National City council unanimously appoints Scott Huth as interim city manager amid calls for investigation into leaks and influence

The National City Council voted unanimously to appoint retired annuitant Scott Huth as interim city manager after a special meeting marked by public allegations of closed-session leaks and pressure on planning staff.

Human Resources Director Lydia Flores Hernandez told the council that, under CalPERS rules, Huth qualifies as a retired annuitant and must be appointed in public session. "As a CalPERS retiree, he has already been retired more than 6 months, 180 days," Hernandez said, and the proposed pay is "$130.88 per hour," with a statutory cap of "960 hours for each fiscal year" and "no benefits, vacation, sick leave, or retirement payments."

Why it matters: The hire was framed by council members and several residents as a rapid response to what they described as months of dysfunction, falling staff morale and leaks of confidential personnel information. Public commenters pressed the council to investigate whether a confidential harassment complaint was disclosed outside closed session and whether the mayor or his assistant exerted undue influence on planning decisions.

Public concerns and council debate Several residents accused city leaders of improper conduct. Louisa McCarthy urged the council to "discipline" the mayor's assistant and to conduct an anonymous, organization-wide 360 review of employees, saying the city "needs to be cleaned up." Liliana Menta, appearing by Zoom, asked the council to "investigate the leak" of a confidential harassment complaint and cited Government Code protections: "When confidential complaints are turned into political weapons, it sends a message that harassment isn't taken seriously." Paul Wabnowski cited Government Code confidentiality in public comment as well.

Council members gave competing accounts of the timing and process. Council Member Rodriguez criticized the special meeting schedule and urged a more deliberate public process: "We shouldn't spring up a decision like that when we're talking about very important decisions." Vice Mayor Busch, who moved the resolution, called the appointment necessary to "restore some type of stability" and said the hire is temporary to "steer the ship." A council member defending the action said months of dysfunction made prompt action overdue.

The vote and next steps Vice Mayor Busch moved to approve the resolution; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The council did not announce a separate, formal investigation during the meeting; several public commenters said they will pursue public records requests and urged the incoming interim manager to review communications and alleged conflicts. The council confirmed the interim hire will be limited by the CalPERS hour cap Hernandez described and that the hire carries no retirement or other benefit entitlements.

What was not resolved No formal finding was announced regarding the alleged leak of a confidential harassment complaint or the alleged improper conduct by the mayor's assistant during the meeting. Commenters said they would pursue records requests and asked the interim manager to investigate. Council members varied in their statements about whether the personnel actions that led to the current situation were appropriate.

The council adjourned and said its next regular meeting will be on May 6.