Palo Alto City Clerk Lesley Milton has announced that she will leave her position next month to take a job in the city manager's office in St. Helena.
Milton informed the City Council last week that she plans to step down, with her last day on May 19, according to an email to media organizations. She will serve as assistant to the city manager in St. Helena, a city in Napa County, where she will have a more direct role in implementing public policy projects and working on economic development and community engagement.
"I feel confident that I am leaving a strong team of professionals that helped build the existing processes, and there will be no lapse in service," Milton wrote. "Two of the pillars of my management strategy was to build continuity of operations and provide opportunities for young people to succeed and I assure you they stand ready to serve."
Milton joined the city in June 2021, replacing veteran city clerk Beth Minor. Prior to coming to Palo Alto, she had served as assistant city manager and city clerk in Seaside, a community in Monterey County.
Her departure leaves the council with a high-profile vacancy in its executive leadership. The city clerk position is one of just four that is appointed directly by the council.
Comments
Registered user
Downtown North
on Apr 29, 2023 at 2:40 pm
Registered user
on Apr 29, 2023 at 2:40 pm
Ms. Milton will be missed by our residents. She has engaged our community in many ways in just her two years in Palo Alto including by increasing the number of applicants to our various commissions. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration as well as graduate degrees from Harvard and Yale leadership courses. I wish her well as she takes her expertise to St. Helena in assuming a more direct role in implementing public policy for their residents.
Registered user
Old Palo Alto
on Apr 30, 2023 at 12:46 am
Registered user
on Apr 30, 2023 at 12:46 am
I commend our City Staff to step up and exit to a city service job sideways 2 a equally fulfilling position in a less toxic political charged enviro. Congrats for the courage and fortitude. Napa is a good alt. Well wishes.