Few people begin their careers in government as early as Santa Clara City Manager Jovan Grogan. He got involved in city government in high school, and was so certain of his direction in life that when it came time for college, he looked for schools with majors in city planning.
It all began when an Oakland city council member spoke to his high school class. At the end of class, Grogan spoke to the council member and was invited to join a city youth commission. Grogan went on to earn a Bachelor’s in city planning and a Master’s in regional planning from Cornell, working in local government during the summers.
“When I came back to Oakland for my first summer after freshman year, I contacted the city manager,” said Grogan. “I said, ‘Hi, my name is Jovan. I go to Cornell. I’m interested in cities and I’ll work for you for free for the summer.’ He replied, ‘Call me when you’re in town, and I’ll pay you.’ So I spent my summer breaks in freshman and sophomore year as an intern for the city manager of Oakland.”
Grogan is an Oakland native, with a father who worked in construction and a mother who worked for Kaiser Permanente. His roots in that city are deep, including a grandfather who was a founding member of Greater St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church in Oakland.
After graduate school, Grogan didn’t go directly into government; instead, going to work for a municipal management consulting firm.
“We studied every area of local government service,” explained Grogan. “I worked all across the Bay Area and the West Coast. What was great about that job was I didn’t just work for one city, where the issues in that city were the only things that crossed my desk.”
That job gave him cross-functional expertise as he tackled complex municipal challenges —from budget crises to hiring bottlenecks to airport studies. Two of his projects were the Vallejo and Stockton bankruptcies.
Following six years of consulting, Grogan worked as Concord’s budget officer and then Berkeley’s deputy city manager. Mentors in Berkeley began telling him it was time to move up to the top position, and he became San Bruno’s city manager. During his tenure, he brought to completion a major real estate project that transformed the dying Tanforan Mall into a housing and tech campus.
When Grogan came to Santa Clara in 2023, he saw several challenges facing Santa Clara. The city had been without a city manager for a year and had a contentious political environment. There are also the challenges of aging infrastructure, difficulty attracting and retaining staff due to high housing costs and a World Cup and Super Bowl on the horizon.
However, a healthy budget is fundamental for meeting Santa Clara’s future, and Grogan is launching a fiscal sustainability project for the city, with a long-term plan for short-, medium- and long-term plans.
“We know that we have a structural deficit to fund new services and infrastructure,” he explained. “We’ve been able to rebuild our reserves, but we’re not operating in a sustainable manner. The community wants more services like all communities. They want us to enhance our recreation offerings, improve our parks. And we need to provide capacity in the budget to do that.
“We want to develop a blueprint to ensure fiscal sustainability,” Grogan continued. “We’re going to look at revenue enhancements, [and] expenditure reductions. We have to look at service or program elimination and service delivery model changes. We provide services through government resources, but we will ask, ‘Can we provide them in other ways?’”
Grogran says his job is keeping the ship on course for a successful future.
“My job is just making sure that we have a modern, high-functioning, well-run organization, aside from whatever the hot button issue is of the day,” he said. “That’s the work that never stops. The job is ensuring that you don’t get distracted by the fires or the hot-button issues of the day, or even the amazing mega events that are coming in.
“You have to [leave] politics aside,” he added, “and make decisions about what’s in the best long-term interest of the community.”
Jovan for mayor or something humor is apparent, failed to devise. Fiscal budgets refuse over expenditures especially construction of roadways Jovan, your Cornell alumni” prestige. Apparently’ failed to promote clarity fiscal policies Jovan your typical enriching your pockets. I wondering how gotten hired were formerly friends of some chosen politicians. Santa Clara city is a disarray cutting
staff forgotten your compensation is abundant audacity decry accomplished merit for Santa Clara. Jovan improving existing facilities purchasing essentials of city transit replacing lights on streets! Santana your equivalent I’ve haven’t seen a signification of appropriation we notice your allure. Speak with accuracy of topics of governmental policies why haven your completed the task?
Jovan’ formerly public office in Oakland, yeah corruption is rampant shall. Eventually get hired by “Darling Barbara Lee”Baroness of Oakland elected (2025) current mayor? Besides Lisa Gillmor your a puppet failed stand independently, guilty Jovan equivalent to African dictator! Don’t go there with my comparison plenty of oppression degrading among the African nations. Jovan you also worked as controller for Nigerian firm this why your incompetent among so many elected or chosen Santa Clara politicians! Jovan failed to mention the segregated attitude of conservative hierarchical Santa Clara, they detest Blacks! So many homeless around the parks there sitting “Franklin Mall” drinking and using narcotics using area for public restrooms. Calling the police your ignored, Jovan building affordable housing alleged why so many RV’s on Halford Avenue near City Hall? Jovan making his salary ideal creek Santa Clara ineptitude your next City Manager days are number recommend resign or termination! Don’t use minority stance either your incompetent! Jovan ignoring continued bigotry towards Blacks in Santa Clara, forgotten ideal guy your not example of prestige! Jovan responsibility of City manager assurance of accountability among administration! Presently a disarray assistance Paulina baffled why haven’t Santa Clara residents seen prosperity? Jovan submit your resignation!
I don’t know what you were smoking when you wrote your comment, but may I have some?
While Jovan Grogan is thankfully not Deanna Santana one helps but wonder if he is here to stay of this is just a pit stop. Jovan went from city of San Bruno making $170,000 a year to Santa Clara making over $400,000 a year which is quite a leap. Yet his steady hand is a concern because there is still remnant of Deanna Santana’s administration. Jovan needs to grow a spine and purge the rest of Santana’s hires everywhere from HR to Assistant City Managers. Jovan also needs to stand up to Gillmor and stop playing the role of Neville Chamberlain in allowing the continued terrorism of the Gillmor mafia. If Gillmor takes a majority in 2026, Jovan Grogan and City Attorney Glen Googins days are numbered. Already Gillmor considers Grogan and Googins in the 49ers pocket and uses this heavily during council meetings. Gillmor’s constant lying about the facts have made it a headache for City Manager and City Attorney, yet they never hold her accountable. The one thing that stands out why, is they are very, very afraid of Lisa Gillmor. Both Grogan and Googins know they are safe for now cause non of the other Councilmembers would move to terminate them unless something big happens. Grogan and Googins know that Jain, Park, Chahal, Hardy and Gonzalez don’t have the power, the means, nor the vindictiveness and hate that drives Gillmor. Until Jovan stands up to Gillmor and gets salaries under control are we much better than we were when Deanna Santana was here? The good thing is we are in better financial health but not out of the woods yet. The clock is ticking, will Jovan Grogan and Glen Googins survive past 2027 knowing what Gillmor is cooking up.
I just heard that when Jovan Grogan was applying for the role as Santa Clara City Manager the San Bruno City Council was considering getting rid of him as City Manager and he left before then. I spoke to some of those councilmembers who said Jovan had lots of issues. Hopefully it is just a San Bruno issues and not a Jovan Grogan issue. Interesting though to find that out. Maybe others should ask.
Funny how history repeats itself, In 2017 Deanna Santana was about to be fired as Sunnyvale City Manager for the big strike that happened and then suddenly Santa Clara and Lisa Gillmor hired her and she left Sunnyvale not being fired.
Jovan for something? Certainly not mayoral seat forgotten it’s possible but how? Santa Clara hierarchy majority whom are decile, Jovan I haven’t seen anything of merit, regarding resolving public policy! True everyone receiving high compensations oppose lesser personnel whom worth. Getting meager income allowing the “homeless” lingering on streets in RV’s. Santa Clara residents paying for “Affordable housing” construction Javon, observe Halford Avenue lingering. Vehicles whom owners refuse to seek, housing Jovan gotten pay raise other City Managers. Deficit I’m throwing a fit refuse dismiss your incompetency don’t use the color factor! Equivalent of African political opportunist using racial mocker, imperialism. Jovan aware Santa Clara is eminently racist! Towards Blacks forgotten your considered (a different kinda a fellow) the bias racial terms! Jovan aspiring to become so called “Token” mayor color irrelevant. You haven’t accomplished principles of administration Santa Clara San Mateo economic dept calls you a fool! New City Manager soon! Mayor Gillmor why did Jovan get selected your controlling him doing horrible job! Forgotten getting high salary resign! Santa Clara has appropriate budget to hire new employees along fund programs! Jovan?
Well “Blue Donkey’s looking to make there lacky whom, no other Jovan. Next mayor a joke” why? Nice try Jovan learning ineptness of mayoral office ignore the policies just lingering of false assurance. Jovan if selected mayor how going make Santa Clara viable…[How] professional politician disfavored traditions of social neglect. Problems why not higher commerce taxes along larger corporations logistic taxes to benefit roads,K-12,housing and higher more police officers! Javon for mayor shall be typical token not eluding to connotation of race just behavioral of evasion! Learn ideal icon Mayor Lisa a joke without damn humor I haven’t remembered anything Gillmor administration provided for Santa Clara! Jovan increase your compensation whom vice mayoral if selected for mayoral office Jovan? Manuel Pineda another lacky friends of Santana later salary ready, $415,000 not competent upon not proficient utilities and energy [hydraulic systems]. Energy committee CEA submit inquires lesser personnel non Santa Clara staff responding to resolutions were. Still using poles for transporting Telephones why not underground cables Mayor Gillmor and Jovan forgotten City Manager Pineda relocated. San Jose totally inept forgotten hired nepotism token” factor due to statistic not qualifications. Jovan residents inquire about Santa Clara policies your always vague especially to Brothers” yeah. Black folks so called non others don’t call me bigot? When favor indifference yourself audacity to seek mayoral office politics and tricks it’s possible! Gotten Lisa Gilsomething? Manuel and Jovan not proficient with duties time for social change continuation of disparage! Jovan resign your a creep! Become as Mayor Adams,Lorie Lightfoot,Marion Barry and Karen Bass incompetent going us race!
Don’t enter the race only create continuation of social imbalance presently Santa Clara how taxes being spent? On Jovan salaries along Aracely Azevedo,Chuck Baker and Paulina Morales (Ms.Dilettantish) elected political officials for office not exclusive hiring! Broken blues of “Blue Horse” party attempting come back never, hierarchy worsen Jovan,Aracely,Chuck and Paulina tokens if qualified were if private sector proficiencies! Tell us Jovan is Cornell Alumni don’t use the Brother stuff on me, were majority. Blacks in Santa Clara ignored rising tension of dominated Outsourcing and H1B now abolished were do you stand! Speak to Aracely and Paulina there typical look at you vague eyes never focus on objection. Santa Clara electoral government not [dictatorships of Latin America] this USA! Take out of context Jovan formerly worked for Nigerian conglomerates yeah dictatorships and fraud! Disputed accountability providing leadership for Santa Clara Jovan wins the mayoral taken Paulina or Aracely color shouldn’t be factor! Going abuse power there incompetent were leadership and economic efficiencies of Chuck,Aracely and Paulina yeah tell us! Plenty of bigotry from within Paulina when Black and Arab residents, ask about fiscal assurance you were indifferent with racial repugnance especially towards Blacks! I saw it oppose myself Yankee assume I seeking assistance this not oppressive Latin America not about race ideology! Social attitudes of Broken Blue party which misgoverned Santa Clara Brother” Javon were so called Black front getting contracts nor jobs Santa Clara! Mocker Aracely look at residents always unassured candor when speak why? Your incompetent Hispanics voters are fools Santana didn’t give damn about anyone…antics of Jovan equivalent using racial equality? Jovan proficient African economic cartels member of African Free trade of nations whom associates trade with Silicon Valley! Don’t go there Santa Clara residents call me bigot your elected government is discriminatory why sudden demise of economic vitality of policies! Jovan for mayoral office whom vice going to be Aracely or Pauline hope going to win be next to be impeached! Elected Creeps! Going reduce the numbers of “Homeless” along rent control Santa Clara your silent!
Fiscal year almost over reigning into soon “2026” Jovan how are. Going save the residents of Santa Clara on taxes, usage of budget to improve the social abuse. Tenure of Darling Arch Dutchess Lisa Gilmor reigning inept Queen of disunity! Rally for authority of Levi Stadium neglected submerge the Telecommunications poles into underground cables. Plenty of agencies not baffled getting the resolution mentions ineffectiveness within Santa Clara government your detested! Aracely Azevedo and Pauline Morales odd, or apparent your speaking “Spanish front of those not proficient? This mistrust adverse to answering questions for improvement forgotten hired for “Token factor” repugnant! Not qualified audacity to decrying your appeasing Santa Clara Jovan awaiting to be mayor? With help of Arch Dupe Lisa Gilmor, regarding improvements of telecommunications and powerlines whom eager to assist with matters? Aracely,Jovan and Pauline, well Go Biz whom?
Willie Rudman,Trelynd Bradley,Jayden Saldana,Toni Gomez,Kate Uyeda and William Koch. Awaiting the proposal submitted to improved the process contradiction were efficient metropolitan region represented by township? No more Jovan spoken written whom, Carolyn Coleman CEO of Calicities approached your governmental policies. Failed to accomplish social merit Jovan enriching your compensation whom taught you that? Santana using minority statistics
I can’t distinguish the difference, haven’t completed anything since empowered. Aracely,Chuck and Pauline any suggestions, homelessness,dirty streets broken sidewalks K-12 over crowed refusal to rezone areas new hospitals! Were do you stand for governmental representation improvement of governmental policies, Jovan annoyed. Social neglect I pay taxes refuse to be meek denial to speak upon inept government of Santa Clara! Bunch of homeless always sitting around Franklin Mall smoking narcotics front of “Post Office” why haven’t you removed them? Mayor Gilmor there around the corner of family gem realty, guys drinking booze using area as restrooms. Do something Jovan expect to mayor soon?
Jovan I submitted a complaint regarding safety of surroundings California law. Apt buildings have gates around swimming poles whom guilty Tamarack Apts manager doesn’t care my daughter has. Complaint numerous times you need fine Woodmont realty. Children, disable tenants and elderly could slip fall into pool which near the gate of entrance. Jovan do really care? Manager doesn’t comply or consider this safety hazard what next someone become victim of accident!