Palm Springs City Manager Scott Stiles has announced that he will retire on Nov. 1, less than three years after he was hired for the position.
On Tuesday, Sept. 8, Stiles told city leaders he planned to retire. The city said in a news release he had led Palm Springs through some of its most significant challenges, while advancing major priorities.
"He helped guide our city through extraordinary challenges while moving forward important projects and investments that will benefit our residents for generations," Mayor Naomi Soto said in the release. "On behalf of the City Council and the residents of Palm Springs, I extend our deepest gratitude to Scott for his exceptional service and the lasting legacy he leaves behind.”
Stiles was hired in early
2023 after being the city manager of Garden Grove for seven years. He first started the job in March of that year, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since taking up the role, he has overseen the city's response to Tropical Storm Hilary in 2023 and the 2025 bombing of of a fertility clinic in downtown Palm Springs. He has also helped expand the city's homeless navigation center, which now provides 135 emergency housing units, and helped open the historic Plaza Theatre, although both projects began before he became city manager.
“It has been the honor of my professional life to serve as City Manager of Palm Springs,” Stiles said in the release. “I am incredibly proud of what our employees, City Council, and community have accomplished together. None of these achievements happens because of one person — they are the result of talented and dedicated employees, strong leadership from our City Council, and a community that cares deeply about the future of Palm Springs. I leave knowing the City is well positioned for the future.”
One of his last major acts as manager was appointing Police Chief Kyle Stjerne, who replaces Andy Mills, who retired earlier this month. His retirement caps a career of nearly 43 years in public service.
The city now faces the prospect of finding another city manager, after two relatively short stints by Stiles and his predecessor. In July 2022, former city manager Justin Clifton announced his resignation after only 15 months in the role.
The city said in the press release that officials will announce its next steps soon.
"The City is committed to a thoughtful, thorough, and transparent process," the release stated, "that will ensure strong leadership and a smooth transition for the organization and the Palm Springs community."
Sam Morgen covers local government for The Desert Sun. Reach him at smorgen@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs City Manager Scott Stiles announces retirement
