities for eminent domain acquisition of a senior citizen
complex. - Recipient of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Associations 2010 Best Restored Beach
award for beach restoration project in cooperation with Army Corps of Engineers. - Authored article for Public CEO, California’s Top News For Local Government Leaders Commentary: Sanctuary Cities are a Good Idea – Here’s Why – PublicCEO