He and his wife, Cathy, have twin daughters, Olivia and Sofia, age nine. Beyond the budget in any municipality, its helpful to keep an eye on the Demand Register, published as part of the City CouncilAgenda which actually shows where the $$$$s are going. Stephanie DeWolfe, the former Community Development Director for the City of West Hollywood, has been pushed out of her job as South Pasadena's city manager. It received several honors, including recognition for being an energy-wise, environmentally sensitive and walkable city. DeWolfe was criticized by former South PasadenaFinance Director Josh Betta, who released a reportsaying the citys proposed 2020-21 budget figures were blatantly false. The South Pasadena reports that finance professionals Stephen and Sheila Rossi said they had identified millions of dollars in discrepanciesbetween the proposed budget Aceves got approved by the citys finance commission and the one she submitted for approval by the City Council. With benefit of the insights of four community focus groups of 31 South Pasadena community leaders, each describing the ideal qualities they wish to see in the next city manager, the City Council retained executive recruiter Gary Phillips, of Bob Murray & Associates to undertake a national recruitment to gather qualified candidates to fill the citys vacant city manager position. The City Council has an ambitious agenda for making South Pasadena even more special than it already is. Management Services Department | South Pasadena, CA Sergios strong reputation became known to us during our search, and we expect he will enjoy even more success in Hermosa Beach, said Hermosa Beach Mayor Justin Massey. South Pasadena City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe announced Sunday she has retired from her position as City Manager, as of Saturday, September 12, according to a statement from the city. Gonzalez replaces former City Manager Tom Bakaly, who resigned in August 2016 to become the Beach Cities Health Districts chief executive officer. We strive to inform, educate, and work together to make a better world for all of us, locally and globally. Phone:(626) 403-7230 Interim South Pasadena City Manager Sean Joyce, one of the most highly regarded city managers in the State, wasn't fooled. Your email address will not be published. Huh? Events. We look forward to working with Armin to advance infrastructure projects and services that improve the quality of life of every South Pasadenan. South Pasadena withdraws job offer to former Los Altos city manager Ms. Chaparyan has worked for the cities of Ontario, and Santa Clarita. Bob Murray & Associates, the Roseville consulting firm the town hired to help identify retiring City Manager Carl Cahill's replacement, is the same firm that helped the South Pasadena City Council select former Los Altos City Manager Chris Jordan for its own vacant city manager post. In November 2020, Jordan and Los Altos entered into a settlement agreement wherein he agreed to step down and waive his right to sue in exchange for $183,821, or nine months of severance, three months more than required by his contract, according to the agreement. Its very interesting. These formative experiences inspired Mrquezs commitment to public service. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. The contract included $20,000 for relocation and 160 hours of vacation time per year. Under the direction of the City Manager, oversees and provides a variety of administrative and support . Her starting annual salary is $215,000. Meet the New South Pasadena City Manager | ColoradoBoulevard.net The City Manager is appointed by the Council to oversee the activities of the city. 4, Faith Fernandez, Chief Administrative Officer | ffernandez@pasadenanowmagazine.com document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Please provide your name, phone number or email address. (City of Pasadena/Submitted) H istory was made beneath the spires of city hall on July 11. Mrquez has also worked for two private law firms (Cooley Godward LLP and Remcho, Johansen & Purcell), and as a management consultant at KPMG Peat Marwick, where he was part of a national financial and organizational consulting practice. Domenica K. Megerdichian, MPA, MURP on LinkedIn: The City is soliciting The City Manager serves as the Chief Administrative Officer, ensuring that the policies of the Mayor and City Council are executed effectively and efficiently. DeWolfe served the City as its City Manager from November 6, 2017 until last Friday, the statement said. She grew up in the area and graduated from John Muir High School in Pasadena. But especially controversial was DeWolfes handling of what she had described as inappropriate accounting practices by the citys Finance Department. We are excited to welcome Armine as our new City Manager, said Mayor Diana Mahmud. Following a national search, the City of Hermosa Beach announced today that South Pasadena City Manager Sergio Gonzalez will be Hermosa Beach's new city manager. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. The virtual forum with Chaparyan will be from 6:30-8 p.m., Wednesday, April 28. Domenica Megerdichian has worked for four Los Angeles-area municipalities. If you want to hire him as city manager here, you should say why youre comfortable with his tenure in other cities, and why youve decided not to hold those previous controversies against him, Bray wrote. Click for Directory. South Pasadena City Manager Sergio Gonzalez to be Hermosa Beach City Trackdown Management's Picking Up the Pieces - PublicCEO Jordan had controversial tenures in Los Altos and West Linn, Ore., prior to applying for the South Pasadena position. Zillow has 9796 homes for sale. A native of Sacramento, Mrquez received his law degree from UC Berkeley Law School, his masters degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and his bachelor's degree in public policy from Stanford University. Colorado Boulevard is your place for informative news and social living for the greater Pasadena area. Pasadena Now | Terms of - Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection. Following a national search, the City of Hermosa Beach announced today that South Pasadena City Manager Sergio Gonzalez will be Hermosa Beachs new city manager. It added amenities, including a new dog park, and improved its fire safety rating, resulting in lower insurance rates for residents and businesses. Paul Riddle has been serving as the Acting City Manager. (626)737-8486 Ext. Many. See All News. He had previously left West Linn in 2015 under similar circumstances, collecting $141,652 in severance in exchange for an early exit following a shift in the council, according to the Palo Alto Daily Post and The Oregonian. It is governed by the City Council/City Manager form of government. Gonzalezs annual salary will be $219,000. Community input was a key feature of the recruitment process, which included 4 stakeholder panels consisting of more than 30 residents, former elected officials, business and community leaders. She had been on staff at the City of Pasadena since 1990 in various roles including Acting Assistant City Manager, where she worked with the City Manager on policy issues and management of the City Council. Gonzalez will also be responsible for implementing and enforcing city policies and ordinances, and he will help the city complete and implement PLAN Hermosa, an update of Hermosas general plan and adoption of a local coastal program. The city has not released the employment agreement with Chaparyan. A South Pasadena city councilwoman apologized Saturday, Aug.15, for making fake email accounts to attack her critics and then announced she will step down Aug. 18. Our opinion section is open to all. Prior to this role, she served as the Economic Development Manager at the City of San Gabriel, where she helped stabilize and grow the local economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. She will start her new position with South Pasadena on Monday, May 31, 2021. 82, Jeff Vaughn, Sales Manager | jvaughn@pasadenanowmagazine.com The new leading candidate for the South Pasadena City Manager position is Armin Chaparyan, the Assistant City Manager and Community Development Director for the City of San Gabriel. The City Council narrowed the finalists to five, then two, before initially deciding to offer the job to Jordan, according to a staff report. City's New Finance Director - South Pasadena News Miguel Mrquez, City Manager Miguel Mrquez, City Manager Before joining the City of Pasadena in 2022, Miguel Mrquez served as the Chief Operating Officer of the County of Santa Clara, responsible for all operations of the county, the largest in Northern California. He began his public service career as a Deputy County Counsel in San Mateo County. She was only in WEHO for five years of her 20+ year career. Raised in Ohio, Jason began his career at a suburban daily near Cleveland before moving to California in 2013. South Pasadena, having rescinded its initial job offer to a prospective city manager after community pushback, will host a virtual public forum April 28 to introduce the City Councils new pick for the position. The. (626)737-8486 Ext. 7 8, Eddie Rivera | erivera@pasadenanowmagazine.com Aceves, who'd been serving as one of the City's two acting financing directors, has been with South Pasadena since January 2017. Pasadena, California - Wikipedia Though council members did not give a reason for the resignation, Jordan had clashed with them in the past, including in one instance in which he defied a 4-1 decision by the council to relocate its meetings. Subscribe to our feeds to get the latest headlines, summaries and links back to full articles formatted for your favorite feed reader and updated throughout the day. DeWolfe had drawn her own controversies over her management of the city, according to the. Management Services Department | South Pasadena, CA Home Go I Want To. Ms. Chaparyan has 15 years of local government experience, most recently serving as assistant city manager of San Gabriel. South Pasadena Names Armine Chaparyan City Manager City of South Pasadena Launches Social Services Resource Guide CITY OF PASADENA CITY MANAGER Section 10 - Page 1. The City Council wishes her the best in the next chapter of her life, said South Pasadena Mayor Bob Joe. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds offer another way to get Pasadena Now content. Specific areas of responsibility include oversight of eight operating departments, public information and community engagement, legislative affairs, economic development, following up on citizen concerns, providing recommendations to promote organizational efficiency and overseeing the development and presentation of the annual budget. These men are stepping up, Appeals court ruling in Lunada Bay Boys case could make cities liable for surf localism, New report says deputy gangs thrive in LA County Sheriffs Department, Gracie Abrams behind Good Riddance message in Los Angeles sky, Pasadena teacher accused of sexually assaulting student, sending her child porn, Tax filing deadline moves to mid-October for most Californians, Alpine Village shopkeepers get confirmation: theyre being evicted, California weighs $360,000 in reparations to eligible Black residents, Pasadena to terminate local COVID-19 orders this month, Fannie Mae halts financing for 6,102 condos in Laguna Woods, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies at 61, Ex-sheriffs deputy gets 100 hours of community service for shooting hoax, 6 suspects wanted for holding up armored cars for $550,000-plus in Hawthorne, LA and Inglewood, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. M - F 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. Following candidate screening, and two rounds of City Council interviews, and a well-received April 28 virtual community forum with the final candidate, the City Council has unanimously appointed Armin Chaparyanto the Citys top administrative post. South Pasadena to introduce city manager candidate to public In 2008, Jordan received a 100-page confidential report detailing a series of allegations of racism and sexism against Timeus, but took no action against the chief, according to the Portland Tribune and the Oregonian. (626)737-8486 Ext. South Pasadena New City Manager Search | Prospective Candidate Has Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m. The council was set to offer Jordan a four-year, $225,000 contract at its April 21 meeting before the decision was made not to move forward with his hiring. City of South Pasadena . The council planned to appoint Christopher Jordan, the former city manager of Los Altos, to a four-year, $225,000 annual contract at its regular meeting Wednesday, April 21. Learn how your comment data is processed. South Pasadena City Manager DeWolfe Steps Down Op-Ed | Is South Pasadena's City Council Deliberately Deceiving the She had previously worked at Pasadena City Hall, at one point serving as Interim Assistant City Manager., according to her biography on the South Pasadena website. In a series of stories, the South Pasadena has described Wolfe as having become the focus of a raging controversy over her management of the city and especially its finances. May 2014 - Oct 20217 years 6 months. (626)737-8486 Ext. True to its motto "Pride in the Past, Faith in the Future", the City of Monterey Park, California (population approximately 60,500) is recognized as one of the best places to live in America. Our News Desk department consists of a collective of news gatherers in order to keep the community informed and safe. Council members expect to vote on an employment agreement with Armine Chaparyan, the current assistant city manager in San Gabriel, at their May 5 meeting, according to an announcement from the city. Deputy City Manager at City of South Pasadena 1w Report this post Report Report. Her starting annual . South Pasadenas previous city manager, Stephanie DeWolfe, retired from the city in September. Her starting annual salary is $215,000. Los Altos Hills residents question recruiter's track record He brings vitality, experience and a fresh perspective to Hermosa Beach at a time when the city is making decisions and plans that will chart the citys future.. Our News Desk department consists of a collective of news gatherers in order to keep the community informed and safe. These men are stepping up, Appeals court ruling in Lunada Bay Boys case could make cities liable for surf localism, New report says deputy gangs thrive in LA County Sheriffs Department, Gracie Abrams behind Good Riddance message in Los Angeles sky, Pasadena teacher accused of sexually assaulting student, sending her child porn, Tax filing deadline moves to mid-October for most Californians, Alpine Village shopkeepers get confirmation: theyre being evicted, California weighs $360,000 in reparations to eligible Black residents, Pasadena to terminate local COVID-19 orders this month, Fannie Mae halts financing for 6,102 condos in Laguna Woods, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies at 61, Ex-sheriffs deputy gets 100 hours of community service for shooting hoax, 6 suspects wanted for holding up armored cars for $550,000-plus in Hawthorne, LA and Inglewood, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. DeWolfe hired a consultant to reorganize the Finance Department and hired a new finance director, Karen Aceves. Required fields are marked *. According to the South Pasadenan, the newspaper that covers South Pasadena, DeWolfes resignation took effect the day before the 4 p.m closed session meeting that the Pasadena City Council had arranged for this past Sunday. The South Pasadena City Council has unanimously voted to hire Armine Chaparyan as city manager, officials announced Friday. 8 Following pushback from residents, the South Pasadena City Council decided late Tuesday to rescind a job offer to a city manager candidate with a rocky history at his last two employers. Coffee with the Chief. 801, Andr Coleman, Managing Editor | andrec@pasadenanowmagazine.com He served as city attorney for the City of Vernon as a part of the Citys good governance initiative reform efforts. Before being named Community Development Director for West Hollywood, DeWolfe had served as deputy director of the Planning & Community Development Department for the City of Pasadena. South Pasadena Public Library and The Music Center to Host Korean Classical Music and Dance Company Performance. | Privacy Policy, Deputy Director of Long-Range Planning County of Santa Barbara, Systems Network Administrator Lamont Public Utility District, Associate Civil Engineer Town of Atherton, Alameda County kicks off Womens History Month with the announcement of the 2023 Womens Hall of Fame inductees, Riverside City Council approves cannabis business ordinance, Lancaster and Palmdale join forces to end the opioid crisis, State law requires cities to adopt solar permitting platform, Trackdown Managements Picking Up the Pieces. South Pasadena, CA 91030 Email: City Clerk For Advertising, Call (626) 737-8486 Ext. Our opinion section is open to all. M-Th 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, 1414 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030 | P:(626) 403-7200 | Contact Us. The City Manager is appointed by the Council to oversee the activities of the city. City of South Pasadena. South Pasadena withdraws job offer to former, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), South Pasadena withdraws job offer to former Los Altos city manager, Baby girl Winter of Lake Arrowhead is born amid raging blizzard, Theres a dire need for male teachers of color. 100 N Garfield Ave. ,Room S228 Mr. Rodriguez received his bachelors degree as a College Scholar of the College of Arts and Sciences from Cornell University and his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley. The City of South Pasadena is a general law city incorporated on March 2, 1888. Breaking News Tips: (626) 737-8486 Extension 7 Sunset Magazine also named South Pasadena one of its Best Places to Live in the West. It is governed by the City Council/City Manager form of government. Click here to join on Thursday, April 28, 2021, at 6:30 pm (registration is not required to participate in the live forum). South Pasadena Unveils Online Guide for Social Services Which Includes Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. Pasadena Now strives to provide factual, unbiased reporting. His first day on the job is scheduled to be May 15. Ms. Chaparyan, a graduate of John Muir High School in Pasadena, holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from U.C.L.A and a Masters of Public Administration from U.S.C. They are also first-generation immigrants on Sean served as the South Pasadena City Manager from 1996 to 2004 before heading to Irvine. Pasadena, CA 91101 Pasadena Now | Terms of - Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection. The City Manager's Office in South Pasadena has introduced a Social Services Resource Guide, which includes a list of providers and resources that can be utilized by community members. The statement said that effective immediately Fire Chief Paul Riddle will assume the role of Acting City Manager., At the direction of the South Pasadena City Council, Acting City Manager Fire Chief Riddle will continue to lead the remaining COVID-19 response and begin taking the action necessary to safely move our community forward.. E-mail press release to : editor@pasadenanow.com 8 . While the City of South Pasadena is not a direct Social Service provider, City staff has established a Social Services Task Force to bring together the The city announced the resignation only a half hour after its closed special meeting and said that Fire Chief Paul Riddle would assume the role of Acting City Manager. She also previously worked for the City of Santa Clarita as a Redevelopment Manager and a Senior Project Manager for the City of Ontario. Fax press release to : (888) 650-9712, James Macpherson, Co-Publisher | jamesm@pasadenanowmagazine.com Your email address will not be published. Profiles in Management: Aram and Armin Chaparyan | California City She will start her new position with South Pasadena on Monday, May 31, 2021. Registration is not required, but those interested in hearing from the candidate on specific topic areas are asked to email their questions in advance to cmoffice@southpasadeanaca.gov. Pasadena has found a new city manager after tapping Miguel Mrquez from his current post as chief operating officer of the county of Santa Clara. The City Manager also holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. The Office of the City Manager provides oversight and direction to ensure that all departments are responding to City Council goals, applying policy consistently, identifying key issues that need Council direction, keeping abreast of the changing needs of the community, and planning the services, programs and projects that will ensure Pasadena maintains its status and character as a great community in which to live, work and play. South Pasadena will begin the recruitment process, which usually takes several months, for a new City Manager, and will likely appoint an interim city manager during the recruitment process so that the Fire Chief can return his full attention to his critically important duties. (626)737-8486 Ext. When African Royalty Visited South Pasadena, Artists to Unveil Collaborative Mural During ArtNight Pasadena. City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe on Feb. 27 announced the appointment of Karen Aceves as South Pasadena's new finance director. An unsolicited May 2020 report by the now retired Betta critiquing the city's finance practices opened a chain of events that help lead to the Sept. 12 departure of DeWolfe.. Also Wednesday, the City Council is set to authorize interim City Manager and Fire Chief Paul Riddle to seek . Former Los Altos city manager out of running for new post We strive to inform, educate, and work together to make a better world for all of us, locally and globally. Four focus groups, made up of a total of 31 residents, offered input on the qualifications, experiences and qualities necessary for the ideal candidate for the next South Pasadena City Manager.. Jason Henry is an investigative reporter with the Southern California News Group. South Pasadena farmers market is open Thursdays, 4, Local High Schools Ranking According to U.S. News Report. The council was scheduled to approve his appointment at its meeting the following day. Your email address will not be published. After returning to the City of Pasadena, Mr. Rodriguez handled special assignments with the City Attorneys Office and as a special assistant to the city manager prior to his appointment as assistant city manager in 2016. (626)737-8486 Ext. A newsletter published by the Public Affairs Office. With benefit of the insights of four community focus groups of 31 South Pasadena community leaders, each describing the ideal qualities they wish to see in the next city manager, the City Council retained executive recruiter Mr. Gary Phillips, of Bob Murray & Associates to undertake a national recruitment to gather qualified candidates to fill the citys vacant city manager position. Breaking News Tips: (626) 737-8486 Extension 7 In a letter, Chris Bray, a South Pasadena resident and critic, said the council should have hosted an open community dialogue about the chosen candidate before placing his employment agreement on its agenda. In a statement, Mayor Diana Mahmud said the appointment of a city manager is the most important decision the City Council will make. The city received more than 50 applications for the position and ultimately narrowed the list to two: Christopher Jordan, a former Los Altos city manager, and Chaparyan. (626)737-8486 Ext. I look forward to tackling these new challenges, and I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with the Hermosa Beach City Council, city staff and community, said Gonzalez. Lucy Demirjian - Los Angeles County, California, United States City Manager's Office | South Pasadena, CA Your email address will not be published. We are excited to welcome Armin as our new City Manager. 7, Candice Merrill, Co-Publisher | editor@pasadenanowmagazine.com South Pasadena councilwoman resigns, apologizes for fake public The towing companys owner hatched a plan with his fishing buddy, Terry Timeus, who was the police chief of West Linn, to carry out the arrest, according to the Washington Post. Retired Irvine City Manager Sean Joyce, a former South Pasadena City Manager, has been serving as Interim City Manager, though his agreement expired March 31, 2021. Residents Businesses Visitors Government Departments - City Manager's Office + Management Services - City Clerk Human Resources Division Transportation Community Services + Finance + Fire + Library + Community Development Department + Police + Public Works + Following fervent objections from some South Pasadena . Her starting annual salary is $215,000. Proposed South Pasadena Budget "Astonishingly Incomplete," Ex Finance in 2018, Armin Chaparyan was appointed as the new Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director for the City of San Gabriel. Tamara worked to create Sundown Town Resolution 7750 adopted February 2, 2022 Condemning the Citys History as a Sundown Town and Past Practices of Institutionalized Racism, and was awarded Housing Rights Center - Fair Advocacy Award for the City of South Pasadena in April of 2022. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1977, and worked as an attorney for both El Centro De Accion Social, Inc., and Gronemeier, Barker & Huerta before joining the Pasadena City Attorneys Office.