Ken Pulskamp

City Manager Ken Pulskamp announced his retirement in a letter to the mayor and City Council on Monday, signaling the end of his 25-year career with the City of Santa Clarita, effective December 2012.

Pulskamp, 56, will be retiring after 35 years in city management, the last 10 years as City Manager for Santa Clarita.  He came to Santa Clarita in 1988 as the Assistant City Manager.  In 2002, he was appointed as Santa Clarita’s second City Manager.

Mayor Frank Ferry said he met with Pulskamp at 7 a.m. at Starbucks where they spoke for about an hour.

“When you look back over the course of cityhood, you think of all the parks, you think of the community center and the library and you just look at how we have a 15 percent reserve and we’re in the black. He’s got to be considered one of the top 1 percent of city managers in the country. He really and truly is just an amazing public servant and we’re fortunate to have had him serve so long.”

Frank Ferry, Mayor

“As I tour and think about this city. I find everything that is great about this city has Ken Pulskamp’s finger on it. I think this man has been just a phenomenal city manager. This city has flourished under his leadership and I will tell you it’s a sad day for me thinking we’re not going to have him continuing to be at the helm of the city.”

Bob Kellar, Mayor Pro Tem

“He has been extremely supportive of creating a city that’s built around a core of trail linkages, historic landmarks, open space and parks. He loves the outdoors and he has worked to enhance the natural geographic benefits that we have in Santa Clarita. He’s a guy that loves the town he lives in and he has really worked hard at beautification and keeping components of that for all future generations.”

Laurene Weste, Member, Santa Clarita City Council

“I wish Mr. Pulskamp the best in whatever endeavors he chooses to do next. I think he has been very successful here as the manager of the city of Santa Clarita. His strongest suit has been his fiscal responsibility, a very conservative fiscal responsibility.  I think he’s left the city in a very good economic place and I think that will benefit the person who replaces him.

TimBen Boydston, Member, Santa Clarita City Council

“He’s taken every direction the city council has given him and he has done the absolute best for our city. There are just too many accomplishments that we have garnered under his management to name just one. It would be hard.”

Marsha McLean, Member, Santa Clarita City Council