Placentia council reports 5‑0 approval of separation agreement with city administrator

The Placentia City Council reported on Nov. 5 that it approved a separation agreement and release of claims with City Administrator Damien Rula following a closed‑session meeting.

According to Mr. Bettenhausen, who delivered the closed‑session report to the council, the agreement includes a severance payment equal to 12 months of base salary (read in the record as “317,000”), health‑insurance contributions for up to 12 months and an effective separation date of Nov. 5, 2024, at 6 p.m. "During the closed session, the city council took action to approve a separation agreement and release of claims with the city administrator," he said.

Bettenhausen reported that the motion to approve was made by Mayor Mary Yamaguchi, seconded by Councilmember Smith, and approved by roll call vote 5‑0. The council did not provide additional financial details in the public report beyond the figures read into the record.

Members of the public addressed the payout during oral communications. Some speakers defended Rula’s record: former community services director Karen Crocker read an emailed statement praising Rula’s leadership and homeless‑initiative work. Other speakers criticized the decision to pay a year’s salary, urging a forensic audit or questioning whether cause existed to terminate with pay.

The council’s public disclosure also referenced the closed‑session legal authority invoked in the meeting (transcribed reference to California Government Code section 54957 and related closed‑session provisions) but did not offer a fuller written summary beyond the items read into the record. The council provided the vote tally and mover/second in its report.

Next steps: Councilmembers did not announce additional public hearings on this personnel matter at the meeting; the separation and any related administrative follow‑up will be subject to public records and any future staff or council reports.