Albany City Manager Announces Retirement

The city manager of Albany, Beth Pollard, announced today, Wednesday, that she's retiring August 23 after 32 years in city government.

She served as Town Administrator in San Anselmo before coming to Albany in 2001.

The city issued this press release Wednesday about her retirement:

May 22, 2013

After 32 years working for city government, and close to 20 of those as a city manager, Albany City Manager Beth Pollard announced today that she will retire in August.

“Albany was the community that I had eyed in my career path for having it all: small town ambience, urban setting, and Bay Area location,” Pollard said. “Serving as its City Administrator starting in March 2001 was a dream come true.”

During her tenure, Pollard worked with the City Council to build a community that is safe, healthy, and engaged. “Together we have strengthened and improved Albany’s facilities, crafted policies that reflect community values, and planned for an environmentally and fiscally sustainable future,” said Mayor Peggy Thomsen.

“It is now time for me to create a new future in my life,” said Pollard, “and explore other possibilities.” Pollard’s last day will be August 23.

Thomsen, who was a member of the City Council that hired Pollard, said “Albany has been exceptionally fortunate to have had Beth's expertise, wisdom, and thoughtful, creative approaches to problem solving. She has shown true professionalism while maintaining her personal warmth and humor. Most assuredly, we will miss her strong leadership at City Hall and we wish her all the best.”

Pollard was Town Administrator in San Anselmo before moving over to Albany.

“Helping communities make decisions that inspire future vision, respect a range of perspectives, while being grounded in the limitations of money and time has always fascinated me,” Pollard said. “The City Councils with whom I have had the pleasure to City of Albany 1000 San Pablo Avenue Albany, CA 94706 www.AlbanyCA.org work and Albany residents have continually impressed me in their active pursuit of creating an even better community.”

Pollard said she is most proud of the City’s increased community engagement – everything from Neighborhood Watch to Dinner with Albany, physical improvements such as park renovations, an upgraded Civic Center, and expanded bikeways, and the City’s heightened sustainability focus.

What has been especially rewarding is attracting and retaining excellent staff, even during tough economic times. “The people who work for the City are extremely creative in stretching dollars and imagining new ways to meet changing needs. Their dedication to public service is truly extraordinary. I am very grateful for their talent and teamwork.”

The City Council will begin discussing a transition plan at its meeting of June 3, Thomsen said. 

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