The Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce issued the following message to its members as the city is now searching for a new city manager.
So with summer recess coming to an end, we will be able to pick up on our coverage of city council meetings, but there is still major news to dissect. Our current City Manager has announced that they will be stepping down in September. In preparation, the City has hired a professional recruitment agency to lead the search for a replacement and has just released an official hiring brochure outlining the job, the City’s priorities, and the qualities they’re seeking in candidates
As your Chamber of Commerce, we’ve read the brochure, link below, carefully. While it outlines an impressive set of qualifications, there’s one short bullet point under “Ideal Candidate” that speaks directly to the business community:
“Business-friendly, with strong negotiation skills to bring in economic development, ensure community benefits, and negotiate agreements in the best interest of the City now and into the future.”
It’s a fine sentence. But for Pittsburg’s business community, it barely scratches the surface of what’s needed. A city manager who is only “business-friendly” is like a ship captain who is only “water-friendly.” If business isn’t at the center of the city’s strategy, the rest of the plan won’t matter.
The next City Manager won’t just be managing a $248 million budget. They’ll be shaping the economic climate in which every local entrepreneur, developer, and shop owner tries to succeed. That climate—whether it’s warm and welcoming or cold and unpredictable—will influence whether Pittsburg gains new jobs, new storefronts, and new investment… or watches them go elsewhere.
What “Business-Friendly” Really Means in Pittsburg
- Moving at the Speed of Business
In the Bay Area, time kills deals. If it takes months for a permit to move through City Hall, a project is often dead before it starts. Our next City Manager must streamline permitting, inspections, and licensing. Processes should be predictable, transparent, and digital whenever possible. - Understanding That Infrastructure Is Economic Development
You can’t open a restaurant without reliable water, power, and internet. You can’t attract customers to a shopping district with crumbling sidewalks or insufficient parking. Every infrastructure decision—roads, utilities, public safety, broadband—either builds the case for investment or undermines it. - Thinking Regionally, Acting Locally
Pittsburg isn’t competing against Pittsburg. We’re competing against Antioch, Concord, Brentwood, and the entire I‑80 and Highway 4 corridor for business growth. The City Manager must have a strong regional presence, actively bringing opportunities back home while marketing Pittsburg as a destination for investment. - Valuing All Businesses—Big and Small
Large employers bring visibility and tax revenue, but small businesses are our backbone. The next City Manager should have policies that help the family-owned café as much as they help the regional distribution center. Both are critical to our identity and our economy. - Listening First, Acting Decisively
Businesses need a seat at the table before major ordinances are passed, before fees are changed, and before infrastructure priorities are set. Dialogue leads to better decisions, stronger partnerships, and greater trust.
Official vs. Chamber Priorities for the Next City Manager
| City’s Brochure Says… | Chamber of Commerce Adds… |
| “Business-friendly, with strong negotiation skills to bring in economic development…” | Business-friendly means fast, predictable permitting, digital processes, and a culture of “how can we get to yes?” |
| “Engaged regionally and collaborates with regional partners…” | Use regional influence to actively recruit new employers, investment, and marketing opportunities for Pittsburg. |
| “Ensure community benefits” | Balance community benefits with the need for competitive tax rates, infrastructure investment, and business growth incentives. |
| “Negotiate agreements in the best interest of the City now and into the future” | Build win-win agreements where businesses and the City share in long-term prosperity. |
| “Responsive to the public and engaged in the community” | Include the business community early in policy discussions to prevent unintended harm to local enterprises. |
| No explicit mention of small business needs | Create specific programs and support systems for small, family-owned, and minority-owned businesses. |
| No explicit mention of infrastructure as economic development | Treat roads, utilities, broadband, and safety as central to economic competitiveness. |
The Chamber’s Top 3 Qualities for the Next City Manager
- Pro-Business Problem Solver – Sees business challenges as opportunities to innovate, streamline, and say “yes” whenever possible.
- Economic Development Champion – Actively recruits and retains businesses, knowing that jobs and tax base are the foundation for everything else.
- Connector and Listener – Engages with the business community early and often, building trust and crafting policy that supports long-term growth.
Your Voice Matters — Here’s How to Weigh In
This hiring decision will shape Pittsburg’s economic future for the next decade or more. As a Chamber member, your perspective carries weight.
We’re asking every member to:
- Write down your own Top 3 Qualities you want to see in the next City Manager.
- Email them to all five City Council members before September 14, the application deadline.
- CC the Chamber so we can compile a unified statement from Pittsburg’s business community.
If we want a City Manager who truly understands that business is the engine of Pittsburg’s future, we need to say so—loudly and clearly—right now.
Because when businesses succeed, Pittsburg succeeds.
