Rick Otto

As the former City Manager for the City of Orange, Rick Otto understands the many challenges today’s local government executives face on a daily basis.  Rick successfully navigated his organization through the pandemic, recessions, periods of political transition, local emergencies, and community tragedies.  His compassionate, collaborative, and results-orientated leadership style allows him to create and foster a positive work environment and forge excellent working relationships with political leaders, labor associations, community groups, and fellow city managers.

Rick has over 32 years of local government experience working for small and medium-sized cities in Southern California.  In addition to serving as the City Manager for Orange, a full-service city with an annual budget of $200 million and 750 employees, Rick also served as their Assistant City Manager, Community Development Director, and Economic Development Manager.  Prior to his tenure in Orange, Rick worked for three contract cities in Los Angeles County: Rancho Palos Verdes, La Mirada and Temple City. Throughout his career, Rick has been involved in nearly every aspect of local government, including land use planning, historic preservation, citizen engagement, affordable housing, economic development, finance and budgeting, capital projects, information technology, labor negotiations, staff development, and public safety coordination.

Rick brings his unique and diverse background to clients by specializing in Organizational Assessments, Operational Reviews, Executive Evaluations, Staff Development and Mentoring, Strategic Planning, Fiscal and Economic Development Analysis, and Land Use Entitlements.

A facilitator of governmental regionalization, Rick has chaired numerous regional committees including the Metro Cities Fire Authority, the Orange County Animal Control Taskforce, the Orange County City Manager’s Solid Waste Committee, the North Orange County Cities Homelessness Coalition, and Orange County City Manager’s Homelessness Task Force.

In addition to his professional achievements, Rick earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and a Master of Public Policy and Administration, both from California State University, Long Beach.  Rick is a frequent guest speaker for public policy and journalism classes at California State University, Fullerton, and Chapman University.  He also has been a speaker for the American Planning Association. Finally, Rick is proud to have been a Disneyland Cast Member and still uses that customer-centric approach with his clients.