Santa Monica's Assistant City Manager Announces Retirement

SANTA MONICA, CA — Assistant City Manager Katie Lichtig announced plans to retire from public service Thursday after 35 years of service in local and federal government, the City of Santa Monica announced.

Lichtig's local government career began in Santa Monica when she joined the team in 1992 as the Assistant to the City Manager for Management Services. She later went on to hold top leadership positions in neighboring westside cities and on the Central Coast, the press release said. Lichtig returned to Santa Monica in 2017 as Assistant City Manager and Chief Operating Officer.

"That we reached out to bring Katie back home tells you all you need to know about how Santa Monica feels about her," Mayor Kevin McKeown said. "Katie’s been an indispensable core part of every achievement our city takes pride in."

Her contributions to Santa Monica have spanned four decades, including recovering from the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, overseeing the implementation of community programs and services, and capital projects, the City said. Lichtig also recently saw Santa Monica through a reimagined budget process and the move to performance management.

"Public service has defined my life and it has been my honor to work on behalf of the City of Santa Monica. After 35 years, I am ready to start a new chapter," Lichtig said. "I take this step into retirement with tremendous gratitude for everything this community has offered me both inside and outside the organization."

Before rejoining the City of Santa Monica in 2017, Lichtig was the City Manager for the City of San Luis Obispo for seven years. She also served as Assistant City Manager/Chief Operating Officer for the City of Beverly Hills from 2006 to 2010, and City Manager for the City of Malibu from 2001 to 2006, the press release said.

Her last day will be April 9. After that, Andy Agle, Director of Housing and Community Development, will step into an interim role while the City begins the search for the next Chief Operating Officer.