Four months after former City Manager Justin Clifton officially stepped down, elected officials may have found his replacement.
Driving the news: During a closed session Friday afternoon, the Palm Springs City Council voted 5-0 to extend an offer to one of the candidates considered during interviews earlier this month.
- The list of candidates had been getting progressively smaller since November, moving from double digits to less than a handful as city leaders worked with a recruiting firm. The final decision was awaiting the seating of two new Council members, which happened in December.
- Discussion of hiring for the key role, including names and current residence of candidates, has been kept behind closed door to allow for privacy for applicants.
Looking back: Clifton, the former city manager in Sedona, Ariz., had been in the role for 15 months when he announced his resignation in July. He replaced David Ready, who spent 20 years in the role.
- Public records show Clifton was paid a base salary of $275,000 in 2021, his last full calendar year of employment with the city. Ready had earned $348,000 in base pay during his last full year.
Assistant City Manager Teresa Gallavan had been filling the city manager role since Clifton’s departure. She is not believed to be a candidate to take over the job permanently.
