Palo Alto City Clerk Beth Minor, who joined the city in 2007 and who has served as the main liaison between the public and the City Council for the past five years, has announced her plans to retire at the end of July.

Minor served as assistant city clerk for eight years before getting appointed city clerk shortly after the retirement of her predecessor, Donna Grider. She told this news organization Wednesday that she wanted to step down so she can spend more time with her family, including her brother, who lives with her in Gilroy, and her grandchildren.

While she has been able to serve as clerk remotely over the course of the pandemic, Minor also said she did not look forward to resuming the prior routine of working through long council meetings and then having the long commute home. Her younger brother, she noted, is unable to walk and she wants to spend more time at home with him.

"Family is important to me," Minor said. "All my grandkids have grown up here and, at one point or another in their lives, all lived in this house. Going back to work, with the long commute, and having to drive home afterwards — I can't do it with him in the house."

Minor said she wanted to give the council early notice about her decision to retire so that council members have ample time to recruit the next city clerk and facilitate a smooth transition. The city clerk position is one of only four at City Hall — along with city manager, city attorney and city auditor — that is appointed directly by the council.

On Wednesday, the council's Council Appointed Officers Committee was scheduled to appoint the recruiting firm Peckham & McKinney to assist with the process of finding Minor's successor. The firm will be paid up to $37,000 for the service, according to a memo released Wednesday by city Human Resources Director Rumi Portillo.

Minor said she has greatly enjoyed her time as city clerk, particularly when interacting with the public and other city employees.

"There are so many great people in the public that I have worked with that have really been a joy to work with," Minor said.