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Costa Mesa council votes to terminate city manager in closed session; two council members opposed
Summary
The Costa Mesa City Council voted in closed session to end the employment agreement of the city manager. The motion passed with two dissenting votes and one abstention; the termination was later clarified as without cause.
Costa Mesa — The Costa Mesa City Council voted in closed session on May 6 to terminate the employment agreement of the city manager.
City Attorney (reported to council) said the action was taken “by motion of Council member Gameros, seconded by Council member Bewley,” and that “the city council acted to terminate the employment agreement of the city manager.” Council members Reynolds and Marr voted no; Mayor John B. Stevens abstained. The city attorney later clarified the termination was “without cause.”
The vote and the subsequent clarification were announced during the council’s regular meeting after the closed session concluded. No further details about severance, the effective date of termination, or an interim management plan were presented in the public report.
Why it matters: The city manager oversees day-to-day city operations, implements council direction and manages staff who run public safety, public works, parks and other city services. Removing a city manager can change the pace and priorities of city projects and staffing, and typically triggers interim management arrangements and a search for a replacement.
What council members said: Several council members later addressed the council chamber about the action. Council member Arliss Reynolds publicly praised the outgoing manager’s leadership and list of accomplishments, noting staff respect for that leadership. Council member Andrea Marr described the vote as “incredibly frustrating and deeply disappointing,” and warned of potential governance disruptions. Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Chavez thanked the city manager for her service and cited the city’s fiscal position and outreach improvements during her tenure.
Next steps: The public report did not name an interim city manager or provide a timeline for a recruitment process. Councilmembers asked staff to agendize items including a proposed code of conduct and options related to council and committee processes at future meetings.
