I’m so glad to be home! Thank you to all of you who have welcomed me back so warmly to our community to serve as Atascadero’s City Manager. Thank you to the City Council for your steadfast vision, leadership, and for placing trust in me. Thank you to City staff for your commitment, loyalty, and hard work. I love Atascadero and am so glad to again play a part in improving the quality of life in our community.
My family and I have lived in Atascadero for nearly 20 years and we are proud to call this City our home. We have children attending Atascadero schools, we worship here, and we’re deeply involved in many community organizations. Some of you may not know, but this is my second “tour of duty” in Atascadero! During my first tour, I was responsible for managing the City’s technology, personnel, strategic initiatives, and economic development. I was proud to be a part of building a new theater in our community and improving many of our commercial areas, and it was a privilege to be the project manager for our beloved A-Town Skate Park and Colony Park Community Center.
I left Atascadero in 2013 to serve the City of Pismo Beach as City Manager. During my 10 years there, we rebuilt the Pismo Pier, completed the Pier Plaza and Shell Beach Streetscape, and facilitated the construction of several new restaurants and resorts. But after 10 amazing years, I wanted to be home to serve our community! As for my skillsets, investing in a thriving downtown, focusing on “placemaking”, and economic development are some of the things I enjoy most.
So, what’s in store for our City and what will I be focusing on as City Manager? First and foremost is to implement the City Council’s vision and “action plan” for our city. This includes breaking ground on the Downtown El Camino Real Infrastructure Enhancement Project, moving forward with the construction of a new Fire Station 1, making enhancements to our police facility, addressing homelessness in our community, selecting a new Police Chief, and facilitating the many economic development projects in Atascadero that will result in new gathering spaces and opportunities for quality local jobs.
Whew! There is a lot to do, but I am energized by the work and passionate about our community. I love Atascadero! I hope to meet you soon as I am out and about. If you see me passing by, please come up and say hello!
If you have any questions about events or activities happening with the City, questions about some of the above-mentioned projects, or questions about any other topic related to the City of Atascadero, feel free to email me at jlewis@atascadero.org. Here’s to a bright future ahead!
City Manager, Jim R. Lewis
Jim Lewis was appointed City Manager of the City of Atascadero in July 2023. Jim has proudly called Atascadero home for more than 20 years. Jim holds a Bachelor’s in Public Policy and Management from the University of Southern California as well as a Master’s of Public Administration in Public Finance and Management from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School. Prior to his appointment as Atascadero’s City Manager, Jim served as Pismo Beach’s City Manager for the last 10 years, and before that served Atascadero as Assistant City Manager and Economic Development Director for eight years. Jim is deeply experienced in municipal management: he currently serves on the League of California Cities Board of Directors, representing the City Managers of California, and serves on the California City Management Foundation Board of Trustees. He is a longtime member of Atascadero Kiwanis, Atascadero Bible Church, and volunteers in Pack 51 Cub Scouts as Den Leader. Jim and his wife love living in Atascadero, and their two kids are students in the Atascadero Unified School District. If you see Jim out and about, say hello!
