Dave Kiff, selected this week by councilmembers as the new Laguna Beach city manager, said he will focus on collaboration and innovation to address the community’s needs when he takes over City Hall’s top post on May 6.
Kiff, a former Laguna Beach resident, last worked as the division director for Sonoma County Health Department Services, overseeing homeless programs totaling $30 million annually. He’s also held interim city manager posts in Sonoma, Healdsburg and Huntington Beach. And, he worked in Newport Beach for 20 years, nine of them as city manager, when he retired in early in 2018; his contract would have been up in 2019.
“I am deeply committed to serving the people and community of Laguna Beach,” Kiff said in a statement. “My goal is to work collaboratively with residents, businesses, and community organizations to ensure that Laguna Beach remains a vibrant and inclusive place to live, work, and visit.”
The council approved Kiff’s selection on Tuesday, April 9. He will fill the role left vacant in September by Shohreh Dupuis, who retired as part of a settlement agreement with the city after alleging a hostile workplace because of conflicts with a councilmember. Following Dupuis‘ vacancy, Sean Joyce, a retired city manager, filled in until the council made a permanent hire.
“He’s had good experience and worked in a coastal city where he managed a budget much larger than what we have,” said Mayor Sue Kempf of Kiff’s time in Newport Beach, adding that she also heard good things from residents who knew Kiff when he lived in Laguna Beach.
“He’s a good communicator and is about getting the business of the city done,” she said, adding that Kiff coming out of retirement to manage the city also impressed her.
“Laguna holds a soft spot for him and encouraged him to get back into the game,” she said.
Though Kiff isn’t officially on duty until May, Kempf said he’s met with her to get up to speed on some of the council’s priorities, such as undergrounding utilities along Laguna Canyon Road, getting more uses in place at the former site of St. Catherine’s of Sienna School; and construction of a new fire station in South Laguna.
Kiff has a degree in business administration from Cal State Sacramento and a master’s degree from Fels Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. He will receive an annual salary of $315,000 and a monthly housing stipend of $1,000, among other benefits.
In the last 40 years, Laguna Beach has had only three city managers: Ken Frank, John Pietig and Dupuis.
Frank started in September 1979 and retired in December 2010. Pietig, who was Frank’s assistant city manager from 2001 to 2010, had the top job until June 2021. Dupuis served as Pietig’s assistant from May 2016 through June 2021, when she became city manager.
Related Articles
Ohtani’s interpreter charged with bank fraud, stealing $16 million from ballplayer
City of Santa Ana gearing up again to fight needle exchange program
Rialto pays $800K to daughter of patient firefighters refused to treat inside acute care facility
In Santa Ana, trust wanes after former City Manager’s resignation and $163,000 payout
Santa Ana City Council bans short term rentals operating in city
Leave a Reply