Assistant City Manager Derek Johnson, who has played a key role in implementing the City’s major goals, will replace Katie Lichtig as San Luis Obispo’s top manager, the Council announced Tuesday.
Council recognized and showed appreciation for Lichtig’s strategic investment mentoring and preparing Johnson for this opportunity. That, coupled with Johnson’s over twenty years of public sector leadership, passion for the community, and vision made the selection an easy one, said Mayor Heidi Harmon.
“Derek has played a key role in many projects, such as the General Plan Update, and he has done so with competence and professionalism,” Harmon said. “This assures the Council that he not only is knowledgeable about the issues and challenges the City faces but that he also knows how to identify priorities, engage the community, lead staff and solve problems.”
Johnson will officially assume the role of City Manager on September 29th.
Johnson, who graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in environmental science, has worked for the City since 2011, initially as Community Development Director. He was named Assistant Manager in 2015. Prior to his work in San Luis Obispo, he was community development director for the city of Capitola, director of long-range planning for the County of Santa Barbara and general manager of the Isla Vista Recreation and Park District.
In San Luis Obispo, he has managed several large-scale projects and has played a key role in efforts to increase public engagement.
“San Luis Obispo is such a wonderful place,” Johnson said. “As City Manager, my goal is to ensure that those who live, work and visit here have the resources they need to enjoy it, which also requires that the City be financially healthy. Luckily, I learned from a great mentor.”
Lichtig announced last month that she was leaving San Luis Obispo after more than seven years as City Manager to become Santa Monica’s new chief operating officer and assistant city manager. After Lichtig’s announcement, the Council unanimously decided to pursue an internal selection process for her replacement, partly to ensure a seamless transition.
Lichtig, whose tenure in San Luis Obispo ends Sept. 28, will guide the leadership transition through September.
As City Manager, Johnson will be responsible for development and implementation of an approximately $142 million budget, supervision of nine department heads, management of an organization with over 400 employees with four represented employee associations/unions, and “full service City” responsibilities (police, fire, water, and wastewater services).
Johnson’s annual base salary will be $209,900.