By Jorge Casuso
May 11, 2009 -- Santa Monica’s new Assistant City Manager Jennifer Phillips has a special, not-so-secret tool to help her explore the Downtown and meet its visitors. His name is Montreux, and he’s a hard-to-miss 130-pound Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.
Phillips, who was hired in mid-January and has been staying at a Downtown hotel while she looks for a home on the Westside, takes Montreux for a walk every night through the Bayside, strolling along the Promenade and down 2nd and 4th streets.
“A lot of people like my dog,” says Phillips, who has a home in Tustin with her husband. “He’s a communications tool. People stop to talk to me.”
The walks have given the former policy advisor to the County of Orange and to its board of supervisors a first-hand look at the heart of Santa Monica’s Downtown. And she loves what she has seen so far.
“I absolutely love the energy,” says Phillips. “It’s so unique. The people are so enjoyable. The atmosphere. The walkability. It’s real.
“This is a lifestyle. This is where people live and dine and walk and shop. It’s a community. It’s where the energy is.”
As the second in command of a City staff of nearly 2,000, Phillips oversees the external services departments of the Big Blue Bus, Housing & Economic Development, Community & Cultural Services, the Library, Planning & Community Development and Public Works.
That means she is ultimately accountable for everything from buses and books to potholes and public art. In addition, she’s responsible for leading citywide programs and initiatives dealing with “operational issues.”
“My key focus and one of my personal passions is customer service,” Phillips says. “How can we do it better? Can we do this more effectively?”
For someone who left the private sector for a life of public service that has now spanned 24 years, it’s a dream job.
“I’m a public administrator,” Phillips says. “I looked at the impacts you can have, and the private sector is not the same.
“I love to work with people, with the community. It’s amazing to be in this community impacting the quality of life. I walk around and see all the things we do and how we touch people’s lives. Public service is where I’m happy.”
Phillips – who says she is still in “input mode” – is impressed with the workforce she oversees and the department heads who answer directly to her. “I have excellent department heads. The whole team is tremendous to work with.”
Coming from a county where the council chambers are often vacant even when major issues are on the agenda, Phillips is encouraged by how engaged Santa Monicans are in the public process.
“I’ve been very impressed with the level of involvement and intellect of the people in Santa Monica,” she says. “They care enough to come out and have a voice. This is the ultimate in public service – having an involved community.”
As executive manager with the County of Orange, Phillips developed policy recommendations for top officials.
During the past five years she led OC Animal Care and “implemented substantial organizational change, modernized operations and developed high quality, customer-oriented programs and services,” according to City officials.
“I am very excited about the appointment of Jennifer and confident that her outstanding professional experience and education will be an invaluable asset to this organization,” said City Manager Lamont P. Ewell.
Before joining the County of Orange, Phillips worked as recycling specialist with the LA County Sanitation District, principal financial analyst with the Orange County Transportation Authority and assistant to the city manager with the City of Fullerton.
Phillips is an active member of the International City/County Management Association; the Preparing the Next Generation Working Group and is currently Vice-Chair of Women Leading Government.
Phillips has a Bachelor’s of Science and Master’s in Public Administration degrees from CSU, Long Beach.
