Assistant Paso Robles City Manager retiring
Paso Robles Assistant City Manager Meg Williamson. Photo from linkedin.
– Assistant City Manager Meg Williamson is retiring on December 29, 2017 after more than three decades serving the community. Her last City Council meeting will be on December 19; her last day with the City will be December 29, 2017.
Williamson started her career as an Assistant Planner for the City of Atascadero in 1984, then took the same position for the City of Paso Robles in 1986. In 1988 she became an Associate Planner and in 1991 was named Principal Planner. She took a brief hiatus from the public sector from 1997-1999 to work for RRM Designs in SLO. She returned to the city as Principal Planner in 1999 and held that position until 2001 when she was named Assistant to the City Manager. From February 2004 through June of 2005 she took on the role of Interim Public Works Director while continuing her duties in the City Manager’s Office and in 2005 she was named Assistant City Manager.
Meg has helped to navigate the City and community through two recessions, a three- fold population increase, an earthquake and its after-effects, including numerous public infrastructure repair projects. She is known by her co-workers and staff members as a positive, thoughtful leader, able to master any issue, able to defuse any conflict, and a stalwart source of community knowledge who always keeps “the big picture” in mind.
Her early years in the Planning Department took place during a period of growth and change in Paso Robles and she was tasked with overseeing major projects that would help create the Paso Robles that we appreciate today – most notably needed residential subdivisions, Woodland Plaza I and II, the Oak Tree Preservation Ordinance and working with Main Street on the creation of Design Guidelines for historic districts, which set the stage for thoughtful progress in our downtown core, and working with the Chamber of Commerce on the Paso Robles Economic Strategy, a device that is still used to direct long-term planning. With her typical modesty, Meg is quick to point out that she was only part of a team comprised of City staff, elected officials, contractors, local organizations and individuals that made these projects come to fruition.
Her years in the City Manager’s Office have been characterized by challenges and opportunities in the extreme – the peak in the economy and growth in local businesses and economic development, the San Simeon earthquake and its after-effects; the Great Recession, the dissolution of redevelopment agencies; the development of the Uptown Specific Plan, Salinas River Corridor Plan, Paso ARTSFEST, recreational trails, and an increase in outdoor recreation and culture.
Associates note that she has consistently navigated every challenge with thoughtfulness, care, openness, approachability, and attention to detail, always keeping the best interests of the community in mind while balancing local, state, and federal regulations, City budgets, and staffing considerations.
Her plans for the future so far include hiking, spending time with her family, and reading.
To celebrate the end of her illustrious career, her colleagues and friends are invited to come wish her well at a Farewell Mixer on Tuesday, December 19th from 12-3PM in the City Council chamber at 1000 Spring Street. No formal program is planned, so attendees can stop by any time that is convenient, and will have an opportunity to chat with Meg and other people she has befriended and helped. Light refreshments will be served.
If you plan to attend the Farewell Mixer, please RSVP to cityclerk@prcity.com.
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