By Bay City News.
East Palo Alto's next city manager returns home.
Melvin Gaines, an East Palo Alto native who served as deputy city manager for the nearby city of Portola Valley for the past two years, has been selected to become East Palo Alto's next city manager.
The offer of employment is contingent on City Council approval of the employment agreement, which will be considered at Tuesday's City Council meeting.
Gaines was selected after an extensive recruitment and selection process involving community members, local city managers, city staff, and the City Council.
Notably, Gaines has over a decade of managerial and executive experience with Bay Area governments and agencies.
Prior to her role with Portola Valley, she was a Principal Management Analyst in the Mountain View City Manager's Office. From 2011 to 2016, Gaines was an employee of East Palo Alto, holding management roles in the city manager's office, police department, and community and economic development department.
“I am honored to be named City Manager for East Palo Alto, my hometown,” Gaines said.
“I am truly grateful to the City Council and the community for placing their trust in me. I have spent the last 22 years working, learning innovative approaches and supporting efforts to improve East Palo Alto and the lives of our neighbors. I look forward to continuing this work in my role as City Manager. I am fully committed to working collaboratively with the City Council, staff and residents to help East Palo Alto prosper."
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