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. The South Pasadena City Council had selected Jordan as its top candidate to fill the city manager's job and "was prepared to appoint and enter into an agreement" with him at its Wednesday. He is a self-identified technophile, data nerd and wannabe drone pilot. 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. Jordan was West Linns city manager when Timeus, who had worked with Jordan in a prior city, was hired as the police chief. 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. Stephanie DeWolfe, the former Community Development Director for the City of West Hollywood, has been pushed out of her job as South Pasadenas city manager. South Pasadena, having rescinded its initial job offer to a prospective city manager after community pushback, will host a virtual public forum April 28 to introduce the City Councils new pick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. Under the direction of the City Manager, oversees and provides a variety of administrative and support . Click for Directory. The Mayor is selected from the City Council members and serves a one-year term. E-mail press release to : editor@pasadenanow.com We look forward to working with Armin to advance infrastructure projects and services that improve the quality of life of every South Pasadenan. It states staff will conduct an additional background check of that applicant and negotiate an employment agreement before bringing the matter back to the council at an upcoming regular meeting of the City Council., During its search, South Pasadena received more than 50 applications for the job. (626)737-8486 Ext. Others sent emails and called city council members about their concerns with the hiring. 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. We strive to inform, educate, and work together to make a better world for all of us, locally and globally. (626)737-8486 Ext. . She analyzes the impacts of federal, state and county legislation, monitors laws and regulations as they relate to municipal government, and updates the 5 year Strategic Plan. The City Council will not consider approval of an employment agreement with Mr. Jordan and will now direct its attention toward the other candidate., The press release does not identify the second candidate. 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. Colorado Boulevard is your place for informative news and social living for the greater Pasadena area. 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. 2, David Cross | newsdesk@pasadenanowmagazine.com The City is soliciting bids for city attorney services! Domenica brings a dynamic, proactive, team-oriented and solutions based approach to her work and to the agency. The City Manager is appointed by the Council to oversee the activities of the city. | 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. Fax press release to : (888) 650-9712, James Macpherson, Co-Publisher | jamesm@pasadenanowmagazine.com The only agenda item will be a public employment matter concerning embattled City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe, the South Pasadena reported. Domenica Megerdichian has worked for four Los Angeles-area municipalities. Retired Santa Monica City Manager John Jalili has been serving as interim city manager since October. Raised in Ohio, Jason began his career at a suburban daily near Cleveland before moving to California in 2013. 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. "Sergio's strong reputation. 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. 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. Hours of Operation: Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, Request a Public Accommodation for a City Event or Program, Fourth of July / Festival of Balloons Committee, Mobility and Transportation Infrastructure Commission, Natural Resources & Environmental Commission, Ad Hoc City Leased Recreational Facilities Committee, Community Improvement and Code Enforcement, Natural Resources and Environmental Agendas and Minutes, Planning Commission Agendas & Minutes (New), Public Safety Commission Agendas & Minutes, Public Works Commission Agendas & Minutes, 1414 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030. Would love your thoughts, please comment. The South Pasadena City Council on Wednesday is set to vote on the appointment of Christopher A. Jordan as the new City Manager. During his tenure in South Pasadena, the city significantly increased its financial reserves while also investing over $12 million on infrastructure. (310) 378-9116, Published on Saturday, April 8, 2017 | 1:33 pm. In his new role, Gonzalez will be responsible for the day-to-day administration of Hermosa Beachs city government, which includes the oversight of 145 fulltime employees and an annual budget of approximately $37.7 million. 8, Eddie Rivera | erivera@pasadenanowmagazine.com Interim South Pasadena City Manager Sean Joyce, one of the most highly regarded city managers in the State, wasn't fooled. Before that, she served as a redevelopment manager in Santa Clarita and as an senior project manager in Ontario, according to her LinkedIn. A press release from the City of South Pasadena that was released on Sunday said that DeWolfe had submitted her resignation from the position, which she assumed on Nov. 6, 2017. 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. 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. (626)737-8486 Ext. Prior to his role in Santa Clara, Mrquez served as an Associate Justice of the California Sixth District Court of Appeal, as the County Counsel for the County of Santa Clara, as the General Counsel of the San Francisco Unified School District, and as a Deputy City Attorney in the San Francisco City Attorneys Office. But the announcement of Jordans impending hire triggered immediate backlash from residents who questioned the candidates sudden resignations from his last two cities and the transparency of the selection process. . If you are also interested in hearing from the candidate on specific topic areas, you can send an email to cmoffice@southpasadenaca.gov. She was only in WEHO for five years of her 20+ year career. Its very interesting. Gonzalezs annual salary will be $219,000. Your email address will not be published. Jordan had left West Linn by the time the 2017 wrongful arrest occurred and Timeus retired that same year amid allegations of drunken driving. 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. 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. We are excited to welcome Armin as our new City Manager. Retired Irvine City Manager Sean Joyce, 57, has been appointed Interim City Manager in South Pasadena to replace City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe, who has purportedly retired following her dismissal. 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. 4, Faith Fernandez, Chief Administrative Officer | ffernandez@pasadenanowmagazine.com Management Services Department | South Pasadena, CA Home Go I Want To. Your email address will not be published. 7, Candice Merrill, Co-Publisher | editor@pasadenanowmagazine.com Her starting annual salary is $215,000. The publication will remain free to readers and will not erect paywalls. 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. During his tenure in South Pasadena, Joyce hired Josh Betta to be the city's Finance Director at that time. (626)737-8486 Ext. Many. Spanish was his first language, so programs like Head Start were critical to his early education. Prior to joining the City of South Pasadena, Gonzalez served for 13 years in the nonprofit management sector. 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 Armine Chaparyan to the Citys top administrative post. She grew up in the area and graduated from John Muir High School in Pasadena. Finance Director Josh Betta, who released a report. The City Council wishes her the best in the next chapter of her life, said South Pasadena Mayor Bob Joe. The proposal to hire Jordan, however, drew flak from some residents who felt the councils deliberations should have been done publicly to address Jordans sudden resignations in Los Altos and at a previous job as city manager of West Linn, Oregon. Betta said he did not seek to contact Shea because it would be a violation of Shea's "professional privacy." 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. (626)737-8486 Ext. Fax:(626) 403-7211 South Pasadena farmers market is open Thursdays, 4, Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director, South Pasadena City Council meeting webpage, South Pasadena City Manager Candidate Forum: Armin Chaparyan, L.A. County Walk-Ins Available at Vaccination Sites Through Monday, L.A. County: Use of J&J Vaccine to Resume. The contract included $20,000 for relocation and 160 hours of vacation time per year. 7 She will start her new position with South Pasadena on Monday, May 31, 2021. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. 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. 100 N Garfield Ave. ,Room S228 We know that Armine is very familiar with our city and looks forward to putting her energy and talent to good use in South Pasadena. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. City of South Pasadena. While working in the City Attorneys Office from 1989-2012, Mr. Rodriguez served as the lawyer for the Rose Bowl Operating Company and several City departments, eventually becoming the Citys chief assistant city attorney. The City Council consists of five members elected to four-year staggered terms of office. 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. The virtual meeting will be conducted over ZOOM and broadcast live on the South Pasadena City Council meeting webpage. Gonzalez has served as city manager, assistant city manager, community services director and in other positions for more than 14 years in South Pasadena, a city with a similar size population and city staff and government system. During her two-year, 10-month tenure, she replaced over a half dozen department heads and went through five finance directors, the newspaper reported. M-Th 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, 1414 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030 | P:(626) 403-7200 | Contact Us. 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 We are excited to welcome Armin as our new City Manager. M - F 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. (626) 737-8486 Ext. City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe on Feb. 27 announced the appointment of Karen Aceves as South Pasadena's new finance director. Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. 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.. Copyright 2023. 8 It is governed by the City Council/City Manager form of government. But especially controversial was DeWolfes handling of what she had described as inappropriate accounting practices by the citys Finance Department. Real Estate: Hot Properties & Latest Listings, NEW! She will start her new position with South Pasadena on Monday, May 31, 2021. The. Huh? 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. Gonzalez replaces former City Manager Tom Bakaly, who resigned in August 2016 to become the Beach Cities Health Districts chief executive officer. 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. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district.. Its population was 138,699 at the 2020 census, making it the 44th largest city in California and . After sifting through 35 applications, the South Pasadena City Council picked a new city manager Wednesday in part for her familiarity with this small, bucolic city as well as her 30. Her starting annual salary is $215,000. The virtual forum with Chaparyan will be from 6:30-8 p.m., Wednesday, April 28. 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. For Advertising, Call (626) 737-8486 Ext. The publication will remain free to readers and will not erect paywalls. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. 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. 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. Pasadena Now has been published daily since April, 2004 and is among the very oldest continuously operated community news websites in the U.S. Pasadena Now strives to publish a full spectrum of news and information articles in service to the entire community. (626)737-8486 Ext. DeWolfe served the City as its City Manager from November 6, 2017 until last Friday, the statement said. South Pasadenas City Council originally planned to hire Jordan, but backed down from the decision during a special meeting April 20 in light of some community opposition. During a roughly three-year period, she went through five finance directors and replaced more than six department heads, the newspaper reported. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from California State University at Los Angeles. A full-service city, South Pasadena . Special Projects . Mrquezs parents immigrated to the United States from Mxico with only a limited amount of formal education. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds offer another way to get Pasadena Now content. South Pasadena's previous city manager, Stephanie DeWolfe, retired from the city in September. Terry Shea, the city's auditor and a partner at Rogers, Anderson, Malody & Scott LLP ("RAMS"), which is in second of a three-year contract to supply South Pasadena's auditing services, did not return calls seeking comment. The City of South Pasadena is a general law city incorporated on March 2, 1888. Required fields are marked *, EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT | FOOD & DRINK | THE ARTS | REAL ESTATE | HOME & GARDEN | WELLNESS | SOCIAL SCENE | GETAWAYS | PARENTS & KIDS, HOME OF THE WEEK Open House Thursday: Beautiful John Bluff Built Home Located on Greenridge Drive in La Caada Flintridge, For Newsroom, Call (626) 737-8486 Ext. 801, Andr Coleman, Managing Editor | andrec@pasadenanowmagazine.com 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Jordan, who served a total of 15 years as city manager in two West Coast cities with populations similar to South Pasadena, will report to work May 10. City Manager's Office; Management Services; Community Services; Finance; Fire; Library; Community Development Department; Police ; Public Works; City Council Meetings. He began his public service career as a Deputy County Counsel in San Mateo County. The South Pasadena City Council will host a candidate forum on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm to introduce City Manager candidate Armin Chaparyan. 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.. Her starting annual salary is $215,000. The City of South Pasadena is a General Law City, incorporated March 2, 1888, operating under the Council-Manager form of govern-ment. 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. Chaparyan has 15 years of experience in municipal government and a masters degree in public administration from USC. Principal Management Analyst. To the best of CCMF's knowledge, Aram and Armin Chaparyan are the first brother-sister city manager pair in California history. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); ColoradoBoulevard.net - By Coloradoblvd.net and WMF. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Public Administration Masters from the University of Southern California. Raised in Ohio, Jason began his career at a suburban daily near Cleveland before moving to California in 2013. Pasadena Now strives to provide factual, unbiased reporting. We strive to inform, educate, and work together to make a better world for all of us, locally and globally. Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m. When African Royalty Visited South Pasadena, Artists to Unveil Collaborative Mural During ArtNight Pasadena. Our News Desk department consists of a collective of news gatherers in order to keep the community informed and safe. 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. Click for Directory. 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. Municipal politics, Bureaucracy and Corruption, No Way! In Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, San Marino, San Gabriel and Alhambra. Jason Henry is an investigative reporter with the Southern California News Group. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); ColoradoBoulevard.net - By Coloradoblvd.net and WMF. Jordan, the former Los Altos city manager, confirmed April 21 he was out of the running in an email response to the Town Crier. May 2014 - Oct 20217 years 6 months. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. He served as city attorney for the City of Vernon as a part of the Citys good governance initiative reform efforts. Mar. Breaking News Tips: (626) 737-8486 Extension 7 He serves on his alma maters Board of Trustees and is a member of the Municipal Management Association of Southern California and the International City/County Management Association. She also previously worked for the Cities of Glendale and West Hollywood in the City Clerk Elections and in City Council support roles while pursuing her graduate degrees. E-mail press release to : editor@pasadenanow.com document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Please provide your name, phone number or email address. Ms. Chaparyan has 15 years of local government experience, most recently serving as assistant city manager of San Gabriel.