Interim City Manager Leaving Santa Monica In 2021

SANTA MONICA, CA — Interim City Manager Lane Dilg is leaving her post in Santa Monica as her family relocates to another area.

Dilg stepped into the role in April, following the news from former City Manager Rick Cole that he was stepping down as the city's budget crisis mounted amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"Across my career, I have been immensely proud to dedicate myself to the public good. Serving the city of Santa Monica as interim city manager during the pandemic has been no exception," Dilg said in a statement issued Monday. "In the months to come, I remain fully committed to our ongoing work together to craft a thriving, more equitable Santa Monica as the pandemic subsides and the economy lifts. But I also know that finding the right leader for this uniquely talented city organization requires a deliberate, thoughtful search. To allow time for that search, I am letting the council know now that my family plans to leave Santa Monica in the spring of 2021."

As CEO and director of emergency services for the city, Dilg manages an annual budget of $613.6 million and staff across 10 city departments that provide services to 90,000 residents.

"Lane's love of this city, her intellect, and her capacity to inspire hope in our darkest hours are the benchmarks of her leadership," Mayor Sue Himmelrich said. "That Lane accepted this position at the city's most desperate moment is a testament to her commitment to public service. She has built a foundation that will allow Santa Monica to thrive in years to come, and I look forward to working with her and the council to establish a thoughtful, deliberate process for the city to identify its next city manager."

The Santa Monica City Council will begin an executive search in early 2021, with Dilg staying on into the spring to assist with the transition, city officials said.

Santa Monica is also searching for a new police chief after former Chief Cynthia Renaud retired in October. Jacqueline Seabrooks, a former Santa Monica police chief, came out of retirement and has been serving as interim chief.

- City News Service and Patch Editor Nicole Charky contributed to this report.