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Katie Lichtig resigning as SLO city manager

August 7, 2017

Following more than 7.5 years at the helm of San Luis Obispo’s city government, Katie Lichtig is departing the Central Coast for an executive role in Santa Monica.

The city of SLO announced in a press release that Lichtig has been hired as chief operating officer/assistant city manager of Santa Monica. In 1992, Lichtig began her municipal career in Santa Monica, a city that now has a budget of nearly $775 million and 2,300 full-time staffers.

It is unclear why exactly Lichtig is choosing to leave San Luis Obispo and return to Santa Monica. Lichtig’s last working day in San Luis Obispo will be Sept. 28

“I have cherished my time serving the San Luis Obispo community. Together we have solved the problems of today, envisioned a bright future and created life-long friendships,” Lichtig said in a statement.

Santa Monica City Manager Rick Cole, who selected Lichtig from a nationwide field of candidates, released a statement commending her.

“I sought out Katie because I knew about her achievements and skills in our profession,” Cole said. “After a rigorous process with stiff competition Katie rose to the top.”

Lichtig’s tenure in San Luis Obispo, however, has included several controversies ranging from the amount of money she makes to her appearance in a raunchy video.

Since her hire, numerous residents have complained about Lichtig’s pay, which regularly exceeded $300,000 a year. In 2016, Lichtig received a base salary of more than $230,000 and nearly $338,000 in total pay, according to Transparent California.

San Luis Obispo’s staffing and pension costs also rose considerably during Lichtig’s tenure as city manager, culminating with the city facing multi-million dollar budget shortfalls following a decision by CalPERS, the state retirement system, to lower investment its forecast.

Also recently, Lichtig was fined over her participation in a video that allegedly sexually objectified firefighters. The video was intended as a spoof to promote the SLO Chamber of Commerce, yet it resulted in Lichtig receiving a $2,659 fine and SLO Fire Chief Garret Olson getting fined $5,442.

Lichtig will start work in Santa Monica shortly after leaving San Luis Obispo in late September.


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Oh where, oh where will they ever find someone qualified for such a tiny salary? Better bump it up to a half million or more!


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If you people want to have a high paying job why don’t you work for one?


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Skipping town before the real consequences of her financial thievery are found out. Just wait, lets see how the city pays the huge pension payments that are coming. Let me guess no cutting of salaries and benefits, first will be new taxes and fees, rental inspection 2.0 attempt, if those don’t work, threats to cuts services to the citizens unless they give them more money. Why doesn’t she take City Attorney Dietrick with her?, the city can do much better than her.


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What a shame!!!


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This is really a clear indicator of the mind set of some, not all, of these people who are hired by cities that think they have to pay them high dollar. It’s quite evident that these people are solely in it for the money. They are available at the drop of a pin to the next high bidder. Do they really care what they are doing to some of are communities that use to be nice. Most of their actions are taken to keep the high salaries, benefits and retirements in place until they can get out of town and leave us with bill and the consequences of their actions.


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That’s an opinion, not a fact.


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Don’t let the door hit you in the butt, Katie!


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The game of musical chairs of bean counters continues. Prepare yourself: before SLO fills the position, they’ll first bump up the salary to attract the best talent…


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Don’t forget the moving expenses and car allowance.

What a rip off!


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The is an opportunity for the SLO City Council to do something great for the city. To help reverse some of the sins of past councils. I have absolutely no confidence that they’ll do the right thing. They’ll do the political thing.


Any two of the following qualities will immediately disqualify otherwise qualified applicants:


– A history of fiscal conservatism on the job.


– Even a whiff of political conservatism in their personal lives.


– Being (born) male.


– Being Caucasian.


– Being a Christian.


– Being straight (I wonder if they will devise some sort of test for one’s chosen sexuality?)


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Many of the past city managers were male, white and very conservative. Clearly, you don’t spend much time attending city council meetings.


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What a-hole will take her place?


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The replacement will most likely be an a-hole; but a very, very rich a-hole.


It is a well publicized fact (stated many times by every city government in SLO county) that

to get the “best” – you have to pay top $.


So this replacement a-hole will pull down more than the $300K that sweet Katie got.


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It’s not their money……watch what they do!


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Dan, I didn’t always agree with Katie but I have great respect for anyone that would take on an administrative position in the city of SLO. This is a community that needs to learn if you’re going to complain your better show up with a solution.


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“…if you’re going to complain your better show up with a solution…”


Aren’t SLO City taxpayers already paying city employees millions of dollars to devise and implement solutions?


Your comment makes no sense.


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