City Managers
The City Managers Department provides networking opportunities and fosters professional development for department members through the Cal Cities' educational and communication tools. It also serves as a technical and advisory resource to Cal Cities through its policy committee representatives.
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Made up of city managers from across the state, the City Managers Department:
- Promotes the purposes and goals established in the League of California Cities Constitution and Bylaws.
- Serves as a technical and advisory Department to Cal Cities.
- Strives for the continued acceptance and advancement of city management through professional accomplishment and ethical standards as embodied in the International City/ Management Association Code of Ethics.
- Seeks the personal development and enrichment of its members through the promotion and conduct of conferences, seminars, and related training or communication methods.
- Represents the ICMA as their official statewide organization unit and maintains a working relationship with ICMA.
2022-2023 Department Officers
- President – Justin Hess, City Manager, Burbank
- President-Elect – Karen Pinkos, City Manager, El Cerrito
- Vice President – Thaddeus McCormack, City Manager, Lakewood
- Immediate Past President – John Gillison, City Manager, Rancho Cucamonga
- Department Director – Jim Lewis, City Manager, Pismo Beach
At-Large Representatives
- Southern CA under 100,000 Population – Jennifer Cervantez, City Manager, Rancho Santa Margarita
- Southern CA over 100,000 Population – Sean McGlynn, City Manager, Escondido
- Northern CA under 100,000 Population – Jessica Deakyne, Assistant City Manager, Novato
- Northern CA over 100,000 Population – Kelly McAdoo, City Manager, Hayward
Appointed by the department president, each department has at least one representative on each of Cal Cities' standing seven policy committees that can provide technical information to the committee as a whole to ensure that the department has a voice in the decision-making process, and make recommendations to the board of directors on legislative and policy issues.
2023 Policy Committee Representatives
- Community Services – Nat Rojanasathira, Assistant City Manager, Monterey
- Environmental Quality – Niroop Srivatsa, City Manager, Lafayette
- Governance, Transparency and Labor Relations – Reina Schwartz, City Manager, Clayton
- Housing, Community and Economic Development – Thaddeus McCormack, City Manager, Lakewood
- Public Safety – Karen Pikos, City Manager, El Cerrito
- Revenue and Taxation – David Gassaway, Interim City Manager, Fairfield
- Transportation, Communication and Public Works – Dennis Wilberg, City Manager, Mission Viejo
For more information about the appointment process, please contact Meg Desmond.
Appointed by the department president, each department has at least one representative on each of Cal Cities' standing seven committees that can provide technical information to the committee as a whole to ensure that the department has a voice in the decision-making process, and make recommendations to the board of directors on legislative and policy issues.
- Community Services – Nat Rojanasathira, Assistant City Manager, Monterey
- Environmental Quality – Niroop Srivatsa, City Manager, Lafayette
- Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations –
- Housing, Community, and Economic Development – Alex McIntyre, City Manager, Ventura
- Public Safety – Sean McGlynn, City Manager Santa Rosa
- Revenue and Taxation – Eric Levitt, Simi Valley City Manager
- Transportation, Communication, and Public Works – Dennis Wilberg, City Manager, Mission Viejo
For more information about the appointment process, please contact Meg Desmond.
The following information is meant to assist the liaison in their role and serve as a resource to the Area Manager Groups. This section includes documents and information that represent best practices, useful tools, contact information, and more to strengthen and benefit the City Managers Department and Area Manager Group connection.
- Problems with mayors, council members, and department heads;
- Overall management situations and quandaries; and
- Other job-related concerns.
The Senior Advisor is a two-way communication channel to and from the League of California Cities and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). The program is designed to supplement, not to take the place of, normal regular contacts between city managers, Cal Cities, and ICMA. It is not intended to provide assistance to the practitioner in the more mundane aspects of his or her daily work; to provide, for instance, specific advice regarding particular legislative proposals, etc.
The City Managers Department of the League of California Cities is now accepting nominations for awards that will be presented at the City Managers Conference. Please submit your nominations no later than Wednesday, Dec. 7 by 5 p.m.
- The John H. Nail Award is presented to an outstanding municipal assistant who has contributed significantly to his or her city government and to the advancement of the community as a whole.
- The Wes McClure Award of Distinction honors a leader making a difference for the profession. It honors one city manager’s outstanding career service, leadership, ethics, expertise and innovation.
- The Award for the Advancement of Diverse Communities recognizes a city manager or assistant successful in promoting the advancement of diversity within the community and workplace by developing and implementing effective programs, policies and/or practices.
Please send completed forms to Meghan McKelvey at mmckelvey@calcities.org with the subject line “award nomination.”
- City Managers Department Bylaws
- City Managers Listserv
- Cal Cities Past City Manager Department Presidents
Upcoming Events
Contact Staff
Meghan McKelvey
Department and Member Services Manager
(916) 658-8253
Isaac Black
Administrative Associate, Member Services