The City of South Pasadena is a general law city incorporated on March 2, 1888. It is governed by the City Council/City Manager form of government.
The City Manager is appointed by the Council to oversee the activities of the city. The City Manager serves as the Chief Administrative Officer, ensuring that the policies of the Mayor and City Council are executed effectively and efficiently.
Specific areas of responsibility include oversight of eight operating departments, public information and community engagement, legislative affairs, economic development, following up on citizen concerns, providing recommendations to promote organizational efficiency and overseeing the development and presentation of the annual budget.
About the City Manager
Todd Hileman
Todd Hileman became the City Manager of South Pasadena on March 31, 2025. Before taking on this role, Todd had a thirty-year career as Chief Executive for six different cities, with populations varying from 3,000 to 150,000 residents. He launched his professional journey in 1992 in Niles, a suburb of Chicago, and took on his first City Manager position in May 1994 after earning a Master's Degree in Public/Fiscal Administration from Northern Illinois University. Throughout his career, Todd has overseen organizations in Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Arizona, Texas, and California, most recently serving as the City Manager in Palm Desert, CA for four years. In every city he has led, he has focused on enhancing efficiency, improving customer service, and fostering a strong organizational culture.
Todd received his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University and his graduate degree from Northern Illinois University.
He has been married to his wife, Tina Hileman, for 35 years and has a 19-year-old daughter, Mandy, who is in her second year of college.