Santa Rosa Seeks New City Manager

City Council to interview candidates for top administrative role this Friday

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:27pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of a municipal building or city hall office space, with warm sunlight streaming through windows and casting deep shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and civic responsibility.As Santa Rosa seeks a new city manager to lead its municipal operations, the search reflects the quiet contemplation and civic responsibility that defines local government.Santa Rosa Today

The Santa Rosa City Council will meet in a closed session on Friday to interview candidates for the city manager position, which has been vacant since January when the previous city manager left for a job in Sacramento. The council is seeking an experienced candidate with a strong financial background and problem-solving skills to help guide the city's budget, economic development, housing, and infrastructure priorities.

Why it matters

The city manager is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing Santa Rosa's day-to-day operations, $554 million budget, and nearly 1,300 city employees. The new hire will play a crucial part in shaping the city's future as it navigates financial challenges, infrastructure needs, and community priorities.

The details

The city has enlisted an executive recruiting firm to help find a replacement for former City Manager Maraskeshia Smith, who left in January. Council members say they are looking for candidates with experience in municipal finance, economic development, and community engagement. The selected candidate will need to address issues like right-sizing city operations, generating new revenue, and balancing priorities around infrastructure, public safety, and basic services.

  • The city council will meet in a special closed session on Friday, April 11, 2026 to interview candidates.
  • Applications for the city manager position closed on March 8, 2026.
  • The council reviewed applications during a closed meeting on March 24, 2026.

The players

Mark Stapp

The mayor of Santa Rosa, who said the city received interest from an experienced pool of candidates across the state.

Lori Ann Farrell

The interim city manager who took over after the previous city manager's departure.

Jeff Okrepkie

The vice mayor, who said a strong financial background will be a key quality they are looking for in candidates.

Caroline Bañuelos

A city council member who said the right candidate should be ethical, have strong communication skills, and be 'focused on solutions.'

Eddie Alvarez

A city council member who, along with the mayor and two other council members, will be looking for candidates with a strong financial background.

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What they’re saying

“'It's clear that Santa Rosa is viewed as a great opportunity with a lot of potential and the job attracted interest from an experienced group of candidates.'”

— Mark Stapp, Mayor

“'We have great talent at the city and we need to make sure we're developing it and that staff has paths to grow.'”

— Mark Stapp, Mayor

“'The right candidate should be ethical, have strong communication skills and be 'focused on solutions.''”

— Caroline Bañuelos, City Council Member

What’s next

Following the initial interviews on Friday, the council expects to select a candidate in the coming months. The winning candidate will then enter contract negotiations with the city, with a final contract to be approved by the council in an open meeting.

The takeaway

The selection of Santa Rosa's next city manager will be a critical decision for the city, as the new leader will be tasked with guiding the city's finances, infrastructure, and community priorities during a time of challenge and opportunity. The council is seeking an experienced, solutions-oriented candidate who can work collaboratively with staff, regional partners, and the community.