City Manager Announces Retirement
Larry Patterson announced that he will retire his position as City Manager of Oregon City effective March 31, 2010. The following is his letter of intent distributed to the Mayor and City Commissioners at the City Commission meeting on October 21, 2009.
Madame Mayor and Members of the City Commission,
This letter is my notice of intent to retire as of March 31, 2010. As with any major career decision such as this, I have mixed emotions. I look forward to whatever new challenges and adventures lay ahead. But I will miss working with each of you in addressing the issues and challenges faced by Oregon City. I will miss being part of such a great and noble endeavor. In the business of city government there is never an ideal time to leave because there is always work that needs to be done. However, there is a time for new faces and new leadership. I leave confident that the next City Manager in partnership with Oregon City’s excellent staff will serve you and the City well in addressing the City’s future.
I retire with the satisfaction of countless accomplishments over the past 7 years, as we have faced many exciting and difficult issues and have found solutions to them. I know I take pride in knowing that I am leaving this city in a better situation than the one we inherited when this administration arrived. The City is well-poised to face its next challenges in the years ahead. Much work remains to be done and the path may not be easy, but the foundation is established and the staff that has been built will help see it through.
Madame Mayor: You know that I hold you in the highest regard as you are one of the best Mayors that I have ever had the pleasure to serve. Commissioner Neeley: I too have enjoyed working with you. I have always been interested in the insights you have brought to issues even if we didn’t see eye to eye and have always appreciated your support. Commissioner Wuest: You are a joy to work with and I love your positive attitude and energy. Commissioners Smith and Nicita: I have not had a long tenure with you and I know you have much to learn as new Commissioners. I look forward to watching your growth as elected officials.
To my staff and the city employees: I do not know what to say but ‘thank you.’ Thank you for your professionalism, your dedication to this city, your support to me, and the personal sacrifices you make everyday to serve Oregon City. You are the finest group of individuals and together as a team you are truly #1.
To our state, county, and regional partners, plus fellow city colleagues: I believe that your ability to work through difficult issues regionally serves not only our individual communities but the region and our state. I have been proud to serve alongside such dedicated public servants who represent the best interest of their entities vigorously while always keeping an eye on the broader view of how we all fit into a bigger universe.
To the citizens of Oregon City: A City Manager could not ask for a group of citizens who care more about their community. I thank you for your involvement, ideas, and courage to step forward to assist and serve your neighbors and community.
Finally, I want to thank my family for the sacrifices they have endured by being the family of a City Manager. It truly is a great and satisfying profession, but it has placed demands on my family by placing them under a public microscope and diminished my family time when I’ve been away at various night meetings, weekend events, phone calls, and routine city duties. I chose March 31 as my retirement date for personal reasons, though I know it leaves several issues unresolved, particularly the presentation of next year’s budget. I do stand ready to assist the new City Manager and staff in any manner that would be helpful and productive.
I would respectfully request that the City Commission consider allowing me to actually retire from PERS as of December 31, 2009 and work back under PERS through March 31. This will provide me the ability to better transition into the next phase of my working life and will provide a little savings for the City for the first quarter of 2010. If you chose not to honor this request, I will continue to serve until March 31, 2010.
I have enjoyed my years in Oregon City and look forward to watching the growing success of Oregon City.
Sincerely,
Larry Patterson
City Manager