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. 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. Copyright 2023 City of Pasadena - All Rights Reserved, Commissions and Committee Meetings Video Archive, Economic Development & Technology Committee. The city has not released the employment agreement with Chaparyan. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds offer another way to get Pasadena Now content. DeWolfe hired a consultant to reorganize the Finance Department and hired a new finance director, Karen Aceves. The towing companys owner hatched a plan with his fishing buddy, Terry Timeus, who was the police chief of West Linn, to carry out the arrest, according to the Washington Post. She grew up in the area and graduated from John Muir High School in Pasadena. 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. South Pasadena withdraws job offer to former Los Altos city manager 8 The contract included $20,000 for relocation and 160 hours of vacation time per year. 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. Deputy City Manager at City of South Pasadena 1w Report this post Report Report. It is governed by the City Council/City Manager form of government. 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 City Manager's Office | South Pasadena, CA Municipal politics, Bureaucracy and Corruption, No Way! Your email address will not be published. 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 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 Pasadena Now | Terms of - Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection. 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 only agenda item will be a public employment matter concerning embattled City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe, the South Pasadena reported. The Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday on the approval of Gonzalezs contract. 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. Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m. 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. Domenica K. Megerdichian, MPA, MURP on LinkedIn: The City is soliciting Colorado Boulevard is your place for informative news and social living for the greater Pasadena area. 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. Her starting annual salary is $215,000. The City is soliciting bids for city attorney services! City of South Pasadena Launches Social Services Resource Guide 4, Faith Fernandez, Chief Administrative Officer | ffernandez@pasadenanowmagazine.com South Pasadena to introduce city manager, 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 to introduce city manager candidate to public, Baby girl Winter of Lake Arrowhead is born amid raging blizzard, Theres a dire need for male teachers of color. (626)737-8486 Ext. 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. South Pasadena to introduce city manager candidate to public 2, David Cross | newsdesk@pasadenanowmagazine.com 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Please provide your name, phone number or email address. Pasadena Black History Month Magazine, Parents: National Catholic Schools Week Guide. 8, Eddie Rivera | erivera@pasadenanowmagazine.com She joined San Gabriel as its community development director in 2014. He and his wife, Cathy, have twin daughters, Olivia and Sofia, age nine. 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. Zillow has 9796 homes for sale. 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. West Linn police scandal follows former city manager to California 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. 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.. In Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, San Marino, San Gabriel and Alhambra. 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. 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 . Spanish was his first language, so programs like Head Start were critical to his early education. 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. 82, Jeff Vaughn, Sales Manager | jvaughn@pasadenanowmagazine.com Breaking News Tips: (626) 737-8486 Extension 7 Mar. The City Council narrowed the finalists to five, then two, before initially deciding to offer the job to Jordan, according to a staff report. Profiles in Management: Aram and Armin Chaparyan | California City He began his public service career as a Deputy County Counsel in San Mateo County. Email: City Clerk 04. Our News Desk department consists of a collective of news gatherers in order to keep the community informed and safe. The Mayor is selected from the City Council members and serves a one-year term. If you are also interested in hearing from the candidate on specific topic areas, you can send an email to cmoffice@southpasadenaca.gov. Mayor Diana Mahmud said: Appointment of a City Manager is the most important decision the City Council will make. 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. Sunset Magazine also named South Pasadena one of its Best Places to Live in the West. She will start her new position with South Pasadena on Monday, May 31, 2021. Events. South Pasadenas previous city manager, Stephanie DeWolfe, retired from the city in September. Fax press release to : (888) 650-9712, James Macpherson, Co-Publisher | jamesm@pasadenanowmagazine.com Chaparyan achieved her dream of becoming a city manager in May when she was named to that position in South Pasadena. Click for Directory. Others sent emails and called city council members about their concerns with the hiring. We are excited to welcome Armin as our new City Manager. Back Submit. Which Bands Will March in the 2024 Rose Parade? Our News Desk department consists of a collective of news gatherers in order to keep the community informed and safe. Pasadena Now strives to provide factual, unbiased reporting. The City Council has an ambitious agenda for making South Pasadena even more special than it already is. Prior to joining the City of South Pasadena, Gonzalez served for 13 years in the nonprofit management sector. Pasadena Black History Month Magazine, Parents: National Catholic Schools Week Guide. He served as city attorney for the City of Vernon as a part of the Citys good governance initiative reform efforts. M - F 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. Real Estate & Homes For Sale - 9796 Homes For Sale | Zillow During a roughly three-year period, she went through five finance directors and replaced more than six department heads, the newspaper reported. Your email address will not be published. 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. In that position, she managed the citys Planning Division, where she oversaw zoning, design and historic preservation, and community planning. It received several honors, including recognition for being an energy-wise, environmentally sensitive and walkable city. Ms. Chaparyan has 15 years of local government experience, most recently serving as assistant city manager of San Gabriel. 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. South Pasadena's previous city manager, Stephanie DeWolfe, retired from the city in September. 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. Jordan had left West Linn by the time the 2017 wrongful arrest occurred and Timeus retired that same year amid allegations of drunken driving. 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. See All News. PDF City Manager City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe on Feb. 27 announced the appointment of Karen Aceves as South Pasadena's new finance director. (626)737-8486 Ext. Click here to join on Thursday, April 28, 2021, at 6:30 pm (registration is not required to participate in the live forum). Mrquez is expected to be formally introduced. To the best of CCMF's knowledge, Aram and Armin Chaparyan are the first brother-sister city manager pair in California history. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds offer another way to get Pasadena Now content. Before that, DeWolfe had worked for the City of West Hollywood since Dec. 17, 2012, overseeing the citys planning and development staff. 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.. South Pasadena Names Armine Chaparyan City Manager In Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, San Marino, San Gabriel and Alhambra. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. 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.. 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. The City of South Pasadena is a General Law City, incorporated March 2, 1888, operating under the Council-Manager form of govern-ment. The South Pasadena City Council has unanimously voted to hire Armine Chaparyan as city manager, officials announced Friday. 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. 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. Required fields are marked *. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Public Administration Masters from the University of Southern California. 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. Our opinion section is open to all. 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. 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. 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. 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.. A full-service city, South Pasadena . Op-Ed | Is South Pasadena's City Council Deliberately Deceiving the The installation followed four community focus groups, input. 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, 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. (310) 378-9116, Published on Saturday, April 8, 2017 | 1:33 pm. May 2014 - Oct 20217 years 6 months. Office of the City Manager - Pasadena, California Pasadena, California - Wikipedia In light of the backlash, the council pledged to do an additional background check on the next candidate. South Pasadena City Manager Candidate Forum: Armin Chaparyan (310) 378-9116, Published on Sunday, September 13, 2020 | 4:45 pm. 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. During her two-year, 10-month tenure, she replaced over a half dozen department heads and went through five finance directors, the newspaper 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 + Additional questions may be asked at the end of the forum, if time permits, according to the citys announcement. Our opinion section is open to all. 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. Her starting annual salary is $215,000. The City Council consists of five members elected to four-year staggered terms of office. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. Phone:(626) 403-7230 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. The virtual meeting will be conducted over ZOOM and broadcast live on the South Pasadena City Council meeting webpage. Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, Technology, Grants Management and Special Projects, 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. During his tenure in South Pasadena, Joyce hired Josh Betta to be the city's Finance Director at that time. 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. 801, Andr Coleman, Managing Editor | andrec@pasadenanowmagazine.com Email:CM Office 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. Raised in Ohio, Jason began his career at a suburban daily near Cleveland before moving to California in 2013. 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. (626)737-8486 Ext. E-mail press release to : editor@pasadenanow.com South Pasadena farmers market is open Thursdays, 4, Local High Schools Ranking According to U.S. News Report. The council was scheduled to approve his appointment at its meeting the following day. Armin Chaparyan, Deputy City Manager Tamara Binns has over 15 years of government service, including local and federal, with a background in Bio-Medical Engineering. E-mail press release to : editor@pasadenanow.com But especially controversial was DeWolfes handling of what she had described as inappropriate accounting practices by the citys Finance Department. Los Altos Hills residents question recruiter's track record Paul Riddle has been serving as the Acting City Manager. 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. 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. Pasadena Now | Terms of - Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection. 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. Her starting annual salary is $215,000. South Pasadena hires a new city manager from West Hollywood South Pasadena, CA 91030, Phone:(626) 403-7210 South Pasadena councilwoman resigns, apologizes for fake public South Pasadena Public Library and The Music Center to Host Korean Classical Music and Dance Company Performance. 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. 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. Aceves, who'd been serving as one of the City's two acting financing directors, has been with South Pasadena since January 2017. 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 Gary Phillips, of Bob Murray & Associates to undertake a national recruitment to gather qualified candidates to fill the citys vacant city manager position. Fax press release to : (888) 650-9712, James Macpherson, Co-Publisher | jamesm@pasadenanowmagazine.com