Just days after removing its old city manager in a “mutual agreement,” the city of Solvang has an acting one in place.
Xenia Bradford is the acting city manager, for now, the city said in a news release Sept. 9.
The City Council first offered the job to Matt van der Linden, the public works director for the city.
“Although flattered by this compliment, I will not be accepting the position of acting city manager,” he said in a news release sent out by the city. “I believe the best way I can serve the City Council and the residents/businesses of Solvang is to focus on public works and capital projects, especially our upcoming major wastewater treatment plant upgrade.”
Bradford was originally brought in as the chief financial officer on an interim basis and was permanently hired in June by former City Manager David Gassaway. City Councilman Chris Djernaes told the Sun that the City Council thus had a chance to take a good look at Bradford, which made their choice easy.
“For that [interim] period of five months, we were able to watch her work and found her very capable and able to answer all our questions,” Djernaes said. “I find her to be highly capable and effective at her job.”
Bradford comes in to the acting city manager position with extensive academic credentials. She received a master’s in economics from UC Santa Barbara, a master’s in public policy from Pepperdine University, and a juris doctorate from Santa Barbara College of Law in 2008.
Before working in Solvang, she was the finance director for San Luis Obispo. She originally applied for the city manager’s search that hired Gassaway.
“As a member of the finance committee, I’ve worked very closely with Xenia on the development of the budget,” Mayor Ryan Toussaint said in the release. “Both [City Councilmember] Daniel Johnson and I have had a very positive experience with Xenia. She is very capable and will certainly excel with her new responsibilities.”
After parting ways with the Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau, the city is still looking for ways to promote its upcoming events. Toussaint has previously stated how important events like Julefest are for the city’s fall tourism schedule. It has already contracted Visit the Santa Ynez Valley to promote STOMP and is now seeking proposals for Julefest, a month-long event that includes a visit from Santa Claus and tree lighting. The city announced its call for proposals on Sept. 13 with a final submission date of Sept. 19.
The City Council will make a selection at the Sept. 23 City Council meeting.
– William D’Urso
