City of Milpitas Names Julie Edmonds-Mares as City Manager
Experienced professional to lead local government
MILPITAS, Calif.
Julie Edmonds-Mares was unanimously appointed as the permanent City Manager for
the City of Milpitas by the Milpitas City Council on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, following a
national recruitment.
“Julie is a seasoned and community-oriented leader with the right experience necessary
to engage our richly diverse community. Her experience working with a variety of stakeholders
to provide excellent municipal services will serve the Milpitas community well,” said Vice-Mayor
Marsha Grilli.
Edmonds-Mares has more than thirty years of experience in the public, private, and
academic sectors. She joined the City of San José in 2007 and is currently a Deputy City
Manager for the nation’s tenth largest city. In that position she plays a key leadership role to
help the City organization focus on partnerships, civic engagement, and collaboration with
community stakeholders at all levels to create and maintain safe and healthy neighborhoods.
Previously, Edmonds-Mares had served as Director of the San José Department of
Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood (PRNS). During her tenure in PRNS Julie championed
strategic change to provide quality programs, facilities, and natural resources while ensuring
good stewardship of public funds.
Before coming to San José, she worked for the City of Tucson for nearly twelve years as
Deputy Director of Budget and Research, Assistant to the City Manager, and Human Resources
Administrator.
Edmonds-Mares holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a
master’s degree in education. In addition, she is a graduate of the Southwest Leadership
Program in Public Policy Management from the University of Arizona’s Eller College.
She has been an adjunct faculty member and presenter for various professional
associations and universities on topics including financial sustainability, strategic and
business planning, operational management, leadership, and managing change.
Edmonds-Mares is a member of the International City/County Management Association
(ICMA).
“We are delighted to have Julie joining our City of Milpitas team. Her extensive
leadership skills, professionalism, commitment to transparency, and innovation will help our
organization earn the trust of our community and deliver the services they deserve,” said
Councilmember Bob Nuñez.
“Milpitas is a vibrantly diverse community, and I am looking forward to building on it’s
strengths. Together, we will work for sustainable growth and development while balancing
community objectives, remain focused on protecting public safety, enhance our natural
environment, and nurture families,” Edmonds-Mares said. “It will be my honor to serve the
Milpitas Council, and partner with the community to further the quality of life for the City.”
The Milpitas City Council will act on the employment agreement with Julie Edmonds
Mares after the final terms, including compensation, are negotiated this month. In preparation
for the short time between the retirement of Interim City Manager Steve Pangelinan on January
16, 2018, and the expected start of the new City Manager, the Milpitas City Council has
appointed Dianne Thompson as Interim City Manager. While this appointment will have a short
term, the City is fortunate to have an experienced retired Bay Area City Manager in Thompson.
Please join us in thanking Steve Pangelinan for his long and successful career of public
service, and in wishing him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.
About the City of Milpitas Located at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay, the City of Milpitas is a
progressive community that is an integral part of the high tech Silicon Valley. Serving a very
diverse population of 75,561, Milpitas employees are committed to accomplishing the
community’s vision by fiscally sound, superior services. Milpitas is the 8th fastest growing city in
the United States according to the US Census and the 2nd fastest growing in California. This is
home to an industrious and well educated community with an average household income
exceeding the County average. Incorporated in 1954, Milpitas is a general-law city under a
council-manager form of government.
