Hunt On For New La Quinta City Manager

The La Quinta City Council voted today to appoint Finance Director John Falconer as the interim city manager as a replacement for longtime City Manager Thomas P. Genovese, who died after collapsing on a hike on the Bump and Grind Trail.

Genovese, 53, was found unconscious and unresponsive by rescue workers 1
1/2 miles up the trail about 7:45 a.m. Sunday.

Genovese was taken to Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, where he was pronounced dead.

"It's tragic,'' said La Quinta Mayor Don Adolph. "He's the captain of the ship.''

Genovese was city manager when Adolph was first elected to the City Council about 19 years ago, he said.

Adolph said Genovese was hiking with the city's finance director and other friends when he suffered an apparent heart attack.  

City spokeswoman Andrea Carter said the City Council would hold an emergency meeting at 3 p.m. to appoint an interim city manager under the advice of the city attorney. John M. Falconer is acting as the interim city manager, pending today's council meeting, according to the agenda.

City News Service contributed to this report.

The agenda can be viewed online at www.la-quinta.org.