City of Henderson City Manager Robert Murnane Announces His Retirement
Henderson, Nev. – City of Henderson City Manager Robert “Bob” Murnane announced his retirement today, citing the need to focus his full attention on his health following treatment for a serious illness. Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Richard Derrick has been named to the role of Acting City Manager.
Murnane was named City Manager in August 2015 and in that role, he has been responsible for the city’s policy direction, strategic planning and oversight of all departments and divisions of the second largest city in Nevada. Prior to his appointment as City Manager, Murnane served as Senior Director of the city’s Public Works, Parks and Recreation Department. He originally joined the City of Henderson as an employee in 1996.
“I am grateful for the opportunity that I have been given to serve as City Manager and it has been an honor to work for the Mayor and Council in this important leadership role and deeply gratifying to have been a part of many important achievements that have strengthened our community and made life better for Henderson residents,” said Murnane. “As my more than two decades with the City of Henderson come to a close, I am proud of what I have helped to accomplish. My success would not have been possible without the support of my family, the city’s elected leaders and the outstanding team members I have been fortunate to work with and lead throughout my career.”
“Bob Murnane has done an outstanding job as City Manager and we are all sad to see our friend and colleague leave, but we understand the need for him to focus on his health at this critical time. My colleagues on the City Council join me in expressing our gratitude to Bob and wish him only the best in the future,” said Mayor Debra March.
Murnane leaves behind a legacy of working to strengthen the city’s financial stability, including enhancing its bond ratings which reflect the success of the sound fiscal management that has been a hallmark of his tenure. Murnane also oversaw the expansion of city infrastructure, including the opening of the first new fire station in Henderson in more than a decade and he has made public safety a key priority, including the hiring of the City’s new Police Chief LaTesha Watson and filling additional positions at the Henderson Police Department and Fire Department.
Other accomplishments during his time as City Manager include initiating the negotiations for the proposed sale of 55 acres to the Raiders football organization for the creation of a corporate headquarters and world-class practice facility in Henderson that is expected to create hundreds of new jobs and lead to the investment of $75 million in the property, once a sale is finalized.
Murnane also focused on finding ways for the city to support education in Henderson and was instrumental in the creation of the Henderson Community Education Advisory Board. In addition, he was a champion for the successful expansion of authority for the city’s Redevelopment Agency to provide funding for Henderson classrooms for the very first time and for the expansion of the areas of the city where these dollars could be invested to serve even greater numbers of public school students.
During Murnane’s time as the city’s Public Works Director, a role he was in from May 2001 to January 2014, the department received awards from the Building Managers and Owners Association, the National Society of Professional Engineers and the American Public Works Association for several facilities and programs including the Citywide Energy Performance Contract, Heritage Park Senior Facility and Aquatics Complex, Justice Facility, North Police Station and the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility.
Murnane also served as a member of the Executive Advisory Committee of the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada and on the Technical Advisory Committee of the Regional Flood Control District.
A 1987 civil engineering graduate of the Oregon Institute of Technology, Murnane worked in the private sector for various Southern Nevada engineering firms until 1990, when he went to work for the City of North Las Vegas prior to the beginning of his service with the City of Henderson.
