Rocklin City Manager Rick Horst has announced his resignation from his post effective Friday, June 22. Horst has accepted a position as City Manager for the City of Maricopa, Arizona.

Horst was appointed as Rocklin’s City Manager in 2011, and has more than 23 years of experience in the position. Prior to his work in Rocklin, Horst served as City Manager for the Cities of Ocala, Florida; South Jordan, Utah; and three others cities in Florida and Utah.

“Rick exemplifies the ideal of a public service professional,” said Rocklin Mayor Ken Broadway. “His dedication to the success of Rocklin’s citizens, businesses, and community has made the City a model for sustainability and forward thinking.”

“Rick took on his leadership role in Rocklin during a time of increasing challenges and declining budgets,” Broadway continued. “Over the past seven years, Rocklin has recaptured more than $600 million in sales tax leakage through effective economic development; saw the fourth-fastest population growth by percentage in California in 2016; and sparked the revitalization of the historic downtown with the construction of Quarry Park, its amphitheater, and the soon-to-open Quarry Park Adventures. Rick’s teambuilding, sound management practices and innovation will be missed, but he has left the city in the best position possible for continued success.”

Additional milestones for the City of Rocklin during Horst’s tenure include:

• Creation of a business climate that saw the development of two retail projects on the Interstate 80 corridor that include more than 1 million square feet of retail space with anchor tenants such as Bass Pro Shops, Wall-Mart, Target, Green Acres, T.J. Maxx and more.
• Construction of well-planned, built and maintained infrastructure that creates a balance between functionality, usability and opportunity. In 2016, though a public-private partnership, the City completed an $11.3 million interchange at Highway 65 and Whitney Ranch Parkway, providing increased access to nearly 200 acres for development with the potential to create over 2,000 jobs.
• The City is growing but protects its green spaces. In January 2018, the City purchased approximately 184 acres of land that was previously the site of the Rocklin Golf Club. This area at the heart of the city will provide an oasis for outdoor activities and opportunities for the expansion of recreation, parks and trails systems for years to come.

“It’s with mixed emotion that I will say goodbye to the staff and citizens of the City of Rocklin,” Horst said. “Together we have worked to build one of the premier cities in northern California. I leave a better man and more skilled professional due in large part to what I learned and the experiences I shared with so many people here. Together we have ensured the fiscal stability for both the present, and I believe, the future of Rocklin.”

The Rocklin City Council and staff are working diligently to ensure that impacts of the City Manager transition on residents and businesses are minimal. More details on plans to fill the position on a permanent basis will be announced as they become available.