Gillian Haen will soon step into the role of Chico city manager with community members and some Council members at odds over what she’ll bring to the city.
Most Council members are enthusiastic about Haen’s arrival and believe that she brings fresh ideas to a community ready for “a new chapter.” Haen passed a background check July 29 and is expected to begin work in Chico on Aug. 10.
But her appointment has faced scrutiny from the public, with community members concerned about two lawsuits that discussed her conduct during her time as Vallejo’s assistant city manager, as well as the compensation package she will be given.
Enthusiasm on the Council
Haen says Vallejo’s residents vote on how an allotment of the city’s budget is used. This kind of participatory budgeting is something Councilmember Katie Hawley has pushed because she says it elevates the community’s voice in the budgeting process.
Councilmember Bryce Goldstein is optimistic about Haen’s experience on development projects and work with the unhoused.
(Hawley, Goldstein, Councilmember Tom van Overbeek and Mayor Kasey Reynolds voted in favor of Haen’s appointment.)
Haen said cities need to provide a variety of services to help the unhoused population.
In Vallejo, she led a 47-unit affordable housing project called the Broadway project. The project faced pushback as delays ballooned the cost from $12.1 million to $27 million. Haen said this was due to, among other factors, a lawsuit and additional environmental impact reports because of the endangered spotted owl.
“We were able to bring it through the finish line, despite all the challenges, and the people are housed and doing well,” Haen said in an interview with ChicoSol.
Haen understands that homelessness is a volatile issue in Chico.
“I know there’s some divide there, but we’ve got to find some common areas,” she said. “They [unhoused people] are humans, and they have rights and they have needs. So you want to balance that with also providing a safe, clean environment.”
Much of Haen’s experience is with environmental projects, especially in Santa Rosa where she was the city planner for eight years, working as the environmental coordinator for all city and development projects.
Haen’s appointment
Haen’s base salary is $285,000, about a 29% increase from what the outgoing city manager, Mark Sorensen, received. Her benefit package includes a one-time $15,000 moving expense and monthly vehicle and phone allowances of $400 and $75, respectively.
Councilmembers ChicoSol interviewed said the pay increase followed a series of interviews with a first group of applicants. They increased the salary to make the position more appealing and attract more candidates.
Councilmembers also said the consultant Mosaic provided a “thorough Google Search” of each applicant. The summary for Haen included mentions of the two lawsuits and references to allegations of misconduct in her position in Vallejo — something Chicoans voiced frustrations about online and at Council meetings.
Haen rejected the allegations made in the lawsuits and told ChicoSol her continued employment with the city of Vallejo is a testament to her record as assistant city manager.
Winslow told ChicoSol Haen was “easily one of my top picks.”
Van Overbeek said he was “enthusiastic” about her appointment, and sees her “energy and knowledge” as a way to move the city forward.
Haen will assume the position that has belonged to Sorensen since 2022 and has asked each department to give her a strength, weakness, opportunity and threats report to better understand department needs, she said.
A home in Chico
Haen, 48, comes to Chico from Sonoma County, bringing her husband and 12-year-old daughter, who is one of three children.
She said she is excited to work in a town where much of her family lives and shared fond memories of hiking in Bidwell Park, attending parades and having burgers and shakes at Big Al’s.
She reflected on Chico’s “small town feel” and growing up “hanging out in Bidwell Mansion and hiking in Upper Park, tubing down the river and swimming in One Mile on all these great hot, hot summer days.”
Haen began working in the public sector while still in college. During a paid internship, she worked in Sacramento drafting bills for Assembly members.
During her brief time in the private sector with Munselle Civil Engineering, she oversaw 28 engineers across various development projects. She noted that this gave her experience from the other side — the private sector.
Her combination of experience in the public and private sectors, according to some Council members, made her their choice for city manager.
Chris Hutton is a recent Chico State journalism graduate and a contributor to ChicoSol.