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Riviera Beach council notifies city manager his contract will not be renewed, directs separation talks
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Summary
After hours of public comment and debate over a pending investigation, the Riviera Beach City Council voted 3-2 to notify City Manager Jonathan Evans that his contract will not be renewed July 13 and instructed the city attorney to negotiate a mutual separation agreement to return for council approval at the next meeting.
The Riviera Beach City Council voted on April 27 to notify City Manager Jonathan Evans that his contract will not be renewed when it expires July 13, 2026, and directed the city attorney to negotiate a mutual separation agreement to be presented to the council at its next regular meeting.
The move followed a lengthy special meeting dominated by public comment and discussion about an ongoing independent investigation led by the Gaines law firm and the city's handling of records and investigations. Councilmember Bruce Guyton, who made the nonrenewal motion, said the step was necessary to move the city forward. The motion passed 3-2; Chairperson Shirley Lanier and Chair Pro Tem Cassandra Miller Anderson voted no.
The council's vote to put the manager on notice followed hours of debate about whether to terminate Evans immediately, buy out his remaining contract time, or let the agreement run until July 13. Attorney Tayson Gaines, who is conducting the independent investigation, told the council an immediate termination or buyout could "detriment and prevent my ability to present a complete and comprehensive report" and could prejudice due process for the six individuals covered by his contract.
Evans told the council he understood the board's direction and asked for a negotiated outcome; he also said he would continue his duties until the council directed otherwise. The council later voted 3-2 to ask the city attorney to negotiate a mutual separation agreement with Evans and bring that agreement back for council consideration at the first meeting in May.
Why it matters: the council's decision starts a formal process that will change who manages the city's day-to-day operations during a period of major projects and pending investigations. Nonrenewal at the contract's end avoids immediate termination and the severance obligations that would follow a dismissal for cause, but it still triggers a need for an interim leadership plan and consideration of how unfinished projects will be handled.
What happens next: the city attorney and Evans's counsel were directed to negotiate a separation agreement by the deadline the council set; the proposed agreement must return to the council for approval. The council also discussed, without final action, appointing an interim manager if the separation takes effect before July 13.
Quotes: "I made a motion that we put the city manager on notice that his contract will not be renewed in July," Councilmember Bruce Guyton said during debate. "Any decision to terminate him or buy out his contract ... will detriment and prevent my ability to present a complete and comprehensive report," attorney Tayson Gaines told the council.
The council scheduled follow-up action and asked staff to report on legal and operational implications before finalizing any separation agreement.
