|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Linda Smith announced in a statement on Thursday that after 15 years with the city of Dublin, and the last five serving as city manager, she will be stepping down from her position.
City communications manager Shari Jackman told the Pleasanton Weekly that Smith’s last day will be on Oct. 10 and that she will be leaving in order to begin the role as city manager for the city of Orinda.
“Working for the City has been an honor and privilege over these last 15 years. This community, even during its stages of growth, has kept its connectivity and small-town character,” Smith in the July 11 press release announcing her departure. “I am so proud of the team we have here serving this community and I know that the great work will continue on behalf of the residents and businesses.”
According to her employment agreement with the city of Orinda, Smith will begin her new job on Oct. 14, pending the final approval of her employment by the Orinda City Council set for Tuesday (July 16).
Smith was promoted to Dublin city manager in December 2019. She started as the assistant to the city manager in 2009 where she focused on economic development and public information. In 2013, she was named assistant city manager by then-city manager Chris Foss who retired in 2019.
Upon succeeding Foss, just 75 days into the job Smith faced the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and led the city’s economic recovery efforts during that time.
She also led efforts to support businesses amid closures and restrictions and facilitated the creation of programs that resulted in $2.68 million being provided to the community to support local businesses and residents in need, according to the press release.
Apart from that, Smith also led the city during a period of growth and transformation by promoting affordability in the community and being a champion of “solid fiscal stewardship,” according to the city.
During her five years as city manager, Smith used the city’s $120 million surplus to fund key capital projects as well as bolstering the city’s reserve funds. According to the press release, she also worked to get more than 730 units of affordable housing approved by the city.
“Linda has had such an incredible impact on the city of Dublin over the last 15 years,” It has been my great pleasure to work with Linda over the last few years and we are a better community because of her service to our residents and our businesses,” said Interim Dublin Mayor Michael McCorriston. “I have no doubt that Linda will continue to make an impact after leaving Dublin,” he added.
Other notable achievements from Smith’s 15-year career in Dublin included the negotiation of two school sites so the Dublin Unified School District could meet its student population needs; bringing the Kaiser Permanente Campus to Dublin, along with the Zeiss Innovation Center and the Persimmon Place Shopping Center; and initiating the efforts for the Downtown Dublin Preferred Vision, which resulted in the planned redevelopment of the Dublin Place Shopping Center.
She was also the architect behind the creation of the future Fallon East Economic Development Zone and advocated for the Dublin Boulevard Extension Project, according to the press release.
Smith additionally led the development of the Don Biddle Community Park; phase three of the Fallon Sports Park; the all-abilities Imagine Playground at the Dublin Sports Grounds; and the future Cultural Arts Center, Iron Horse Trail Nature Park, Wallis Ranch Community Park and Sunset Park.
Smith’s pending employment agreement with the city of Orinda is set to extend to June 30, 2027 and states that she would be paid an annual salary of just over $270,000. The Dublin council will be discussing the upcoming vacancy in closed session during its next meeting Tuesday.
