Palm Springs has appointed James “Jim” Vanderpool, formerly Anaheim’s City Manager, as its interim city manager. Vanderpool’s appointment follows the retirement of City Manager Scott Stiles and comes after Vanderpool resigned from his Anaheim post in February amid questions about a 2020 trip to Lake Havasu. He is set to begin his duties in Palm Springs on Thursday, working alongside Stiles until his retirement takes effect on November 1.
Vanderpool’s resignation from Anaheim was unanimously accepted by the Anaheim City Council on February 3, according to City Attorney Robert Fabela. This move came after scrutiny regarding a 2020 trip to Lake Havasu, which was reportedly paid for by the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce. Questions about this trip arose after a January article and took place shortly before Anaheim city officials voted to finalize the sale of Angel Stadium. Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken led a closed-session questioning of Vanderpool about the trip the week prior to his resignation, marking the first time council members had officially questioned him about his ties to resort interests.
A Palm Springs news release stated that Vanderpool resigned after a disagreement with the Anaheim mayor over leadership direction and a Fair Political Practices Commission complaint. The release also indicated he maintained the unanimous support of the rest of the Anaheim council. Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava commented at the February 3 meeting that Vanderpool’s decision followed "after years of extraordinary pressure."
Palm Springs Mayor Naomi Soto addressed the circumstances of Vanderpool’s Anaheim departure, stating that the Palm Springs City Council "carefully considered Jim’s extensive qualifications, professional experience, and the circumstances surrounding his Anaheim resignation." Mayor Soto expressed belief that his "decades of municipal leadership, experience managing complex city operations, and understanding of tourism-driven economies make him well qualified to serve Palm Springs at this moment." She emphasized that Vanderpool "brings the experience and collaborative leadership needed to guide our organization," with a priority to "maintain momentum, support our City employees, and ensure residents, businesses, and visitors continue receiving the high level of service they expect and deserve."
Vanderpool brings more than 30 years of experience in municipal government. During his tenure as Anaheim city manager from September 2020 until his resignation, he oversaw an organization with 3,000 employees and an annual budget of $2 billion. Anaheim serves 350,000 residents, attracts 25 million annual visitors, and is home to 20,000 businesses. His accomplishments in Anaheim included the construction of a new fire station, with another under construction, the expansion of the Disneyland Resort, and the continued development of the OCVIBE project. The number of sworn police officers also increased from 356 to 430 under his leadership.
Prior to his role in Anaheim, Vanderpool served as Buena Park’s city manager for eight years. His municipal career began in 1995 as an administrative aide in Buena Park’s public works maintenance department, where he progressed through roles such as assistant to the city manager, administrative manager, and deputy city manager/director of human resources before becoming city manager. He holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Purdue University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Vanderpool is also a former president of the Orange County City Managers Association and a former adjunct professor at California State University, Fullerton.
In his new role in Palm Springs, Vanderpool will oversee day-to-day operations and collaborate with the City Council and executive team on key priorities, including public safety, housing, economic development, and infrastructure. Capital projects slated for his oversight include the renovation of the Palm Springs Public Library, the modernization and expansion of the Palm Springs Convention Center, and long-range improvements at Palm Springs International Airport.
Vanderpool expressed his sentiments regarding the appointment, stating he is "honored by the confidence the Palm Springs City Council has placed in me and excited for the opportunity to serve such an exceptional, welcoming, and diverse community." He also noted personally that "my husband and I are pleased to call Palm Springs home during my time as Interim City Manager."
While Vanderpool serves as interim city manager, Palm Springs is actively recruiting a permanent city manager. The city has enlisted Bob Murray & Associates, an executive recruitment firm specializing in local government leadership in California, to conduct the search. This process is anticipated to take between four and six months.