Real Estate: Hot Properties & Latest Listings, NEW! He is a self-identified technophile, data nerd and wannabe drone pilot. 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. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds offer another way to get Pasadena Now content. (626)737-8486 Ext. Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. 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. (626)737-8486 Ext. (626)737-8486 Ext. (310) 378-9116, Published on Saturday, April 8, 2017 | 1:33 pm. The South Pasadena City Council on Wednesday is set to vote on the appointment of Christopher A. Jordan as the new City Manager. 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. 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. Jordan had controversial tenures in Los Altos and West Linn, Ore., prior to applying for the South Pasadena position. 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. 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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. 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. 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. Back Submit. 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. When African Royalty Visited South Pasadena, Artists to Unveil Collaborative Mural During ArtNight Pasadena. M-Th 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, 1414 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030 | P:(626) 403-7200 | Contact Us. 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. Spanish was his first language, so programs like Head Start were critical to his early education. 82, Jeff Vaughn, Sales Manager | jvaughn@pasadenanowmagazine.com 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. The publication will remain free to readers and will not erect paywalls. . Fax:(626) 403-7211 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. Retired Santa Monica City Manager John Jalili has been serving as interim city manager since October. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); ColoradoBoulevard.net - By Coloradoblvd.net and WMF. Sunset Magazine also named South Pasadena one of its Best Places to Live in the West. The City of South Pasadena is a General Law City, incorporated March 2, 1888, operating under the Council-Manager form of govern-ment. 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 . 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. The installation followed four community focus groups, input. (626)737-8486 Ext. Your email address will not be published. Chaparyan has 15 years of experience in municipal government and a masters degree in public administration from USC. 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. 801, Andr Coleman, Managing Editor | andrec@pasadenanowmagazine.com 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. Your email address will not be published. DeWolfes resignation took effect on Sept. 12. She was only in WEHO for five years of her 20+ year career. Your email address will not be published. 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. Pasadena Now strives to provide factual, unbiased reporting. DeWolfe had drawn her own controversies over her management of the city, according to the. During his tenure in South Pasadena, the city significantly increased its financial reserves while also investing over $12 million on infrastructure. The City Council narrowed the finalists to five, then two, before initially deciding to offer the job to Jordan, according to a staff report. During her two-year, 10-month tenure, she replaced over a half dozen department heads and went through five finance directors, the newspaper reported. Learn how your comment data is processed. The city has not released the employment agreement with Chaparyan. City of South Pasadena . Fax:(626) 403-7211 Which Bands Will March in the 2024 Rose Parade? Our opinion section is open to all. 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. Mayor Diana Mahmud said: Appointment of a City Manager is the most important decision the City Council will make. 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. in 2018, Armin Chaparyan was appointed as the new Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director for the City of San Gabriel. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. 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. 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. The contract included $20,000 for relocation and 160 hours of vacation time per year. M - F 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. 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. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. 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 . Sean served as the South Pasadena City Manager from 1996 to 2004 before heading to Irvine. (626)737-8486 Ext. Pasadena Now | Terms of - Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection. Fax press release to : (888) 650-9712, James Macpherson, Co-Publisher | jamesm@pasadenanowmagazine.com 7, Candice Merrill, Co-Publisher | editor@pasadenanowmagazine.com 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. 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. CITY OF PASADENA CITY MANAGER Section 10 - Page 1. Additional questions may be asked at the end of the forum, if time permits, according to the citys announcement. We look forward to working with Armine to advance infrastructure projects and services that improve the quality of life of every South Pasadenan. Required fields are marked *. It is governed by the City Council/City Manager form of government. Interim South Pasadena City Manager Sean Joyce, one of the most highly regarded city managers in the State, wasn't fooled. 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. In light of the backlash, the council pledged to do an additional background check on the next candidate. Tamara Binns has over 15 years of government service, including local and federal, with a background in Bio-Medical Engineering. 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. 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 City Council has an ambitious agenda for addressing making South Pasadena even more special than it already is. I look forward to tackling these new challenges, and I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with the Hermosa Beach City Council, city staff and community, said Gonzalez. Jordan, the former Los Altos city manager, confirmed April 21 he was out of the running in an email response to the Town Crier. 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Following the community forum, its expected that an employment agreement will be presented for consideration at the regular May 5, 2021 City Council meeting. Contact Form, Hours of Operation: 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 + We strive to inform, educate, and work together to make a better world for all of us, locally and globally. Armin Chaparyan, Deputy City Manager She will start her new position with South Pasadena on Monday, May 31, 2021. 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. 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. The City Manager is appointed by the Council to oversee the activities of the city. Jordan had left West Linn by the time the 2017 wrongful arrest occurred and Timeus retired that same year amid allegations of drunken driving. We are excited to welcome Armin as our new City Manager. 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 . 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. 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. We are excited to welcome Armine as our new City Manager," said Mayor Diana Mahmud. Email:CM Office At the forum, Chaparyan will present her experience and interest in serving in the citys top administrative post.. Following fervent objections from some South Pasadena . Jacob Lyle2023-03-02T14:17:41-08:00March 2, 2023|, Jacob Lyle2023-03-02T14:09:10-08:00March 2, 2023|, Jacob Lyle2023-03-02T14:03:18-08:00March 2, 2023|, Jacob Lyle2023-03-02T13:53:15-08:00March 2, 2023|, Jacob Lyle2023-03-02T12:54:16-08:00March 2, 2023|, Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); Public CEO | daily@publicceo.com 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. The publication will remain free to readers and will not erect paywalls. South Pasadenas previous city manager, Stephanie DeWolfe, retired from the city in September. 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. 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. There will be an opportunity for questions at the end of the forum, time permitting. She grew up in the area and graduated from John Muir High School in Pasadena. 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. 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. Would love your thoughts, please comment. 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. 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 . She also previously worked for the City of Santa Clarita as a Redevelopment Manager and a Senior Project Manager for the City of Ontario. M-Th 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, 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 801, Andr Coleman, Managing Editor | andrec@pasadenanowmagazine.com Armin Chaparyan serves as the current City Manager with over 20 years of local government experience, including serving as the Community Development Director and then the Assistant City Manager in the City of San Gabriel prior to this role. Special Projects . Copyright 2023. City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe on Feb. 27 announced the appointment of Karen Aceves as South Pasadena's new finance director. 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." 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. Betta said he did not seek to contact Shea because it would be a violation of Shea's "professional privacy." 7, Candice Merrill, Co-Publisher | editor@pasadenanowmagazine.com Management Services Department | South Pasadena, CA Home Go I Want To. 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 City Council wishes her the best in the next chapter of her life, said South Pasadena Mayor Bob Joe. DeWolfe served the City as its City Manager from November 6, 2017 until last Friday, the statement said. Real Estate: Hot Properties & Latest Listings, NEW! May 2014 - Oct 20217 years 6 months. 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. 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. Municipal politics, Bureaucracy and Corruption, No Way! 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.. 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. Pasadena City Council have welcomed former Justice Miguel Mrquez as the next city manager. 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. Fax press release to : (888) 650-9712, James Macpherson, Co-Publisher | jamesm@pasadenanowmagazine.com 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. 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. 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. 8, Eddie Rivera | erivera@pasadenanowmagazine.com 8 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. 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. Our News Desk department consists of a collective of news gatherers in order to keep the community informed and safe. The City Manager also holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. 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. (626) 737-8486 Ext. 2, David Cross | newsdesk@pasadenanowmagazine.com We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website.