The Riverside City Council on Tuesday appointed longtime municipal executive Thomas R. Hatch as interim city manager, overseeing the operations of one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in Southern California.
The Council unanimously approved a resolution appointing Hatch and authorizing an employment agreement totaling roughly $187,000 in total compensation, according to a city staff report. Hatch’s term begins Friday, and he will remain in the interim position until a permanent city manager is hired.
Officials said the appointment represents the second phase of the city’s leadership transition. Immediately following the departure of previous City Manager Mike Futrell, who announced his resignation June 17 and officially departed July 5, the council asked Assistant City Manager Edward Enriquez to temporarily serve in the role.
Officials then hired an independent firm to recruit and place an experienced interim manager “to guide the city through the transition,” officials said.
Following interviews with interim manager candidates in closed sessions not open to the public, council members decided that Hatch was exceptionally qualified to lead during this transition period.
Hatch’s primary task is to help “ensure organizational stability” while the search goes on for a permanent top executive. Enriquez now will be able to return to his full-time duties as assistant city manager and chief financial officer/treasurer.
“The council would like to thank Assistant City Manager Enriquez for his willingness to assume the role during the first phase of this transition,” Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said in a statement. “He did an outstanding job during this initial phase and will now be able to resume his role as assistant city manager, providing critical oversight of the city’s finances.”
Last month, the council appointed Councilman Steven Robillard to work with the mayor and council members in coordinating the city management transition, including the recruitment of both the interim and permanent city managers.
Officials said the council is committed “to conducting a deliberate, transparent, and professional transition process” that serves the city’s best interests.
“Our responsibility was to find someone who could provide immediate stability while also preparing Riverside to attract an outstanding permanent City Manager,” Robillard said in a statement. “Tom Hatch has earned a reputation throughout Southern California for strengthening organizations during periods of transition. He understands that an interim city manager’s role is not simply to maintain operations, but to build confidence, implement the Council’s direction, and position the organization for long-term success. We are confident he is the right leader to guide Riverside through this important chapter.”
Hatch has 36 years of experience working for local governments throughout Southern California, according to Riverside officials. He has worked in Walnut, Brea, South Pasadena, West Covina, El Monte, Costa Mesa, Orange, Santa Ana, Santa Fe Springs, Placentia and Orange County.
Hatch was Costa Mesa’s city manager for over seven years after serving five years there as assistant city manager. He also served as the Orange County chief human resources officer, where he managed a workforce of approximately 16,000 employees. Most recently, Hatch has been the interim city manager for Orange, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Ana and Placentia.
He has an associate of arts degree from Mt. San Antonio College, a bachelor of arts in political science from California State University, Fullerton, and a master’s degree in public administration from Cal State Fullerton.
His employment agreement calls for an hourly rate of $195.05.
As a retiree under the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, Hatch may serve in the position for no more than 960 hours during a fiscal year and will not receive any additional city benefits or compensation, including paid vacation, sick leave or holidays, officials said.
As California law governing “retired annuitant interim appointments” requires, recruitment for the permanent city manager position is now open, marking the third phase of the leadership transition process, according to the city. Council members will create opportunities for community input regarding the leadership profile and qualities that are most important.
Robillard will continue coordinating the transition process with the council as the recruitment for the permanent City Manager moves forward, including community engagement, recruiting candidates and the council’s selection procedure.
Futrell and city officials did not explain why the former city manager resigned, but his departure coincided with a legal battle between his wife Susan Freeman and the Riverside government.
Freeman filed a legal claim, which is a precursor to a lawsuit, on June 11 alleging the city investigated her without due process in retaliation for criticism of public officials. The legal claim, which she agreed to drop June 16, followed a letter from the Riverside City Council sent to Freeman alleging she harassed municipal employees, which she has denied.
In April, Futrell accepted an offer to become Pasadena’s city manager, but he did not move into that position after the emergence of the Riverside council’s letter about Freeman.
