MADERA – Over the last month the city of Madera has been in negotiations with a home grown city manager with over 16 years of urban and community planning experience with the city of Fresno and Yuba City. The city of Madera announced this morning that they have come to an agreement with Arnoldo Rodriguez on his salarey and bennifit package. Following a vote at the next city council meeting, Rodriguez will take the reins of the city.
Rodriguez comes back to Madera after two years in Yuba City as their Development Services Director. Prior to that Rodriguez served the City of Fresno as a professional City Planner with over 13 years of experience. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology, Law, and Society from the University of California at Irvine and a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Cal Poly’s Urban Planning Program. Concurrent with his graduate studies, Mr. Rodriguez also worked for several non-profit organizations in and around the central coast.
The former Coyote began his career directly out of college in 2000 with the City of Fresno Planning Department where he applied himself as a Current Planner and Supervising Planner. Colleagues credit Mr. Rodriguez with researching and developing policy on best planning practices, infill development, land use, and housing that served to improve the quality of life of the citizens of Fresno.
Rodriguez most recently worked with the City of Fresno as the planning manager with the Long Range Planning Division of the Development and Resource Management Department, where he was responsible for the successful adoption of Fresno’s General Plan and drafted the Fresno Development Code.
As Yuba City’s Development Services Director, Mr. Rodriguez’s main priorities were overseeing all development projects and building inspection, improving the city thorough code enforcement and abatement of blighted properties, and efficient use of Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.
As a graduate of both Eastin-Arcola and Madera High School, Rodriguez is no stranger to the Central Valley. Recognized by his peers as a driven and ambitious leader, Rodriguez has over 16 years of local government experience. Rodriguez’s first job was working alongside his family in the fields in and around Madera harvesting grapes, garlic, and chilies. Rodriguez credits his parents with instilling an unrelenting work ethic in him early in his childhood, citing their desire to see him advance his education and pursue a career in public service.
“I’ve always had a desire to return home to serve my community,” said Rodriguez. “For the opportunity to present itself is exciting for my family and I, and we look forward to raising our children in Madera. Having them attend some of the same schools that I did; it’s humbling.” Arnoldo and his wife, Georgette, have three daughters and one son; their oldest, Josette, is a freshman at UC Merced. Mr. Rodriguez is also the brother of Madera South High School Principal Oracio Rodriguez.
Per the proposed terms of the agreement, Rodriguez would receive an annual base salary of $184,723.91, and would be eligible to receive monthly automobile and technology allowances of $350 and $75, respectively. Starting benefits would include two weeks of vacation, one week of available sick and administrative leave, health, life insurance, and retirement through the California Public Employee Retirement System. If the city council votes to approve the proposed contract, Rodriguez could start as soon as early December.
