RITA GELDERT
REGULAR DIVISION 2024
Rita Geldert retired after 35 years in public service, with 17 years in the City of Vista. She was hired as Vista's Assistant City Manager on January 23, 1995. She was appointed Interim City Manager in July 1997, and appointed City Manager in December 1997.
Prior to coming to Vista, Rita served as the Director of Finance and Administration for the City of Dana Point, Management Services Officer for the City of Merced, Personnel Officer for the City of Vacaville and, while living on the East Coast, also worked for Xerox.
As City Manager, Rita was responsible for implementing and creating a vibrant downtown. In 2003, the opening of the Vista Village project marked a key milestone in improving the downtown with shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities in Vista Village that have created a destination for local families and created hundreds of jobs for residents.
She fostered the City's economic development program, which served to recruit new business-es and retain existing ones in the city. Implementation of programs like the Vista CARES business retention program demonstrated her commitment to a strong and vibrant business community.
Working to increase outreach and communication efforts to Vista residents with the creation of the Vista Citizens Academy, a 7-week program that provides residents with an in-depth understanding of City functions. The program has become a valuable tool for sharing with Vista residents how the City operates, opening additional lines of communication between City Hall and those who live in the community. If she is asked what community project she is most proud, Rita would say that her proudest accomplishment as Vista's City Manager is the implementation of the Vistans ROC neighborhood revitalization program, which in 11 years, has used more than 7,500 volunteers to beautify nearly 250 properties and helped to instill a sense of pride among all Vistans.
Her family is the most important thing in Rita's life - a trait she used to create a family environment among staff. Many former employees remark on how the warm and family-like atmosphere is what they missed most after her leaving the City. Rita is a kind, generous and caring person, and has a special way of making everyone feel comfortable and valued.
With the unanimous support of the Mayor and City Council, Rita led successful campaigns for Proposition L in 2006, which laid the groundwork for the Community Projects, and Proposition C in 2006, which brought Charter City status, and greater control over how the City of Vista did business.
Following the successful passage of Proposition L, she again showed her faith in her staff by creating a team of employees to manage the design and construction of the Community Projects, all of which were completed on time and under budget, and have served the community well and into the future. With an eye to the future, Rita established succession planning within the organization, which resulted in numerous internal promotions over the years. One was the appointment of the incoming City Manager. Preparing employees to take on new roles that saved the City time and money when vacancies occurred, and allowed for smooth transitions.
The City of Vista thanked Rita Geldert for her dedicated services to the City. She will be greatly missed by all who have had the good fortune to work with her. The Vista City Council proclaimed Saturday, December 31, 2011 as "RITA L. GELDERT DAY IN THE CITY OF VISTA!”