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 City Council narrowed the finalists to five, then two, before initially deciding to offer the job to Jordan, according to a staff report. 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 Citys top administrative post. At the forum, Chaparyan will present her experience and interest in serving in the citys top administrative post.. Email:CM Office (626)737-8486 Ext. Domenica Megerdichian has worked for four Los Angeles-area municipalities. The City is located near the neighboring cities of Pasadena, South Pasadena and Alhambra, with easy access to all of Southern California. 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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.. 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. Management Services Department | South Pasadena, CA Home Go I Want To. She was only in WEHO for five years of her 20+ year career. Deputy City Manager at City of South Pasadena 1w Report this post Report Report. 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. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Public Administration Masters from the University of Southern California. in 2018, Armin Chaparyan was appointed as the new Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director for the City of San Gabriel. 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. Prior to joining the City of South Pasadena, Gonzalez served for 13 years in the nonprofit management sector. The City Council has an ambitious agenda for addressing making South Pasadena even more special than it already is. 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 on Wednesday is set to vote on the appointment of Christopher A. Jordan as the new City Manager. The virtual meeting will be conducted over ZOOM and broadcast live on the South Pasadena City Council meeting webpage. It will be broadcast live via Zoom on the City Councils meeting website. 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. Click for Directory. He began his public service career as a Deputy County Counsel in San Mateo County. (626)737-8486 Ext. 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 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. Her starting annual salary is $215,000. (626)737-8486 Ext. 1414 Mission Street Learn how your comment data is processed. City Manager's Office; Management Services; Community Services; Finance; Fire; Library; Community Development Department; Police ; Public Works; City Council Meetings. South Pasadena Public Library and The Music Center to Host Korean Classical Music and Dance Company Performance. A newsletter published by the Public Affairs Office. 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. 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. He is a self-identified technophile, data nerd and wannabe drone pilot. 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. Others sent emails and called city council members about their concerns with the hiring. Copyright 2023 City of Pasadena - All Rights Reserved, Commissions and Committee Meetings Video Archive, Economic Development & Technology Committee. We are excited to welcome Armine as our new City Manager, said Mayor Diana Mahmud. Following fervent objections from some South Pasadena . | 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. Jordan was West Linns city manager when Timeus, who had worked with Jordan in a prior city, was hired as the police chief. 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. 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 November 2020, Jordan and Los Altos entered into a settlement agreement wherein he agreed to step down and waive his right to sue in exchange for $183,821, or nine months of severance, three months more than required by his contract, according to the agreement. Ms. Chaparyan has 15 years of local government experience, most recently serving as assistant city manager of San Gabriel. 8 (626) 737-8486 Ext. Email: City Clerk Aceves, who'd been serving as one of the City's two acting financing directors, has been with South Pasadena since January 2017. 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. 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. 100 N Garfield Ave. ,Room S228 In a statement,. 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. The only agenda item will be a public employment matter concerning embattled City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe, the South Pasadena reported. The publication will remain free to readers and will not erect paywalls. M-Th 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, City Manager 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. She joined San Gabriel as its community development director in 2014. 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. (626)737-8486 Ext. Its very interesting. (626)737-8486 Ext. Raised in Ohio, Jason began his career at a suburban daily near Cleveland before moving to California in 2013. Breaking News Tips: (626) 737-8486 Extension 7 Jason Henry is an investigative reporter with the Southern California News Group. (626) 744-4333 Your email address will not be published. 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. Municipal politics, Bureaucracy and Corruption, No Way! 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 + DeWolfe had drawn her own controversies over her management of the city, according to the South Pasadenan. The installation followed four community focus groups, input. 2, David Cross | newsdesk@pasadenanowmagazine.com Ms. Chaparyan, a graduate of John Muir High School in Pasadena, holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from U.C.L.A and a Masters of Public Administration from U.S.C. Following candidate screening, and two rounds of City Council interviews, and a well-received April 28 virtual community forum with the final candidate, the City Council has unanimously appointed Armine Chaparyan to the Citys top administrative post. Colorado Boulevard is your place for informative news and social living for the greater Pasadena area. 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. Aram was appointed city manager of Torrance in October 2020, and Armin took South Pasadena's top administrative office in May 2021. 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. Many. Principal Management Analyst. 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. May 2014 - Oct 20217 years 6 months. 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. During her two-year, 10-month tenure, she replaced over a half dozen department heads and went through five finance directors, the newspaper reported. 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. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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 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. He and his wife, Cathy, have twin daughters, Olivia and Sofia, age nine. South Pasadenas City Council originally planned to hire Jordan, but backed down from the decision during a special meeting April 20 in light of some community opposition. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds offer another way to get Pasadena Now content. 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. The publication will remain free to readers and will not erect paywalls. South Pasadena's previous city manager, Stephanie DeWolfe, retired from the city in September. Before that, she served as a redevelopment manager in Santa Clarita and as an senior project manager in Ontario, according to her LinkedIn. But especially controversial was DeWolfes handling of what she had described as inappropriate accounting practices by the citys Finance Department. Which Bands Will March in the 2024 Rose Parade? Colorado Boulevard is your place for informative news and social living for the greater Pasadena area. Betta said he did not seek to contact Shea because it would be a violation of Shea's "professional privacy." 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 82, Jeff Vaughn, Sales Manager | jvaughn@pasadenanowmagazine.com We look forward to working with Armin to advance infrastructure projects and services that improve the quality of life of every South Pasadenan. 4, Faith Fernandez, Chief Administrative Officer | ffernandez@pasadenanowmagazine.com M - F 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. Pasadena Now strives to provide factual, unbiased reporting. (626)737-8486 Ext. Which Bands Will March in the 2024 Rose Parade? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); ColoradoBoulevard.net - By Coloradoblvd.net and WMF. 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. 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. Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m. Our opinion section is open to all. (626)737-8486 Ext. 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. Pasadena Black History Month Magazine, Parents: National Catholic Schools Week Guide. Sean served as the South Pasadena City Manager from 1996 to 2004 before heading to Irvine. 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.. 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. City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe on Feb. 27 announced the appointment of Karen Aceves as South Pasadena's new finance director. Ms. Chaparyan has 15 years of local government experience, most recently serving as assistant city manager of San Gabriel. Under the direction of the City Manager, oversees and provides a variety of administrative and support . South Pasadena, CA 91030 She also previously worked for the City of Santa Clarita as a Redevelopment Manager and a Senior Project Manager for the City of Ontario. 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. (626)737-8486 Ext. If you are also interested in hearing from the candidate on specific topic areas, you can send an email to cmoffice@southpasadenaca.gov. 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. 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. And to think she got all her experience in West Hollywood City Hall. She will start her new position with South Pasadena on Monday, May 31, 2021. It is governed by the City Council/City Manager form of government. In Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, San Marino, San Gabriel and Alhambra. Breaking News Tips: (626) 737-8486 Extension 7 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. The virtual forum with Chaparyan will be from 6:30-8 p.m., Wednesday, April 28. 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. 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. Before . Coffee with the Chief. DeWolfe served the City as its City Manager from November 6, 2017 until last Friday, the statement said. 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. His first day on the job is scheduled to be May 15. Fax:(626) 403-7211 8, Eddie Rivera | erivera@pasadenanowmagazine.com 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. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m. Contact Form, Hours of Operation: The Hermosa Beach City Council unanimously chose Gonzalez, 45, from a field of nearly 60 applicants. She grew up in the area and graduated from John Muir High School in Pasadena. 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. CITY OF PASADENA CITY MANAGER Section 10 - Page 1. 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 Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, San Marino, San Gabriel and Alhambra. Your email address will not be published. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Your email address will not be published. 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. Following the community forum, its expected that an employment agreement will be presented for consideration at the regular May 5, 2021 City Council meeting. 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. 8 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. Pasadena, CA 91101 (310) 378-9116, Published on Saturday, April 8, 2017 | 1:33 pm. 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. 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. Pasadena Black History Month Magazine, Parents: National Catholic Schools Week Guide. Mayor Diana Mahmud said: Appointment of a City Manager is the most important decision the City Council will make. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Real Estate: Hot Properties & Latest Listings, NEW! The City Council has an ambitious agenda for making South Pasadena even more special than it already is. The council was scheduled to approve his appointment at its meeting the following day. He served as city attorney for the City of Vernon as a part of the Citys good governance initiative reform efforts. 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 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 Armine as our new City Manager," said Mayor Diana Mahmud. 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. Her starting annual . 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 It received several honors, including recognition for being an energy-wise, environmentally sensitive and walkable city. Her starting annual salary is $215,000. 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. Gonzalezs annual salary will be $219,000. 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. In light of the backlash, the council pledged to do an additional background check on the next candidate. Ms. Chaparyan has worked for the cities of Ontario, and Santa Clarita. 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. To the best of CCMF's knowledge, Aram and Armin Chaparyan are the first brother-sister city manager pair in California history. The. Mrquezs parents immigrated to the United States from Mxico with only a limited amount of formal education. Before that, DeWolfe had worked for the City of West Hollywood since Dec. 17, 2012, overseeing the citys planning and development staff. Click for Directory. 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.. During his tenure in South Pasadena, the city significantly increased its financial reserves while also investing over $12 million on infrastructure. 1414 Mission Street City of South Pasadena . 7 This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Phone:(626) 403-7230 The South Pasadena City Council has unanimously voted to hire Armine Chaparyan as city manager, officials announced Friday. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds offer another way to get Pasadena Now content. 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. A full-service city, South Pasadena . It is governed by the City Council/City Manager form of government. While working in the City Attorneys Office from 1989-2012, Mr. Rodriguez served as the lawyer for the Rose Bowl Operating Company and several City departments, eventually becoming the Citys chief assistant city attorney. The City Manager is appointed by the Council to oversee the activities of the city. . The city has not released the employment agreement with Chaparyan. We are excited to welcome Armin as our new City Manager. 4, Faith Fernandez, Chief Administrative Officer | ffernandez@pasadenanowmagazine.com 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. 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 . Mar. Interim South Pasadena City Manager Sean Joyce, one of the most highly regarded city managers in the State, wasn't fooled. Fax press release to : (888) 650-9712, James Macpherson, Co-Publisher | jamesm@pasadenanowmagazine.com Paul Riddle has been serving as the Acting City Manager. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. City Manager at City of South Pasadena Los Angeles Metropolitan Area Mary Jerejian, MPA Management Analyst at the City of South Pasadena Los Angeles, CA Christina Muoz Deputy. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. She will start her new position with South Pasadena on Monday, May 31, 2021. Your email address will not be published. Spanish was his first language, so programs like Head Start were critical to his early education. Domenica Megerdichian, 1414 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030 | P:(626) 403-7200 | Contact Us. 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.