The Sunnyside City Council voted 5-2 to extend its June 2 action placing the city manager on non-disciplinary administrative leave through July 31, 2025, or until completion of a pending internal investigation, whichever occurs first. The council also authorized the mayor to amend agreement A 2025-70 to extend interim city manager Jim Bridges' term to the same date or the end of the investigation.

The council added an amendment that prohibits the city manager from contacting current or former city employees or officials about city matters during the period of paid administrative leave and requires that "all necessary communications must be routed through the mayor or deputy mayor," the Deputy Mayor said when proposing the change. A staff member clarified the restriction, saying, "I heard somebody say that's a gag order and that's illegal. That is not the case. This is related specifically'it's a standard provision you'd put in an administrative leave letter that directs an employee not to speak to other employees about the nature of the matter for which they're under leave. It's a confidential investigation issue, so it is not a gag order prohibited by the law. It is not a First Amendment issue."

The amendment was moved by the Deputy Mayor and seconded by Councilor Hancock; the council approved the amended resolution in a roll-call vote. In the final vote on the resolution extending administrative leave, Councilor Hancock, Councilor Ripley, Councilor Vasquez, the Deputy Mayor and the chair voted yes; Councilor Fausto and Councilor Hart voted no. The council announced the motion passed 5 to 2. The resolution extends the non-disciplinary administrative leave previously set on June 2 and keeps the contact restriction in effect until the investigation concludes and the administrative leave ends.

Separately, the council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to amend contract A 2025-70 to extend interim city manager Jim Bridges' appointment to July 31, 2025, or until the investigation is complete. That measure was moved and seconded and the chair announced the motion passed.

The council took no other public actions on the investigation during the open session. No timetable beyond July 31 was set in the council's public actions; the council described the restrictions and the contract amendment as tied to the pending internal investigation and the administrative leave period.

The items were considered after an executive session and drew brief public comment and a clarification from a staff member about the scope of the contact restriction. The council adjourned after approving the two items.