Ann Ober Steps Down as City Manager for New Role With Washington County

Ann Ober, who has served as city manager for the past seven and a half years, has submitted her resignation to Milwaukie City Council to take on a new endeavor as an assistant county administrator with Washington County. Her last day with the City of Milwaukie is April 8.

“Ann has made a tremendous impact in our community and we’re very grateful for her dedication to Milwaukie over the years,” said Mayor Lisa Batey. “Her thoughtful approach to carrying out projects and compassion for community members has helped us achieve success in ways that go far beyond just checking a box.”

During her tenure, Ober played a vital role in a number of significant projects for Milwaukie, including the improvements to the south downtown area, pedestrian and bicyclist safety infrastructure enhancements, construction of the new library building, and purchase of the new city hall building along with the sale of the historic city hall building, to name a few. Through the years, she also facilitated a change in focus for city council members and city staff onto equity, climate resilience, housing and other key community issues, and helped the city weather the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Words can’t adequately describe the sense of pride I’ve felt serving the Milwaukie community,” Ober said. “It’s truly been an honor to be part of some tremendous milestones, and such a joy to see the city flourish in its own unique ways. Milwaukie’s future is bright, and I’m humbled to have been part of something so much bigger than myself.”

Once city council has permanently filled its five positions, they will work with a recruiting agency to begin the search for the next city manager. In the meantime, they have appointed Emma Sagor, the current assistant city manager, as the interim city manager during the transition.

For questions about the city manager position, contact Emma Sagor at sagore@milwaukieoregon.gov or 503-786-7573.