Los Altos City Council Appoints New City Manager

Los Altos, Calif. — June 23, 2021 — The Los Altos City Council is pleased to appoint Gabriel Engeland to serve the Los Altos community as its new permanent City Manager.

Following an extensive search and recruitment process of more than 30 candidates, the City Council unanimously selected Engeland and approved his appointment during the June 22, 2021, regular City Council meeting.

“We are very excited that Gabe has accepted the position of Los Altos City Manager. Gabe’s background, experience, and success working as a City Manager in communities similar to Los Altos make him a good fit for our community,” said Mayor Neysa Fligor. “His leadership has been grounded in building a culture of accountability, collaboration, and transparency in City Hall, which will serve the staff and the Los Altos community well.”

Engeland comes to Los Altos after serving four and a half years as the City Manager of Sierra Madre, California, a full-service city of 11,000 people located 15 miles northeast of Los Angeles. In Sierra Madre, Engeland oversaw 100 staff and managed a budget of $24 million. During his tenure, Engeland increased the General Fund reserves to 95% of expenditures, led the implementation of the Water System Master Plan, and transitioned the City's Volunteer Fire Department into a professional department.

His executive experience in local government amasses over a decade, specifically in cities comparable in size to Los Altos. Prior to his time in Sierra Madre, Engeland worked for the City of Trinidad, Colorado as the City Manager, and was the Interim Development Services Director and Economic Development Administrator for the Town of Gilbert, Arizona. Engeland's primary focus, in communities he previously served, was on Finance and Budget Management, Long-Range Infrastructure Planning, and Organizational Development.

“As Los Altos continues to transition out of COVID-19, Gabe’s experience in finance and budget management and his innovative and solutions-oriented approach will be instrumental in ensuring Los Altos continues to be financially stable, has strong reserves, and is able to provide the quality and level of service our residents deserve,” Mayor Neysa Fligor added. “His ability to effectively manage and implement long-range infrastructure planning and engage with residents, community groups, and the business community will also be extremely beneficial as Los Altos moves forward with key projects and initiatives.”

Engeland brings a comprehensive educational background to his role in Los Altos, having earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas, a Master of Science in Human Resource Development from Louisiana State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Community Services from Central Michigan University. He also holds Emergency Management certifications from the Emergency Management Institute and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"I am honored that the City Council selected me to serve as the City Manager in Los Altos,” said Engeland. “I look forward to working collaboratively with the residents, businesses, and stakeholders. We will continue, and build on, the great work that is already underway, while striving to create government that is transparent, responsive, and focused on service.”

Engeland’s starting annual salary is expected to be $245,095; he will assume his position July 19, 2021. The City Council looks forward to introducing Engeland to the community.

For more information, contact Trevor Marsden at (650) 947-2729 or at tmarsden@losaltosca.gov.

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