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OUR STORY
Vitale Civic Partners was founded on a simple belief: the strongest public organizations are built through thoughtful leadership, trusted relationships, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
We are a California-based executive advisory firm serving cities, special districts, and public agencies with interim leadership, strategic initiatives, governance support, and organizational improvement services. Whether helping an agency navigate executive transitions, advance a complex project, or strengthen organizational performance, we bring practical experience, collaborative leadership, and a deep understanding of how local government works.
Our clients rely on us because we've sat in their seats. We've advised elected officials, managed departments, led emergency responses, delivered capital projects, improved organizational performance, and helped communities navigate both everyday operations and extraordinary challenges.
We understand the complexity of public service because we've spent our careers serving the public.
Lesley Milton, MPA, CMC, CPM
Lesley brings more than two decades of public sector leadership experience, serving as Assistant City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Council Appointed City Clerk and Assistant Public Works Director in multiple California cities. She has led complex capital improvement programs, guided water and wastewater utilities through modernization, and facilitated organizational culture change initiatives. Lesley specializes in systems implementations & efficiency initiatives, workforce development, and high-performance government practices, with a proven track record of rebuilding teams and aligning operations with community priorities.
Seasoned public sector leader with 20 years experience spanning City Clerk, Assistant/Deputy City Manager, and Assistant Public Works Director roles. Lesley has led policy development, public information, utility operations, and capital programs, translating complex technical work into council‑ready decisions and community‑friendly communications.
Focus areas
Executive advisory, strategic planning, and facilitation
City Clerk services: agenda/minutes workflows, Brown Act alignment, records
Public information plans and crisis communications
Operations & performance: SOPs, KPIs, CMMS/mobile work management
Utilities & capital delivery: water/wastewater projects, owner’s rep services
Council relations, staff mentorship, and organizational change
Selected impacts
Launched governance and rollout for a smart‑meter (AMI) program and customer portal, standardizing SOPs and templates for clearer community updates.
Implemented mobile work management and weekly operations huddles to improve response times and compliance tracking.
Re‑framed staffing and contracting models for a treatment facility, strengthening compliance and reducing operational risk.
Chip Rerig, MUP
Chip has served as a City Manager for over ten years and has a career spanning more than 25 years in local government. A city planner by training, he managed the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea for a decade and spent 15 years with the City of Monterey overseeing planning and engineering. Chip’s strengths lie in executive leadership, land use planning, economic development, and council relations, and he is highly regarded for his ability to balance community vision with practical governance.
A city planner by training and a veteran city executive, Chip served as City Manager for Carmel‑by‑the‑Sea, California for 10 years and previously spent 15 years with the City of Monterey managing planning and engineering. He brings deep experience in executive leadership, council relations, interdepartmental coordination, and delivery of complex projects in coastal, historic, and tourism‑rich communities.
Focus areas
City management, council governance, and executive reviews
Strategic planning, budget alignment, and intergovernmental relations
Planning & engineering management; coastal and historic‑district contexts
Capital improvement programming and infrastructure delivery
Community engagement and public information strategy
Leadership mentoring and succession planning
Selected impacts
Strengthened council norms/meeting practices and executive team alignment to accelerate decision‑making and implementation.
Guided long‑range planning and capital programs balancing preservation, mobility, and economic vitality.
Mentored department heads and rising leaders to elevate service standards and continuity of operations.
Why "Vitale"?
Why "Vitale"?
The name Vitale reflects our belief that healthy organizations are the foundation of thriving communities. In Italian, vitalemeans essential, vital, or full of life—a fitting description of the role local governments play every day.
Our firm's name also reflects a defining chapter in our own journey. In 2025, we made the intentional decision to step away from our careers and move ourselves and our 16 year old daughter to Italy for a year. Our purpose was to gain a broader global perspective, immerse ourselves in another culture, invest in our family, and create the space to reflect on what truly matters in leadership and public service.
Living abroad challenged our assumptions and gave us the opportunity to see our work—and our lives—through a different lens. We experienced firsthand how culture shapes communities, how different approaches can lead to shared outcomes, and how curiosity, adaptability, and empathy strengthen leadership. We returned with a renewed appreciation for the extraordinary role local governments play in people's daily lives and a deeper commitment to leading with perspective, collaboration, and purpose.
Those experiences did not change the values that have guided our careers; they strengthened them. Today, Vitale Civic Partners brings together decades of California local government leadership with a broader worldview shaped by international experience, helping public agencies navigate change, strengthen their organizations, and serve their communities with confidence, integrity, and a long-term perspective.
We welcome the opportunity to learn about your city’s challenges and goals. Reach out today to start a conversation about how we can partner for success.
Municipalities need tailored solutions in strategy, project management, and organizational development. Our approach ensures measurable results, stronger teams, and lasting community impact.
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