Garden Grove's City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve an employment agreement with Assistant City Manager Matt West, naming him the city's next city manager. He assumes the role November 3, when current City Manager Lisa Kim retires.

Mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein announced the decision at the September 8 meeting. "Matt has earned the City Council's confidence through his experience, sound judgment and collaborative approach," she said. "He understands our organization, our community and the priorities ahead. We are confident he is prepared to lead Garden Grove and continue moving the City forward."

West has more than 26 years of public service experience. He came to Garden Grove in January 2024 as interim assistant city manager and moved into the permanent position three months later. In that role he helps oversee daily operations for a city with more than 770 full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees and an annual budget of roughly $400 million.

"Since joining Garden Grove, I have seen firsthand the dedication and professionalism our employees bring to their work every day," West said. "I am honored to take on this responsibility and build on the progress achieved under Lisa's leadership. Garden Grove has tremendous momentum, with major projects and priorities on the horizon, and I look forward to working with the City Council and our employees to deliver results for the community."

Roots in Orange County city halls

Before Garden Grove, West spent more than 22 years with the City of Tustin, moving through planning, redevelopment, and executive management before serving as city manager from 2019 to 2023. During that stretch he led an organization of more than 400 employees, developed balanced biennial budgets, and directed the $400 million Tustin Legacy program — the conversion of 1,600 acres of the former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin into a master-planned community.

He holds a bachelor's degree in urban and regional planning and a certificate in Public Employee Leadership Development. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association and the California City Management Foundation, and previously served on the executive committee of the Orange County City Managers Association.

What he inherits

West takes the top job at a city that had an eventful year. Garden Grove spent much of the spring managing the fallout from the GKN Aerospace chemical emergency that forced mass evacuations across multiple North OC cities and drew a state-of-emergency declaration from the governor. The city is also navigating ongoing conversations about land use, bilingual street naming, and public safety that surfaced during earlier council sessions this year and have not gone away.

West's appointment was approved with no dissent. His first day as city manager falls on the same date as the November 3 general election.