From Eastvale to Grand Terrace: Blue Mountain City has a New Face

Recent changes in Grand Terrace's leadership now include the appointment of a new interim city manager. Carol Jacobs was appointed at the Jan. 13 regular council meeting to the position of interim city manager, effective immediately. Jacobs fills the position held by former Interim City Manager Ken Henderson, whose contract with the city ended due to expired employee eligibility as a result of his retirement status through CalPERS, according to officials. Staff reports show that currently the city council is working with an executive search firm to assist the city with the recruitment of a city manager. The recruitment process is expected to be complete in April 2015, and until then the city must employ an interim city manager until a city manager is appointed. Jacobs's employment as the interim city manager commenced on Jan. 14 and will end upon the hiring of a city manager, staff reports show. Her employment agreement stipulates a salary of $170,000 plus benefits, including CalPERS retirement, health care, car allowance and sick leave. “I am very excited to be here in the city of Grand Terrace,” said Jacobs. “One of the first things I look forward to doing is helping the council implement their 2030 plan. It's a great plan and they have put a lot of time into developing it, and the former interim city manager also put in a lot of hard work. I also think continuing to work toward more economic development would be good for the city.” Her municipal career has spanned over 25 years. Prior to coming to Grand Terrace, Jacobs worked as the city manager of Eastvale from September 2012 until August 2014. From March 2009 to September 2012, Jacobs was the city manager for the city of Stanton, located in Orange County, where she also worked as an administrative services director for three years. Jacobs also has experience as a senior manager at the government services firm of CBIX MHM, LLC. Jacobs said she will draw on her past experience in government and managing cities facing financial challenges to benefit Grand Terrace. "I have a lot of experience working with fiscally challenged cities and I want to use that to help us cut some costs and go in a different way that maybe we didn't think of before," Jacobs said. In Stanton, Jacobs developed several plans which helped move the fiscally-strapped city out of a serious fiscal structural deficit, and in Eastvale, Jacobs worked on the renegotiation of the city's Revenue Neutrality Agreement and helped implement a rental registration program which allowed the city to register all rental homes and combat the growing problem of these properties being used as marijuana growhouses. Pressing issues for Grand Terrace, Jacobs shared, include the upcoming budget review - and priority should be placed on the development of a balanced budget, she felt. "We need to provide quality services with the resources we have," Jacobs said. "It might be a challenge, but I think we can do it." [END] PR by City: CITY COUNCIL SELECTS CAROL JACOBS AS INTERIM CITY MANAGER The City of Grand Terrace has selected former Eastvale City Manager Carol Jacobs as its Interim City Manager effective January 13, 2015. Jacobs fills the position held by former Interim City Manager Ken Henderson whose contract with the City ended due to expired employee eligibility as a result of his retirement status through CalPERS. Jacobs brings more than 25 years of municipal experience. She served as the City Manager of Eastvale between 2012 and 2014. Prior to that, she served as both City Manager and Administrative Services Manager for City of Stanton and as a Senior Manager at the government services firm of CBIX MHM, LLC. “I am very excited to be here in the City of Grand Terrace,” said Jacobs. “I look forward to supporting the City Council’s newly adopted 2030 Vision and Strategic Plan and build on the efforts begun by Ken Henderson and a fantastic staff.” The City Council has engaged the services of an executive search firm to assist the City with the recruitment of a permanent City Manager. It is expected that the recruitment process will be completed until the end of April 2015. FROM PE: EASTVALE: City Manager Jacobs resigns The announcement comes after a closed session at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting BY SANDRA STOKLEY / STAFF WRITER Published: Aug. 28, 2014 Updated: 3:30 p.m. Eastvale City Manager Carol Jacobs resigned, effective immediately, during a closed session at Wednesday night’s city council meeting, City Attorney John Cavanaugh said Thursday. Cavanaugh will serve as city manager at least until the Sept. 10 city council meeting, when the council may announce an interim city manager. Cavanaugh said he could not give details of Jacobs’ abrupt resignation, including whether she resigned voluntarily, was asked to resign by council members or if there was a payout. He cited the fact that the action had occurred during closed session. Jacobs could not be reached for comment Thursday. Her departure comes just shy of her two-year anniversary as Eastvale’s top administrator. She started work Sept. 10, 2012, and was paid $198,000 a year, plus benefits. Jacobs’ contract was renewable on a year-to-year basis, Cavanaugh said. She came to Eastvale from the Orange County city of Stanton, where she worked for six years, first as administrative services director and then as city manager. “I wish her all the best in the next phase of her career,” Councilman Bill Link said Thursday. He and Mayor Ike Bootsma declined to comment on Jacobs’ resignation, citing the fact that it occurred behind closed doors. Councilman Joe Tessari, who was appointed earlier this month to serve out the unexpired term of ex-Councilman Jeff DeGrandpre, said he recused himself because he joined the council just this month. Jacobs’ departure comes days after DeGrandpre alleged in an open letter to city residents that Bootsma and Link were on a “witch-hunt” to get her fired and replace her with Robert Van Nort, the city’s interim city manager after incorporation. Bootsma declined comment on whether Jacobs’ resignation was connected to DeGrandpre’s accusations. As for Van Nort returning, Bootsma said “That’s up to the council.” Jacobs’ exit comes as three city council seats are up for grabs in the Nov. 4 election and at least one will be filled by a newcomer. Councilman Richard “Ric” Welch is not running for a second term. Link and Councilman Adam Rush face nine challengers.