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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
For the Position of
INTERIM CITY MANAGER
This Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into on this 13th day of September, 2025 by and between the CITY OF CATHEDRAL CITY (“CITY”), a California charter city and municipal corporation, and ANNE AMBROSE (“AMBROSE”), an individual, on the terms and conditions set forth hereinafter. CITY and AMBROSE may be referred to in the Agreement in the singular as a “PARTY” or jointly as the “PARTIES:
RECITALS
A. CITY desires to employ the services of AMBROSE as its Interim City Manager, to temporarily carry out the duties and responsibilities of City Manager as defined herein and in Cathedral City Municipal Code (“CCMC”), during the period required by CITY to conduct such search and recruitment of a permanent City Manager as CITY’s City Council may deem appropriate.
B. AMBROSE, who is currently employed by CITY as its Assistant City Manager. AMBROSE under that Employment Agreement entered into by the PARTIES and dated ___________, (“Existing Employment Agreement”) desires to accept temporary employment as Interim City Manager in consideration of, and subject to, the terms, conditions, and benefits set forth in this Agreement.
C. As provided in this Agreement, CITY and AMBROSE agree that in the event CITY hires a permanent City Manager or selects another person to serve as Interim City Manager, AMBROSE will automatically return to employment with CITY as its Assistant City Manager under her Existing Employment Agreement.
OPERATIVE PROVISIONS
In consideration of the terms, conditions, promises and agreements herein, the PARTIES agree as follows:
1. Position and Duties.
1.1 Position. AMBROSE accepts employment with CITY as its Interim City Manager and shall perform all functions, duties and services set forth in Section 1.4 [Duties] of this Agreement. AMBROSE shall provide service at the direction and under the supervision of the City Council. It is the intent of the PARTIES that the Interim City Manager shall keep the City Council fully informed of all significant ongoing operations of CITY. Toward that end, AMBROSE shall report directly to the City Council and will 07024-0121 4921-6304-1633 v1 2
periodically, or as may be otherwise specifically requested by the City Council, provide status reports to the City Council on her activities and those of CITY.
1.2 Commencement Date / Period of Employment. The PARTIES agree that this Agreement commences and is effective as of September 20, 2025. AMBROSE shall serve as Interim City Manager for a nominal term of six (6) months or until the first of the following events occurs: (i) the City Council hires a person as City Manager; (ii) the City Council hires another Interim City Manager; (iii) either of the PARTIES terminates the Agreement as provided in Section 3 [Termination] of this Agreement; or (iv) the PARTIES mutually agree to extend the term as provided below. In the event that none of the foregoing has occurred within the six (6) month term, then this Agreement shall automatically expire and AMBROSE shall automatically assume the position of Assistant City Manager as provided in Section 1.3 below unless the PARTIES mutually agree, by written amendment of this Agreement approved by the City Council and executed by AMBROSE and CITY’s Mayor, to extend the term for a further stated period of time.
1.3 Assumption of Assistant City Manager Position. If this Agreement expires of its own terms or if the Agreement is terminated as provided in Section 1.2 [Commencement Date / Period of Employment], then AMBROSE shall automatically assume the position of Assistant City Manager, on the terms and conditions set forth in her existing Employment Agreement for Position of Assistant City Manager.
1.4 Duties. AMBROSE shall serve as the Interim City Manager and shall be vested with the powers, duties and responsibilities of the City Manager set forth in Chapter 2.08 of the CCMC, as may be amended from time to time, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference. Any conflict in terms between this Agreement and Chapter 2.08 of the CCMC shall be resolved in favor of this Agreement. It is the intent of the City Council for the Interim City Manager to temporarily function as the chief executive officer of CITY’s organization. Without additional compensation, AMBROSE shall provide such other services as are customary and appropriate to the position of City Manager, including serving as the Executive Director of the Successor Agency to the City of Cathedral City Redevelopment Agency and City of Cathedral City Housing Authority, together with such additional services assigned from time to time by the City Council as may be consistent with California law and the CCMC. AMBROSE shall devote her best efforts and full-time attention to the performance of these duties.
1.5 Hours of Work. AMBROSE shall devote the time necessary to adequately perform her duties as Interim City Manager. The PARTIES expect that a minimum of forty (40) hours per week during regular business hours, as well as additional time outside of the normal business hours, will be required to satisfy this requirement.
Toward that end, AMBROSE shall be allowed reasonable flexibility in setting her own office hours, provided the schedule of such hours provides adequate availability to the City Council, CITY staff, and members of the community during normal CITY business 07024-0121 4921-6304-1633 v1 3
hours and for the performance of her duties and of CITY business. The position of Interim City Manager shall be deemed an exempt position under California wage and hour law and under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. AMBROSE’s compensation (whether salary or benefits or other allowances) is not based on hours worked and AMBROSE shall not be entitled to any compensation for overtime.
1.6 Regional and Professional Activity. The City Council desires AMBROSE to be reasonably active in national, statewide, regional and professional organizations that will contribute to Interim City Manager’s professional development and standing and that will contribute to the advancement of CITY’s interests and standing. Toward that end, AMBROSE may, upon advance notice to the City Council, undertake such activities as are directly related to her professional development and that advance the interests and standing of CITY. These activities may include, without limitation, participation in the Cal Cities, ICMA, or other similar national, statewide, regional or professional organizations, provided that such activities do not in any way interfere with or adversely affect her employment as Interim City Manager or the performance of her duties as provided herein.
1.7 Other Activity. In accordance with Government Code Section 1126, during the period of her employment, AMBROSE shall not accept, without the express prior written consent of the City Council, any other employment or engage, directly or indirectly, in any other business, commercial, or professional activity (except as permitted under Section 1.6 [Regional and Professional Activity]), whether or not to pecuniary advantage, that is or may be competitive with CITY, that might cause a conflict of interest with CITY, or that otherwise might interfere with the business or operation of CITY or the satisfactory performance of AMBROSE’s duties as Interim City Manager.
1.8 Reimbursement. CITY shall reimburse AMBROSE for reasonable and necessary travel, subsistence and other business expenses incurred by AMBROSE in the performance of her duties. All reimbursements shall be subject to and in accordance with California law and CITY’s adopted Employee Reimbursement Policy.
2. Compensation and Benefits.
2.1 Base Salary. AMBROSE shall receive an annual base salary of Two Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($280,000.00) paid on a pro-rated basis according to the bi-weekly payroll schedule in place for CITY employees. Such base salary shall be subject to normal and proper withholdings as determined by state and federal law and as determined appropriate by the CITY and shall be subject to payroll taxes, workers’ compensation, and other payroll-related liability costs. 07024-0121 4921-6304-1633 v1 4
2.2 Educational Stipend. Consistent with CITY’s Master’s Degree Educational Stipend, AMBROSE shall receive additional compensation equal to 2.5% of her base salary.
2.3 Benefits. During the term of this Agreement, AMBROSE shall continue to receive without interruption the same benefits (inclusive of insurance, leave, vacation, retirement and other benefits) which she was receiving in her position as Assistant City Manager and shall otherwise be entitled to receive such other benefits as may be applicable to the position of Assistant City Manager under CITY’s applicable ordinances, resolutions, policies and Regulations Covering Executive, Administrative, Professional, Confidential and Other Particular Employees.
2.4 Miscellaneous Benefits.
2.4.1 Auto Allowance. During the period of employment, CITY will provide AMBROSE an auto allowance of $250 per month as compensation for use of her personal vehicle for CITY business. AMBROSE agrees to maintain a California driver’s license in good standing, shall keep her vehicle in good working condition, shall provide without lapse, adequate auto insurance (both liability and property damage), shall obey all traffic laws relating to operation of the vehicle, and shall use due care and caution in its operation.
2.4.2 Related Equipment. During the period of employment, CITY shall provide AMBROSE with a phone/technology stipend of $55 per month in consideration of her use of her personal phone, computer or other similar electronic devices.
3. Termination.
3.1 Not for Cause. Either PARTY may terminate this Agreement for any reason, and at any time, with or without cause, by providing the other PARTY with ten (10) days prior written notice thereof. In such event, and upon the 11 th day after the giving the aforementioned notice, AMBROSE shall automatically assume the position of Assistant City Manager as provided in Section 1.3. Either PARTY may terminate this Agreement not-for-cause notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in or arising from any Personnel Policies or past CITY practices relating to the employment, discipline, or termination of its employees. AMBROSE shall not be entitled to, and shall not receive, any severance payment as a result of termination or expiration of this Agreement.
3.2 Reimbursement Under Certain Circumstances. The PARTIES Acknowledge that Government Code Section 53243.4 may require AMBROSE to reimburse CITY for certain payments made by CITY to AMBROSE during the term of her employment with CITY should she be convicted of a crime within the meaning of Section 53243.4.
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4. Proprietary Information.
“Proprietary Information” is all information and any ideas pertaining in any manner to the business of CITY (or any CITY affiliate), its employees, clients, consultants, or business associates, which was produced by any employee of CITY in the course of her employment or otherwise produced or acquired by or on behalf of CITY. Proprietary Information shall include, without limitation, trade secrets, product ideas, inventions, processes, formulae, data, know-how, software and other computer programs, copyrightable material, marketing plans, strategies, sales, financial reports, forecasts, and customer lists. All Proprietary Information not generally known outside of CITY’s organization, and all Proprietary Information so known only through improper means, shall be deemed “Confidential Information.” During her employment by CITY, AMBROSE shall use Proprietary Information, and shall disclose Confidential Information, only for the benefit of CITY and as is or may be necessary to perform her job responsibilities under this Agreement. Following termination, AMBROSE shall not use any Proprietary Information and shall not disclose any Confidential Information, except with the express written consent of CITY. AMBROSE’s obligations under this Section shall survive the termination of her employment and the expiration of this Agreement.
5. Conflict Of Interest.
AMBROSE represents and warrants to CITY that she presently has no interest, and represents that she will not acquire any interest, direct or indirect, financial or otherwise, which would conflict in any manner or interfere in any way with performance of her services under this Agreement.
6. General Provisions.
6.1 Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be effective upon delivery by hand or three (3) business days after deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid, certified or registered, and addressed to CITY at the address below, and or at the last known address maintained in AMBROSE’s personnel file. AMBROSE agrees to notify CITY in writing of any change in her address during her employment with CITY. Notice of change of address shall be effective only when accomplished in accordance with this Section.
City’s Notice Address:
City of Cathedral City
69700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234
Interim City Manager’s Address:
[Deliver to last updated address in
personnel file.]
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Attn: Mayor and City Council
6.2 Indemnification. Subject to, in accordance with, and to the extent provided by the California Tort Claims Act [Gov. Code § 810 et seq.], CITY will indemnify, defend, and hold AMBROSE harmless from and against any action, demand, suit, monetary judgment or other legal or administrative proceeding, and any liability, injury, loss or other damages, arising out of any act or omission occurring during AMBROSE’s tenure as Interim City Manager.
6.3 Integration. This Agreement is intended to be the final, complete, and exclusive statement of the terms of AMBROSE’s employment by CITY. This Agreement supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and statements, whether written or oral, express or implied, pertaining in any manner to the employment of AMBROSE, and it may not be contradicted by evidence of any prior or contemporaneous statements or agreements. To the extent that the practices, policies, or procedures of CITY, now or in the future, apply to AMBROSE and are inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.
6.4 Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended except in a written document signed by AMBROSE, approved by the City Council and signed by CITY’s Mayor.
6.5 Waiver. Failure to exercise any right under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such right.
6.6 Assignment. AMBROSE shall not assign any rights or obligations under this Agreement. CITY may, upon prior written notice to AMBROSE, assign its rights and obligations hereunder.
6.7 Severability. If a court or arbitrator holds any provision of this Agreement to be invalid, unenforceable, or void, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
6.8 Attorneys’ Fees. In any legal action, arbitration, or other proceeding brought to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing PARTY shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
6.9 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, with venue proper only in Riverside County, State of California.
6.10 Interpretation. This Agreement shall be construed as a whole, according to its fair meaning, and not in favor of or against any PARTY. By way of example and not 07024-0121 4921-6304-1633 v1 7
in limitation, this Agreement shall not be construed in favor of the PARTY receiving a benefit nor against the PARTY responsible for any particular language in this Agreement. Captions are used for reference purposes only and should be ignored in the interpretation of the Agreement. This Agreement may be altered, amended or modified only by an instrument in writing, executed by the PARTIES to this Agreement and by no other means. Each PARTY waives their future right to claim, contest or assert that this Agreement was modified, cancelled superseded or changed by any oral agreement, course of conduct, waiver or estoppel.
6.11 Acknowledgment. AMBROSE acknowledges that she has had the opportunity to consult legal counsel in regard to this Agreement, that she has read and understands this Agreement, that she is fully aware of its legal effect, and that she has entered into it freely and voluntarily and based on her own judgment and not on any representations or promises other than those contained in this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, CITY has caused this Agreement to be signed and executed on its behalf by its Mayor and duly attested to by its City Clerk, and AMBROSE has signed and executed this Agreement, as of the date first indicated above.
INTERIM CITY MANAGER CITY OF CATHEDRAL CITY
ANNE AMBROSE NANCY ROSS, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Burke, Williams &Sorensen, LLP
Tracey Hermosillo, City Clerk Eric S. Vail, serving as
City Attorney