Following an extensive and competitive recruitment, the City of Los Alamitos City Council has approved Chester “Chet” Simmons as the new city manager.
The council voted 5-0 following a closed session at its Jan. 21 to give Simmons the nod.
Simmons currently serves as Assistant City Manager of Westminster and, according to the city’s agreement, the new city manager will report for duty on February 3.
Simmons comes to the City of Los Alamitos by way of the City of Westminster. During his thirteen-year tenure with the City, Simmons served in numerous capacities, most recently as the City’s Assistant City Manager and Director of Community Development.
During this time, Simmons has been the point person for a number of high-profile initiatives in the city, including the city’s recently adopted General Plan, the public/private partnerships that brought Infiniti, Airstream, and a Costco Business Center to the Westminster, the planned redevelopment of its Civic Center property, and the city’s new community engagement initiatives.
Simmons has been also largely credited with initiating the city’s new Development strategy that has resulted in some of the city’s newest development successes. Chief among these are the approved Bolsa Row development, which will bring a five-star 150 room boutique hotel, luxury condo and retain development to the city’s cultural business district, and the newly approved mixed-use developments along Westminster Avenue and Beach Boulevard. Most recently, Simmons also served as the city’s negotiations with the owners of the Westminster Mall in order to allow for the redevelopment of the 104-acre site into a regional lifestyle/entertainment development.
“We are delighted to welcome Chet to the City of Los Alamitos and to have him lead our Executive team,” said Los Alamitos Mayor Richard Murphy. “Chet brings with him a wealth of experience and we look forward to working with him.”
“This is a great opportunity and I want to thank the Mayor and the City Council for the confidence and trust they have placed in me,” stated Simmons. “Los Alamitos is an outstanding community with great residents and an unequaled staff. I am truly excited to see what we are able to accomplish together.”
Simmons holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Gonzaga University, and is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, International City Management Association, and the California City Management Foundation.
According to city attorney Michael Daudt, the city has authorized a three-year contract with Simmons at a base salary of $189,600 per year, with an annual increase of 2 percent per year and a potential incentive bonus of 2 percent.
Further, Simmons will get 120 hours of vacation the first year, 136 hours in year two and 152 hours in the final year. In addition, the new city manager will be entitled to 80 hours of administrative leave, $1,400 per month insurance allowance, $700 per month car allowance, $78 per month cell phone allowance and a one-time allowance of $1,200 for the purchase of a laptop for use on city business.
Finally, Simmons will be entitled to a six-month severance allowance if terminated without cause.
The last day for Interim city manager Les Johnson was Friday, Jan. 24, so the Council has appointed Recreation Director Ron Noda as acting city manager until Simmons is able to assume the position.
