The Ceres City Council officially hired Steve Williams as the interim city manager on Monday and clarified that it’s been Police Chief Trenton Johnson in the first week of Doug Dunford’s absence.

Dunford’s last day on the job was Friday, April 3. He attributed his resignation to tend to an ill family member. He had served in that position since May 2023 after the council dismissed City Manager Alex Terrazas the previous month.

Williams is a retired captain with Turlock Police Department and has been serving as the interim city administrator of Angels Camp which recently hired a permanent manager in Michael Hodson.

The Courier prematurely reported that Williams had been hired based on what Dunford told the paper. Police Chief Trenton Johnson has technically been in charge of city operations until the council hired Williams on Monday.

City Attorney Nubia Goldstein said the city entered into contract for “temporary transitional services” with Williams but that he had not been interim city manager until council approval on Monday.

“I want to be clear about it if there was any confusion from members of the public,” said Goldstein.

Williams, who is considered an exempt employee, will be paid $16,500 monthly until the council no longer needs his services.

Williams introduced himself on Monday and said he is “honored to be considered for this position, looking very much forward to serving in the interim role.”

The council approved the contract in a 5-0 vote.

Williams retired from the city of Turlock in 2022 after more than 30 years of experience in public service. In Turlock he served as the interim Assistant City Manager and interim Police Chief. He also served as Turlock Rural Fire Department’s assistant chief for a time. He was appointed Angels Camp interim city manager on Sept. 17, 2025.

Williams earned a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from California State University Stanislaus and is a graduate of California POST Command College and the FBI National Academy.

He is a member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

Williams will be leaning heavily on department heads as he steps into his new role and takes on an uncertain budget situation. Assistance will come from newly appointed Finance Director Vanessa Portillo as well as Human Resources Director Delilah Vasquez, City Engineer Michael Beltran, Police Chief Trenton Johnson, Acting Public Works Director Josh Casas and City Clerk Fallon Martin.

Before he left the city, Dunford said it will likely be a while before the City Council is able to recruit and hire a permanent city manager, noting that when he was appointed interim in May 2023 it wasn’t until December 2023 that he was the chosen Terrazas’ replacement.