FLAGSTAFF, Ariz – This week, Flagstaff City Manager Greg Clifton announced to the City Council his intention to retire. To guide the transition, the City has engaged Duffy Group to conduct a nationwide, competitive search with opportunities for community input to help identify a city manager aligned with Flagstaff’s values.
Mr. Clifton joined the City of Flagstaff in August 2019 with more than 20 years of executive municipal experience. From the outset, he adopted a community-centered leadership style that emphasized collaboration across City divisions. Under his leadership, the City made significant strides in key areas including public safety, core services, climate resilience, public infrastructure, and economic vitality.
Notable among his achievements, Mr. Clifton helped the City navigate numerous catastrophic events, including wildfires, floods, and the global pandemic. Facing the aftermath of historic fires and flooding, he assembled a citizen task force to formulate a bond measure (Proposition 441) to address flooding and needed wildfire equipment, which passed by a significant margin. In parallel, he advanced major capital improvements including the Rio de Flag Flood Control Project, helping to forge foundational relationships with the Army Corps of Engineers and BNSF Railroad. Mr. Clifton also increased the City’s resilience to economic downturns by assisting in the formulation of a recession plan, which enhanced the City’s stability during the COVID-19 pandemic and allowed it to better respond to challenges faced by residents and businesses.
During Mr. Clifton’s tenure, the City has fully implemented market-based compensation and a pay-for-performance structure, positioning the City to attract and retain top talent. To ensure fiscal responsibility, Mr. Clifton helped lead an effort to finance an unfunded public safety pension liability of $230M in 2020, saving the City $76M in present value. Efforts to better align the City organization with community values and needs have seen the implementation of a Priority Based Budgeting system as well as greater organizational focus on capital improvements, housing, sustainability, civic engagement, and parks, recreation, and open spaces. Through these efforts, Mr. Clifton leaves Flagstaff well-prepared for the future—both financially and operationally.
“It has been the highest honor of my career to serve the Flagstaff community over the past several years. I am grateful beyond words to have worked with such an amazing staff and solid leadership within the organization, and within our elected councils.” said Mr. Clifton.
Mayor Becky Daggett said “Mr. Clifton has been the leader Flagstaff needed and I’ll be forever grateful for the graceful way he led the organization into many exciting and beneficial changes. As a new councilmember and then mayor, I couldn’t have asked for a better city manager.”
The City has partnered with Duffy Group, based in Phoenix, to lead a nationwide competitive recruitment process inclusive of community input. Mr. Clifton has targeted August 26, 2025 as the end date of his employment with the City, although he will continue to serve as a contracted interim manager until such time as the next city manager is in place. Recruitment efforts are well underway, with a selection process to occur in late September and early October.
