A native West Texan is expected to become San Angelo’s next city manager, as Phillip “Phil” Urrutia officially hired at the upcoming city council meeting Tuesday.
Urrutia was chosen from a field of 3 final candidates to fill the role as longtime current manager Daniel Valenzuela retires later this fall.
City officials and community leaders interviewed finalists in late May.
The City Council’s Tuesday agenda includes his appointment agreement, which will take effect on August 1, 2026, at the end of the closed session.
Urrutia has more than 16 years of leadership experience in municipal government. He’s been serving as an assistant city manager for the City of Garland, where he oversaw nine departments. Before Garland, Urrutia served as deputy city manager and assistant city manager in Odessa, where he oversaw the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Winter Storm Uri.
He also led downtown revitalization efforts and oversaw Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Utilities, and Development Services.
Urrutia holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology, a master’s in public administration from Columbia Southern University, and a Certified Public Manager certificate from Texas Tech University. He is also a graduate of the FEMA Professional Development Series for Emergency Management.
The council will be recognizing outgoing City Manager Daniel Valenzuela near the end of the meeting and a reception in his honor will immediately follow recognitions. If he is appointed as expected, a news conference will be held after the meeting to introduce the new city manager.
The Council will meet at 8:30 a.m. July 7, at the McNease Convention Center, 501 Rio Concho Drive. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed live to the City’s YouTube channel and on SATV (Optimum channel 17). Public comment can be made in person at the meeting.
