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. A newsletter published by the Public Affairs Office. Betta said he did not seek to contact Shea because it would be a violation of Shea's "professional privacy." Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. 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. 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. Required fields are marked *. Coffee with the Chief. (626) 737-8486 Ext. Armin Chaparyan, Deputy City Manager Finance Director Josh Betta, who released a report. 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. 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 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. 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. Ms. Chaparyan has 15 years of local government experience, most recently serving as assistant city manager of San Gabriel. Interim South Pasadena City Manager Sean Joyce, one of the most highly regarded city managers in the State, wasn't fooled. Sean served as the South Pasadena City Manager from 1996 to 2004 before heading to Irvine. 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. 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 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. 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. (626)737-8486 Ext. Real Estate: Hot Properties & Latest Listings, NEW! Our News Desk department consists of a collective of news gatherers in order to keep the community informed and safe. 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. In light of the backlash, the council pledged to do an additional background check on the next candidate. Jordan was West Linns city manager when Timeus, who had worked with Jordan in a prior city, was hired as the police chief. She was only in WEHO for five years of her 20+ year career. E-mail press release to : editor@pasadenanow.com We are excited to welcome Armin as our new City Manager. 8 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. 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. 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. M - F 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. 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. Huh? Aceves, who'd been serving as one of the City's two acting financing directors, has been with South Pasadena since January 2017. The publication will remain free to readers and will not erect paywalls. The City of South Pasadena is a general law city incorporated on March 2, 1888. The City Manager is appointed by the Council to oversee the activities of the city. In 2008, Jordan received a 100-page confidential report detailing a series of allegations of racism and sexism against Timeus, but took no action against the chief, according to the Portland Tribune and the Oregonian. Others sent emails and called city council members about their concerns with the hiring. A full-service city, South Pasadena . Your email address will not be published. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); ColoradoBoulevard.net - By Coloradoblvd.net and WMF. In Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, San Marino, San Gabriel and Alhambra. 7, Candice Merrill, Co-Publisher | editor@pasadenanowmagazine.com 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.. Before that, DeWolfe had worked for the City of West Hollywood since Dec. 17, 2012, overseeing the citys planning and development staff. Colorado Boulevard is your place for informative news and social living for the greater Pasadena area. The City Council consists of five members elected to four-year staggered terms of office. 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. 7, Candice Merrill, Co-Publisher | editor@pasadenanowmagazine.com document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Please provide your name, phone number or email address. Fax press release to : (888) 650-9712, James Macpherson, Co-Publisher | jamesm@pasadenanowmagazine.com (310) 378-9116, Published on Sunday, September 13, 2020 | 4:45 pm. She joined San Gabriel as its community development director in 2014. See All News. 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. 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. 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. 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. They are also first-generation immigrants on Contact Form, Hours of Operation: Colorado Boulevard is your place for informative news and social living for the greater Pasadena area. These formative experiences inspired Mrquezs commitment to public service. Additional questions may be asked at the end of the forum, if time permits, according to the citys announcement. 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. Domenica brings a dynamic, proactive, team-oriented and solutions based approach to her work and to the agency. His first day on the job is scheduled to be May 15. 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. She also previously worked for the City of Santa Clarita as a Redevelopment Manager and a Senior Project Manager for the City of Ontario. 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. Spanish was his first language, so programs like Head Start were critical to his early education. The City Council has an ambitious agenda for making South Pasadena even more special than it already is. Ms. Chaparyan has 15 years of local government experience, most recently serving as assistant city manager of San Gabriel. (626) 737-8486 Ext. 2, David Cross | newsdesk@pasadenanowmagazine.com Our News Desk department consists of a collective of news gatherers in order to keep the community informed and safe. 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. Her starting annual salary is $215,000. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Click here to join on Thursday, April 28, 2021, at 6:30 pm (registration is not required to participate in the live forum). 82, Jeff Vaughn, Sales Manager | jvaughn@pasadenanowmagazine.com Aram was appointed city manager of Torrance in October 2020, and Armin took South Pasadena's top administrative office in May 2021. 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. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Domenica Megerdichian, 1414 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030 | P:(626) 403-7200 | Contact Us. Jordan had left West Linn by the time the 2017 wrongful arrest occurred and Timeus retired that same year amid allegations of drunken driving. South Pasadena's previous city manager, Stephanie DeWolfe, retired from the city in September. Sunset Magazine also named South Pasadena one of its Best Places to Live in the West. Which Bands Will March in the 2024 Rose Parade? Raised in Ohio, Jason began his career at a suburban daily near Cleveland before moving to California in 2013. When African Royalty Visited South Pasadena, Artists to Unveil Collaborative Mural During ArtNight 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. During his tenure in South Pasadena, the city significantly increased its financial reserves while also investing over $12 million on infrastructure. Pasadena Now strives to provide factual, unbiased reporting. 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. City of South Pasadena . Our opinion section is open to all. (626)737-8486 Ext. Raised in Ohio, Jason began his career at a suburban daily near Cleveland before moving to California in 2013. Special Projects . 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 . The city has not released the employment agreement with Chaparyan. She will start her new position with South Pasadena on Monday, May 31, 2021. It added amenities, including a new dog park, and improved its fire safety rating, resulting in lower insurance rates for residents and businesses. Pasadena Now | Terms of - Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection. Under the direction of the City Manager, oversees and provides a variety of administrative and support . Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. He is a self-identified technophile, data nerd and wannabe drone pilot. Deputy City Manager at City of South Pasadena 1w Report this post Report Report. We are excited to welcome Armine as our new City Manager, said Mayor Diana Mahmud. Gonzalez will also be responsible for implementing and enforcing city policies and ordinances, and he will help the city complete and implement PLAN Hermosa, an update of Hermosas general plan and adoption of a local coastal program. (626)737-8486 Ext. 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. South Pasadena Public Library and The Music Center to Host Korean Classical Music and Dance Company Performance. 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 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. She will start her new position with South Pasadena on Monday, May 31, 2021. (626)737-8486 Ext. DeWolfe had drawn her own controversies over her management of the city, according to the South Pasadenan. 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She grew up in the area and graduated from John Muir High School in Pasadena. She will start her new position with South Pasadena on Monday, May 31, 2021. Tamara Binns has over 15 years of government service, including local and federal, with a background in Bio-Medical Engineering. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. We are excited to welcome Armin as our new City Manager. Phone:(626) 403-7230 (626)737-8486 Ext. DeWolfe had drawn her own controversies over her management of the city, according to the. 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. Copyright 2023. 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. Breaking News Tips: (626) 737-8486 Extension 7 8, Eddie Rivera | erivera@pasadenanowmagazine.com Pasadena City Council have welcomed former Justice Miguel Mrquez as the next city manager. During his tenure in South Pasadena, Joyce hired Josh Betta to be the city's Finance Director at that time. Jason Henry is an investigative reporter with the Southern California News Group. Municipal politics, Bureaucracy and Corruption, No Way! 04. If you are also interested in hearing from the candidate on specific topic areas, you can send an email to cmoffice@southpasadenaca.gov. | 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. We look forward to working with Armin to advance infrastructure projects and services that improve the quality of life of every South Pasadenan. 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); ColoradoBoulevard.net - By Coloradoblvd.net and WMF. The City is located near the neighboring cities of Pasadena, South Pasadena and Alhambra, with easy access to all of Southern California. But especially controversial was DeWolfes handling of what she had described as inappropriate accounting practices by the citys Finance Department. Fax:(626) 403-7211 The City Council narrowed the finalists to five, then two, before initially deciding to offer the job to Jordan, according to a staff report. 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. There will be an opportunity for questions at the end of the forum, time permitting. The only agenda item will be a public employment matter concerning embattled City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe, the South Pasadena reported. Jason Henry is an investigative reporter with the Southern California News Group. The City Manager is appointed by the Council to oversee the activities of the city. Events. Her starting annual salary is $215,000. 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. 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. 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 . RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds offer another way to get Pasadena Now content. For Advertising, Call (626) 737-8486 Ext. 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. Her starting annual . (310) 378-9116, Published on Saturday, April 8, 2017 | 1:33 pm. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Pasadena Now strives to provide factual, unbiased reporting. It will be broadcast live via Zoom on the City Councils meeting website. Though council members did not give a reason for the resignation, Jordan had clashed with them in the past, including in one instance in which he defied a 4-1 decision by the council to relocate its meetings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. We are excited to welcome Armine as our new City Manager," said Mayor Diana Mahmud. 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. The City of South Pasadena is a General Law City, incorporated March 2, 1888, operating under the Council-Manager form of govern-ment. Copyright 2023. At the forum, Chaparyan will present her experience and interest in serving in the citys top administrative post.. E-mail press release to : editor@pasadenanow.com 4, Faith Fernandez, Chief Administrative Officer | ffernandez@pasadenanowmagazine.com 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. Back Submit. Your email address will not be published. The South Pasadena City Council on Wednesday is set to vote on the appointment of Christopher A. Jordan as the new City Manager. 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. 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. 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. Mrquez is expected to be formally introduced. 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.. 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. He is a self-identified technophile, data nerd and wannabe drone pilot. Pasadena Black History Month Magazine, Parents: National Catholic Schools Week Guide. M-Th 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, City Manager Her starting annual salary is $215,000. 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.