Pleasanton City Manager To Retire After 17 Years

PLEASANTON, CA — Pleasanton City Manager Nelson Fialho plans to retire at the end of November after 25 years of working for the city, including 17 at its helm.

The Pleasanton City Council will determine how to proceed in the search for a replacement, the city said in a statement. This typically includes retaining a recruiter to lead the search and determine what qualities would be found in an ideal city manager.

The city manager is tasked with overseeing a $200 million budget, $112 million for capital improvement projects and 500 employees, the city said.

“It has been an honor to serve the Pleasanton community, and I could not have asked for a more rewarding public service career," Fialho said in the statement. "The highlight has been working alongside the smart and talented people who support the mission of this extraordinary city, and I am immeasurably grateful to all those who supported me including our employees and city councils past and present."

When Fialho began his career with Pleasanton, he was the youngest municipal executive in the Golden State, the city said. Since then he's worked with five mayors and 19 council members.

Fialho prioritized fiscal sustainability, which the city said helped it navigate the coronavirus pandemic and Great Recession.

He worked to institute COVID-19 testing and vaccination systems by bringing together the school district, Stanford Health Care-ValleyCare, Dublin and Livermore, the city said.

Fialho's accomplishments include: boosting the city's operating reserves to $116 million; overseeing the joining of the fire departments in Livermore and Pleasanton; managing the 20-year general plan update; overseeing the acquisition of the Alameda County library for the city; and overseeing the completion of the Firehouse Arts Center, Callippe Preserve Golf Course, Kottinger Place senior affordable housing; among other things, according to the city.

“As a councilmember I enjoyed working with Nelson and was delighted to support his promotion to city manager," said former Councilmember Becky Dennis in the statement. "Now, as a retired ‘regular resident’ I enjoy working with the quality management team he’s built to assist the community in planning for the future. Nelson’s years of public service leave us a great many accomplishments and initiatives to build upon."