Viviana immigrated with her family to Los Angeles from Bogota, Colombia, one month shy of her third birthday. Starting in 1st grade, Viviana rode the school bus from North Hollywood to Canoga Park where she attended Nevada Avenue Elementary School and Christopher Columbus Middle School. 

 

Viviana’s mother learned from a family friend about a city in the southeast end of the San Fernando Valley with great services, programs, parks, and schools called Burbank. As a single mother, who wanted to provide her daughters with a bright future and doors to opportunity, she was deeply impressed with all that Burbank had to offer. She moved Viviana and her younger sister to Burbank prior to Viviana starting 9th grade. They found and moved into a smaller apartment with higher rent, but Viviana’s mom knew the sacrifice would mean that her daughters would grow up in a great community, attend good schools, and have a stronger foundation because of it.

 

Viviana’s service to the Burbank community began her sophomore year at Burbank High School when she volunteered in the Burbank Parks and Recreation Department’s summer Counselor-in-Training program. It was over 100 volunteer hours that summer that her passion for public service was born. Viviana joined the City of Burbank team as a Work Trainee and has moved her way up in the organization over the past 20 years, serving in multiple administrative roles and managing quality programs for the residents of Burbank. 

 

As the Administrative Analyst II in the City Manager’s Office, Viviana manages the Council Agenda Process in partnership with the City Clerk’s Office. This multi-step process ensures the City Council’s legislative process is thorough, transparent, and timely. Viviana works with the City Clerk’s team on the Agenda Forecast, and production of the Agenda for all Regular, Joint, and Special City Council meetings as well as Public Hearings. As the City Manager’s Office staff liaison to the 14 City Departments, Viviana is responsible for reviewing and editing all staff reports and presentations going to the City Council.  

 

She manages the details of each Council meeting including the call-in public comment process, Mayor’s Script, Announcements, Council Proclamations, and Presentations. In addition, Viviana tracks legislation and works closely with the City’s legislative advocates at both the state and federal level. Viviana coordinates the City’s community funding requests to the United States Congress and California State Assembly. Viviana is the staff liaison to the Racial, Equity, and Diversity Council Subcommittee, Charter Review Committee, and the Domestic Violence Task Force. She manages the production and posting of the agendas and minutes for these meetings.  

 

Prior to joining the City Manager’s Office, Viviana was a Supervisor in the Youth Programs section of the Parks and Recreation Department, leading a team of 40+ City employees. Viviana managed programs that are well-loved by Burbank families, including Afterschool Daze, Summer Daze, Youth Leadership Program, Youth Board, Teen Events, and Counselor-in-Training. She also supervised the daily operations of the Robert R. Ovrom Community Center, Verdugo Recreation Center, McCambridge Recreation Center, and Valley Skate Park.

 

As a Community Resources Coordinator, Viviana led the Helen Putnam Award-winning grassroots Connect with your Community! initiative in five focus neighborhoods through partnerships with private, public, and non-profit agencies. She also directed the Burbank Neighborhood Leadership Program (currently known as RISE) in its early years for four graduating classes and helped launch the Youth Leadership Program.

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Viviana shares her leadership and experience in other roles and organizations. She served as the California Parks & Recreation Society District 14 President, President of the Toastmasters International Burbank Club 1320, Vice President of the National  Management Association Burbank Chapter, and graduated from Leadership Burbank in 2012. 

 

Viviana graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology & Public Affairs and from CSUN with a Master of Public Administration. She is a member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks and the City Clerk’s Association of California. She is working towards her two-year Certified Municipal Clerk designation and has attended multiple trainings and workshops to prepare her for the role of City Clerk.   

 

While growing up in Burbank, Viviana dreamed of one day buying a home in the city she loves. Now a proud Burbank homeowner, she resides with her husband, who is also a public servant, and their two young children who attend BUSD schools. 

 

Viviana is a product of the city that offered her an opportunity for a bright future. As a first-generation immigrant, Viviana is extremely proud to be on the ballot for Burbank City Clerk in the municipal election on November 8, 2022.