Tara Schultz will officially become Claremont’s new city manager.

Ms. Schultz’s contract was unanimously approved Tuesday evening during the first city council meeting of the new year. The council also heard an update on Claremont’s homeless services and approved an art installation to be located in front of city hall.

Ms. Schultz, who was in attendance with her husband, youngest son and her parents, was all smiles as she thanked the city and the council.

“I just want to thank you very much for selecting me for this position,” she told the council. “I’m really honored to have the privilege to work with a great group of people and a really outstanding community, and I can’t wait to be here.”

Ms. Schultz will officially start with the city on February 5. She is the first woman to serve as city manager in Claremont.

Under the terms of the three-year contract, Ms. Schultz will be paid $211,000 annually, including $1,000 per month paid into the city’s deferred compensation plan. The city will also contribute $1,294 per month for vision, dental and health insurance, and Ms. Schultz will be allowed to keep the remainder if she does not use the full amount.

In total, the city estimates the annual cost of the employment agreement at $314,056, including salary, $64,224 in CalPERS retirement, $15,528 in health benefit cafeteria allowance, $12,000 in deferred compensation, $5,400 in auto allowances, and $5,904 in Medicare, life insurance, and long-term disability benefits.

Ms. Schultz will pay about seven percent of her salary to her CalPERS retirement benefits.

She will also receive three weeks’ vacation time per year.

Outgoing city manager Tony Ramos will serve in the interim until Ms. Schultz takes over, and will remain on hand for a few days in case she needs assistance, city spokesperson Bevin Handel said.

Ms. Schultz was Alhambra’s assistant city manager since 2013, and was previously deputy city manager and assistant to the city manager, since arriving there in 1999. She has also worked for the city of Sierra Madre.

She was chosen from a field of around 40 applicants, whittled down to nine interviewees and two finalists, Mr. Ramos said in a previous interview. Ms. Schultz passed through a professional panel, a citizens’ panel and a final interview with the city council itself.

The approval of her contract was breezy, lasting only a few minutes. The relative ease of the agenda item prompted Councilmember Sam Pedroza to remark, “Tara, this isn’t normal,” which caused the audience to erupt in laughter.

A community welcome reception for Ms. Schultz will be held February 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Hughes Center, Mr. Ramos said.