Kurtz Talks About Latest Run As City Manager 

In an interview with Pasadena Now on Monday, Interim City Manager Cynthia Kurtz offered her reflections on her most recent term as City Manager. Kurtz’s last day in the role is Friday.

“I live in Pasadena and love this city,” Kurtz said.  “Being back in City Hall has reminded me how many people work every day to serve the Pasadena community – not just in City Hall but throughout the community.  It was wonderful to reconnect with people at PUSD, Caltech, the Tournament of Roses, the NAACP, Norton Simon, Friends in Deed, Union Station, Day One, Flintridge Foundation, the Community Clergy Coalition – the list goes on and on  –  everyone working for a better Pasadena.”

Full-time City Manager Miguel Márquez is slated to begin his time as City Manager next week. He will officially attend his first City Council meeting next month. He briefly sat in on a Council meeting earlier this month after he met the media. 

Kurtz was named Interim City Manager in October. Years earlier, she was Pasadena’s City Manager. She took the job in 1997 and had been with the city for 20 years when she left the position.  Kurtz is the only woman to have served as Pasadena City Manager. 

She has also worked as the Interim City Manager in both Covina and Santa Ana, as well as the Chief Operating Officer of River LA. She also served as the President of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership. 

When asked to provide insights on the city’s greatest challenges, Kurtz cited several issues, including community trust.

“Cities are always facing fiscal challenges and Pasadena is no exception.  Aging infrastructure, inflationary pressure, seismic retrofitting Central Library, capital needs at the Rose Bowl, affordable housing and other safety net programs all need resources.  The Pasadena government has to make tough decisions about how to allocate limited resources among competing needs.  I expect these challenges will always be there and the community and City Hall will work together to find a balance.

“Equally important is the challenge of community trust. There are people in Pasadena who no longer believe they are equal partners or equally served by city hall. Relationship building is critical and can’t be solved with money. It takes time, honest communication and intentional listening. Pasadena has gone through damaged relationships before and we will find a mutually beneficial path forward again. Our next city manager, Miguel Marquez has already stated his commitment to strong city hall community  relations.”

Kurtz said she was honored to serve again.

“Technology has streamlined many processes and yet there is still a lot of paper,” she said. “There are more advisory committees, task forces and commissions giving residents and businesses more opportunities to be engaged in the decisions making processes. Equally if not more important is what has not changed.  Pasadena has a strong, technically competent, dedicated staff that works hard every day to make this a great place to live and work.  I am very honored to have had the opportunity to work with them for a short time.”