Yucaipa council votes 3-1-1 to place City Manager Chris Mann on paid administrative leave

The Yucaipa City Council voted 3-1-1 to place City Manager Chris Mann on paid administrative leave, the city attorney reported after the council returned from a closed session at 7:33 p.m.

The move follows a night of public comment at a special meeting in which multiple residents urged the council to remove or review Mann, citing loss of community trust, litigation related to a recall petition, and contract provisions they said require closer scrutiny.

Those who addressed the council said concerns include perceived lack of transparency, alleged political activity, and specific contract language. Kathy Sellers, a resident, told the council that “the lack of leadership exhibited by the city manager has left you no choice but to take decisive action to safeguard the well-being of our community.” Sellers cited the International City/County Management Association Code of Ethics during her remarks and urged the council to “vote in favor of removing Chris Mann and outlining the process for selecting a new…