Milpitas is sending its police chief down the street to City Hall, hoping a familiar face can steady a city government that has been anything but calm lately.
The City Council on Tuesday unanimously appointed Police Chief Jared Hernandez as acting city manager, shifting day-to-day control of City Hall to a longtime insider while leaders reboot their search for a permanent hire. Councilmembers framed the move as a way to give staff a steady hand after a run of departures and interim bosses.
Council vote and what the move looks like
The council approved Hernandez’s temporary promotion at its Jan. 20 meeting, according to The Mercury News. The outlet reports Hernandez has worked for Milpitas since 1991 and has served as police chief for about five years. Assistant Chief Frank Morales is set to run the police department while Hernandez is parked at City Hall.
Residents who showed up to the meeting did not hold back about their frustration with the revolving door in the city manager’s office, urging the council to find a permanent leader sooner rather than later.
Homegrown chief with local ties
Hernandez has publicly emphasized community policing and transparency in his work with the department. The City of Milpitas Transparency Portal lists him as the Chief of Police and highlights outreach and data initiatives to keep residents in the loop.
Supporters say that long tenure inside the Milpitas government is exactly why he can slide into the manager’s chair without a lengthy adjustment period. City officials have signaled that Hernandez’s assignment is about keeping operations humming, not rolling out splashy policy shifts while the permanent search is underway.
Resignation, Brown Act concerns and churn at City Hall
The shakeup follows Interim City Manager Deanna Santana’s resignation after tense back-and-forth tied to a near Brown Act scheduling dispute, as reported by The Milpitas Beat. Local coverage reviewed records showing a staff member was asked to set up a confidential closed-session interview, which raised internal red flags and triggered a review by the county prosecutor.
Prosecutors ultimately concluded the city had avoided a formal Brown Act violation, but the episode added to a string of leadership changes that residents and employees say have worn down morale inside City Hall.
Council sets pay range and signals an expedited search
Along with naming an acting manager, the council set a salary range of $320,000 to $400,000 for the permanent city manager and indicated it hopes to post the job within weeks, according to The Mercury News.
Assistant City Manager Matt Cano told councilmembers the city wants to move quickly but carefully in recruiting someone who can rebuild staff confidence while handling budget and other fiscal pressures. Several councilmembers said getting the manager’s office on solid footing is a must before they can take on bigger policy fights.
What to watch next
For now, Hernandez’s main job will be to keep the city’s basic machinery running and ease tensions between career staff and elected officials while the search plays out. Local reporting has chronicled a series of city managers and acting managers cycling through in recent years, and observers say the next few weeks will test whether turning to a trusted insider can finally slow that churn.
Residents and business owners will likely be eyeing upcoming council agendas, the timing of the job posting, and how long Hernandez stays in the role as early clues to whether Milpitas is headed toward steadier governance or yet another reset.
