Breaking news from SCVNews, which shares his long letter to the City Council announcing his retirement:
Pulskamp's tenure can be characterized as activist, nimble and even aggressive. No matter what else people say of him, he did accurately forecast the hit local governments would take to their ledger ahead of the Great Recession and today, nearly five years later, the City is still in the black when other California cities are bankrupt.
Questions remain over the City's quiet lawsuit regarding CVC land and City Hall, however, and who can forget how upset people were over the abrupt library takeover in 2010?
Assistant City Manager Ken Striplin is primed to take his role and I bet the City Council will be eager to hire him. Striplin has worked under Pulskamp just as Pulskamp worked under Caravahlo before him. My bet is the Council and staff won't want to go outside for a new City Manager.
A reader writes:
He tells the Signal he wants to "golf, hunt, and fish" and hang out with his family more.
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Pulskamp to retire at end of year
For the last 25 years, it has been my honor to serve Santa Clarita as its Assistant City Manager and beginning in 2002, as City Manager. After 35 years in city management, at the close of this year, I will be retiring, handing the leadership baton to the next generation, a little better than I found it.
I want to personally thank the City Council for the amazing opportunity to serve the great City of Santa Clarita. It is has been my honor to serve every city council since the advent of Cityhood. The relationships, the trust and partnerships over these last 25 years will remain a remarkable part of my life. As community leaders and elected officials, you have truly dedicated yourselves to Santa Clarita on a daily basis. Each of you should feel proud of the legacy of volunteerism, service and commitment that you have given our residents. I know that I am proud to have worked for you. I hope that over the last 25 years, I have lived up to the challenge offered by RCA Founder David Sarnoff, and that I am leaving my job as City Manager better than I found it.There's never a good time for someone in Pulskamp's position to announce he's leaving, but now just might be as good a time as any. Redevelopment is ending in Newhall whether the City likes it or not, the library takeover is complete and by this time next month, the new library in Newhall will be open. The CVC carries tens of thousands of cars per day and Las Lomas was defeated.
Pulskamp's tenure can be characterized as activist, nimble and even aggressive. No matter what else people say of him, he did accurately forecast the hit local governments would take to their ledger ahead of the Great Recession and today, nearly five years later, the City is still in the black when other California cities are bankrupt.
Questions remain over the City's quiet lawsuit regarding CVC land and City Hall, however, and who can forget how upset people were over the abrupt library takeover in 2010?
Assistant City Manager Ken Striplin is primed to take his role and I bet the City Council will be eager to hire him. Striplin has worked under Pulskamp just as Pulskamp worked under Caravahlo before him. My bet is the Council and staff won't want to go outside for a new City Manager.
A reader writes:
Woah. Just got his tweet. Love him or hate him, he's done a lot for Santa Clarita to move it forward. His leadership state-wide has also been significant as he took an active role in the League of California Cities on transparency issues in the wake of the expose of the corruption in Bell, and I believe (though I should be fact checked on this) that he was part of the team that came up with the Strong Cities, Strong State movement.Isn't it nice if you can 'retire' at 56?
Retirement is code for young(ish) City Managers meaning they're moving on to the private sector... so I'm curious to see where he lands next and what his roll will be. No matter what, I wish him the best.
He tells the Signal he wants to "golf, hunt, and fish" and hang out with his family more.
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