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Public safety groups and residents press council for forensic audit amid allegations against City Administrator
Summary
Several public safety association leaders and residents alleged misuse of city funds by City Administrator Damian Arula, called for an independent forensic audit and said associations will deliver a vote of no confidence; the council agreed to pursue options for an audit and to return with recommendations.
Multiple public commenters at the Oct. 15 Placentia City Council meeting alleged misuse of public funds by City Administrator Damian Arula and urged the council to pursue an independent review.
Tom McKenzie, president of the Placentia Police and Fire Management Association, told the council he reviewed public records he described as showing that between December 2022 and May 2024 city funds were used to wash the administrator—ar weekly and to pay for meals and other personal expenses. "Through public records requests ... we know that between December 2022 and May 2024, City Administrator Arula misappropriated well over $2,000 in taxpayer funds having his personal vehicle taken to the car wash by a city employee," McKenzie said, and he asked the council to open a forensic audit and, if warranted, pursue prosecution.
Julie Chouchard said public records she obtained show credit-card charges for business-class airline tickets and alleged staff booked travel for nonofficial persons on city cards. She said her public-records request for the investigator—inal report was received Sept. 23 and that the city extended its response to Oct. 17; she asked the council to release the investigator's report. "City of Placentia staff should not be booking airline travel for Sheila Jordan on city owned credit cards," Chouchard said.
Scott Ferguson, president of the Placentia Firefighters Association, told the council the association lacks confidence in the city administrator and urged turning relevant material to the Orange County District Attorney—or review. City Treasurer Kevin Larson recommended a focused independent audit of reimbursements and expense reimbursements and suggested appointing an ad hoc committee to review findings and report back to council.
Mayor Mary Yamaguchi and councilmembers said they heard the concerns and reached consensus to direct staff to develop options for a focused forensic audit and to return to the council with proposed scope and oversight. No formal council action to begin a forensic audit was recorded during the meeting; council consensus directed staff to explore options and report back.
