City manager reflects on decade tenure

“It’s a gift to do work that you value,” Stevenson Diaz said. 

Stevenson Diaz began work in Redwood City in October 2015, after working for three other cities in two different counties. There’s no place like working in Redwood City and San Mateo County, though, she said. 

“That relations between county government and city government aren’t as constructive in other places,” Stevenson said. “The fact that there is such a strong history of working together effective was something I was glad to build on.” 

While councilmembers and city staff may come and go, whether it’s term limits or turnover, Stevenson Diaz and her role as city manager served as a throughline. When people join the city, in whatever capacity that may be, Stevenson Diaz tells them that “you’re jumping onto a moving train.” 

“This has been going on a long time, there are reasons for things we do, and a lot of opportunities for change,” Stevenson Diaz said. “It’s invigorating being able to constantly adapt and grow with new perspectives and have new people come into these roles.” 

Providing that support was particularly critical during the pandemic, a job that was succinctly described by Stevenson Diaz as “hard” but ever-evolving. 

“We were all learning as we went … as an adaptive challenge, it was one of the most significant things to work through in my career, for sure,” she said. 

Her named successor, current Assistant City Manager Patrick Heisinger, said Stevenson Diaz’s leadership during the pandemic was critical to the city’s success. 

“She is remarkably selfless, working tirelessly to ensure the city delivers excellent services to the community while also making certain her staff feels supported and values,” Heisinger said. 

Stevenson Diaz first announced her intent to retire in June and Heisinger was announced as her successor, taking over the job in January. Developing leaders in the City Manager’s Office and throughout the city is one of Stevenson Diaz’s greatest joys. 

“To develop people with leadership capacity to support and work in local government, that’s something I’ve felt great about,” Stevenson Diaz said. 

Stevenson Diaz’s work on establishing a robust diversity, equity and inclusion framework for the city underscored every initiative on which the city worked.

“It really comes from recognizing we are here for public service,” she said. “One of the ways to know if you’re doing good public service is to look under the hood a little bit and see if we’re really reaching the community.” 

During her tenure, addressing homelessness became a focal point of the city, but it wasn’t always that way. Once considered a “big city issue” has trickled through the suburbs and local government has had to step up and take initiative to make sure its residents were housed, Stevenson Diaz said. 

“It’s not city government that can solve all the economic conditions we’re facing, but it is exciting to lean in and figure out what we can do,” Stevenson Diaz said. 

The Navigation Center, a critical temporary housing facility based in Redwood City and operated by San Mateo County, was one effort to address homelessness made possible by a close working relationship between the city and county, Stevenson Diaz said. 

“These things aren’t getting solved at a bigger, federal level,” she said. “Cities have had to look at how can we share resources and make sure residents know what they can access and how we can support them.” 

While Heisinger doesn’t intend to try to fill Stevenson Diaz’s shoes — “Melissa established a legacy in Redwood City that will be difficult to replicate” — he will try to emulate how effectively she communicated. 

“Melissa instilled in me the understanding that most people simply want to know what is going on,” Heisinger said. 

Stevenson Diaz is looking forward to stepping away from the grind of local government. While the extra time to spend with family, travel and volunteer are “not earth-shattering plans,” she’s looking forward to the chance to slow down, just a bit.

“Right now, I’m running early in the morning, before it’s even light out and I have to wear a headlamp,” Stevenson Diaz said. “Retiring means also retiring my headlamp, and only running after the sun is up.”