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Sunnyside council extends city managerleave and authorizes interim manager contract amid ongoing probe
Summary
Sunnyside City Council voted to extend City Manager Mike Gonzalesnondisciplinary administrative leave to Sept. 9 and to extend the interim managerJim Bridgesagreement through Sept. 30 as the city finalizes an internal investigation.
Sunnyside City Council on Aug. 25 approved two resolutions extending administrative arrangements tied to a pending internal investigation into City Manager Mike Gonzales, voting to keep Gonzales on nondisciplinary administrative leave through Sept. 9 and to extend the interim city manager agreement with Jim Bridges through Sept. 30.
The councilwhich discussed the matter in open session and signaled plans to consider personnel details in executive sessionmoved to extend the leave at the request of city legal staff while the investigation is finalized. City Attorney Miss Norton told the council, "I have no comment except that we are in the final stages of completing the investigation and and working through where it goes from here." She advised the council that additional time was needed to determine next steps.
Why it matters: the extensions keep a permanent city manager off duty while an outside investigator completes work the council hired earlier this year; council members debated whether to end the probe immediately to stop outside legal costs. Councilor Fausto moved to end the investigation, arguing it was wasting public money, but that motion failed in a roll-call vote. After further debate the council approved the leave extension and a separate amendment authorizing the mayor to extend Bridgesterm as interim city manager so the city retains an on-site chief executive while personnel and legal steps are decided.
Key votes and actions: Councilor John Hart (Councilor Hart) made the motion to extend Gonzalesleave until Sept. 9 or until a decision is made on the investigation, whichever occurs first; the motion was seconded by the deputy mayor. The council approved the extension (motion passes). Later the council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to amend the interim-city-manager agreement with Jim Bridges, extending that contract through Sept. 30 or until final action related to the investigation, whichever occurs first; that motion was moved and seconded and passed by roll call.
Debate and concerns: some council members urged rapid closure. Councilor Fausto (Councilor Fausto) said during debate that the council should "end the investigation" and charged that continuing it was "wasting enough of community's taxpayer money." Councilor Hart (Councilor Hart) urged caution about releasing investigative findings publicly, saying he was "torn" and that full disclosure could be "detrimental" and might involve attorney-client protections; Hart said he preferred discussing substantive findings in executive session. The city attorney also advised that the investigator had largely completed interviews and the remaining work concerned handling the report and legal review.
Cost and timing: during debate Councilor Fausto cited bills and personnel costs, saying the city was paying outside investigators and interim management at substantial monthly rates and that investigator billing was continuing; the transcript records Fausto saying the investigator was being paid "$325 an hour" and that other consulting and interim-management costs were being incurred. The council did not adopt a motion to release the investigators report at the Aug. 25 meeting; council indicated the extensions were limited in time to allow the city to complete legal review and determine appropriate next actions.
Procedural notes: the council cited RCW provisions in announcing its executive session later in the meeting: RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) for personnel-evaluation discussions and RCW 42.30.140(4) on salary and personnel actions that must be taken in public. The council held a short executive session after the public meeting; the mayor announced there was no action taken in that closed session.
What happens next: the leave extension runs through Sept. 9 (or until a decision is reached) and the interim-manager agreement was extended through Sept. 30 (or until final action on the investigation). Council members said they would receive the investigators work and legal advice before making any personnel or public-release decisions.
