Santa Barbara City Administrator Jim Armstrong is stepping down from the position he has held for the past 13 years. Armstrong announced his departure Friday, effective at the end of September.
Armstrong has 37 years of experience in local government. Before coming to Santa Barbara, he served as city manager for the cities of Fullerton and Hanford, as well as assistant city manager in Anaheim. In September of 2001, he was appointed as Santa Barbara’s chief executive officer, tasked with overseeing 10 departments and a $275 million operating budget.
“Jim Armstrong has been an exceptional city administrator these past 13 years,” said Mayor Helene Schneider. She credited him with helping the city become “a stronger, more fiscally sound organization.”
As city administrator, Armstrong oversaw the dissolution of Santa Barbara’s redevelopment agency as well as the construction of a new airport terminal. He also helped spearhead the creation of task forces for neighborhood improvement and youth gang prevention.
The city will begin the process of recruiting a replacement this month.
Read more about Jim Armstrong’s departure here.