Fresno’s economic development director Lippincott leaving for city manager position

Lance Lippincott, Fresno’s economic development director since 2022, has taken a new position as city manager of Shafter in Kern County.

The Shafter City Council approved an employment agreement with Lippincott at its regular meeting Tuesday.

The Shafter city manager position comes with an annual base salary of $210,000. Starting in March 2025, Lippincott will be subject to an annual performance evaluation.

The news was first reported by The Shafter Press .

Current City Manager Gabriel Gonzalez plans to retire. Lippincott will start in his new position on Sept. 30.

“Mr. Lippincott was selected due to his extensive economic development and management background,” according to a Shafter city staff report.

His employment agreement also includes an auto allowance of $400 and phone allowance of $100 per month. Moving expenses will be reimbursed up to $7,000.

Lippincott will earn $21,662 less annually than Gonzalez’s retirement salary, meaning a fiscal savings to the city.

A Merced native, Lippincott is a graduate of Chico State and Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He led the Kings County EDC for four years and has also served as the director of the Kings County Job Training Office in that period, where he designed and implemented new programs serving businesses and jobseekers.

His last day will be Sept. 20, 2024.