After 7 years as the City of Murrieta’s City Manager and over 25 years in local government, Kim Summers has announced her retirement at the end of this year. She has dedicated herself to a life of public service, coming to the City of Murrieta as the Assistant City Manager in 2014 and being appointed by the City Council to City Manager in 2017. She served as Deputy City Manager and Public Information Officer in the City of Hesperia from 1999-2014.
Summers is proud of the accomplishments that the City has achieved during her tenure, which include successfully passing a one-cent sales tax measure (Measure T), ushering the Triangle project to submittal and grading, assisting in the development of the Murrieta Hot Springs Resort, recruiting a Costco, car dealerships, a Trader Joes and countless economic development initiatives. This has all been accomplished while the City has maintained the Murrieta Police Department’s Safest City status, achieving national accreditation for the Murrieta Fire & Rescue, restructuring the City’s finances to meet the highest reporting standards while preparing it for economic downturns and, in particular, meeting the City Council’s goal of a 30% operating reserve in all departments, navigating an international pandemic, and striving to create a positive organizational culture based on the City’s values to provide the level of service the community deserves.
“Being a City Manager is a challenging but rewarding vocation, and I have been blessed to serve in two great cities, working with amazing people, but all things must end”, Summers said. “It has been a great honor to lead this organization, assemble the finest executive team anywhere, and strive to improve the work lives of almost 500 employees, all while keeping the community safe, beautiful, and thriving. Now it’s time for me to give the next generation of public servants a chance to lead this amazing place.”
Summers is an International City/County Manager Association (ICMA) Credentialed City Manager and holds a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in communications. She was awarded Woman of the Year for the 67th Assembly District in 2021, and the California State Women’s Caucus Award for Woman of the Year, which recognizes a remarkable leader from each Senate and Assembly District. In addition, Summers was awarded the California State Ethical Hero Award from Cal-ICMA in 2021, and the 2022 Top Administrator Award from the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and the 2023 MMASC Presidents Award.
City Manager Summers has enjoyed mentoring a wide variety of upcoming leaders on the tenets of servant leadership and maintains a deep love of public service. As a lifelong learner, she has served on the board of directors for Cal Cities Women Leading Government, the board of the Municipal Management Association of Southern California (MMASC), a board position in the Cal Cities City Manager Department and served on a variety of committees dedicated to improving the City Manager profession. In October, she is being recognized by ICMA for 25 years of service in local government.
She will officially retire on January 10, 2025, to assist the City Council in selecting her replacement and allow adequate time to assist the organization with this transition. Her last City Council Meeting will be on November 19.
“Murrieta, thank you for allowing me to serve as your City Manager; it has been the adventure of a lifetime,” Summers said.
What is next for Summers? She looks forward to spending more time with her husband and family, traveling, and working in her garden.