New RR manager gets the challenge

Rio Rancho’s new city manager is heading to New Mexico fully aware he faces tough challenges.

Keith Riesberg, who officially starts work April 22, is confident his years as city administrator in O’Fallon, Mo. – a city of about 80,000 near St. Louis – and other locations gives him experience that will be valuable in tackling Rio Rancho’s top job.

“Both communities have gone through an exceptionally high-growth period and, associated with that, both communities are dealing with infrastructure issues,” 41-year-old Riesberg said in a phone interview this week.

	New Rio Rancho City Manager Keith Riesberg Age: 41 Family: married, two children Experience: city administrator O’Fallon, Mo., 2010 to Jan. 2013; city administrator Sedalia, Mo., 2005 to 2009; city manager Roosevelt Park, Mich., 2001 to 2005; executive director Chesterfield Community Development Corporation, Chesterfield, Mo., 1999 to 2001; director of Community and Economic Development, Wood River, Ill., 1995 to 1999. Education: Bachelor of Science in Community and Regional Planning, Iowa State University; Master of Public Administration, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Ill.

He has also had extensive experience in economic development efforts and recognizes that Rio Rancho officials have put emphasis on the need to grow the city’s tax base through jobs and new development to generate revenue to provide services to residents.

“That’s something that I have some familiarity with and experience in,” he said.

He cited Rio Rancho’s antiquated platting as one of the city’s key challenges. Mayor Tom Swisstack, too, has frequently said that platting done by Amrep in the early 1960s has left the city with thousands of acre and half-acre lots, many of which have owners who live elsewhere. Under current law, the city has no ability to condemn land to enable developers to assemble properties for large coherent projects.

One of Riesberg’s first priorities will be to meet with the city’s economic development staff, review existing plans and policies and “fine-tuning” if needed, he said.

As a short-term goal, Riesberg wants to meet with elected officials and understand their priorities and work with city staff to incorporate those priorities into long-term goals.

He’s also interested in meeting with representatives from regional and state governments and agencies.

“They all play a key role in the future development of the community,” Riesberg said.

He joins the city administration just as the annual budget discussions get under way. Traditionally, the city manager issues a letter with budget recommendations to the mayor. Although the letter will likely go out under his signature, the work will be done by existing staff prior to his arrival.

“And that will be recognized and acknowledged in any transmittal letter,” he said.

Riesberg was the top-ranked candidate among 29 job applicants, four of whom were interviewed twice by the mayor and City Council. He replaces James Jimenez, who retired “involuntarily” in July after differences of opinion with some city councilors.

Councilors voted unanimously at their March 27 meeting to approve hiring Riesberg. His Rio Rancho contract provides him an annual salary of $150,000 – the same amount Jimenez was paid when he was hired in late 2008 – and $25,000 more than the $124,900 he received from the city of O’Fallon.

Riesberg’s three-year tenure in O’Fallon ended in January when councilors voted to terminate his contract. A news release quoted in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said the termination was without cause, only saying that the council wanted to “change the direction of the city’s leadership.”

The council later agreed to provide severance pay of at least $62,491. If Riesberg had not found another full-time job by Aug. 10, additional severance amounts of $2,403 a week would begin through the end of the year.

In return, Riesberg agreed not to sue the city.

Reached this week by phone, O’Fallon City Councilor Rick Lucas said Riesberg was “very professional.”

“I think he’s going to do an excellent job for them out there,” Lucas said.

New Mexico and Rio Rancho in particular held personal attractions for Riesberg, such as being close to his in-laws who live in the state and to the mountains and opportunities for skiing and biking.

As a parent with two elementary school age children, he was also impressed by the reputation of Rio Rancho Public Schools.
— This article appeared on page 06 of the Albuquerque Journal