January, 2009 Special Issue! Volume 3, No.1A

“Providing thread to help stitch together the fabric of the City Management Community.”

www.trackdownmanagement.net Jack A. and Susan Simpson, 16707 Gerritt Avenue, Cerritos, 90703-1442 Office No. 562/926-0800; Cell Nos. 562/896-5424 & 310-418-1035 [email protected]; and [email protected]

What we are trying to do here is produce an historical “thread” for those who might have The Week Following an interest. Someone might find some utility in this information someday…if not today! And, if Susan Simpson’s Birthday not, what the heck, it is here for enjoyment and entertainment. Let’s have some fun in spite of We do not contend that this chronology is all the poor economy and a State Government inclusive. In fact, having a full understanding that is broken! of our abilities or lack thereof for recollection and note-taking, we are most certain that someone and/or something of importance and substance have been omitted. Please accept our apology. No one was left out on purpose. We understand that everyone experiences events from varying perspectives. This account is our perspective for what it is worth.

“Don’t forget your history nor your destiny!” Former City Manager Jack A. Simpson of Trackdown Management and his daughter Jacki “Cookie” Beebe: wife of --Bob Marley Mike and mother of Eric and Dani. Jack has 4 daughters.

City Manager Newsletter January, 2009 [2]

The Week Following Trackdown Posse Roster Thank you for the awesome support: Susan Simpson’s Birthday Gregory Korduner, Huntington Park * Howard Chambers, Lakewood Mike Egan, Bellflower Sunday evening, January 11, Ernie Garcia, Norwalk 2009 found the Simpson Family Joe Tanner, Vallejo at a traditional gathering Bob Gutierrez, Moreno Valley Dave Carmany, Seal Beach around a teppanyaki table at Maria Dadian, Artesia Benihana’s in Anaheim Linda Lowry, Pomona ** Ken Bayless, Greater L.A. Vector Control District celebrating my lovely wife Jeff Stewart, “In Transition” Susan Simpson’s birthday. We won’t dwell on Kevin O’Rourke, Fairfield (Retired) a number here. Let’s just say she is much Tom Odom, Lomita George Rodericks, Belvedere younger than me. Our five-year old grandson June Catalano, Pleasant Hill Tyler enjoys the Benihana chef’s showmanship Nelson Oliva, Hercules Richard Ramirez, American Canyon as much or more than his culinary skills, but the Vern Lawson, Lancaster ** expertly prepared and cooked to perfection Fred Diaz, Fremont Fran Delach, Azusa meals are magnets to the grown-ups. Our Bill Kelly, Urban Futures, Inc. family traditionally gathers around a Chris Kelly, Chino Hills teppanyaki grill to celebrate birthdays so we Don Penman, Arcadia Jason Gonsalves, Joe A. Gonsalves & Son will be back in February when Tyler turns six. Anthony Gonsalves, Joe A. Gonsalves & Son Paul Gonsalves, Joe A. Gonsalves & Son Bill Crowe, El Segundo Gerald W. Forde, McFarland Steve R. Thatcher, SRT Associates Ernesto Marquez, Hawaiian Gardens Gary K. & Mary Jo Sloan, La Mirada (Retired) http://www.piperjaffray.com Bob & Nadean Dickey, South Gate Deborah Lopez, Pico Rivera Glenn Southard, Indio Jan Perkins, Management Partners In Sacramento with the CCCA Andy Takata, Yucca Valley Marcia Raines, Half Moon Bay Gene Rogers, Moreno Valley (Retired) I turned left into the Sacramento Hyatt Anthony R. Ybarra, South El Monte Regency’s parking structure about 2:30 p.m. Arthur C. Simonian, Simonian Consulting, Inc. Jay Tashiro, Moraga on Monday, January 12, on my way to attend Bob Griego, Irwindale the 42nd Annual Sacramento Legislative Ken Caresio, Retired City Manager Orientation Tour of the California Contract Greg Nordbak, Midway City Sanitary District Carlos Urrutia, Rocklin Cities Association (CCCA). After parking on Michael P. Busch, Urban Futures, Inc. the top floor and taking the elevator to the David M. Jinkens, South Wade McKinney, Atascadero hotel entrance level, I checked in but had to Mike & Judie Sedell, wait for my room as it was not yet ready. I ran Andy Lazzaretto, A.C. Lazzaretto & Associates into and chatted with CDS Executive Richard Fred Guido, County of Tim Kerr, Turlock Fierro on my way to find a late lunch at Doug LaBelle, Chino Hills Dawson’s. City of Cerritos John Keisler, Long Beach Sheryl Lindsey-Boell, CH2MHILL OMI “Don’t let your dreams be dreams.” Sam Olivito, California Contract Cities Association Bob Dominguez, Placentia (Retired) --American Singer, Song Writer, & Guitarist Jack Johnson Jack Lam, Rancho Cucamonga

City Manager Newsletter January, 2009 [3]

In Sacramento with the CCCA

As I was finishing off an awesome Dawson’s tuna melt, La Puente’s Interim City Manager http://www.ejdelarosa.com/ Frank G. Tripepi, who is also the President & The sign at the table noted that the event CEO of Willdan Financial Services and Paul Sponsors included: Willdan Financial Services, Whitelaw of WFS dropped by. We talked of Wolf & Company, Inc., and The Cabinet. It veteran City Manager Tim Kerr’s severance was about then that I called Sasha Spangler at from Turlock, the general sad shape of the Joe A. Gonsalves & Son for some assistance economy, and of the Governor and with a telephone number, and got ready for Legislature’s work towards a State Budget the CCCA 5:30 to 7 p.m. “Welcome during these grave economic times. Reception” in the Capitol View Room on the Among those in the Hyatt lobby 15th Floor of the Hyatt Regency. were Lakewood Council What a nice reception venue Sam and Sharon Member Diane DuBois, and Olivito chose for the event’s social kick-off. We Assistant to the City Manager met a good number of the orientation Lisa Novotny preparing to visit participants there, including: Signal Hill Council some Legislators with their Member Ellen Ward, Norwalk City Manager “support cities” message. Council Member Ernie Garcia, Rolling Hills Estates City Manager DuBois has been active with the Lakewood Doug Prichard, and Huntington Park City Meals On Wheels program, a member of the Manager Gregory Korduner. Retired Fairfield, Greater Long Beach Girl Scouts Council Buena Park and Stanton City Manager Kevin governing board and a volunteer at the O’Rourke, a past President of the City Pathways Volunteer Hospice, where we met Managers’ Department of the League of when our daughter Casey Simpson sang at a California Cities, met us at the reception. Pathways’ Christmas program in Cerritos. http://www.lakewoodcity.org/council_n_coms/lakewood_city_council.asp Anthony & Evelyn Gonsalves, Jason & Tracy Gonsalves and Paul Gonsalves of the Joe A.

Gonsalves & Son professional legislative representation firm were all in attendance too. For Municipal Law Services Call the Firm of Colantuono & Levin www.CLLAW.US

After obtaining my room keycard at the hotel registration desk from a very expeditious and cheerful Hyatt staffer, I dropped my luggage at room 854, and hung up my shirts and slacks. I then returned to the lobby to visit Sharon Olivito at the “contract cities’” event Former City Manager Wesley Wolf of Wolf & Company, registration desk to pick up an event badge Inc., and Signal Hill City Council Member Ellen Ward and program. share some laughter at the CCCA reception. They worked with each other in the 1970s.

City Manager Newsletter January, 2009 [4]

City Managers: Ernie Garcia, Greg Korduner, Maria Dadian and Kevin O’Rourke. TNT http://www.kndinc.com/index.htm Fireworks executive John Kelly of American Promotional Events, Inc. and Sharon and Tony In Sacramento with the CCCA Olivito of the CCCA staff were also there. Sally Flowers of Artesia provided us with her new Following the reception, we were honored to business card as a Conservation Coordinator be included on the dinner guest list of for the Central Basin Municipal Water District. Consolidated Disposal Service’s Richard Fierro and Sam Peña at the Firehouse Restaurant in Old Town Sacramento. CDS is a subsidiary company of Republic Services, Inc. and provides refuse management and disposal services in 32 cities, the County of Santa Barbara, and 5 major district www.keenan.com service areas. Their city clients include: Alhambra, Artesia, Arcadia, Avalon, Bell, Burbank, Cudahy, Cypress, El Segundo, Glendale, Goleta, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, Hermosa Beach, La Cañada Flintridge, La Mirada, Lawndale,

Los Alamitos, Lynwood, Maywood, Monrovia, Norwalk, Pasadena, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rosemead, Santa Barbara, Santa Clarita,

Santa Fe Springs, Seal Beach, and Whittier. Rolling Hills Estates City Manager Doug Prichard, who is Among those in the dinner crowd at the the current Chair of the CCCA City Managers’ & Administrators’ Committee and is known for his swimming historical Golden Eagles Room in the Firehouse exploits, chatted here with Anthony Gonsalves of Joe A. Restaurant joining State Senator Ron Calderon Gonsalves & Son, professional legislative representation. and the CDS officials were: Lawndale Mayor

Harold Hoffman, a past President of the California Contract Cities Association; Signal Hill Council Member Ellen Ward, retired from the Santa Ana Parks & Recreation Department with service in the Cities of Artesia, Hawaiian Gardens, and Paramount; Council Member John R. Noguez of Huntington Park, a past

President of the Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities and an official Retired City Manager Kevin O’Rourke of KOLGS poses with Jason Gonsalves of Joe A. Gonsalves & Son and his with the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office; beautiful wife Tracy. the Artesia City Council was well-represented including Mayor Sally Zuniga Flowers, the immediate past President of CCCA; and Norwalk Mayor Rick Ramirez. Also there were http://www.mercergroupinc.com/

City Manager Newsletter January, 2009 [5]

In Sacramento with the CCCA

Bright and early…actually “0-dark-thirty”…well, http://www.urbanfuturesinc.com/ it was really 6:30 a.m. but it was still dark CCCA Legislative Committee Chair Laura outside. Tuesday morning Huntington Park City Olhasso of La Cañada Flintridge and CCCA Manager Greg Korduner and I met in the Hyatt Executive Board President Frank V. Zerunyan of Regency lobby for an invigorating morning Rolling Hills Estates, along with Executive walk. We skirted around the Capitol Park Director Sam Olivito and Independent Cities’ grounds and made our way to the Executive Director Debbie Smith did a and Old Town. On the way marvelous job of providing a continuous line- back to the hotel, we stopped for some coffee up of noteworthy and remarkable speakers. at Starbuck’s on the K Street Mall. Presenters included: Assembly Member Fiona The orientation meeting Ma of ; Alberto Torrico of Newark; and presentations were Cameron Smyth of Santa Clarita; Senator Bob held in a Legislative Dutton, a former Rancho Cucamonga Council Committee room on the Member; Deputy State Treasurer Paul fourth floor of the Capitol. Rosenstiel; Thomas L. Sheehy, State After showering and changing clothes, I Department of Finance, Chief Deputy Director walked over to the Capitol with Greg Korduner for Policy; Assembly Member Noreen Evans of and Huntington Park Assistant City Manager Santa Rosa; Senator George C. Runner of Alan Shear. On our way we stopped to take a Lancaster; Senator Bob Huff of Diamond Bar; look at the special rose garden on the Capitol Assembly Member Paul Krekorian of Burbank; grounds dedicated to M. D. “Mac” McKeown. South Gate Assembly Member Hector de la Torre; and a representative of the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

http://www.hdlcompanies.com/ http://www.jones-mayer.com/

Throughout the morning presentations it was clear that California’s State Government has a budget crisis that it seems ill-prepared to solve.

The unfortunate and disappointing weak condition of the National Economy has aggravated the problem. Term limits has given California an inexperienced cadre of leaders

ill-equipped and unable to appropriately address difficult issues. California’s State CCCA Past President Margaret E. Finlay and Executive Government is broken, and needs attention Board Member Lois Gaston, both of the Duarte City expeditiously, which, of course, will not Council poses with Duarte City Manager Darrell George on the California State Capitol grounds. happen.

City Manager Newsletter January, 2009 [6]

www.willdan.com

In Sacramento with the CCCA www.MathisGroup.net

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen Former City Manager Wesley Wolf of Wolf & addressed the CCCA group at a luncheon in Company, Inc. invited me to joined a small the Hyatt Regency’s Capitol View Room. group for dinner at Mulvaney’s At The B & L Secretary Bowen said she was prepared to following the reception. Among those at the tackle questions on the budget, but the dinner were Independent Cities Executive audience had had enough budget talk during Director Debbie Smith, Compton Council the long morning session and did not ask her Member Barbara J. Calhoun, who is a member any budget questions. of the Independent Cities’ Executive Board, and former Assembly Member and long-time Signal Hill Council Member Ellen Ward, Norwalk lobbyist Bruce Young. It was an honor to have City Manager Ernie Garcia and I joined a table been included. with the members of the Hercules City Council. Hercules City Manager Nelson Oliva had to City Managers who attended the 42nd Annual leave the program to address some issues CCCA Sacramento Legislative Orientation Tour “back at the ranch.” Fran Mancia of included: Oliver Chi, Rosemead; Nelson Oliva, MuniServices was in the audience and Hercules; Mark Alexander, La Cañada stopped to say “Hello.” Flintridge; Ernie Garcia, Norwalk; Howard Chambers, Lakewood; Darrell George, Duarte; Gregory Korduner, Huntington Park; Maria Dadian, Artesia; Frank G. Tripepi, La Puente; and Doug Prichard, Rolling Hills Estates. Huntington Park Assistant City Manager Alan Shear, Pico Rivera Assistant City Manager Jeff

Prang, Assistant to the City Manager Lisa http://www.wolfhousing.com/ Novotny of Lakewood, and, of course, CCCA Executive Director Sam Olivito and That evening the CCCA Program included a Independent Cities Executive Debbie Smith Legislative Reception in the State Capitol were also there. Basement . Well-attended in past years, this year’s turnout was admirable considering the economic considerations of the member cities. We had the opportunity to chat with Lee Dolley and meet his new partner

E. E. Wang of The Cabinet as they stepped from the elevator. Tony Olivito gave us a business card proudly displaying his new position as the CCCA Director of Public Affairs

& Communications. http://www.gonsalvi.com/

City Manager Newsletter January, 2009 [7]

"Lobbyists are like parachutes. You don't need them very often, but when you need them, they'd better work."

--Joe A. Gonsalves

CCMF Board Meets in the Desert http://www.parsinfo.org/

Wednesday morning I drove home from Friday morning the Board met bright and early Sacramento and prepared for the drive to the and worked diligently through the meeting desert to attend the Quarterly Meeting of the agenda. The next Board meeting is scheduled California City Management Foundation April in Los Gatos. Board. The Board gathered for its annual planning meeting on Thursday at the La Quinta CCMF Board Members include: President Rita Embassy Suites. Three new members of the Geldert, Vista City Manager; Vice President Board were introduced: Napa City Manager Wade McKinney, Atascadero City Manager; Mike Parness, Livermore City Manager Linda Secretary/Treasurer Mark Curran of Piper Barton, and Hanford Assistant City Manager Jaffray; Laguna Hills City Manager Bruce Hilary Straus. Channing, who is primarily responsible for the success of recent CCMF Golf Tournaments; After a long day of discussing the Foundation’s Rancho Cucamonga Assistant City Manager website maintenance and improvement with Pam Easter; Anthony D. Gonsalves of Joe A. computer communications expert Ryder Todd Gonsalves & Son; Stephen Heaney of Stone & Smith of Tripepi Smith & Associates, and the Youngberg; Santa Rosa City Manager Jeff group’s work plan, including: fiscal policy, a Kolin; Hanford Assistant City Manager Hilary Renaissance/Senior Manager Seminar- Straus; Dr. R. William Mathis of the Mathis Program, Board Member orientation packets, Group; Mike Parness, Napa City Manager; bylaws review and update, and Darold Pieper, Attorney-at-law; Millbrae City marketing/branding efforts the group Manager Marcia Raines; Glenn Southard, Indio gathered for dinner hosted by Steve Heaney of City Manager; Livermore City Manager Linda Stone & Youngberg at the new Jackalope Barton and Jack A. Simpson of Trackdown Ranch Restaurant in Indio, developed by the Management Services. late Don Callendar, of the Marie Callendar Restaurant chain. The California City Management Foundation is the premier advocacy and support organization for California City Management Foundation City Managers and the profession, and was created to promote the well being of City Managers and the Council/Manager form of government.

Every California City Manager Should Be A Member! www.cacitymanagers.org

http://caltrust.org/

Contact Lyle Defenbaugh about CalTRUST investment www.joneshall.com opportunities for cities. [email protected]

City Manager Newsletter January, 2009 [8]

http://www.bobmurrayassoc.com/

California City Management Anthony D. Gonsalves and Indio City Manager Glenn Foundation’s Southard pose with Anthony’s wife Evelyn at the new Jackalope Ranch Restaurant in Indio. Eleventh Annual Golf Tournament

Is presented by primary sponsor Urban Futures Incorporated

Poppy Hills Golf Course http://www.styo.com/

3200 Lopez Road, Pebble Beach, California 93953

February 6, 2009

12:00 Noon Shotgun Start

$200 player fee includes: green fees, golf cart,

range balls, golf shirt, welcome package, box lunch and Post-Tournament Reception.

For Information Please Contact: Rancho Cucamonga Assistant City Manager Pam Easter, new Millbrae City Manager Marcia Raines and Hanford Bill Garrett at (619) 303-8068, or Assistant City Manager Hilary Straus.

Bruce Channing at (949) 707-2610

Experienced in conducting personnel – and Judy Garrett, wife of CCMF Executive Director Bill Garrett, internal affairs investigations. who provides invaluable staff assistance to the Board, and retired Fire Chief and public manager Dale Geldert, http://www.americanhomelandsolutions.com/ spouse to CCMF President Rita Geldert.

City Manager Newsletter January, 2009 [9]

Many people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could.

~ Unknown

M. D. “Mac” McKeown is a former City Manager in Dairy Valley (Cerritos), Paramount, Norwalk and Artesia. He also did some special

and interim assignments in other jurisdictions including the cities of South El Monte, Palmdale and the City of Industry.

It was my good fortune, though I not always thought it as such, to have met Mac in the latter months of 1965 when then-Paramount

Assistant City Manager Chris Rope appointed me to an Administrative Intern slot alongside Larry, Gavin and Loren Kosmont Jim Barisic. Jim and I were both undergraduates at Long Beach State at the

time. Little did I know that that introduction to city government would lead me to a 30-some

year career in public administration?

Mac was always one to stay in touch with

http://www.kosmont.com/ those who had come under his tutelage, whether by working for him or with him as a Kosmont Companies colleague. During the past several years Mac is a ICSC member: hosted a birthday/holiday luncheon get- ICSC's Southern California Idea Exchange is together for a group who willingly gathered in scheduled for JANUARY 28, 2009 at the Long respect to him. I feel privileged to have been Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, California. included along with Huntington Park City You can register now at www.ICSC.org Manager Gregory Korduner, retired Ventura County Manager John F. Johnston, David Lund,

Jim Barisic, Pat West, Bill Holt, Ray Harris, Andy Lazzaretto, Charlie Wagner, Arnaldo Casillas

and many others. Mac could always gather an impressive crowd.

Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth L. Bayless. Ken is a retired Chief with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the organizing www.us.bureauveritas.com President & CEO for Willdan Homeland Solutions. Jackie and Ken tied the knot in 2008. Ken is currently the District Manager for the HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSIE HEARTHER! County Vector Control District.

City Manager Newsletter January, 2009 [10]

Mac has never liked publicity, but his quiet 2009 City Managers Department Meeting “nice-guy” cover was blown in September, February 4-6, 2009 2007 when current and former female Hyatt Regency California State Legislators honored him with a Monterey, California commemorative rose garden on the Capitol www.cacities.org/events grounds thanking him as the “Rose Man.” Mac had hand-delivered a single rose to each female lawmaker every month from 1978 to Picking Up The Pieces: Orange County Board of Supervisor’s policy advisor Jennifer Phillips will 2003. It was a token of appreciation for their replace retiring Gordon Anderson as Assistant City hard work in the generally male-dominated Manager in Santa Monica. A 30-year member of working environment of the legislature. It was the Pico Rivera City Council and a Past President of reported that Mac choked up at the honor, the California Contract Cities Association “Mayor Emeritus” Garth Gardner, 86, died Tuesday, January but grumped about the presence of the press. 13 following a heart attack January 7. Turlock City At Mac’s birthday/holiday luncheon in Long Manager Tim Kerr has been dismissed. Tim is a Beach this past December held at Parker’s former City Manager in Livingston and Ceres, and is Lighthouse in Long Beach, Mac distributed a a past member of the California City Management Foundation Board. La Puente Interim City Manager single rose to each attendee. It was a very Frank G. Tripepi has sold his highly successful 1971 nice gathering. Those who worked with Mac Ford Mustang Mach 1 428 Cobra Jet show car. The over the years include (but are not limited to): car was a repeated winner of Best of Show honors Judy Chilcot, Peter B. Feenstra, Don Lamm, in big California car shows. Pomona’s Assistant to the City Manager Rod Butler, 44, has been Charlie Wagner, Chuck Beecher, Lynn Nordby, appointed to the City Manager post in Crescent Greg Korduner, Jim Barisic, Chris Rope, Arnaldo City replacing Interim City Manager Michael Young. Casillas, David Lund, Johnny Johnston, Jack A. Eli Naffah resigned unexpectedly in May, 2008 to pursue an economic development career. Long- Simpson, Ellen Ward, Marcy Delgado, Lance time County veteran engineering Burkholder, Bruce Unruh, Les Pricer, Richard consultant Richard Jacobs notes that Escondido McDowell, Dick Streng, Dick Kahanek, Brent City Manager Clay Phillips was the Finance Director Coles, and Pat Brown. in Escondido while serving as Deputy City Manager, which is not mentioned in the ICMA Who’s Who Women Leading Government (WLG) Directory. Don Knabe, Los Angeles County Supervisor, Fourth District, and his son Matt Knabe of Englander and A Cal-ICMA Coaching Program WLG is designed to Associates poses with assist female managers in their career development. http://www.womenleadinggovernment.org/ USC Head Football Coach Pete Carroll. Thanks to ICMA (WLG) has a new web site. Matt is a member of the Long Beach Golf Commission.

Remember the California City Management Foundation Member Appreciation Dinner held in conjunction with the Annual League City Managers’ Department Conference. This year it will be on Thursday, February 5, 2009 at the Club Del Monte at the Naval Postgraduate School, 1 University Circle, Building 220, Monterey. $50 per person. 6 p.m. reception & a 7 p.m dinner. Address questions to Melanie Arner Corona of Piper Jaffray at 415-984-5135, http://inaugurationday2009.com [email protected] Listen to Country Music Artist Casey Simpson

www.myspace.com/caseysimpsonmusic