Concord City Manager Valerie Barone, who has guided the city through economic downturns, redevelopment battles and the COVID-19 pandemic, will retire at the end of the fiscal year in June 2026, city officials said Thursday. Barone has worked in public service for more than three decades, including stints with the Peace Corps in the Philippines, the cities of Walnut Creek and Milpitas, and as Concord’s assistant city manager starting in 2008. She was appointed interim city manager in February 2012 and officially took the role two months later. She also steered regional collaborations on housing, homelessness, mental health, and public safety, while championing cultural programs such as Creative Concord and the city’s Music and Market concerts, city officials said. The city will begin a search for Barone’s successor in the coming weeks.