Carmel honors long-serving city administrator Chip Rehrig; council appoints Brandon Swanson as acting city administrator

The Carmel-by-the-Sea City Council used Dec. 2’s meeting to honor City Administrator Chip Rehrig, who is retiring at the end of December after a long career in local government, and to appoint an acting replacement.

The council read a proclamation honoring Rehrig’s service to the city and his professional career; multiple community groups — including Visit Carmel, the Carmel Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, Sunset Cultural Center, the Carmel Residents Association and the Carmel Unified School District — offered tributes, noting Rehrig’s leadership during the pandemic and longtime civic engagement. Community speakers recounted examples of his local projects and praised his collaborative style.

Following the tributes the council moved to approve a negotiated at‑will employment agreement with Brandon Swanson to serve as acting city administrator effective Dec. 23, 2025. The proposed agreement in the staff packet set an annual salary of $254,392 (an increase over his current pay) and laid out benefits and standard employment provisions. Council discussion touched on municipal code provisions for termination votes and on succession planning.

Public commenters who spoke in favor of Swanson emphasized his continuity and institutional knowledge. The council voted by roll call to approve Resolution 2025‑102 appointing Swanson; the motion passed by the recorded affirmative votes. The council also discussed reviewing municipal code language on vote thresholds for termination at a later policy meeting.