The Desert Hot Springs City Council Tuesday announced that City Manager Frank Luckino was stepping down from the position, effective immediately.
“Frank Luckino had to take some personal time off the last few weeks, and over that time has decided to retire from the city of Desert Hot Springs,” Mayor Scott Matas said at the March 4 meeting. “We had to appoint the Deputy City Manager [Doria Wilms] to the acting city manager during the personal leave time, and as of today, after being notified this week of his retirement, the city council took action to appoint [Wilms] as the interim city manager.”
The council unanimously appointed Luckino to the role in October 2023, selecting him from a pool of 29 candidates following the retirement of City Manager Luke Rainey earlier that year. His tenure started the following month.
“With the staff that you have, the leadership that kind of carried you over the last nine months or so and all the staff that has done a great job for the city, I’m looking forward to working with them, with you, with the community,” Luckino said at the time.
He previously served as the city manager for Twentynine Palms, the city manager for the city of Blythe, the assistant general manager and chief financial officer for the Hi-Desert Water District and controller for Planet Hollywood International.
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Wilms, who filled the role on an interim basis prior to Luckino’s appointment, will again fill the role on an interim basis with an agreement expected to come before the council at the council’s March 18 meeting.
“I am honored to take on the role of interim city manager,” Wilms said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing the city’s progress and working closely with the city council, staff and the community to ensure Desert Hot Springs remains on a path of growth and success.”
Wilms is a 44-year resident of the city and has served in the city manager’s office since 2016, according to the city. In 2021, she was promoted to deputy city manager, a role she has held since.
“The City Council has the utmost confidence in Doria’s ability to lead during this important time,” Matas said in a statement. “Her wealth of experience, commitment to our city and deep understanding of Desert Hot Springs make her an ideal choice to maintain continuity as the city moves forward.”
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