After nine months without a permanent City Manager, Anaheim could have a new top administrative executive in a familiar face.
The Anaheim City Council is expected to consider a proposed employment agreement with a city manager candidate, Jonathan Borrego, during its next City Council meeting on Nov. 10, the city announced Thursday.
“The selection of Borrego as finalist follows a national recruitment, interview and evaluation process that took place from June through September with interest from more than 100 applicants,” the announcement said.
Borrego, Oceanside’s current city manager, got his beginnings in public service in 1988 as an entry-level planner in Anaheim City Hall before being promoted to Planning Division manager, which oversees the city’s municipal planning.
He joined Oceanside as the city’s director of development services in 2017, and in 2022, Borrego became the city’s first Latino city manager.
“Returning to Anaheim would be an honor,” Borrego said. “I owe so much to this city. The ‘Anaheim Way’ philosophy of going above and beyond for those we serve was instilled in me during my nearly three decades there. It is a spirit of service I carry forward to this day.”
“Should my appointment move forward, Anaheim can expect a steady transition, continuity of city services, sound budget management and responsible, effective city leadership for residents, businesses and visitors,” he said.
If councilmembers agree Tuesday night, Borrego could begin the role on Dec. 28, the announcement said, and fill a vacancy left by Jim Vanderpool, who served as Anaheim’s city manager for six years.
Vanderpool announced he was retiring in February, just days following his closed-door questioning by city leaders for having attended an Anaheim Chamber of Commerce-funded retreat to Lake Havasu early in his tenure without disclosing the trip as a gift in his 2020 statement of economic interests.
Vanderpool is cooperating with an investigation by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission for potential violations of a state law requiring elected officials to report economic gifts and interests, according to reports by TimesOC.
Vanderpool is currently serving as Palm Springs’ interim City manager; he was appointed in October.
Anaheim Assistant City Manager Greg Garcia has been serving as the interim city manager following Vanderpool’s resignation.
Borrego could be paid an annual salary of $409,000, plus other benefits provided to all executive managers, which is in line with the salary range for Anaheim’s city manager position, the city statement said.
Vanderpool was paid $386,000 annually.
Borrego is a Santa Paula native with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from Cal State Long Beach.
He holds certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners.
“While at Anaheim, Borrego played a leading role in modernizing zoning and planning for Beach Boulevard, the Platinum Triangle and The Anaheim Canyon. He also led a 2007 update of Anaheim’s general plan, a long-term overview of how land is used in the city,” the city announcement said.
If appointed, Borrego would oversee 2,000 city staffers and the day-to-day operations of Orange County’s most populous city, with more than 350,000 residents, and an annual budget of $2.6 billion.
He would likely be leading the city through a busy period and weigh in on several critical next steps: there’s how to spend a multi-million-dollar windfall that will be hitting Anaheim coffers in 2027 when the city pays off resort bonds; ensuring fluidity in several multi-billion-dollar developments rising around the city, including the DisneylandForward theme park expansion and OCVibe entertainment district; and next moves for Angel Stadium, including becoming acquainted with a likely new Angels’ owner.