On April 15, 2026, the Pasadena City Council appointed Mike Futrell as their next city manager — a high-profile move-up role he was scheduled to begin May 13. Ten days later, Futrell withdrew, first reported by Pasadena Now and covered by California City News. He'll remain Riverside's city manager.
That's an unusual sequence.
What he said publicly
In his explanation for staying, Futrell pointed to:
- Riverside's economic momentum
- The June 2 vote on the renewal of Measure Z (the city's voter-approved sales tax that funds significant public safety and infrastructure spending)
Translation: he wanted to see Measure Z through. That's a real reason. It's also probably not the only reason.
What the city's record says about his tenure
Futrell has served as Riverside's city manager since 2023. The city's own communications credit his tenure with:
- More than $4 billion in new investment
- 100% police staffing for the first time in two decades
- A 35% reduction in crime
Those are public claims worth scrutiny over time, but at minimum they signal that the City believes Futrell is producing measurable results.
Why this is unusual
City managers don't typically accept a major appointment, allow a public announcement, get covered by regional press, and then reverse — without something significant changing. The reversal happened in roughly the same week that:
- Tuesday's Council agenda includes a closed-session manager review.
- The Council is preparing the Measure Z renewal campaign (June 2 ballot).
- The ACLU filed a civil rights complaint alleging Council bias on the Quality Inn vote — a separate but politically active period.
It's possible the Council made a counter-offer. It's possible Pasadena's terms shifted. It's possible Futrell's family situation changed. The public statement doesn't say.
What to watch
- Tuesday's closed-session review. Whatever's discussed will shape the next chapter.
- Measure Z's June 2 vote. Futrell explicitly tied his decision to it. The campaign — and its outcome — is now part of his story.
- Pasadena's next move. Interim City Manager Matthew Hawkesworth continues in that role. Pasadena will restart their search.
For anyone planning around Riverside leadership stability, the answer is stable through at least June 2. After that, the question is open again.