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By Lookout Staff

January 22, 2025 -- Santa Monica brought back a former top official to serve as interim city manager and hired a new head of community development, City officials announced Wednesday.

Elaine Polachek -- who served for two decades in various roles at City Hall -- was tapped by the City Council Tuesday night to replace outgoing City Manager David White.

Meanwhile, in one of his final major decisions, White hired South Pasadena City Manager Arminé Chaparyan to serve as director of the Community Development Department.

Polachek, who most recently served as Santa Monica's Assistant City Manager from 2010 to 2017, will fill the City's top executive post while staff conducts a nationwide search for a permanent replacement.

On Wednesday, Mayor Lana Negrete thanked White on behalf of the Council for his "leadership and service" over the past three years ("City Manager to Leave Post," December 10, 2024).

Negrete noted that he led Santa Monica as the city "faced regional impacts from the devastating Palisades Fire in his final weeks at the helm."

The mayor also welcomed Polachek, who she said "will provide much-needed stability and a wealth of knowledge of Santa Monica, allowing staff to continue important work to serve residents, businesses and visitors as we proceed with recruitment.”

Polachek will join the city effective February 3 to assist with the transition ahead of White’s departure. She will begin as full-time city manager starting February 21, with a salary of $197.41 per hour.

Chaparyan will also join the city effective February 3, taking the helm from Planning Manager Jing Yeo, who has served as interim director since David Martin left the post at the end of the year ("Planning Head Who Helped Shape Santa Monica to Retire," September 19, 2024)

She has more than two decades of experience in local government and has held top community development posts.

Before being hired as South Pasadena's city manager, Chaparyan served as assistant city manager/community development director for the city of San Gabriel and as redevelopment and community preservation manager/city clerk for the city of Santa Clarita.

“Arminé has a wealth of experience and I know she will bring tremendous knowledge and insight to the role to benefit our residents, businesses and visitors,” White said in a statement Wednesday.

Chaparyan, who will have a starting salary of $273,384 a year, has a bachelor’s degree from the UCLA and a master’s degree in public administration from USC.

“Having grown up in Southern California and gone to school in the area, Santa Monica was always a dream city," she said in a statement.

"I am honored to be selected for this position and look forward to bringing my skills and energy to be a part of such a dynamic team,” Chaparyan said.

“The department has an excellent reputation and I look forward to working closely with staff, the executive team, management and City Council to continue all the great work we’ve got laid out for us.”


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