Fresno city manager retires after reported outburst during meeting, sources say

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Fresno city manager informed mayor of departure in a letter. Here’s the note

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Fresno City Manager Thomas Esqueda has resigned, three City Hall sources told The Bee on Tuesday.

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer hired Esqueda as his city manager when he took office in 2021.

Three sources told The Bee Esqueda hasn’t been seen at City Hall since the closed session of the Fresno City Council meeting on Jan. 13. During a discussion about the Fresno Police Officers Association contract, Esqueda reportedly became upset, yelled, cursed, and left the meeting and City Hall.

Before working for Dyer’s administration, Esqueda served as Fresno State’s first vice president for water and sustainability. Before that, he was Fresno’s public utilities director. He spearheaded the “Recharge Fresno” project that included completing a new surface water treatment plant.

The city was expected to formally announce the resignation later Tuesday, sources told The Bee.

The Bee reached out to Esqueda for comment but did not hear back.

Turnover in the Dyer administration

Esqueda is the latest of multiple departures in the Dyer administration.

Earlier this month, Dyer’s Chief of Staff Tim Orman announced he is leaving his post at the end of January. Orman also served as the chief of staff for former Mayor Lee Brand.

Last year, Dyer also hired a new director for the Fresno Yosemite International Airport after longtime Director Kevin Meikle announced his retirement.

Dyer also hired a new, permanent director of Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (PARCS) department last year after the former director, TJ Miller, transitioned to the personnel director, which also was vacated by the former director Jeff Cardell.