Longtime Palm Springs City Manager Announces Retirement
PALM SPRINGS, CA — After serving the city of Palm Springs for nearly 21 years, City Manager David H. Ready formally announced his retirement Thursday. His last day on the job will be Dec. 31, 2020.
In a released statement, Ready said, “Serving the residents of Palm Springs has been an honor and a privilege. I am proud of the work our team has accomplished in partnership with our City Council, residents, businesses, tourism and hospitality stakeholders. I am also extremely grateful to my staff at City Hall for their diligence and dedication to performing the important work we do every day to make our city great — and to the many City Council members I have served over the years, for their vision, leadership and commitment to our city."
Ready previously served as City Administrator of Flint, Michigan for eight years before arriving in Palm Springs in 2000. Palm Springs Mayor Geoff Kors praised Ready for his work with the city.
“Palm Springs has experienced an unprecedented renaissance under DavidReady’s leadership. My City Council colleagues and I are grateful for his extraordinary knowledge and expertise when it comes to governing a complex municipality like Palm Springs and implementing important policy and community programs that make our city uniquely like no place else. On behalf of the residents of Palm Springs, we thank David for his tireless service and dedication to our city and wish him the very best in retirement. He will be greatly missed by everyone who has had the pleasure of working with him."
A joint statement from the City Council thanked the Ph.D. for his service.
“Dr. David H. Ready announced today his decision to retire at the end of this calendar year. It is with a deep sense of appreciation and respect that we congratulate Dr. Ready on his retirement. Dr. Ready has served the people of Palm Springs for nearly 21 years with integrity, intelligence, and fortitude," the statement read.
"In his time as our City Manager, the city has been transformed. Residents have returned homes and neighborhoods to their former glory, an engaged community has elevated our arts and entertainment scenes, local leaders have re-made our downtown and neighborhood businesses, and visitors from across the globe now travel year-round to Palm Springs. In the past two decades, city sales tax revenues have increased five times, transit occupancy taxes have tripled and property taxes have doubled," the statement continued.
"David Ready has managed our city finances, city services and city resources in a thoughtful, diligent and sound manner. During his tenure, we have endured two national economic downturns, the current COVID-19 health emergency, impacts from climate change and a renewed focus on racial justice. David and his team at City Hall have responded to every crisis. However, perhaps at no time has his experience, demeanor and institutional knowledge been as necessary as it has been in this year of challenge," the statement read.
A national search for a new city manager will begin in the near future, according to the statement.
This article originally appeared on the Palm Desert Patch
