REEDLEY – A recent Reedley City Council meeting became a celebration of service, much to the surprise of the honoree.
During the Aug. 25 regular meeting, the council, city staff and community members showed out to celebrate the 15th anniversary of City Manager Nicole Zieba’s tenure with the city. Those in attendance took time to share some kind words, present Zieba with gifts and enjoy an assortment of sweet treats in her honor.
After a round of comments, Zieba expressed her thanks to all, and shared a bit about what her time in Reedley has meant to her.
“Reedley has been my life, it has been my kids’ lives and I met my wonderful husband here in Reedley, the man of my dreams,” said Zieba to attendees. “Reedley really has been more than just my job, it has literally been my life.”
In his comments, Mayor Matthew Tuttle said that the average tenure for a city manager can range from three to five years, and that the average stay for a senior city manager is around seven to 12 years. Tuttle highlighted how rare it is for a city to hold onto its city manager for 15 years, and commended Zieba’s ability to have “some tough conversations” to protect the city’s best interests.
He specifically referenced Zieba’s ongoing role as a chief public information officer of sorts, especially through her public appearances to speak on the infamous Reedley biolab.
“When that happened a few years ago, it only made sense to put out our best foot in the media as far as getting the information across,” said Tuttle. “It got really political back then during the biolab debacle and it’s still going through, but we couldn’t have anybody better on national news than our city manager getting the black and white information out as far as what’s going on, and really keeping politics out of Reedley.”
The rest of the council commended Zieba for her numerous achievements in leadership over the years, and Councilmember Michael Crutchfield thanked her for her guidance when he first came onto the council.
“Being the newest member on the council, I just want to say thank you very much for your mentorship in this role,” said Crutchfield to Zieba. “Coming into it, you’ve made it less intimidating and I appreciate that, because there’s a lot of information and you assured me all the time … that you’re there to help and support us.”
Making the night extra special was attendance from Ray Soleno and Anita Betancourt, both former mayors and council members, as well former City Clerk Sylvia Plata, who all served the city when Zieba was first hired.
“We did a good thing when we hired you, I know that, but I just want to say that you’re a tough lady and that you have a compassionate heart,” said Betancourt to Zieba.
After a few more comments from community members, the council capped off the celebration by presenting Zieba with flowers and a commemorative glass plaque, then taking a break from the regular meeting to enjoy refreshments and socialize
