Pasadena is on the lookout for a new city manager. The city announced the impending retirement of chief administrator Miguel Márquez this week. According to the city, Márquez intends to stay on board until a permanent successor is appointed.
Márquez has been Pasadena’s chief administrator since August of 2022. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Santa Clara and as an Associate Justice for California’s Sixth District Court of Appeal.
In a press release, the city listed Márquez’s accomplishments as follows:
Maintained fiscal stability during uncertain times, with a balanced budget each year and financial reserves restored to pre-pandemic levels;
Secured labor peace through long-term contracts with the City’s employee unions;
Successfully passed Measures PL and L to support the retrofit and upgrade of the City’s historic Central Library, and to provide operational support for libraries citywide;
Invested millions of dollars to upgrade aging police and fire equipment to enhance the City’s public safety response efforts;
Invested millions of dollars to improve the City’s streets;
Procured more than $1B in long-term contracts for carbon-free energy, keeping the City on pace to exceed the State’s carbon-neutral mandate at least 15 years early, and making significant progress (92%) on the City’s goal of 100% carbon-free energy by 2030; and
Led a comprehensive response and recovery effort following the devastating windstorm and Eaton Fire earlier this year.
Calling his departure “a great loss” for Pasadena, Mayor Victor Gordo stated that the city is “deeply grateful for his service and the example he has set of selfless, principled leadership.”