Already familiar with running another California coastal town surrounded by military bases, Andy Hall will take the helm as San Clemente’s city manager in February.

The City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 17, unanimously selected Hall for San Clemente’s top post; he’ll be leaving the helm of Imperial Beach in San Diego County. The town of 30,000 is the southernmost along the California coast, bordering Mexico. Hall, 56, has been its city manager for a decade.

Before Imperial City, he was the city manager of Cathedral City in Riverside County, and before that was assistant city manager of Draper City, Utah. He has been the planning manager of Henderson, Nevada, and for nine years was the city manager of Payson City Corporation, Utah. He has more than 30 years of local government experience and 20 years as a city manager, according to the city’s announcement.

Hall’s salary will start at $270,000 a year.

“After years of acrimony on the council, I am pleased that my colleagues and I share views about the fundamental role of our local government: Making San Clemente an even better community than it already is, and making the business of caring for the quality of life of our residents and success of local businesses our highest priority,” San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan said in a statement. “My colleagues and I agree wholeheartedly that Andy is the right organizational leader to foster continued staff development and to achieve the shared goals of the City Council and community.”

Hall was selected after the council undertook a national search last year following then-City Manager Erik Sund’s resigned in early August for the city manager job in Big Bear. Sund was promoted to San Clemente’s city manager in 2021, after serving alongside two previous top administrators.

The city manager search netted interest from 53 candidates who came from across the country and even outside the U.S.; the decision was left until after newly elected council members were seated.

Hall holds a degree in geography-urban studies from Arizona State University and a master’s in public administration from the University of Utah. He and his wife of 36 years, Stephanie, have two adult children and two grandchildren, according the city’s announcement.

“It’s a beautiful coastal community, I’m very honored they considered me,” Hall said Wednesday, Jan. 18. He will start work in San Clemente on Feb. 21.

While he loved his job in Imperial Beach, Hall said he was enticed to apply for the San Clemente position, especially given the two ocean-front towns share similar issues, such as sand erosion, the impacts of climate change and water quality. Both are also near military bases; Imperial Beach is a huge supporter of its nearby Navy pilots and San Clemente has strong ties to the Marines and sailors at Camp Pendleton. Hall’s father served at Camp Pendleton in the late 1950s.

“It was just too much to pass up,” Hall said.

And he’s ready to roll up his sleeves, he said, when he comes aboard next month. February is smack dab in the middle of the city’s budget preparations, and Hall said he wants to make sure he understands the city’s finances and that “we’re prudent with taxpayers’ money.”

He will also have his eye on San Clemente’s eroding sands.

“With these storms, where are we on beach nourishment and how are we adapting to sea level rise?” he said is what he’ll be asking. “How will we improve the relationship with the Coastal Commission and Surfrider? Coming from a coastal community, nothing is more important for a beach community other than preparing for sea level rise.”

Councilman Gene James also praised Hall, saying his “proven track record with staff development and successfully engaging with the community are attributes that will pay dividends to the city in both the short and long term.”

Related Articles