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. 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. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds offer another way to get Pasadena Now content. 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. Required fields are marked *. (626)737-8486 Ext. Finance Director Josh Betta, who released a report. South Pasadena, having rescinded its initial job offer to a prospective city manager after community pushback, will host a virtual public forum April 28 to introduce the City Councils new pick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. 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. Which Bands Will March in the 2024 Rose Parade? In a statement,. Her starting annual salary is $215,000. 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.. We strive to inform, educate, and work together to make a better world for all of us, locally and globally. 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. Margaret Lin - Senior Project Manager - Impact Sciences - LinkedIn In Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, San Marino, San Gabriel and Alhambra. South Pasadena New City Manager Search | Prospective Candidate Has . In light of the backlash, the council pledged to do an additional background check on the next candidate. City Manager's Office | South Pasadena, CA 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. 8, Eddie Rivera | erivera@pasadenanowmagazine.com He served as city attorney for the City of Vernon as a part of the Citys good governance initiative reform efforts. It will be broadcast live via Zoom on the City Councils meeting website. As the Assistant to the City Manager, Tamara serves as the Citys Social Services liaison, and leads the City Social Services and Mental Health Task Force. 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. Fax:(626) 403-7211 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. We are excited to welcome Armin as our new City Manager. Functional areas within the Management Services Department are: InformationTechnology, Grants Management and Special Projects, Human Resources Management, Recruitment, Employee Training, RiskManagement and Labor Relations, Records Management, Elections, Boards, Commissions, and City CouncilSupport, Audio and Visual Support, City Hall 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. Fax press release to : (888) 650-9712, James Macpherson, Co-Publisher | jamesm@pasadenanowmagazine.com His first day on the job is scheduled to be May 15. Jordan, the former Los Altos city manager, confirmed April 21 he was out of the running in an email response to the Town Crier. Ms. Chaparyan has 15 years of local government experience, most recently serving as assistant city manager of San Gabriel. He began his public service career as a Deputy County Counsel in San Mateo County. For Advertising, Call (626) 737-8486 Ext. 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. 7 He declared upon taking office that he had "more questions than answers, such as what is the current cash position of the City and are all funds accounted for." South Pasadena councilwoman resigns, apologizes for fake public 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. Gonzalezs annual salary will be $219,000. Our opinion section is open to all. DeWolfe had drawn her own controversies over her management of the city, according to the. Following fervent objections from some South Pasadena . Our News Desk department consists of a collective of news gatherers in order to keep the community informed and safe. 82, Jeff Vaughn, Sales Manager | jvaughn@pasadenanowmagazine.com Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. 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. It is governed by the City Council/City Manager form of government. The City is located near the neighboring cities of Pasadena, South Pasadena and Alhambra, with easy access to all of Southern California. Which Bands Will March in the 2024 Rose Parade? 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. At the forum, Chaparyan will present her experience and interest in serving in the citys top administrative post.. Before that, she served as a redevelopment manager in Santa Clarita and as an senior project manager in Ontario, according to her LinkedIn. Raised in Ohio, Jason began his career at a suburban daily near Cleveland before moving to California in 2013. E-mail press release to : editor@pasadenanow.com Your email address will not be published. The city has not released the employment agreement with Chaparyan. 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. 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. 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. Ms. Chaparyan has worked for the cities of Ontario, and Santa Clarita. (626)737-8486 Ext. 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. The South Pasadena City Council on Wednesday is set to vote on the appointment of Christopher A. Jordan as the new City Manager. The council was scheduled to approve his appointment at its meeting the following day. 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. 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. She has led the City in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, and has brought the organization to new heights during her time in South Pasadena. 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. The City Council wishes her the best in the next chapter of her life, said South Pasadena Mayor Bob Joe. South Pasadena withdraws job offer to former Los Altos city manager 7, Candice Merrill, Co-Publisher | editor@pasadenanowmagazine.com 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. Click for Directory. Your email address will not be published. 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. Hours of Operation: 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. By News Desk The South Pasadena community is invited to meet Ms. Chaparyan during the virtual forum as she presents her experience and interest in serving in the City's top . May 2014 - Oct 20217 years 6 months. Email: City Clerk The City Council has an ambitious agenda for making South Pasadena even more special than it already is. 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. 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. Parents Panos and Endza brought 9-year-old Chaparyan, her 11-year-old brother Aram and 4-year-old brother Arman to the United States from Armenia in 1987 a time of political unrest in that country, which was a republic under . 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. We are excited to welcome Armin as our new City Manager. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Please provide your name, phone number or email address. M - F 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. During a roughly three-year period, she went through five finance directors and replaced more than six department heads, the newspaper reported. During his tenure in South Pasadena, Joyce hired Josh Betta to be the city's Finance Director at that time. Spanish was his first language, so programs like Head Start were critical to his early education. (626) 737-8486 Ext. Trackdown Management's Picking Up the Pieces - PublicCEO 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. 1414 Mission Street 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. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds offer another way to get Pasadena Now content. But especially controversial was DeWolfes handling of what she had described as inappropriate accounting practices by the citys Finance Department. 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. 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. Chaparyan Traveled a Long Way to Serve the City | South Pasadena Review Before . (626)737-8486 Ext. South Pasadena's previous city manager, Stephanie DeWolfe, retired from the city in September. City Manager's Office; Management Services; Community Services; Finance; Fire; Library; Community Development Department; Police ; Public Works; City Council Meetings. Colorado Boulevard is your place for informative news and social living for the greater Pasadena area. DeWolfes resignation took effect on Sept. 12. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. South Pasadena to introduce city manager candidate to public Armine Chaparyan, who serves as assistant city manager in San Gabriel, originally was runner-up to the City Council's top pick. Her starting annual salary is $215,000. Retired Santa Monica City Manager John Jalili has been serving as interim city manager since October. During his tenure in South Pasadena, the city significantly increased its financial reserves while also investing over $12 million on infrastructure. 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.. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. 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. When African Royalty Visited South Pasadena, Artists to Unveil Collaborative Mural During ArtNight Pasadena. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. 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. 801, Andr Coleman, Managing Editor | andrec@pasadenanowmagazine.com We are excited to welcome Armine as our new City Manager," said Mayor Diana Mahmud. There will be an opportunity for questions at the end of the forum, time permitting. (626)737-8486 Ext. She will start her new position with South Pasadena on Monday, May 31, 2021. Jordan had controversial tenures in Los Altos and West Linn, Ore., prior to applying for the South Pasadena position. The City is soliciting bids for city attorney services! City of South Pasadena. Before that, DeWolfe had worked for the City of West Hollywood since Dec. 17, 2012, overseeing the citys planning and development staff. 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. A newsletter published by the Public Affairs Office. He is a self-identified technophile, data nerd and wannabe drone pilot. 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. The publication will remain free to readers and will not erect paywalls. 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. Deputy City Manager at City of South Pasadena 1w Report this post Report Report. Armin Chaparyan, Deputy City Manager 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.. DeWolfe hired a consultant to reorganize the Finance Department and hired a new finance director, Karen Aceves. Meet the New South Pasadena City Manager | ColoradoBoulevard.net 7, Candice Merrill, Co-Publisher | editor@pasadenanowmagazine.com 82, Jeff Vaughn, Sales Manager | jvaughn@pasadenanowmagazine.com The City Manager serves as the Chief Administrative Officer, ensuring that the policies of the Mayor and City Council are executed effectively and efficiently. We strive to inform, educate, and work together to make a better world for all of us, locally and globally. 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. Email:CM Office Tamara Binns has over 15 years of government service, including local and federal, with a background in Bio-Medical Engineering. 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. E-mail press release to : editor@pasadenanow.com Breaking News Tips: (626) 737-8486 Extension 7 Profiles in Management: Aram and Armin Chaparyan | California City 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.