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The Pleasanton City Council addressed its upcoming leadership void, temporarily anyway, by approving a contract Tuesday with retired Danville town manager Joe Calabrigo to serve as interim city manager starting next week.
Calabrigo, who led Danville for 32 years as part of his four-decade-plus career with the town government, will hold the position in Pleasanton while the council undertakes a nationwide search for a permanent successor to outgoing City Manager Gerry Beaudin, who is resigning effective Friday to take over in the city of Alameda.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the Pleasanton community during this transition,” Calabrigo said in a press release Wednesday. “Pleasanton is a well-respected organization with an outstanding staff and a strong tradition of public service. I look forward to working with the City Council and employees to maintain progress on the City’s priorities.”
Pleasanton Mayor Jack Balch praised Calabrigo as the right leader to provide stability for the city during this time of transition.
“Mr. Calabrigo’s extensive experience, steady leadership, and deep understanding of local government make him exceptionally well-suited to guide the organization during this transition,” Balch said in the press release. “We are grateful for his willingness to serve and provide continuity while the City conducts a search for its next permanent city manager.”
Calabrigo’s contract – which will pay $25,000 per month, with no employment benefits – calls for him to serve from Monday (June 8) until the new permanent city manager assumes office.
The city confirmed Tuesday that the council has retained Bob Murray & Associates to conduct the nationwide recruitment, but a timeline has not yet been revealed publicly. A key consideration could be whether a new hire is selected before or after the November general election, when the mayor’s seat and two council positions are due to appear on the ballot.
Assistant city manager Alexa Jeffress will serve as acting city manager this Saturday and Sunday, with Beaudin’s final day scheduled as Friday (June 5).
The council had held multiple closed-session meetings to discuss its forthcoming city manager vacancy after Beaudin put in his resignation with 30 days’ notice in early May, leaving Pleasanton after almost exactly four years at the helm to lead the City Manager’s Office in Alameda, where he worked as assistant city manager during 2019 to 2022.
Pleasanton councilmembers emerged from a session last week revealing Calabrigo as their top choice for interim city manager and adding a proposed employment agreement to their regular meeting agenda for Tuesday. They would vote unanimously that night to confirm Calabrigo’s contract.
Calabrigo retired in June 2025 after working for the town of Danville since 1984 – one year after its incorporation. He held roles such as chief of planning, transportation director, administrative services director and assistant town manager until being promoted to town manager in 1993.
