San Rafael Appoints Acting City Manager
The San Rafael City Council has appointed Cristine Alilovich as the acting city manager. The appointment follows an abrupt leadership change, with the current incumbent now on leave for undisclosed reasons. The council has not commented on the circumstances surrounding the transition.
- Cristine Alilovich previously held the permanent City Manager position, having been appointed on June 1, 2023, following a nationwide search that considered 32 candidates. - She originally succeeded former City Manager Jim Schutz, who retired in 2023 after serving in the role for eight years. - When appointed permanent City Manager in 2023, her starting base salary was $283,992 annually; an equity adjustment effective July 1, 2024, increased her monthly salary to $26,238, or approximately $314,856 per year. - Alilovich has over 25 years of experience in municipal government, including nearly eight years as San Rafael's Assistant City Manager before her initial promotion to the top job. - In her prior capacity as Assistant City Manager, she had direct oversight of the Finance, Human Resources, and Digital Service departments and led the city's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. - Her previous experience also includes serving as the Assistant Director of Finance for the County of Marin and nine years with the County of Sonoma in human resources, risk management, and budget roles. - The City Manager functions as the city's chief executive, responsible for implementing policies set by the City Council, managing department operations, and preparing the city's budget.
