Joe Felz was appointed Fullerton City Manager in May 2011. He is the seventh person to hold the City's top administrative post since its incorporation in 1904,
Prior to his appointment, Felz served as Acting City Manager for six months following the retirement of City Manager Chris Meyer.
Felz came to work for the City of Fullerton in 1984 as a Recreation Coordinator assigned primarily to coordinating programs at the Fullerton Senior Multi-Service Center.
In 1987, he was promoted to Community Services Supervisor and placed in charge of the Department's Cultural and Events Division. In that capacity, he was named Director of the then-closed Museum of North Orange County and oversaw the renovation of the facility - rechristened the Fullerton Museum Center - and implementation of new programming.
In his term as Museum Director, the facility garnered recognition and numerous awards for its exhibits and educational programs, including being named "Outstanding Arts Organization" by Arts Orange County, a nonprofit county-wide arts council.
Felz was also responsible for starting city-wide events such as the outdoor Fullerton Market, the "First Night Fullerton" New Year's Eve celebration, and the annual July 4 "Community Fireworks Show and Festival."
In 2005, Felz was named Assistant to the City Manager, and to the post of Parks and Recreation Director (formerly, Community Services Director) two years later. In those capacities Felz oversaw the City's recreation, cultural and social service programs, federal and state legislative efforts, and an annual departmental operating budget of more than $6 million.
In his term as Parks and Recreation Director, numerous public improvement projects were completed, including major renovations at Lion’s Field, Richman Park, Adlena Park, and many neighborhood parks and facilities.
Felz, a California native, holds both bachelor (1982) and master (1985) degrees in sociology from California State University, Fullerton.
Felz and his wife, Kathleen, a photographer, live in Fullerton. They have two daughters.
