Woodland’s retiring fire chief tried to slip out of the City Council meeting but was spotted and immediately came in for a round of applause and well wishes.
Chief Rebecca Ramirez, who has served since early 2017, announced her retirement to the council in early November.
Leading up to her last day on the job Friday, she attended Tuesday’s meeting as she has done many times in the past three years.
But with council business nearly concluded, Ramirez — who normally sits in the back row of the chambers with other city staff — left her chair and moved toward the exit. Mayor Xochitl Rodriguez and Vice Mayor Rich Lansburgh spotted her leaving and called her back into the chambers to offer brief words of praise for her service over the years.
Smiling, Ramirez waved and left the chambers.
At a previous council meeting, Ramirez stressed her feelings for the city and said she would be working on plans for succession for the department.