Sacramento City Manager John Shirey announced today he will not extend his contract beyond November of this year.
Shirey is not saying why he is leaving the position.
"I don't plan to retire. I plan to continue in some capacity. It may be public. It may be private. I haven't made any decisions yet about what I want to do...It's just... I'm not going to sit back in a rocking chair or take up knitting."
Shirey says he thought it was clear when he signed a contract extension in June of 2015 that it would be his last.
"I thought this was clear last year, but I've learned that it really wasn't as obvious to people as I was assuming."
Councilman Jay Schenirer says Shirey is leaving of his own accord.
"He has other things he wants to do. This takes a lot out of you. It's a full-time job, plus. And I think he's made his own decisions. No one asked John to leave."
The council will create a list of attributes it would like in a new city manager and will hire a recruiter to find suitable candidates.
Mayor Kevin Johnson says he expects Shirey to be part of the process of selecting a replacement.
"To have John as a resource for us when we're looking for the next city manager? It doesn't get any better than that.
Shirey has been the city manager since September 2011.
He says the city is on "sound financial footing."
"It's actually been a good time and a very productive time for this city. I feel proud of the accomplishments."
He says he will focus on the Community Center Theater, the Sacramento Convention Center and sewer, water, and storm drainage needs in his final 11 months as City Manager. He will also propose a plan this spring to deal with the city's unfunded pension liabilities.
It is a time of transition in Sacramento -Shirey is not the only prominent Sacramento leader to leave a position.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, Sacramento Regional Transit's Mike Wiley, Sacramento Area Council Of Government's Mike McKeever, Sacramento County Executive Brad Hudson, Sacramento Transportation Authority Executive Director Brian Williams and Sacramento City Treasurer Russell Fehr are all leaving their positions this year.
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