The only agenda item will be a public employment matter concerning embattled City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe, the South Pasadena reported. 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 + 4, Faith Fernandez, Chief Administrative Officer | ffernandez@pasadenanowmagazine.com (626)737-8486 Ext. Paul Riddle has been serving as the Acting City Manager. The South Pasadena City Council on Wednesday is set to vote on the appointment of Christopher A. Jordan as the new City Manager. Her starting annual . South Pasadena, CA 91030 . Special Projects . 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 achieved her dream of becoming a city manager in May when she was named to that position in South Pasadena. 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. Click for Directory. We know that Armin is very familiar with our city and looks forward to putting her energy and talent to good use in South Pasadena. Ms. Chaparyan has 15 years of local government experience, most recently serving as assistant city manager of San Gabriel. 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. The proposal drew flak from some residents who felt the councils deliberations should have been done publicly to address Jordans sudden resignations from city manager roles in Los Altos and in West Linn, Oregon. Zillow has 9796 homes for sale. They are also first-generation immigrants on Armin Chaparyan, Deputy City Manager Understanding that no one serves as a city manager for fourteen years without accumulating some controversies, and understanding that city managers are sometimes fired for political reasons and personality conflicts that dont reflect poorly on them when fully understood, Chris Jordan has been fired twice or invited to resign twice as a city manager, following some apparently serious controversies that are easy to find with a five-minute Google search, Bray wrote in a letter to the council. 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. We are excited to welcome Armin as our new City Manager. Domenica Megerdichian has worked for four Los Angeles-area municipalities. The City Manager is appointed by the Council to oversee the activities of the city. 8 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. The City Council wishes her the best in the next chapter of her life, said South Pasadena Mayor Bob Joe. 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. Fax:(626) 403-7211 M-Th 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, 1414 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030 | P:(626) 403-7200 | Contact Us. 7, Candice Merrill, Co-Publisher | editor@pasadenanowmagazine.com Our News Desk department consists of a collective of news gatherers in order to keep the community informed and safe. Its very interesting. The City is soliciting bids for city attorney services! 8 The City Council has an ambitious agenda for addressing making South Pasadena even more special than it already is. 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. 7 801, Andr Coleman, Managing Editor | andrec@pasadenanowmagazine.com She also previously worked for the City of Santa Clarita as a Redevelopment Manager and a Senior Project Manager for the City of Ontario. Our opinion section is open to all. He served as city attorney for the City of Vernon as a part of the Citys good governance initiative reform efforts. Required fields are marked *. 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. Under the direction of the City Manager, oversees and provides a variety of administrative and support . (626)737-8486 Ext. 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. We look forward to working with Armin to advance infrastructure projects and services that improve the quality of life of every South Pasadenan. But by then, the city was already falling behind not only in cleaning up the financial morass, but in the preparation of the citys annual audit and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.. Deputy City Manager at City of South Pasadena 1w Report this post Report Report. Betta said he did not seek to contact Shea because it would be a violation of Shea's "professional privacy." 82, Jeff Vaughn, Sales Manager | jvaughn@pasadenanowmagazine.com Before that, she served as a redevelopment manager in Santa Clarita and as an senior project manager in Ontario, according to her LinkedIn. 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. Which Bands Will March in the 2024 Rose Parade? This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Your email address will not be published. He and his wife, Cathy, have twin daughters, Olivia and Sofia, age nine. 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. When African Royalty Visited South Pasadena, Artists to Unveil Collaborative Mural During ArtNight Pasadena. 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. City of South Pasadena. Email: City Clerk in 2018, Armin Chaparyan was appointed as the new Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director for the City of San Gabriel. 100 N Garfield Ave. ,Room S228 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. (626)737-8486 Ext. Pasadena City Council have welcomed former Justice Miguel Mrquez as the next city manager. 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. Pasadena (/ p s d i n / PAS--DEE-n) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, 11 miles (18 km) northeast of downtown Los Angeles.It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. 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. Her starting annual salary is $215,000. Prior to joining the City of South Pasadena, Gonzalez served for 13 years in the nonprofit management sector. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Public Administration Masters from the University of Southern California. Huh? (626)737-8486 Ext. The City Manager serves as the Chief Administrative Officer, ensuring that the policies of the Mayor and City Council are executed effectively and efficiently. The City is located near the neighboring cities of Pasadena, South Pasadena and Alhambra, with easy access to all of Southern California. 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! M - F 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. A full-service city, South Pasadena . 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. She will start her new position with South Pasadena on Monday, May 31, 2021. (310) 378-9116, Published on Sunday, September 13, 2020 | 4:45 pm. Copyright 2023 City of Pasadena - All Rights Reserved, Commissions and Committee Meetings Video Archive, Economic Development & Technology Committee. The Mayor is selected from the City Council members and serves a one-year term. . The City of South Pasadena is a general law city incorporated on March 2, 1888. In that position, she managed the citys Planning Division, where she oversaw zoning, design and historic preservation, and community planning. (626) 737-8486 Ext. News provided by the City Manager's Office The City Manager's Office has launched a Social Services Resource Guide, providing a list of providers and resources available for community members. 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. 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. 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. Click for Directory. 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. (626)737-8486 Ext. It is governed by the City Council/City Manager form of government. Following the community forum, its expected that an employment agreement will be presented for consideration at the regular May 5, 2021 City Council meeting. Pasadena Now | Terms of - Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection. Gonzalez replaces former City Manager Tom Bakaly, who resigned in August 2016 to become the Beach Cities Health Districts chief executive officer. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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.. 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. 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. 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. These formative experiences inspired Mrquezs commitment to public service. West Linn made national headlines in 2020 when the city agreed to pay $600,000 to settle a wrongful arrest lawsuit filed by a Black man arrested in 2017 by West Linn police as part of a scheme to discredit him and prevent him from suing his employer, the owner of a local tow company, for racial discrimination. 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. We look forward to working with Armine to advance infrastructure projects and services that improve the quality of life of every South Pasadenan. 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. Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m. City Manager's Office; Management Services; Community Services; Finance; Fire; Library; Community Development Department; Police ; Public Works; City Council Meetings. The City Manager is appointed by the Council to oversee the activities of the city. During his tenure in South Pasadena, the city significantly increased its financial reserves while also investing over $12 million on infrastructure. Hours of Operation: 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. Click here to join on Thursday, April 28, 2021, at 6:30 pm (registration is not required to participate in the live forum). During a closed session late Tuesday, the City Council voted unanimously not to move forward with the hire in light of expressed community opposition and concerns., The City Council is pleased that Mr. Jordan was one of two candidates that it considered capable of serving in the top administrative spot, a city press release stated. 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 . 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 City Manager also holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. The City Council narrowed the finalists to five, then two, before initially deciding to offer the job to Jordan, according to a staff report. It added amenities, including a new dog park, and improved its fire safety rating, resulting in lower insurance rates for residents and businesses. (626) 744-4333 | 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. Before that, DeWolfe had worked for the City of West Hollywood since Dec. 17, 2012, overseeing the citys planning and development staff. Coffee with the Chief. 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 . Interim South Pasadena City Manager Sean Joyce, one of the most highly regarded city managers in the State, wasn't fooled. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Please provide your name, phone number or email address. He is a self-identified technophile, data nerd and wannabe drone pilot. 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. To the best of CCMF's knowledge, Aram and Armin Chaparyan are the first brother-sister city manager pair in California history. The Human Resources Office is a Division of the Management Services Department, dedicated to responsible human resource management by: recruiting qualified individuals for a productive workplace; providing a safe work environment; maintaining equitable compensation systems; and committing to personal and professional development of the employees We are excited to welcome Armin as our new City Manager. 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. "Sergio's strong reputation. Mayor Diana Mahmud said: Appointment of a City Manager is the most important decision the City Council will make. 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. We are excited to welcome Armine as our new City Manager," said Mayor Diana Mahmud. Real Estate: Hot Properties & Latest Listings, NEW! Your email address will not be published. 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. Contact Form, Hours of Operation: Colorado Boulevard is your place for informative news and social living for the greater Pasadena area. 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. 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. 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 of South Pasadena . (626) 737-8486 Ext. She will start her new position with South Pasadena on Monday, May 31, 2021. In a statement,. 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. She will start her new position with South Pasadena on Monday, May 31, 2021. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. The city has not released the employment agreement with Chaparyan. Her starting annual salary is $215,000. The publication will remain free to readers and will not erect paywalls. 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. She was only in WEHO for five years of her 20+ year career. 2, David Cross | newsdesk@pasadenanowmagazine.com Management Services Department | South Pasadena, CA Home Go I Want To. Colorado Boulevard is your place for informative news and social living for the greater Pasadena area. Spanish was his first language, so programs like Head Start were critical to his early education. 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. The City Council has an ambitious agenda for making South Pasadena even more special than it already is. 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. 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. Mar. 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. In Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, San Marino, San Gabriel and Alhambra. 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. During her two-year, 10-month tenure, she replaced over a half dozen department heads and went through five finance directors, the newspaper reported. She grew up in the area and graduated from John Muir High School in Pasadena. 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. Your email address will not be published. Aram was appointed city manager of Torrance in October 2020, and Armin took South Pasadena's top administrative office in May 2021. DeWolfes resignation took effect on Sept. 12. The City of South Pasadena is a general law city incorporated on March 2, 1888. 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. (City of Pasadena/Submitted) H istory was made beneath the spires of city hall on July 11. 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. He began his public service career as a Deputy County Counsel in San Mateo County. South Pasadena's previous city manager, Stephanie DeWolfe, retired from the city in September. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); ColoradoBoulevard.net - By Coloradoblvd.net and WMF. (626)737-8486 Ext. We strive to inform, educate, and work together to make a better world for all of us, locally and globally.