Our most recent Issue Forum on Pasadena’s City Manager search underscored just how consequential this decision is for the city’s future. The City Manager oversees more than 2,300 employees across 17 departments and manages an annual budget of $1.5 billion.
City Council has emphasized we are prioritizing strong, human-centered leadership over narrow technical experience, highlighting the importance of strategic thinking, innovation, adaptability, and the ability to manage a complex full-service municipal organization. The conversation (which featured our current City Manager, a former Pasadena City Manager and a former Mayor who participated in selecting four previous City Managers) explored the selection process expected to result in a decision on the next City Manager by early March.