Sunnyside council extends paid administrative leave for city manager and extends interim manager agreement

The Sunnyside City Council on July 28 voted to extend the paid administrative leave of City Manager Mike Gonzales while an external investigation continues and authorized the mayor to extend the agreement with Interim City Manager Jim Bridges. City Manager Mike Gonzales told council, “The investigation is continuing, with expected completion sometime in August.” Council approved a resolution extending Gonzales’ paid administrative leave and later approved an amendment allowing the mayor to extend Bridges’ interim agreement through Aug. 31, 2025, or until the investigation is complete. The council debate included repeated expressions of frustration about the length and cost of the investigation. Councilor Hart said the delay was “costing us money” because of legal fees and staffing expenses. No new investigatory details or findings were released during the meeting. Councilors voting on the leave resolution were recorded as: Councilor Ripley (yes), Councilor Fausto (no), Councilor Vasquez (yes), Councilor Hart (no), Councilor Hancock (yes), Deputy Mayor (yes), and the Mayor (yes). The council then authorized the mayor to amend agreement A-2025-70 with Interim City Manager Jim Bridges to extend his term through Aug. 31, 2025, or until the investigation is finished. The council noted the investigation’s timeline was outside its direct control; the city attorney reviewed executive-session rules with the council earlier in the meeting. No disciplinary action, hiring decision or other personnel action was taken in public at this meeting, and the council said final action on any individual employment matter will be taken in a public meeting if required by law. Staff said the investigation report is expected in August; council gave staff direction to continue overseeing city operations under the interim manager while the matter is pending.