Palm Desert city manager is retiring after decades of service

Longtime Palm Desert City Manager John Wohlmuth is retiring on April 15.

Wohlmuth announced his retirement on Wednesday, saying, “I have had great satisfaction in working for the City and I appreciate the opportunities the City provided me during my time there. I will miss working with the many dedicated employees who serve the City of Palm Desert.”

The announcement comes just two days after city officials confirmed to CBS Local 2 and KESQ that Wohlmuth had been on personal leave since March 21.

City spokesman David Hermann did not elaborate on the personal reasons that caused Wohlmuth to be out of the office.

Wohlmuth was working as executive director of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) in February 2009 when he was hired to replace longtime Palm Desert City Manager Carlos Ortega, who had retired.

Officials said Wohlmuth’s association with the city goes back to 1986 when he was hired at age 25 as an administrative analyst in the City’s Public Works Department. He rose through the ranks at City Hall working in a variety of positions over the next 13 years including as environmental services manager, assistant to the city manager, and assistant city manager over community services. Wohlmuth was working in the latter position in 1999 when he left Southern California to accept a position as the chief administrative officer for Mono County.

Significant accomplishments during Wohlmuth’s tenure as Palm Deserts’ city manager include the development of the City’s $8 million Aquatic Center, completion and adoption of the Envision Palm Desert 20-year strategic plan, and helping the city weather a historic national economic downturn that was followed closely by the loss of tens of millions of dollars in Redevelopment revenue.

Wohlmuth cut staff and costs while working to preserve services and protect more than $60 million in municipal reserves. Under Wohlmuth, city staff dropped from a high of 170 full-time positions in 2008 to 113 full-time positions today.

The City Council is holding a special meeting on Thursday to receive information about Wohlmuth’s resignation for retirement and will consider formally accepting it at its next regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, April 14.

Assistant City Manager Rudy Acosta is serving as Palm Desert’s acting city manager until an interim city manager is appointed by the Council.

News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 will have more details about Wohlmuth’s retirement on Thursday.