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Residents clash over city manager as public comments dominate Riviera Beach meeting
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Summary
A crowded public‑comment period at Riviera Beach’s April 15 council meeting centered on whether to retain City Manager Jonathan Evans, with speakers sharply divided between praise for Evans’ infrastructure work and calls for his removal; the council did not take a final vote on his contract that night.
The City of Riviera Beach heard more than two dozen public comments on April 15 about whether the council should renew City Manager Jonathan Evans’ contract, with residents offering both strong praise and pointed criticism.
John Miller, a long‑time resident, urged the council to keep Evans, saying “Evans is a good person and a smart person” and arguing leadership continuity was important. Several speakers echoed that view: Lee Inocenti credited Evans with securing more than $40 million in grants and expanding water‑infrastructure capacity; another speaker said Evans had saved the city “approximately $15,000,000” through administrative decisions.
Opponents, however, raised concerns about ethics and transparency. Multiple speakers invoked alleged conflicts of interest, questioned past use of legal or inspection services, and criticized perceived favoritism. Erica Davis told the council, “All of you are crooks,” and said residents are frustrated with spending and outside contractors, while other commenters urged the council to be transparent about event spending and CRA allocations.
Several commenters urged procedural reforms: Annette Dragon asked that meetings start on time and that agenda additions be limited after publication. Others asked the council to avoid airing personnel matters during general public comment and to reserve employee‑specific discussion for properly noticed agenda items.
City Manager Jonathan Evans and staff responded to some questions later in the meeting. Evans told the council staff is working to resolve resident concerns flagged during public comment and noted ongoing investigations where appropriate. The council did not take a formal vote on the manager’s status at the meeting; members agreed to revisit related agenda items at a future special meeting or re‑noticed session.
The meeting’s next steps: the council signaled it will return some personnel‑related items as properly noticed agenda items and expects continued public engagement on the manager’s contract and related oversight questions.
