SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Sunnyvale City Manager Amy Chan has announced her intent to retire from the City, ending a nearly three-decade career. Chan’s retirement, which was announced by City Council at their regular Tuesday evening meeting (December 11), will be effective once a new city manager has been identified and is ready to begin.
“This has been a long and sometimes bittersweet decision for me,” Chan said. “I have been with the City for almost 27 years. I am proud of our City’s accomplishments over this time span, and remain grateful for the tremendous support I have received from Council, City staff and our community.”
Chan has enjoyed a long string of successes as city manager, including stabilizing the long-term financial condition of the City; re-establishing credibility between Council, staff and the community; improving the City’s labor relations; and completing the first community vision of the City’s General Plan.
Perhaps Chan’s most visible accomplishment has been to get the redevelopment of Sunnyvale’s Town Center back on track. With Chan as city manager, a new developer was identified and the project is now well underway toward a 2009 completion.
Under Chan’s leadership, with guidance from Council, the City has embraced the importance of green and sustainable practices, setting a path forward for the City to continue to expand its efforts in this area.
Chan is quick to give credit to City staff, her “family-team,” as she describes them, and stresses the importance of looking ahead.
“I am happy about the state of our City” Chan stated. “We have a very talented workforce now, and we are financially sound. Downtown will soon be a destination point, a community gathering place, a shopping and entertainment haven, and the heart of our City. Our community vision will guide us well into the future. Given the strong foundation we built these last few years, I am confident that with the new leadership, Sunnyvale will once again be recognized as a brilliant jewel that staff, Council and our community will all be proud of, and other communities will envy.”
“Amy was appointed city manager at a very challenging time – the middle of the dot-com bust – when our city had a $15 million annual deficit, significant staff turnover and a problematic mall,” observed Mayor Otto Lee. ”Under Amy’s leadership, Sunnyvale’s budget is now balanced, the leadership team is in great shape, and the redevelopment of our Town Center is forging ahead. For more than 27 years of distinguished service to Sunnyvale, Amy will be hard to replace, but her successor will inherit a well-managed city with a bright future.”
“I have known Amy Chan for many years. Amy’s compassion, commitment and dedication to the City of Sunnyvale are immeasurable,” said Vice Mayor Tony Spitaleri. “Amy’s many years with the City gave her the insight needed to make our City one of the best-run cities in California. Amy is good friend, and as the city manger, has provided me with sound advice. It will be difficult to find some one to fill her shoes.”
It is expected that Council will begin a recruitment search shortly, with a likelihood of hiring a new city manager by mid-summer 2008.