Assistant city manager Martin Bernal will be taking the reins from City Manager Dick Wilson after a unanimous vote by Santa Cruz city council to appoint him to the new position. Bernal served as Assistant City Manager for 13 years, and was a popular choice among City councilmembers, department heads and community leaders.
Assistant city manager Martin Bernal will be taking the reins from City Manager Dick Wilson after a unanimous vote by Santa Cruz city council to appoint him to the new position. Bernal served as Assistant City Manager for 13 years, and was a popular choice among City councilmembers, department heads and community leaders.
He steps into the position with facing the challenge of handling the city’s $4 million deficit, coupled with reduced revenues. Adding to this is the city’s decision to fill the vacancies of eight police officers. It will be up to Bernal to find the money to do this, and he is already negotiating with employee groups. He describes this as “defining the new normal,” and admits that he will face some “difficult decisions” up ahead.
Mayor Mike Rotkin is confident in Bernal’s abilities, saying, “He has had direct experience in our city finances and the complex political realities of our community.” And Bernal received another ringing endorsement from his former boss Dick Wilson, who said that, “he is exactly what the city needs to deal with the issues the city faces now.” Read more at Fox 35 and the Mercury News.
