Gilroy City Administrator announces retirement from “best job ever”

Gilroy s City Administrator Jimmy Forbis released his retirement Tuesday ending nine years of working for the city Serving this wonderful public has been the highlight of my career and a profound honor revealed Forbis in a written announcement announcing his retirement I am truly thankful for the opportunity to work alongside such a dedicated population that is passionate about what s best for Gilroy and committed to making it a vibrant and thriving city Forbis began at Gilroy as its finance director in where he pushed to modernize specific of the city s system to allow citizens to interact with the city remotely and online That move paid dividends in After the former city administrator Gabriel Gonzalez resigned Forbis was appointed as the interim city manager on the night before the city was ordered to shut down due to the COVID- pandemic In October Forbis was appointed full time and has held the position since In the intervening years Forbis played a role navigating the pandemic the lock down and the recovery and more just now in taking part in the builder s remedy lawsuit that had bedeviled the city for the past year From my first day in office Jimmy has approached his role with the utmost professionalism optimism and a deep sense of responsibility to our residents stated Mayor Greg Bozzo in a declaration We are thankful for his multiple years of dedicated arrangement Prior to his time at Gilroy Forbis had worked in local administration in the cities of Monterey and Morgan Hill and for San Mateo County Forbis mentioned he will ride off into the sunset with no plans to return to the masses sector It s the best job I ve ever had I love every day of it but it takes a toll commented Forbis of his work as a city administrator He added that he hopes his tenure has helped to set up the next city leaders for success pointing to multi-year projects like the proposed Sharks Ice skating complex as an example I really think we ve laid the foundation that s the defining moment is how you set up the next generation Forbis s retirement will be effective July Bozzo noted the city will begin discussions this instant on appointing an interim city administrator and Gilroy City Council will begin discussing their search for a permanent replacement after they return from summer recess at the end of July