An assistant to retiring San Jose City Manager Debra Figone was appointed Tuesday by the San Jose City Council to replace his boss as of Dec. 21.
Ed Shikada, who has been assistant city manager under Figone since June 2010, will receive an annual salary of $250,000, slightly higher than Figone's compensation level, according to Mayor Chuck Reed's office.
Shikada has helped San Jose adapt to the city's financial conditions since 2010 by working on reducing the city workforce from 7,100 to 5,300 employees and then back up to the current 5,655 positions, according to the mayor's office.
"We are fortunate that Ed is willing to step up and lead our city as we recover from very difficult fiscal circumstances and begin to restore services to our residents and pay to our employees," Reed said in a memo today to the City Council.
Shikada's position serves as the city's chief administrative officer, reports directly to the City Council and oversees the city's $2.9 billion yearly budget, according to the mayor's office.
Shikada has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Hawaii and a master's degree in architecture and urban planning from UCLA, according to the mayor's office.
He previously worked as public works director for the city of Long Beach and headed the congestion management program for the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, according to the office.
Shikada joined the city of San Jose as a deputy city manager in 2003.
New City Manager Appointed in San Jose to Replace Deb Figone
Copyright BAYCN - Bay City News