Monterey City Council officially appoints Dante Hall to take the reins as the new city manager.

Following the retirement of longtime Monterey City Manager Hans Uslar in December 2025, a national and internal hiring process, and the Monterey City Council's unanimous appointment on Tuesday, Feb. 3, Dante Hall will become the new city manager of Monterey beginning this spring.

“I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the Monterey mayor and City Council, our community and our dedicated employees as we move our strategic priorities forward,” Hall said in a statement. “I’m excited to bring my experience and a partnership-focused approach to the City of Monterey, where I look forward to joining the team and contributing to the city’s continued success.”

According to the statement, Hall will be the 16th city manager selected by the Monterey City Council since 1925 and will begin work on Monday, April 6. In the meantime, retired Monterey County Administrator Lew Bauman will continue to serve as the interim city manager.

Hall has a long career working for cities across the state, including Foster City and Pasadena, and will be coming to Monterey from Hercules in Contra Costa County, where he served as the city manager.

“We are excited to welcome Dante Hall as Monterey’s next city manager,” Monterey Mayor Tyller Williamson said. “He brings extensive experience, a collaborative leadership style, and a strong respect for our community and history. He strives to create an environment where residents, business owners, employees and volunteers feel seen, heard and valued, and to foster a culture that embraces innovative, forward-thinking solutions. His readiness to tackle our budget challenges, support responsible economic development, and lead with transparency and integrity gives us great confidence as we begin this next chapter for Monterey.”