Following a closed session meeting for the City Council on Tuesday morning, San Jose City Manager Debra Figone announced that Ed Shikada will take over her role when she retires in December.

Shikada has been a deputy city manager for San Jose since 2003, and he has often overseen some of the city’s highest priorities. On Dec. 21 he will assume his new position, which pays $250,000 per year.

“Over the past year Ed has provided a steady and calm hand, managing difficult issues while assuming greater responsibility for citywide business operations,” Figone said in a press release announcing the appointment. “He has demonstrated that he has the intellect, stamina and integrity necessary to be successful in his new role.”

Shikada said he is “extremely grateful for the City Manager’s confidence in me and look forward to continuing to serve the community in my new role.” He added, “San José is a great city with an outstanding workforce, and I am confident in our ability to tackle the challenges ahead.”

San Jose Inside readers may remember Shikada from his involvement in the process to open Casino M8trix.

Below is the city’s press release:

City Manager Debra Figone today announced the appointment of Ed Shikada as Assistant City Manager.  As Assistant City Manager, he will have responsibility for overseeing day-to-day operations of the City.

Shikada has been serving as Chief Deputy City Manager for the past year, during which time he played a key leadership role in a number of significant citywide efforts.  He developed policies guiding public-private partnership strategies, such as new policies for developing demonstration projects and evaluating alternative service delivery models.  He also directed the Administration’s implementation of high profile and complex programs, such as San José‘s Green Vision, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act legislative advocacy and grants management, and City real estate asset management.

“Over the past year Ed has provided a steady and calm hand, managing difficult issues while assuming greater responsibility for citywide business operations,” said Figone in announcing the appointment.  “He has demonstrated that he has the intellect, stamina and integrity necessary to be successful in his new role.”

Shikada joined the City in 2003 as a Deputy City Manager with responsibility for oversight and interdepartmental coordination for delivery of the City’s $1.2 billion capital improvement program.  He led planning and analysis for the “decade of investment” construction bond projects that built new parks, libraries, fire stations and the new Police substation, and he personally led real estate negotiations with major property owners such as Cisco Systems, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, and Legacy Partners.  He also led the development of procurement rules governing the City’s use of Design-Build Construction, the system used to deliver the City’s $1.3 Billion Airport Modernization on time and under budget.

Among other major initiatives, he led several community based initiatives including the Vietnamese American Community Center program development and Japantown community amenities prioritization, and established new service and financial agreements with several community non-profit partners.  Shikada came to the City in 2003 from the City of Long Beach where he was Director of Public Works.

“I am extremely grateful for the City Manager’s confidence in me and look forward to continuing to serve the community in my new role,” Shikada said of his appointment.  “San José is a great city with an outstanding workforce, and I am confident in our ability to tackle the challenges ahead.”

Shikada, who lives in San José‘s Evergreen neighborhood with his wife Ruth and their two children Alison and Matthew, holds a Master of Arts degree in Urban Planning from UCLA.  He is active in community organizations, and serves in leadership positions with two Japantown-based youth organizations, Cub Scouts and San José Community Youth Service (CYS).

He will assume his new role on June 27.

Ed Shikada’s offer letter from the city of San Jose.