Raul Godinez to serve as Fountain Valley’s interim city manager

Fountain Valley has brought in Raul Godinez II as its interim city manager.

Following the departure of its most recent city manager, Rob Houston — for the same position with the city of Orange — the Fountain Valley City Council selected Godinez from a group of three finalists, approving his contract in a meeting on Tuesday.

Godinez will serve the city until Houston’s permanent replacement can be found. The agreement can last for up to a year or until Fountain Valley hires a new city manager, whichever comes first.

“I have a deep commitment to public service,” Godinez said of his reason for coming out of retirement to take the interim position. “I believe that if I can help serve, then I will.”

After being contacted by city officials, Godinez said he reached out to Houston, who was hired in 2017 to lead Fountain Valley City Hall, to find out what the job would entail. He learned they share a similar approach to leadership — a participatory management style.

“I deal with directors pretty respectfully,” Godinez said. “If they’re doing their job, I’m here to support them really, and support the council. Having been a director for a long time myself, I know how I like to be treated.”

Raul Godinez II chats with Fountain Valley Mayor Pro Tem Kim Constantine after being appointed as the interim city manager for the city of Fountain Valley on Tuesday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

During this appointment, Godinez will be allowed maximum of 960 hours he can work within a fiscal year. He will be paid at a rate of $121.95 per hour.

Godinez’s experience includes stints as a city manager for Santa Ana (2017-19) and El Monte (2013-215). He has also served as a public works director in Lynwood (2015-17), Santa Ana (2009-13) and Oakland (2001-09).

In looking back on his time in Santa Ana, Godinez said he was proud of the work he did to address the issue of homelessness.

“I heard tonight some discussion about homelessness,” Godinez said. “Santa Ana certainly has more than their share. When I was city manager, I got involved with that particular issue. One of the things that I’m most proud of, in fact, during my short tenure there, before I retired, was that we got a 200-bed facility up and running within 42 days. That includes everything — the lease, all the legal indemnifications — and the construction took 28 days. It was very impressive, by any standard.”

Godinez said he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Cal State Northridge and is licensed as a civil engineer.

Fountain Valley has begun recruitment for its next city manager. Mayor Patrick Harper was asked what the council might look for during the search.

Raul Godinez II was appointed as the interim city manager for the City of Fountain Valley on Tuesday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

“I think they want somebody that’s probably in a city manager or similar positions, preferably in Orange County or locally,” Harper said. “I think if they come from a local city, they’ll have some familiarity with our issues, as well as bigger issues in the county and the region, so I think those would be two things.

“From a management style, somebody that’s a good leader, that can kind of hit the ground running, and that will be able to work well with our staff and our city and our residents.”

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