Former Anaheim City Manager James "Jim" Vanderpool has been appointed as the interim city manager for Palm Springs, following the retirement of their current City Manager, Scott Stiles. Vanderpool is set to begin his duties this Thursday, working alongside Stiles until his retirement takes effect on November 1. Vanderpool's new appointment comes after his resignation from the Anaheim city manager position in February, a departure that followed public questions regarding a trip he took in 2020.
Vanderpool served as Anaheim city manager from September 2020 until his resignation. Before this role, he spent eight years as Buena Park’s city manager. The Anaheim City Council unanimously voted to accept his resignation on February 3, an announcement made by City Attorney Robert Fabela at that time. Following his departure, Deputy City Manager Greg Garcia stepped in as acting city manager for Anaheim.
The resignation stemmed from inquiries into why Vanderpool did not disclose a 2020 trip to Lake Havasu, which was reportedly paid for by the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce. This trip took place shortly before city officials finalized the sale of Angel Stadium. Questions about the trip emerged after an article published in January. The week prior to his resignation, Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken reportedly led a closed-session questioning of Vanderpool specifically concerning this trip. This marked the first time council members officially questioned him about his connections to resort interests.
A news release from Palm Springs regarding Vanderpool's appointment stated that his resignation from Anaheim occurred after a disagreement with the Anaheim mayor over leadership direction, along with a Fair Political Practices Commission complaint. The release also noted that he maintained the unanimous support of the rest of the Anaheim City Council. During the February 3 meeting, Anaheim Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava commented that Vanderpool’s decision came "after years of extraordinary pressure."
During his tenure in Anaheim, Vanderpool oversaw an organization comprising 3,000 employees and managing an annual budget of $2 billion. The city serves 350,000 residents, attracts 25 million annual visitors, and supports 20,000 businesses. Notable developments during his leadership included the construction of a new fire station, with another currently under construction. The city also saw the expansion of the Disneyland Resort and ongoing development of the OCVIBE project. Under his oversight, the number of sworn police officers in Anaheim increased from 356 to 430.
Vanderpool brings over 30 years of experience in municipal government. He began his municipal career in 1995 as an administrative aide in Buena Park's public works maintenance department. His progression there included roles as assistant to the city manager, administrative manager, and deputy city manager/director of human resources before he became city manager of Buena Park. Academically, he holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Purdue University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. He has also served as a former president of the Orange County City Managers Association and a former adjunct professor at California State University, Fullerton.
In his new interim role in Palm Springs, Vanderpool will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations and collaborating with the City Council and executive team on key priorities. These priorities include public safety, housing initiatives, economic development efforts, and infrastructure improvements. Capital projects under his purview in Palm Springs include the renovation of the Palm Springs Public Library, the modernization and expansion of the Palm Springs Convention Center, and long-range improvements planned for Palm Springs International Airport. Palm Springs Mayor Naomi Soto stated that the council carefully considered Vanderpool’s extensive qualifications, professional experience, and the circumstances of his Anaheim resignation. She noted that his decades of municipal leadership, experience managing complex city operations, and understanding of tourism-driven economies make him well-suited for the position.
The Palm Springs City Council is also actively seeking a permanent city manager and has engaged Bob Murray & Associates, an executive recruitment firm specializing in California local government leadership, to conduct the search. This search is anticipated to take between four and six months. Vanderpool expressed his sentiment, stating that he was honored by the confidence the Palm Springs City Council had placed in him and looked forward to serving the community. He also personally noted that he and his husband were pleased to call Palm Springs home during his time as Interim City Manager.
