Henderson city manager announces plan to step down

By Conor Shine

Published Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015 | 12:23 p.m.

Updated Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015 | 8:15 p.m.

After nearly three years as Henderson city manager, Jacob Snow said today he plans to step down this summer and pursue a career in the private sector.

Snow, 50, said that with the city on stable financial ground after years of budget turmoil, he felt now was a good time to step away to try something different.

He said the recent graduation of his youngest son from high school and a desire to spend more time with his wife factored into the timing of the decision.

"We're going to be empty nesters in a few months. Last year, we started looking at some plans to have a change in employment," Snow said. "I'm going to work for the city through the legislative session and then after that I'll be looking for work."

Snow's retirement will also come shortly after he vests at 30 years of service in Nevada government, allowing him to collect a full pension from the state Public Employees Retirement System worth about $170,000 per year.

Snow was hired in March 2012 to succeed City Manager Mark Calhoun, who retired after 29 years with the city.

A Henderson resident, Snow came to the city from the Regional Transportation Commission, where he served as general manager. Previously, he'd spent four years as assistant director of aviation at the Clark County Department of Aviation. As city manager, his annual salary was $225,000.

At the time of Snow's hiring, the city was facing a $13.5 million budget deficit, and the police department was drawing heavy criticism related to a video showing an officer kicking a man in diabetic shock during a 2010 traffic stop. The scandal led to a $158,000 settlement with the victim and the hurried retirement of Police Chief Jutta Chambers.

Snow said today he was proud of the progress made on both fronts. Use of force incidents are down thanks to improved training, he said, and last year the city had a balanced budget.

"That's the first time that's happened here in a long time," he said. "That was the biggest challenge. We just didn't have the resources so we had to hunker down, get creative and we had to make sacrifices."

No decisions have been made about Snow's successor. He said there are several capable people on his executive team, but he won't be making any recommendation to the city council.