After over three decades of service in the small college town of Arcata, City Manager Randy Mendosa served his last day with the city. Mendosa said his time with the city has been great, but that it was “time to let someone else drive the bus.” He also added that the city is currently in great hands.
He said that he plans to use his retirement to spend time with his family and travel. First, though, he admitted he will have to learn how to be retired.
His road to retirement has been a long one, starting with his career as a bus driver in 1980. Two years later, the police department hired him. In the department, he worked his way up through the ranks until he became police chief in 2002. Six years later in 2008, he took the helm as Arcata’s city manager.
In the meantime, Arcata Finance Director Janet Luzzi will serve as interim city manager while the city council looks for candidates to take the helm permanently. The city plans to complete its search in August.
When asked about any advice he had for the new city manager, Mendosa advised him or her to “always keep that fire in your belly.” He said that city manager is the kind of job that requires insatiable passion for the work being done.
Read more about Mendosa’s service here.