City Managers

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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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Department Goals and Activities

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. 
Department Officers

2023-2024 Department Officers

  • President – Karen Pinkos, City Manager, El Cerrito 
  • President-Elect – Thaddeus McCormack, City Manager, Lakewood 
  • Vice President – Kelly McAdoo, City Administrator, Santa Barbara
  • Immediate Past President – Justin Hess, City Manager, Burbank 
  • Department Director – Jim Lewis, City Manager, Atascadero 

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 – Maraskeshia Smith, City Manager, Santa Rosa 
Policy Committee Representatives

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.

  • Community Services – Ken Domer, City Manager, La Verne  
  • Environmental Quality – Niroop Srivatsa, City Manager, Lafayette     
  • Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations – Elisa Cox , Assistant City Manager, Rancho Cucamonga
  • Housing, Community, and Economic Development – Thaddeus McCormack, City Manager, Lakewood
  • Public Safety – Gerry Beaudin, City Manager, Pleasanton         
  • Revenue and Taxation – Pamela Wu, City Manager, Cupertino   
  • Transportation, Communications, and Public Works – Dennis Wilberg, City Manager, Mission Viejo

For more information about the appointment process, please contact Meg Desmond.

Policy Committee Representatives

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.

City Manager Area Groups
Regional Area Manager Groups consist of city managers and assistants who meet or communicate routinely for professional, training, networking, and/or social purposes. In part, the Area Manager Groups are forums for detailed dialogue about statewide and regional issues that may or may not be on Cal Cities' agenda and affect cities, local control, local revenues, and governance. 

Each Area Manager Group chair or a designee of each Area Manager Group serves as a liaison between the City Managers Department Executive Board and Area Manager Group for policy matters of interest or importance to either Cal Cities or city managers. The liaison has a vote on the City Managers Department Executive Board and is expected to convey information between the state-wide and regional organization. 

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.

 

    Resources
    California's Senior Advisors 
    The Senior Advisor program (formerly called Range Riders) was first established in California in 1974. Its purpose was, and remains, to make the counsel, experience, and support of respected retired city managers available to active local government managers and administrators. The program is designed specifically to provide help to the practitioners with personal and professional problems and perplexing concerns that may be plaguing them. 

    All specific discussions taking place between the Senior Advisor and the city manager are in the strictest of confidence. The spectrum of topics for discussion may include such diverse issues as: 

    • Problems with mayors, council members, and department heads;  
    • Overall management situations and quandaries; and 
    • Other job-related concerns. 
    These dialogues may involve career development counseling, local controversies such as potential referenda on the council-manager plan, occupational hazards, career and lifestyle alternatives, or the uniqueness of just being the manager. In addition, the Senior Advisor serves as an important link between different manager groups in the region in which he or she serves. 

    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. 

    Department Awards

    The City Managers Department of the League of California Cities presented their awards at the City Managers Conference, Feb. 7-9, 2024. Click here to read more. 


    More information about the awards:

    • 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.”

    Scholarships
    The League of California Cities City Managers’ Department will provide a select number of scholarships to Masters of Public Administration graduate students in California who wish to attend the City Managers Conference held Feb. 7-9 in Los Angeles. The scholarship will cover the cost of the full conference registration. Apply here.
    Useful Links

    Street Vending Roundtable

    August 11, 2021 1:30 PM-2:30 PM

    Roundtable

    Register Now

    In 2018, the Governor signed Senate Bill 946 (Lara), which decriminalized street vending throughout California.  Join us for a roundtable to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with street vending.  Cities from around the state will provide updates and insight on how their city is addressing this economic activity. Join us on August 11 at 1:30 p.m. for this informative roundtable.

    Current conversation topics include, but are not limited to:

    • The effect of street vending on right-of-way
    • Regulations or procedures cities have used to manage street vending
    • What is and is not working with street vending

    Roundtable conversations are member-driven. If you have another topic related to street vending you’d like to discuss, let us know.

    Roundtable Discussions are available as an exclusive member benefit and are open to Cal Cities member cities only. Discussions are member-driven and will not be recorded. For more information on Roundtable Discussions, please email Meghan McKelvey. For questions specific to registration, please contact Cal Cities’ Registrar, Megan Dunn.







    Contact Staff

    McKelvey, Meghan
    Meghan McKelvey
    Department and Member Services Senior Manager
    (916) 658-8253


    Isaac Black
    Administrative Associate, Member Services

    Advocacy Tools

    Cal Cities provides up-to-date information about the legislative process, lobbying, and which bills are scheduled for hearings. Hone your advocacy skills by diving into our Advocacy Tools.