Oakland, CA — Mayor Libby Schaaf today announced Sabrina Landreth as her choice for
Oakland City Administrator. A former Deputy City Administrator for the City of
Oakland, Ms. Landreth currently serves as the City Manager for neighboring Emeryville.
“This is the single most important decision I will make as mayor,” said Libby Schaaf.
“Restoring stability to the City Administrator’s Office is vital to achieving sustainability
in Oakland. Given the importance of this role, we were committed to conducting a robust
search of top-notch professionals to identify a candidate that would bring competence,
integrity and energy to City Hall – Sabrina is that person.”
Ms. Landreth played an instrumental role in stabilizing the City's financial position
following the 2008 housing market crash and subsequent statewide dissolution of
Redevelopment agencies.
“I am honored to have been tapped by the Mayor of my hometown to help implement her
vision in this time of incredible excitement and opportunity for Oakland,” said Ms.
Landreth.
As Deputy City Administrator Ms. Landreth closed more than $175 million in budget
deficits and led a massive overhaul of the budget and the City's organizational structure to
accommodate the new fiscal reality while minimizing disruption of City services and
preserving City jobs. She also helped grow the City's reserve fund to achieve Councilmandated
goals for the first time in years; institutionalized structured monitoring and
forecasting of City revenues and expenditures; developed the first comprehensive FiveYear
Financial Plan; and played a key role in negotiating 10% concessions and structural
pension reform for all employee labor groups, including public safety employees, despite
the fact that police and fire contracts were closed at the time.
“It was Sabrina Landreth who quietly and brilliantly steered Oakland through the
economic downturn and helped put the City back on firm financial footing,” said Acting
City Administrator John Flores. “With extraordinary financial acumen and steady
leadership, she led the effort to put sound, long-term fiscal policies in place, reduce
internal debt and establish long-range planning for future budgets. All of this contributed
to the City maintaining excellent credit ratings and a positive outlook from the nation's
three leading credit rating agencies.”
Upon City Council approval of her appointment and negotiated contract, Ms. Landreth
will assume her new role once a suitable replacement is found for her current position in
Emeryville, but no later than July 2015.
A fourth generation Oakland native, Ms. Landreth holds an undergraduate degree in
Mechanical Engineering from MIT, and a Master of Public Policy from UC Berkeley.