City Manager Henry Tingle announced this week he will be retiring from his long-held position in Citrus Heights at the end of 2016.
In an email to The Sentinel, Mayor Jeannie Bruins praised the city manager for being “largely responsible” for the City’s financial success, calling Citrus Heights “the only known city in California that operates debt-free while continuing to improve the quality of life” for residents.
On Friday, Tingle declined an interview request to discuss his 15-plus years of service in the City, saying he preferred an interview closer to his actual retirement at the end of the year.
According to the City website, the manager serves at the pleasure of the majority of the council and his office is responsible for “planning, supervising, and coordinating the City’s operations.” All department heads and key managers in the City report to the city manager.
Tingle’s leadership has largely been looked on favorably by the community, although his advocacy for the new city hall approved last year stirred some controversy among residents.
[From 2015: Council votes 5-0 for new city hall & MOB; lawsuit threatened]
Tim Schaefer, vice president of the Residents’ Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights (REACH), commended Tingle for doing “an exemplary job” over 16 years, although Schaefer himself had been a vocal opponent of the new city hall. The resident leader credited the city manager with helping bring in a “top notch police chief” and the formation of the City’s own police department in 2006.
REACH President Tonya Wagner, whose organization represents the City’s 11 neighborhood associations, said she was surprised by Tingle’s retirement announcement. She described him as being “pretty low-key” and said he’s always been easy to talk to, but is known to not prefer public speaking.
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The outgoing city manager is also known for his strong fiscal responsibility, recently summarizing one of his principles as “I hate debt.” His office also took a lead role in securing the new Dignity Health Medical Office Building and City Hall Project on Fountain Square Drive, which Tingle called “by far the largest project in the history of the City.”
[Related: Citrus Heights leaders break ground on new city hall project]
According to a 2008 California City Management Foundation newsletter, Tingle received a BA at Sonoma State University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of San Francisco. Prior to becoming Citrus Heights’ city manager in Oct. 1999, Tingle served as deputy city manager of Richmond, beginning in 1995.
In Dec. 2015, a Sacramento Bee article listed Tingle as one of California’s top 50 highest-paid local government officials in 2014, receiving a total pay of $282,311 that year.
A permanent replacement for the outgoing city manager has not been announced, but the city council has responsibility for appointing a successor. Police Chief Christopher Boyd will reportedly fill in for Tingle as-needed this year, according to Melanie Randel, Boyd’s executive assistant.
City council members reportedly had “mixed feelings” when Tingle told them of his plans to retire, but Mayor Bruins said she’s “happy he can retire with years ahead to enjoy it, because he deserves it.”
“He is a wonderful city manager, loved by so many people in the community and revered by the city council he serves,” the mayor said in her email to The Sentinel on Saturday. “He has become my friend and I will miss him when he retires.”
