Item 386/2026
Final
City of Garden Grove
INTER-DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
To:
Lisa L. Kim From: Jany Lee
Dept:
City Manager Dept: Human Resources
Date: 9/8/2026
Subject: Approval of an Employment Agreement with Matthew S. West for the position of City Manager. (Action Item)
OBJECTIVE
To present to the City Council for approval a new City Manager Employment Agreement with Matthew S. West for City Manager services.
BACKGROUND
In preparation for Ms. Lisa Kim’s retirement, the City Council met in closed session on August 31, 2026 to discuss the upcoming City Manager vacancy. The City Council unanimously agreed to offer the position of City Manager to Mr. Matthew S. West, Assistant City Manager, upon Ms. Kim’s retirement on November 2, 2026.
As further directed by the City Council, staff prepared a City Manager Employment Agreement for municipal management services between the City of Garden Grove and Mr. West. The agreement provides for terms and conditions of employment beginning officially on November 3, 2026 (Attachment 1).
DISCUSSION
Mr. West has over 26 years of experience in municipal management. In January 2024, he joined the City of Garden Grove’s Central Management team as Assistant City Manager. Prior to Garden Grove, he served the City of Tustin for 23 years in various leadership and management capacities, including five (5) years as City Manager. Mr. West has a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning f rom Cal Poly Pomona. His resume highlights his professional experience and accomplishments (Attachment 2).
The Employment Agreement establishes the City Manager base salary and provides for benefits consistent with those received by the Central Management executive staff.
Item 386/2026
The specific compensation and benefit details are as follows (all figures below are annual):
Salary: $363,756.00
Health, Dental & Vision Allowance: $25,800
Retirement (PERS Employer Portion): $43,177.84
Auto Allowance: $10,416
Vacation Leave: 80 hours beginning in January 2027 and every January thereafter, plus accrual rate of 120 hours (based upon Mr. West’s years of service with City of Garden Grove)
Administrative Leave: 40 hours
Sick Leave: Accrual rate of 96 hours
Standard Long Term Disability: $2,155.92
Long Term Disability Executive: $2,710.50
Long Term Disability Management: $928.20
Group Term Life Insurance: $538.98
Deferred Compensation: Maximum annual 457(b) deferred compensation contribution permitted by law
The City will also provide a cell phone with paid service, and a laptop.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Costs for the City Manager salary and benefit are appropriated in the adopted Fiscal Year 2026-27 operating budget.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
Approve the City Manager Employment Agreement for Matthew S. West as attached and authorize the Mayor to execute same.
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. Employment Agreement
2. Resume – Matthew S. West