Jennifer Ott named next Assistant City Manager for the City of Hayward

HAYWARD, Calif., Dec. 4, 2020—Hayward City Manager Kelly McAdoo announced today the promotion and appointment of Hayward Deputy City Manager Jennifer Ott to the position of Assistant City Manager for the City of Hayward.

The elevation of Ott to the second highest executive position in City administration will be effective Dec. 21, following the retirement of Hayward Assistant City Manager Maria Hurtado, whom Ott will be succeeding.

“I, along with our entire municipal organization and the City at large, have been blessed with and benefitted from the gifts, wisdom, and commitment of a true champion of great public administration in Maria Hurtado,” said City Manager McAdoo.

“I know Jennifer Ott is ready to step in and step up, and her record of accomplishment since joining the City promises continued progress on the issues that matter most to the Hayward community and our City Council,” McAdoo added.

Since joining the City of Hayward as Deputy City Manager in September 2018, Ott has led major redevelopment strategy and negotiation, has overseen the Community Services, Housing, and Economic Development divisions of the City Manager’s Office, and has served as a member of City Manager McAdoo’s Executive Team.

In these roles, she and the divisions she oversees have planned the reuse and marketing for development of lands once earmarked for a State Route 238 bypass freeway; shaped and executed comprehensive policy approaches to homelessness, and creation and preservation of affordable housing; and devised and implemented novel COVID-19 economic relief initiatives for local businesses and residents considered most vulnerable to eviction and displacement due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Prior to joining City of Hayward, Ott served the City of Alameda as Redevelopment Manager, Deputy City Manager, Chief Operating Officer of the city’s Alameda Point naval air station redevelopment project, Base Reuse and Transportation Planning Director, and as Acting Assistant City Manager.

Previously, she was a Vice President at Economic & Planning Systems (EPS) of Berkeley, a leading land-use policy and real estate development consultancy to local governments and private developers.

She has a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and Spanish from the University of California, Davis.