By Theresa-Marie Wilson ~
It was standing room only last week in the Grover Beach City Council chambers as dignitaries from across the county, members of the public and city staff gathered to say farewell to City Manager Bob Perrault.
Accolades, a lot of laughter, even more hugs, and a few tears were all part of the sendoff ceremony honoring Perrault. After nearly ten years of service in Grover Beach, he will retire effective March 1.
“When Bob was hired, staff moral was low and we were going through some transitional times at city hall,” said Mayor John Shoals. “He came in and he stabilized that. Over the years he has diligently worked hard representing this community, representing this city council, and it is with mixed emotions tonight that we wish him well in his retirement. Thank you, thank you for all your hard work.”
Perrault wraps up better than 41 years in local public service, having started with the County of Ventura in 1974. He went on to serve with the cities of Simi Valley, Healdsburg, Cloverdale, and Colfax before joining the City of Grover Beach as its city manager in June 2006. Including the nearly 10 years in Grover Beach, Perrault has served 26 years as a city manager. His dedication, work ethic, community and multi-jurisdictional relations and overall genuine concern for the city’s employees and residents were key points in presentations to Perrault.
“You are a role model,” said City Councilwoman Mariam Shah. “In your vast amount of knowledge, you are leaving huge shoes to fill. I don’t think I ever came to you with an idea that you said we couldn’t do. You always showed me the way to do it, and that it was my decision to choose whether or not to pursue those steps. I think you are a huge reason so many revolutionary things have happened here, are happening here, and for the next 10 years, you have laid that groundwork.”
The chambers erupted in laughter during a sort of roast by Fire Cities Fire Authority Chief Steve Lieberman. Last June, Perrault was thrown from a horse he was riding and fractured all the ribs on the left side of his body as well as three on the right side and ended up spending time in a hospital trauma center.
“We have put together for you what we are calling an EEK, Emergency Equestrian Kit,” Lieberman told Perrault before handing over a firefighter helmet with a cowboy hat attached to the top, a hobbyhorse, referred to as a “back-in-the-saddle simulator,” and numerous pain relief products.
“Maybe the next horse I ride, I will be (better) able to survive the fall,” Perrault joked after donning his new headgear.
During his tenure, Perrault was an integral force behind many improvements to the city including the adoption of the City’s first Economic Development Strategy in 2008, the rehabilitation of West Grand Avenue, ushered in the final approval of the long awaited Grover Beach Lodge, with 150 rooms and a stand-alone conference center, implementation of various city programs to stimulate support of local businesses, and the passage of Measure K-14 authorizing a $48 million bond for much-needed street repair and rehabilitation program.
“When you start off with a career like this 41 years ago, you have no vision that this would be the result or the end of it,” Perrault said. “I am deeply touched and overwhelmed.”
Perrault was city manager during one of the longest running recessions in recent history. He told Coast News that surviving that period remains one of his proudest accomplishments.
“Helping the city get through the recession was a really, really difficult time,” he said. “We did it, and, I think, we did it in an overall positive way.”
Perrault said he and his family would stay in the area where he plans to take a few months off before returning
“I’m going to take the time to take it easy, to decompress and reorient myself and then begin getting involved again in volunteer activities,” he said. “There are some things that are close to my heart. I have always been pretty involved in the church, I will continue with that. I will probably do something with homelessness because I have a concern about that. I will also probably join some sort of horse organization.”
Outside of work, Perrault is an avid equestrian, distance runner, baseball fan, and cowboy poet.
Former police chief and assistant city manager, Jim Copsey, will fill in as the interim city manager until a full-time replacement for Perrault is found. Last November, the council retained the executive search firm of William Avery & Associates to conduct the recruitment for a new city manager. That process is expected to be complete in approximately 60 days.