City Manager Nick Kimball announced that after over a decade serving the community, he will be stepping down from his role in the City of San Fernando on July 4 to pursue a new position as assistant city manager/chief financial officer with the city of South Pasadena.
“I do want to express my gratitude for all councilmembers that I’ve worked with and department heads over the last 11 years, and all staff members,” said Kimball. “There is a great staff here, and a very strong council, so the community is in very good hands.”
To ensure continuity in the city’s leadership, the City Council has appointed Deputy City Manager Kanika Kith to serve as interim city manager upon Kimball’s departure, while the council decides on his official replacement.
Upon Kimball’s announcement, councilmembers expressed their sadness for his departure and gratitude for his dedication to the city.
“It’ll be a great loss for the City of San Fernando to have you leave,” said Mayor Mary Mendoza. “I wish you the best of luck.”
“Your contributions to the community have been invaluable,” said Councilmember Joel Fajardo. “You will be sorely missed, but I’m immensely thankful, amongst other things, for the great staff that you leave behind.”
“You’ve changed San Fernando for the better and we have been so lucky to have you,” added Vice Mayor Mary Solorio. “We will be having big shoes to fill on your way out.”
Kimball joined the City of San Fernando in July 2014 as director of finance and, after holding a number of management positions, including interim city manager, was appointed as permanent city manager in January 2019.
Under his leadership, the city achieved numerous milestones, including stabilizing it’s finances, launching key infrastructure improvements and expanding community programs.
Kimball told the San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol that one of the greatest challenges and accomplishments throughout his time in the city was helping San Fernando recover from the brink of bankruptcy.
Through a deficit elimination plan, said Kimball, “We went from a $6 million general fund deficit, to five years later in 2019, having an actual savings account. … Now we have close to an $11 million, sort of rainy day fund.”
Kimball said he feels comfortable leaving the City of San Fernando in “pretty good shape” to take on a new challenge of “helping out another city, another community, that could use the rebuilding.”
“It’s a great little community,” Kimball noted with fondness. “So I leave with nothing but admiration and respect for the San Fernando community.”