In a strategic move to guide one of Orange County’s largest cities through a transitional period, the Santa Ana City Council has appointed seasoned municipal executive Thomas R. Hatch as the Interim City Manager. This appointment places Mr. Hatch at the helm of overseeing the operations of Santa Ana, managing a workforce of over 1,400 City employees.
The City Council, in a unanimous decision on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, passed a resolution formally appointing Mr. Hatch and authorized Mayor Valerie Amezcua to execute an employment agreement. Mr. Hatch is set to assume his responsibilities immediately and will continue to serve until a permanent City Manager is selected. Concurrently, the City Council approved an agreement with Jacob Green & Associates to facilitate the recruitment process for a long-term City Manager.
Mayor Amezcua expressed confidence in Mr. Hatch’s capabilities, stating, “Mr. Hatch’s extensive experience in local government and managing several Southern California cities will be invaluable to the City and people of Santa Ana. The City Council is delighted that he accepted our offer to serve in this role while we conduct a search for the best qualified candidate to fill the position permanently.”
With an impressive 36 years of experience in local government, Mr. Hatch has held key roles in various cities, including Walnut, Brea, South Pasadena, West Covina, El Monte, Costa Mesa, and Orange, along with serving the County of Orange. Notably, he served as the Costa Mesa City Manager for 7½ years and was the Assistant City Manager of Costa Mesa for five years. His diverse background also includes roles such as Chief Human Resources Officer for the County of Orange and Interim City Manager for the City of Santa Fe Springs earlier this year.
Mr. Hatch’s educational background includes an Associate of Arts degree from Mt. San Antonio College, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from Cal State University, Fullerton, and a Master of Public Administration from CSUF. Currently a resident of Costa Mesa, Mr. Hatch’s wealth of experience is expected to bring stability and effective leadership to Santa Ana during this transitional period.
Under the terms of the employment agreement, Mr. Hatch will receive an hourly rate of $156.82. As a retiree under the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), Mr. Hatch is limited to working no more than 960 hours in a fiscal year in this capacity. It’s important to note that he will not receive additional City benefits or compensation, including paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
Santa Ana anticipates a seamless transition under Mr. Hatch’s guidance as the City embarks on the process of recruiting a permanent City Manager with the assistance of Jacob Green & Associates.