Pacifica’s City Council has tapped Sean Charpentier as the city’s next city manager after a nationwide search, handing him the keys to City Hall this spring. With more than 20 years of local government experience under his belt, Charpentier is expected to bring some steady hands to a city juggling big infrastructure needs and tight budgets, according to council members.
As reported by SFGATE, Charpentier is slated to start on May 4, following a formal recruitment process. Before this appointment, he served as assistant and interim city manager in East Palo Alto. Most recently, he worked as executive director of the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County, a regional agency that coordinates transportation, stormwater and other cross-jurisdictional work, per C/CAG.
Pacifica brought in Bob Murray & Associates to run the city manager search and advertised the job in December. The executive posting listed a salary range in the low $300,000s, according to CareersInGovernment. The move comes on the heels of longtime City Manager Kevin Woodhouse’s retirement, which took effect March 11, 2026, as noted by PublicCEO. Council members reviewed applications, interviewed finalists and then voted this week to bring Charpentier on board.
Top priorities on day one
Charpentier will inherit a crowded project list. Pacifica is working through major capital efforts, including pier repairs and the Beach Boulevard infrastructure project, alongside long-term sea level rise planning and a strained general fund. The city’s online project information highlights the pier, Beach Boulevard and other infrastructure as current focal points, with housing and public safety staffing also high on the agenda, according to the City of Pacifica. Finding a way to manage all that while supporting a busy local business and arts scene will shape much of Charpentier’s early to-do list.
Council and candidate comments
“A good city manager is very visible in the community and engaged,” Charpentier said, adding that his focus will be on helping Pacifica remain a prosperous, sustainable and equitable coastal community. Mayor Christine Boles told SFGATE that Charpentier checked the council’s boxes and brings familiarity with Pacifica’s environment, businesses and arts community. City leaders described the hire as a partnership with staff and regional agencies to deliver on the city’s Strategic Plan goals.
Charpentier’s official first day is May 4, and the council is expected to release the final employment contract and transition schedule in the coming weeks. Residents who want to meet the new city manager are encouraged to keep an eye on upcoming council agendas and city announcements for public events and meet-and-greets. City staff said they will share more details on the transition as they are finalized.
