Novato Hires Finance Manager from City of Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa seems to be the new training ground for the city of Novato administrative staff.

Two years after Michael Frank went from being assistant city manager in Santa Rosa to city manager in Novato, Brian Cochran has joined the Novato staff as finance manager after five years as Santa Rosa’s principal financial analyst.

Cochran, who will be paid $116,364 annually, replaces Debbie Lauchner, who took a job in Vallejo this spring. Her final salary in Novato was $122,172.

Cochran, who is to be introduced at Tuesday’s meeting of the Novato City Council, worked extensively on budget analysis, revenue forecasting, water and sewer rate modeling and fee and cost recovery programs in Santa Rosa, according to a release from the city of Novato. He gave presentations on topics such as economic news, budget balancing strategies and updates to the five-year general fund forecast model to the Santa Rosa City Council and other stakeholder groups.

Prior to his employment in Santa Rosa, Cochran spent time with the state of Wisconsin and worked for a healthcare software company. He received his master’s degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his bachelors’ degrees in mathematics and economics from Ohio State University.

Cochran lives with his wife and two preschool-age children in Petaluma.

Also on the Tuesday council agenda are an architectural services contract for the new downtown administrative office complex, a proposed consent decree amendment to allow freight trains to run through the city limits, a discussion to consider joining the Marin Energy Authority, a strategic plan update and a policy discussion on purchasing foreclosed affordable housing.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at .