Assistant City Manager Christine F. Shippey is resigning, effective December 7, to assume a similar position with the City of San Jose.
“I’ll always have extremely fond memories of my years with the City of Long Beach, but the chance to be Assistant City Manager for the 10th-largest city in the United States was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and simply too good to pass up,” Ms. Shippey said. “I am going to miss all my friends and colleagues here in Long Beach, but I am also very excited about the new challenges and opportunities awaiting me in San Jose.”
Ms. Shippey will assume her new position on December 10.
“I want to personally thank Chris for all the hard work she’s done for the City of Long Beach,” Mr. West said. “She has been a tremendous asset and a highly effective leader who has been instrumental in the City’s growth and development during the 23 years she has worked here. She is extremely adept at handling complex and challenging projects and issues, and she will be greatly missed.”
Ms. Shippey was appointed Assistant City Manager on October 11, 2003. In that position she served as second-in-command in the City’s Council-Manager form of government, overseeing at various times the Departments of Health and Human Services, Gas &Oil, Police, Financial Management and Public Works, as well as the Intergovernmental Affairs and the City Communication Programs. She serves as liaison to the Water Department, Long Beach Transit and the Aquarium of the Pacific. Ms. Shippey is also involved with the citywide code enforcement study, the fleet study, graffiti abatement efforts, homeless services, homeland security, recreational water quality and the City’s Capital Improvement Program.
Ms. Shippey was appointed Deputy City Manager on April 4, 2000. Prior to that, Ms. Shippey was the Manager of the Commercial Services Bureau, in the Financial Management Department; Special Assistant to the City Manager; Manager of Administration and Planning and Administrative Officer for the Public Works Department; Special Projects Officer within the Public Service Bureau of the Public Works Department; Administrative Officer for the Marine Bureau of the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department; and an Administrative Analyst in the Engineering Bureau of the Public Works Department.