Sacramento council set to appoint new city manager. Here’s when
After a monthslong search, Sacramento is expected to select its new city manager next week.
The City Council will make the official appointment during a closed session meeting Tuesday morning, according to Thursday’s agenda. The decision will fill one of City Hall’s most influential roles, overseeing nearly 5,000 city employees.
Sacramento launched a nationwide search after the City Council declined to extend former City Manager Howard Chan last December. The decision followed months of criticism and over his salary and decision-making. Chan earned $789,147 in total wages last year — the second highest among all California city employees. A chunk of his total pay in 2024, as in previous years, comes from his leave balances.
In February, the city hired CPS HR Consulting to lead the search. The firm began by interviewing the mayor and council members and later held in-person and virtual community meetings. The City Council has interviewed the finalists in the last few weeks. The start date of the new city manager is yet to be announced.
Leyne Milstein, who has worked with the city since 2005, was appointed interim city manager in January. Milstein had previously told Inside Sacramento that she did not plan on applying for the permanent position.
This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 5:09 PM.
CORRECTION: The City Council’s plan to make the official appointment of a city manager was made public via a published agenda for their upcoming meeting. An earlier version of the story incorrectly stated that the plan was published in a staff report.
