[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 7, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E4]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN HONOR OF JAMES PURTEE, CITY MANAGER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JULIA BROWNLEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 2020

  Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Madam Speaker, after 31 years of public 
service, Palmdale City Manager James ``Jim'' Purtee announced his 
retirement effective at the end of 2019. Jim began his diverse career 
in public service with the City of Simi Valley in 1988. He spent over 
27 years working for several city departments in Simi Valley and was 
involved in improving access to affordable house, ensuring continued 
economic development, and contributing to city planning efforts. In 
addition, Jim spent his free time doing community services.
   In July 2012, Jim was named as the City of Simi Valley's Assistant 
City Manager, where he was responsible for intergovernmental relations 
and served as the City's public information officer. While serving as 
the Assistant City Manager, Jim obtained S&P rating upgrade of AAA for 
the City of Simi Valley. He sponsored a $5 million citywide investment 
in replacing technology services and turned a $2.4 million budget 
deficit to a $2.4 million budget surplus in just three years. Jim took 
the lead on working with city departments to complete a biogas fueling 
project for the City's transit buses and implement a $15 million energy 
savings and production project. During his time in public service, Jim 
managed a $160 million investment portfolio and increased investment 
returns by 400 percent over the benchmark and earned an additional $9.7 
million on City funds over a six-year period. Jim was instrumental in 
securing $780,000 in grant funding to invest in citywide energy 
efficiency programs and oversaw countless affordable house programs to 
benefit thousands of families.
   In October 2015, Jim became the City Manager for the City of 
Palmdale. While serving as City Manager in Palmdale, Jim amassed a 
number of significant achievements and successes. As City Manager for 
the City of Palmdale, Jim obtained an S&P rating upgrade to AA- and 
engaged in community partnerships, which contributed to reducing the 
City of Palmdale's Part 1 crime rate by over 40 percent in just 5 
years. Under Jim's leadership, the City of Palmdale was named as the 
44th Safest City in the US, was ranked in the top 15 percent of 
fiscally responsible cities in California and as a top 25 city in the 
U.S. to Live the American Dream.
   Jim implemented initiatives to assist thousands of families in 
obtaining safe, decent, and affordable housing. He carried out fiscal 
and legislative actions that provided over $100 million in positive 
fiscal impacts to communities and worked on cutting edge sustainability 
projects such as waste to energy, groundwater recharge, and 
acquisition/conversion of 18,000 Streetlights to LED.
   During his career, Jim served on multiple boards governing water, 
transportation, medicine, and regional planning. He served on the 
League of California Cities Fiscal Transparency, Revenue and Tax, and 
City Manager Committees. Jim supported the success of Air Force Plant 
42 through maintaining strong relationships with all stakeholders. Jim 
worked tirelessly to ensure Palmdale, California will be California's 
High Speed Rail connection to the Western U.S. and partnered with 
academic stakeholders to educate and train the next generation of 
aerospace employees.
   Jim obtained over $300 million in grants, tax credits, and other 
financial resources to invest in transportation, housing, water, 
energy, and quality of life improvements for the City of Palmdale. He 
oversaw the development of strategic plans for increasing access to 
public arts, encouraging economic development throughout the city, and 
restoring air service to Palmdale. While serving as City Manager, Jim 
invested in local parks, building the City of Palmdale's first dog 
park, developing new City parks, and improving existing parks.
   Jim was honored by the International City/County Management 
Association (ICMA), the premier local government leadership and 
management organization, at its annual conference in Baltimore earlier 
this year for his significant contributions and achievements in the 
advancement of local government administration for 30 years.
   An avid supporter of military veterans, Jim has volunteered 
countless hours with local veteran organizations. He is also an 
advocate for supporting mental health programs, especially with our 
local youth population, and has also served on the Board of Directors 
for Palmdale Regional Medical Center. Jim holds both a bachelor's and 
master's degrees from California State University, Northridge, and is a 
graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education for senior 
executives in state and local government program.
   Jim has been happily married for the past 33 years to Tina, whom he 
has known since high school, and they are the proud parents of four 
children: Erika, Elyssa, Ariana, and Ethan.

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