BROOKINGS, Ore. – October 26, 2026 – City of Brookings City Manager Timothy L. Rundel was recently recognized for 25 years of professional local government service by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) during its 112th Annual Conference, held in Long Beach, California.
The award recognizes Rundel's dedication to public service and a career spanning more than two decades of municipal leadership in Oklahoma, California, and Oregon.
Rundel has served as Brookings City Manager since July 2024. Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions in communities of varying sizes, including serving as City Manager in Weed and Auburn, California, and Durant, Oklahoma. He previously served as Assistant City Manager in Midwest City and Yukon, Oklahoma.
During his career, Rundel has overseen major infrastructure investments, economic development initiatives, financial recovery efforts, and organizational improvements. His experience includes helping guide the City of Weed through significant financial challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic, and two major wildfires. In Brookings, he is currently overseeing major wastewater infrastructure improvements, housing initiatives, and efforts to strengthen the community's economic future.
"Reaching 25 years in this profession is certainly something I'm proud of, but what means the most to me are the people I've had the privilege of working with and the communities I've had the opportunity to serve," Rundel said. "City management isn't always an easy profession, but there's something incredibly rewarding about working alongside dedicated employees, elected officials, and community members to make a positive difference."
The recognition was especially meaningful to Rundel because James Durand "Jim" Crosby, the City Manager who hired him as Assistant City Manager in Yukon, Oklahoma, in 2001, was also honored at this year's conference. Crosby, who currently serves as City Manager in Chickasha, Oklahoma, received ICMA's prestigious 60-Year Service Award and was one of only two individuals receiving that distinction in 2026.
Crosby's remarkable career began in 1964 with the City of Oklahoma City. Over the following six decades, he held leadership positions in several Oklahoma communities, including Norman, Piedmont, Yukon, and Chickasha. His career includes multiple terms as City Manager in Yukon, where he hired Rundel and helped introduce him to the profession.
"Jim Crosby took a chance on me back in 2001 when he hired me as his Assistant City Manager in Yukon," Rundel recalled. "I spent nearly six years working for him, and I can't begin to tell you how much I learned about the ins and outs of city management during that time. Jim taught me lessons about leadership, problem-solving, and working with people that have stayed with me throughout my career. I'm incredibly grateful that he saw something in me and gave me that opportunity."
Rundel added that seeing Crosby honored for six decades of service made his own career milestone even more special.
"Here I am celebrating 25 years, and the man who helped launch my city management career is being recognized for an extraordinary 60 years. That's pretty special. It also reminds me how important it is for those of us in this profession to mentor and encourage the next generation of local government leaders."
Rundel holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Oklahoma Air National Guard, where he was named Oklahoma Airman of the Year in 1994.
The International City/County Management Association is a professional organization dedicated to advancing excellence in local government through professional management, leadership development, ethical standards, and education.”