Council selects Ed Shikada as next city manager
Palo Alto’s new city manager has been selected from within the city’s own ranks, Mayor Liz Kniss announced Monday.
Assistant City Manager and Utilities General Manager Ed Shikada will take over for City Manager James Keene, who retires at the end of this year. Shikada was chosen after several closed council sessions.
“We know we are facing an incredibly competitive marketplace in terms of city manager candidates, and the Council felt strongly it wanted to ensure Ed was our next city manager before he was recruited away by another city for an opportunity,” Kniss said. “Over the past three years, Ed has been serving simultaneously in two key leadership positions, and has worked well with the staff, community and the Council. We anticipate a smooth transition as he moves into his new role.”
The city did not conduct a search for an outside candidate because other municipalities were looking at Shikada, city publicist Claudia Keith said.
Shikada joined the city as assistant city manager in 2015 and later assumed responsibilities as general manager of the utilities department in 2016. Prior to joining Palo Alto, he served as city manager of San Jose from 2013 to 2015 after having served as its deputy city manager since 2003. As San Jose’s city manager, Shikada oversaw 15 departments and 5,700 employees, according to the announcement.
Shikada’s base salary as city manager will be $356,000, but his total compensation package is still being negotiated, Keith said. City rules require the city manager to live in Palo Alto. Shikada will receive a housing allowance of $4,000 a month until he is able to secure permanent housing. He currently makes a base salary of $303,000, Keith said, adding that Keene’s base salary is $313,000.