The City of Dixon has announced the appointment of Melissa Eads (left) as city manager and Kate Zawadzki (right) as assistant city manager, effective Aug. 1. Photo courtesy of the City of Dixon

DIXON, CA (MPG) - The City of Dixon has announced the appointment of Melissa Eads as city manager and Kate Zawadzki as assistant city manager, effective Aug. 1.

Eads joined the City of Dixon in December 2025 as assistant city manager after serving with the City of Sonora. During her time in Dixon, she has worked closely with city staff, the city council and the community on a variety of organizational and strategic initiatives. Her appointment as city manager reflects the city council’s confidence in her leadership, experience and commitment to the Dixon community.

Zawadzki has served the City of Dixon for more than 16 years, most recently as finance director. Throughout her tenure, she has played a key role in maintaining the city's strong financial position while helping guide major organizational and operational initiatives. Her promotion to assistant city manager recognizes her extensive institutional knowledge, collaborative leadership style and long-standing dedication to public service.

Together, Eads and Zawadzki bring a strong combination of experience, continuity and leadership that will support the city’s ongoing priorities and future growth.

“Melissa and Kate each bring tremendous knowledge, professionalism and a genuine commitment to serving the Dixon community,” said Mayor Steve Bird. “Their leadership will help ensure the city continues to provide exceptional service while thoughtfully planning for Dixon's future.”

As city manager, Eads will oversee the city’s day-to-day operations, implement the city council’s policy direction and lead the organization's strategic initiatives. As assistant city manager, Zawadzki will continue supporting organizational leadership, cross-department collaboration and key city projects while maintaining a focus on operational excellence.

“I am honored to serve the City of Dixon as City Manager,” said Eads. “Over the past several months, I've had the opportunity to work alongside an incredibly talented team that is deeply committed to this community. I look forward to continuing that work and building on the strong foundation already in place.”

Zawadzki added, “It has been a privilege to serve the Dixon community throughout my career, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving in this new role. I look forward to working alongside Melissa, the city council and our dedicated staff as we continue providing high-quality services to our residents.”

The appointments reflect the city council's commitment to fostering strong internal leadership while ensuring continuity and stability for the organization and the community.