City eNews Release:  Friday, March 26, 2010

San Pablo Selects Pittsburg's Matt Rodriguez as New City Manager

(A joint press release between the Cities' of Pittsburg and San Pablo)

(Pittsburg, CA - San Pablo, CA)  The City of San Pablo Mayor Leonard McNeil is proud to announce the selection of R. Matt Rodriguez to the position of City Manager beginning May 3, 2010 succeeding Brock Arner who will retire at the end of April 2010.

For the past five years, Matt has served as the Deputy City Manager-External Operations, and former Assistant City Manager for the City of Pittsburg. He also served as the City’s Assistant Executive Director for the Pittsburg Redevelopment Agency, and as Acting Public Works Director.  Pittsburg City Manager Marc S. Grisham stated, ”We will surely miss Matt as he was the commensurate professional, and a positive stabilizing force for the organization who provided leadership and guidance to the City’s operations during a challenging economic period for the City. It is a tremendous loss to Pittsburg, but a tremendous gain to the City of San Pablo. We wish him the best of luck on his new appointment.”

Mr. Rodriguez has over 19 years of public sector experience, at both the municipal and County government levels, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, a Masters Degree in Public Administration, and a Masters’ Degree in Planning, all from the University of Southern California. He has held the former positions of Assistant City Manager and Interim City Manager both at the Southern California cities of Solana Beach, and Imperial Beach in San Diego County.

Mr. Rodriguez is excited to be coming to the City of San Pablo, and said, “San Pablo is a great community. I am eager to get started and to make a positive contribution to the City and community of San Pablo. I look forward to working with everyone on the San Pablo Team.”

San Pablo City Manager Brock Arner said,”The Council conducted a nationwide search and unanimously selected Mr. Rodriguez as its next City Manager.  A background check with people in Pittsburg confirmed his qualifications and strength of character.  I could not be more pleased that Matt Rodriguez has been selected as the next City Manager to carry forward the Council's paradigm shift and to steer the City through a most difficult financial environment."

As San Pablo’s new City Manager, Rodriguez will receive an annual base salary of $210,000. Matt Rodriguez is married to Delores M. Rodriguez, and the couple have two children: 16-year-old son Anthony, and 9-year-old daughter Marisol. Matt Rodriguez said he plans to move immediately to San Pablo, followed by his family at the end of the 2009-10 school year.

For more information, please contact Mr. Marc Grisham, Pittsburg City Manager at (925) 252-4850 or Mr. Brock Arner, San Pablo City Manager at (510) 215-3012.

*********************************************