Fremont City Manager Fred Diaz Retires

FREMONT, CA — The City of Fremont bid farewell to Fred Diaz, who honorably retired Friday as Fremont’s City Manager after nearly 14 years of service to the Fremont community and a distinguished City Management career of 35 years.

Diaz received a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Administration degrees from California State University at Fullerton, and began his career in municipal government management in 1983 and worked for two cities in Los Angeles County before being appointed City Manager of the City of Indio in 1990 and subsequently City Manager of the City of Tracy in 1994. In 2004 he became the City Manager of the City of Fremont.

During his tenure with the City of Fremont, Diaz has exhibited exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and excellence in good governance. He has been recognized by the League of California Cities as a recipient of the John H. Nail Award for Outstanding Municipal Assistant of California.

In Warm Springs/South Fremont, Diaz championed the development of the Fremont Innovation District, including the extension of Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), to help position Fremont as the capital for advanced manufacturing in Silicon Valley. In Downtown Fremont, he strongly supported the cultivation of a social heartbeat and gathering place for the Fremont community.

Also under Diaz’s leadership, Fremont launched a Smart City Initiative and created a Smart City Action Plan with key City staff to creatively meet the City’s big picture goals of being competitive, sustainable, and transparent.

For nearly 14 years, Diaz has been tasked with municipal challenges and complex societal issues. He has led the City through two economic downturns while maintaining the organization’s fiscal health and stability. He also spearheaded the City’s compassionate charge to address the homelessness issue, and assisted Fremont in navigating a new district-based election system.

“I want to express heartfelt appreciation to the Fremont community: the City, its residents, and its devoted City employees,” said Diaz. “I’m most proud of the opportunities I’ve been given to help community members in real need that otherwise don’t have a voice. I look forward to seeing Fremont continue to function as the compassionate community that I have grown to respect and appreciate.”

“It is with honor and sincere appreciation for Fred Diaz’s dedicated service to the community that the Fremont City Council congratulates Fred for an exemplary and distinguished career that has dramatically shaped Fremont as a resilient, diverse, and vibrant organization.” said Mayor Lily Mei.

The Council appointed Deputy City Manager Brian Stott as Interim City Manager effective July 28, 2018 until the selection of a new City Manager. The recruitment for a new City Manager is underway.

-Announcement and photo via City of Fremont