The Carpinteria City Council announced Wednesday that Assistant City Manager Michael Ramirez has been selected as the new city manager, following current City Manager Dave Durflinger’s retirement at the end of this year.

The city said the decision is pending approval of an employment agreement that is set to be addressed during an upcoming City Council meeting.

Ramirez’s selection comes after a nationwide recruitment and selection process that involved input from a committee that included Councilman Wade Nomura and Vice Mayor Natalia Alarcon, as well as community feedback and interviews with the entire City Council.

Ramirez has more than 24 years of public-sector work experience and was named the city’s assistant city manager in early 2022. According to Carpinteria Program Manager Olivia Uribe Mutal, Ramirez has served as the city’s interim risk management and human resources manager and as the interim parks, recreation and community services director, through which he has “enhanced the city’s recruitment and retention capabilities and led work to establish a city senior services program.”

“The council and I are absolutely delighted to announce the selection of Mr. Ramirez as our next city manager,” Mayor Al Clark said. “His track record and commitment to our community values align perfectly with Carpinteria’s mission and vision.”

Previously, Ramirez worked with the Oxnard Elementary and Hueneme school districts and with the cities of Moorpark and Oxnard. Uribe Mutal added that Ramirez has worked with the Police Activities League for several years and volunteers locally as a mentor for the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.

“I am deeply honored,” Ramirez said. “Carpinteria is an exceptionally engaged, supportive and inclusive community, and I am privileged to be a part of it. Our remarkable staff is truly passionate about this city and their work. Carpinteria is where I belong.”

Durflinger, who has been Carpinteria’s city manager for 22 years, announced in January that he is retiring at the end of this calendar year.

In March, the Carpinteria City Council approved increasing the next city manager’s annual compensation from $186,861.10 to $206,014.36, with market conditions and cost-of-living increase accounting for the raise.