City Manager
For Santee, California
City Manager Marlene Best serves as the chief executive officer for the City of Santee. She was appointed by the City Council in February 2016.
The City Manager’s Office oversees the day-to-day operations of the city and provides leadership, support and guidance to each of the city’s department directors and their staff.
Best, who came to the job with 37 years of local government experience, previously worked in various management positions for five cities in San Diego, Riverside and Imperial counties. She is an East County native who was born and raised in Lemon Grove. She has a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from San Diego State University and is a graduate of Grossmont College and Helix High School.
A Message from the City Manager
Welcome to the official website for the City of Santee.
I’m honored to serve as the City Manager of a thriving city with a staff that strives to improve the quality of life for all. At City Hall, we are dedicated to serving the public and running a lean and efficient city government that uses your tax dollars wisely.
Santee has been blessed with unusual stability at City Hall. Since the city’s incorporation in 1980, there have been just four city managers at the helm, including myself. While the city has grown and changed dramatically in recent decades, we have managed to maintain a small-town-friendly demeanor. We have a community that is engaged, which is evidenced by the large turnout at our summer concerts in the park and the 4th of July fireworks show known as Santee Salutes.
Our goal is to foster a culture at City Hall that is friendly and helpful rather than bureaucratic. We welcome your feedback on everything from dog parks to potholes. Let us know what you need and we’ll do our best to help.
If you’re a small business or entrepreneur looking for a home base or storefront, check us out. We’ve got ample space for new businesses and a high-quality workforce ready to take you to the next level. Please contact us to learn how we can help bring your business to Santee’s potential is extraordinary, and I couldn’t be more excited about our future.