Jinkens will leave SLT when contract expires

Publisher’s note: South Lake Tahoe City Manager Dave Jinkens gave the following letter to the City Council on Jan. 25. He announced on Jan. 26 during open session at the council meeting in his report that he would not seek a contract extension. His contract expires in August. He turns 60 in March.

Dear Mayor Lovell and Members of the City Council:

I hope that in 2010 our City government will be successful in focusing attention, energy, and resources on needed community improvements to best serve the 24,000 residents who reside here. The City government’s competent management team is ready and able to assist you in this important endeavor. As local government officials, we must continue to focus attention and resources on the matters of most importance to our community’s health and prosperity. We must work in harmony to create a healthy governance model for small and big businesses, recognize and support our existing business community, develop rational and efficient land-use policies to encourage private investment, value and listen to our residents, and put the general interests of our entire community first.

After considerable thought, I am writing as well to inform you that it is my intention to not seek an extension of my employment agreement with the City this year. I will work with the City Council on a transition plan and assist in any way I can to make the transition a good one.

It has been my distinct honor and privilege to serve the City Council and the people of South Lake Tahoe as your City Manager. Since my appointment in August 2002, I have worked with many fine elected leaders to place the people of the community and their interests at the top of consideration on public policy matters. With the help, guidance, and support of able members of the City Council, City management, labor organizations and community members we were able to transform a dismal City government financial picture into a more stable City government operation with strong reserves while continuing to provide a high level of essential community services. Work underway for the City’s General Plan, Tahoe Valley Community Plan, Sustainability Plan, and Redevelopment Plan #2 will serve residents well into the future. The adoption of a storm drainage master plan and street master plan identify infrastructure work needed in the community.

We face new challenges today with a State government in fiscal disarray and a slow local economy. City government leaders will need to meet these economic and budgetary challenges while maintaining, to the greatest degree financially possible, essential services to the community.

I want to make a special point of thanking City employees from all departments past and present during my tenure for their commitment to the public service and their desire to provide the best services possible to the people of our community. All City employees in their varied jobs are important. I have been honored and privileged to work with them in support of the City Council and our community. I value them and the job they do, and I wish them good fortune and success. There is no greater honor than to be a member of the public service.

I was told once by a council member that I am not a politician. He was right. I respect the political process in our democratic republic. A city manager cannot and should not be a politician while he/she is in this capacity. The people expect good, clean, honest, effective, non-political and non-partisan service from local government irrespective of political considerations or affiliations, and I have worked to see that City government provides these types of services during my tenure.

While I am departing as an implementer of public policy, I will maintain a keen interest in the community and policies that will benefit it in the future.

Thank you again for the privilege to serve. I wish you and the people of our community success, happiness, and good fortune

David M. Jinkens, MPA, South Lake Tahoe city manager