City Manager

The Commission, as soon as may be after its members qualify and it is duly organized, shall by a majority vote appoint a City Manager. He shall be chosen by the Commission principally for his executive and administrative qualifications. He shall be appointed for an indefinite period, and shall be removable at the pleasure of the Commission, by a majority vote thereof; and whenever a vacancy shall occur in said office the same shall be filled by appointment by the Commission.

Woodward is experiencing it’s highest growth rate in recent history, in terms of both population and economy. In facing the challenges of added community demands coupled with the needs of an aging infrastructure, creative leadership is essential to our future. Since beginning his tenure in 2003, City Manager Alan Riffel has addressed many facets of Woodward’s concerns by transforming the city’s organizational structure, implementing improvements to water, sewer, and street systems, and enlisting citizens to participate in our local government’s development of growth strategies.

Central to that objective has been the formation of various groups to design a master plan to revamp Crystal Beach Park. A $25,000,000 major project, this plan recommended a one-cent sales tax extension until the year 2032. This proposal was the largest capital project ever presented to the City of Woodward, and was passed by the voters on December 12 with an overwhelming 81% approval margin. The comprehensive venture is now entering the detail phase, and will be completed within five years.

Riffel is an ICMA Credentialed Manager, and serves on various state and local boards. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management named him the state’s Public Official of the Year in 2005, an honor shared with Woodward Finance Director Doug Haines.