Pinole Welcomes Interim City Manager Garrett Evans

The City of Pinole is pleased to announce the appointment of Garrett Evans as Interim City Manager, starting on March 9, 2026. Evans brings over 29 years of public service experience in municipal government, including six years as City Manager for the City of Pittsburg, California, before his retirement in September 2025. He holds a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in intergovernmental management. Evans will serve in this role while the City conducts a nationwide search for a permanent City Manager.

The City also extends its sincere gratitude to Acting City Manager and Pinole Police Chief Melissa Klawuhn for her steady leadership over the past three months; she will resume her full-time role as Police Chief upon Evans’ start date.

Mayor Anthony Tave expressed appreciation and enthusiasm for the next chapter: “We want to open by recognizing the exceptional dedication our staff has shown throughout this transition — your resilience and commitment have made all the difference, and Chief Klawuhn’s leadership has been invaluable. We are proud to officially welcome Garrett Evans as our new Interim City Manager. His arrival marks an exciting chapter for our organization, and we look forward to the great work ahead together.”

The recruitment process for a permanent City Manager is already underway. The City Council has engaged Bob Hall & Associates to lead the executive search and ensure a thorough and inclusive process. Key steps include targeted outreach, an online community survey, and stakeholder engagement. Community members are invited to participate in a “Meet the Recruiter” session on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Pinole Youth Center, providing an opportunity for residents to share input on the qualities and priorities they value in the next City Manager. Residents may also share input through the online survey.

The recruitment timeline includes preliminary candidate screening, interviews with the City Council, and feedback from executive and community leadership panels before final selection. The City is committed to finding an exceptional leader who will continue to advance Pinole’s vision and serve the community with integrity and excellence.

For updates on the recruitment process and upcoming engagement opportunities, visit Pinole.gov.