Under the policies established by the City Council, the City Manager is responsible for the efficient, ethical, and professional management of all affairs and departments operating within the City. The City Manager is the City's chief executive, employed by and directly responsible to the City Council. The City Manager organizes and directs a team of department heads and staff to implement programs and deliver public services. The City Manager also serves as the Executive Director of the City's Redevelopment Agency and Municipal Finance Authority.

The City Manager's functions include:

• Support of the City Council and implementing policies and directives from the Council
• Provide leadership and manage the services and programs provided by all City departments
• Continue to build and develop a strong management team
• Prepare a budget that identifies all the revenues and expenditures anticipated in the forthcoming Fiscal Year in a fiscally sound manner
• Ensure the highest level of customer service to residents and businesses
• Oversee the process for development of capital and infrastructure projects, striving to ensure that the projects are successfully accomplished within specified time frames
• Engage residents, foster community partnerships and interagency collaborations
• Ensure that City Hall provides a professional and environmentally friendly work environment for our customers and employees, maintaining the building as a symbol of pride for residents

Click here to read a message from City Manager Scott Hanin to residents of El Cerrito discussing the compensation of El Cerrito employees in light of the controversy surrounding the city of Bell, CA.

City Manager Scott Hanin presented the proposed Fiscal Year 2010-11 budget to the City Council on June 7, 2010. The budget was adopted by the City Council on June 21, 2010. The budget reflects the projected workload and funding, as well as the City Council's priorities for this year:

• Fiscal Responsibility
• Maintain High Quality Level of Services to the Community
• Continued Emphasis, Development, and Implementation of the City’s Infrastructure and Capital Projects
• Environmental Stewardship
• Economic Development

With continued citizen participation, City Council leadership, and the ongoing efforts of the City's dedicated employees, El Cerrito will continue to be a desirable place to live, work, play and shop.

Copies of the Adopted FY 2010-11 budget book are available for review at City Hall, or you can download the ADOPTED FY 10-11 Budget Book (PDF, 5.82MB)

Looking for last year's budget book? You can download the Adopted FY 2009-10 Budget Book (PDF, 5346Kb)

Scott Hanin has served as the City Manager for the City of El Cerrito since March 2001. Scott has over 20 years of experience in local government, including positions with the cities of New York, Pasadena and the rest of west Contra Costa County as well as consulting to public agencies throughout California. Prior to coming to El Cerrito, Scott served as the Executive Director of the West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority.

In El Cerrito, Scott has focused his efforts on improving the City’s budget and financial reporting as well as upgrading the City’s technology, public information and infrastructure. Under Scott’s leadership, the City built a new City Hall, the first permanent structure to house the City’s employees in over twenty years; restored the Cerrito Theater, winning several historic preservation awards; and is investing significantly in improvements along San Pablo Avenue, the City’s main commercial route, including signage, streetlights, pedestrian improvement, new street trees and medians. Initial plans are underway for a new library, senior center and public safety building. Scott has served as the Chair of the Contra Costa Public Management Association (PMA), and is a member of the California City Management Foundation (CCMF) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

Scott holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from New York University, and a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from the University of Delaware. In addition, he has completed the University of California at Berkeley Executive Seminar program. He is married to wife Laurel and has two children, Sophie and Eli.

Karen Pinkos is the Assistant City Manager for the City of El Cerrito. Karen’s duties include oversight of general government operations, customer service initiatives, and community partnerships and interagency collaborations. She has direct responsibility for the Environmental and Development Services Department, which includes Planning, Building, Code Enforcement, Environmental Services, and Recycling; Public Information and Outreach, and the City’s Art in Public Places program. She serves as acting City Manager in the event of the Manager's absence. She is also the staff liaison to the Arts and Culture Commission.

A native of Michigan, Karen has over 15 years of experience in professional management, beginning her public sector career in the City of Oak Park, Michigan before coming to El Cerrito in 2001. She is passionate about local government and is dedicated to promoting professional, efficient, ethical management in California and across the country.

Karen serves on the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Executive Board as a Vice President for the West Coast Region. She is an ICMA Credentialed Manager, a member of the Municipal Management Association of Northern California (MMANC), and a recipient of the Wes McClure Outstanding Assistant Award, MMANC’s highest honor. She serves as an ICMA representative on both the Executive Committee of the League of California Cities City Manager’s Department and the Cal-ICMA Board. She holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley Executive Seminar program.