The City of West Hollywood welcomes a new City Manager on Wednesday.
Wilson takes the place of former City Manager Paul Arevalo, who served since 1999.
The City Council approved the selection of Wilson at its May 17 meeting.
David Wilson has been working at City Hall for over 18 years. He previously served as the Assistant City Manager and the City’s Chief Risk Officer. Prior to becoming Assistant City Manager, Wilson was the City of West Hollywood’s Director of Finance and Technology Services, overseeing General Accounting, Revenue Management, and Information Technology, as well as acting as the City Treasurer and Risk Manager.
David also served in various other roles for the City including Budget and Compensation Manager, Senior Management Analyst in the City Manager’s Department, and Project Development Administrator for the City’s redevelopment and housing functions.
Wilson will take over with City Hall still closed. West Hollywood City Hall has been closed to the public since March 2020. At the last City Council meeting Wilson indicated that he expected city staff would slowly begin to return to City Hall during mid- to late July. WEHOville confirmed today with the City of West Hollywood Communication Dept. that plans are being implemented and there will be forthcoming information as soon as it is available.
Another challenge for the incoming City Manager is the current budget deficit. Current projections are for a $10 million budget deficit amid a shortfall of revenues. In this year’s budget the TOT, transit occupancy tax revenues dropped to 17 percent of our overall budget. A new hotel worker ordinance could also impact future hotel revenues and coming up on the July 19 City Council meeting. Mayor Pro-Tem Meister, Councilmember D’Amico and City Manager David Wilson want to conduct a study session to see the economic impacts of implementing this ordinance at this time.
On the other side is Mayor Horvath trying to shore up her union support in her run for County Supervisor, and the two new Councilmembers, Sepi Shyne and John Erickson, who have been resistant to such a study. Horvath, Shyne and Erickson have received donations from the UNITE HERE Local 11 union.
Mr. Wilson, as the City Manager Chief Risk Officer, will face his first test convincing the three youngest council members of the importance of supporting the study and his economic goals.
There are no formal events to welcome David Wilson to city hall today but you can send your best wishes to dwilson@weho.org.
Certainly wishing David Wilson all the best while he takes the reins of an unpredictable stagecoach ie. as in Wells Fargo’s brand. Wells Fargo just curtailed consumer credit lines although no specific word yet on commercial. Following the catastrophic series of class action law suits it was surprising that Weho hung in there with them. While not privy to what that says for the city’s relationship with Wells Fargo, I was directly involved in initiating complex fraud litigation after discovering what was literally the tip of the iceberg in 2003. It was horrifying then and never improved.
Late with this, but – Best wishes in this tough gig and in filling some big shoes. Our city is still young and full of promise. KEEP IN TOUCVH WITH US! Start with the semi-abnual City Managrs Report, such as we used to see.
He’s a numbers guy with no people skills.
David wishing you every success as you take over the reigns as our new City Manager. Congratulations!
it’s going to be the same ol’ same ol’. nothing will be brought out into the light. nothing will change.
Congrats again David as you begin your new role as our City Manager. We are all rooting for you and know you’ll be a success!!!
Why did Paul leave? Is it because the cash cow he created based on hotel room tax, billboards and parking tickets didn’t work in coved so he is running for the hills?
You are wrong there. The two elderly white men, John Duran and John Heilman lost the election. His buddies were gone. Plus, he was making about $500,000 including all the benefits. His retirement at 60 years old is great for government employees. Living in a very good area of Pasadena, staying home for the last 15 months, why does he want to schlep to West Hollywood every day? When he can be in classy Pasadena instead of in tacky WEHO. Good for him. Take the money and run.
Living the dream. Good for him!
Real nice. I don’t know how old you are, but I hope you get referred to as “elderly” when you reach your early to mid-sixties. Maybe you are already there.
One of the easiest things to avoid is a parking ticket. Penalties for illegal parking are not an income generator, they only support the cost of parking enforcement.
Do you know how much of the citys budget is funded by parking tickets?
He retired and nothing else. Quit trying to fit your BS narrative into the story.
What’s my narrative lol? It was questions lol?
“So why is he running for the hills?” Nuff said. Lol