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AGENDA REPORT
DATE: April 28, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Steven Graham Pacifico, City Attorney
Item No. 8
SUBJECT: Approval of Employment Agreement for Interim City Manager RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council approve the Employment Agreement with Jennifer Crawford for the position of Interim City Manager, effective retroactively to April 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
Following the vacancy in the City Manager position in March 2025, Assistant City Manager Jennifer Crawford assumed the responsibilities of Acting City Manager to ensure the continuity of day-to-day operations and organizational leadership. At its April 14, 2025 meeting, the City Council formally appointed Ms. Crawford as Interim City Manager.
Ms. Crawford has served the City of Yucaipa for 26 years in multiple key leadership roles, including her current position as Assistant City Manager/Rent Administrator. Her deep institutional knowledge, proven leadership, and long-standing commitment to the community provide critical stability during this transitional period. The interim appointment allows the City to maintain operational continuity while a formal recruitment is conducted for the permanent City Manager position.
The proposed Employment Agreement memorializes this interim role and outlines the terms and conditions of Ms. Crawford's assignment. The agreement is retroactively effective April 1, 2025, and allows Ms. Crawford to serve in a dual capacity as both Interim City Manager and Assistant City Manager. She is authorized to delegate duties as necessary to ensure the efficient functioning of the City.
Ms. Crawford will receive a biweekly base salary of $10,537.21, which includes a 10% salary increase in recognition of her additional responsibilities (commonly referred to as "acting pay").
She will continue to receive the same benefits currently associated with the Assistant City Manager classification and will not receive any additional benefits specific to the interim role.
The agreement includes a term not to exceed six (6) months, unless extended by mutual written agreement, and provides for Ms. Crawford's return to the Assistant City Manager position upon
conclusion of the interim assignment. This dual -role arrangement ensures fiscal responsibility and organizational continuity without requiring a costly external interim appointment.
BROWN ACT ORAL REPORT:
The Brown Act requires that before taking final action to approve an executive compensation package, such as an employment agreement for the Interim City Manager, the City Council must publicly report a summary of the recommended compensation and benefits orally in open session.
This ensures transparency around public salaries and executive compensation.
The following should be read allowed before the City Council votes on this item:
"Before the Council considers final action on the proposed employment agreement for the Interim City Manager, I am providing the required summary of compensation as mandated by Government Code Section 54953(c)(3). Under the agreement, Jennifer Crawford will serve as Interim City Manager effective retroactively to April 1, 2025, and will continue to hold the title of Assistant City Manager. She will receive a biweekly salary of $10,537.21, which includes a 10% increase above her current Assistant City Manager salary. She will continue to receive the same benefits currently afforded to the Assistant City Manager position, with no additional benefits or allowances specific to the interim assignment. The agreement is for a term not to exceed six months, unless extended by mutual agreement, and she will return to her Assistant City Manager role at the conclusion of the assignment."
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Interim City Manager biweekly base salary is $10,537.21, which reflects a 10% increase over Ms.
Crawford's current Assistant City Manager salary.
Attachments:
Interim City Manager Employment Agreement
Approved by: lQ-�►w of
ATTACHMENT 1
INTERIM CITY MANAGER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement ("Agreement"), made by and between the City of Yucaipa, a California municipal corporation ("City") and Jennifer Crawford ("Employee"), an individual, both of whom agree as follows:
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Employee is currently employed as the City's Assistant City Manager; and WHEREAS, the City has a vacancy in the position of City Manager; and WHEREAS, the City will be conducting a recruitment to fill the vacancy, and in the meantime, City is interested in employing Employee, on an interim basis, as the Interim City Manager, and Employee is willing to accept and perform that interim appointment; and WHEREAS, for the duration of this Agreement, Employee will fill both the role of Assistant City Manager and Interim City Manager. On an as needed basis, Employee shall assign duties to other employees as necessary; and
WHEREAS, following completion of the interim assignment, Employee shall return to the position of Assistant City Manager; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth the terms and conditions of the interim assignment.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
Section 1. Appointment; Duties and Authority
City agrees to appoint Employee as Interim City Manager, retroactively effective April 1, 2025, to perform the functions and duties specified in the City Manager j ob description, the City's Municipal Code, provisions of state law, and the directions of the City Council. Employee is subject to the direction and oversight of the City Council, and is appointed "at will," meaning that the employee serves in the capacity of Interim City Manager at the pleasure of the City Council. During this time, Employee will continue to perform the duties of Assistant City Manager on an as needed basis or shall assign those duties to other employees as necessary. Subject to the oversight of the City Council, Employee has discretion to structure her time and prioritize tasks to ensure that necessary functions of each position are adequately fulfilled.
Section 2. Hours of Work.
Employee is exempt under applicable wage and hour laws and is expected to engage in those hours of work necessary to fulfill the obligations of the position. Employee must be available to other staff and members of the public during City's regular hours of business, and generally Employee is expected to be working during such regular hours of business. Employee's position also requires frequent time worked outside of customary business hours (e.g. to attend City Council meetings
or other functions on City's behalf). As such, Employee's daily and weekly work schedule will vary in accordance with the work to be performed, and in accordance with specific direction provided by the City Council.
Section 3. Performance Evaluation
During this interim assignment, Employee is subject to the City Council's evaluation of performance, on day and at times selected by the City Council.
Section 4. Base Salary
Salary: Effective April 1, 2025, Employee will receive a bi-weekly rate of $10,537.21. Employee shall be paid at the same intervals and in the same manner as other management employees, and all wage payments are subject to applicable payroll taxes and withholdings. Salary changes approved for and applied to any other employees of City shall not be applied to Employee in this interim appointment unless the City Council expressly provides that they shall apply. All base salary to which she is entitled to as the Interim City Manager assignment is incorporated into the bi-weekly rate listed above.
Section 5. Retirement and Benefits
Ca1PERS: For the duration of the Interim City Manager assignment, Employee shall remain eligible for participation in Ca1PERS.
Benefits: Employee shall continue to be eligible for any benefits provided to the Assistant City Manager classification.
Section 6. Term and Termination
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Employee shall remain in the position of Interim City Manager for the duration of the recruitment process for the position of City Manager, not to exceed six (6) months from the effective date unless extended by mutual written agreement of the parties. At the completion of the Interim City Manager assignment, Employee shall return to the position of Assistant City Manager.
Section 7. Termination
Termination by City. Employee understands and agrees that, in this interim assignment, Employee works at the will and pleasure of the City Council, and that Employee may be removed from the Interim City Manager position at any time, with or without cause, without any due process rights. Upon any such removal, or at the completion of the assignment, Employee will resume the position of Assistant City Manager.
Termination of Interim Assignment by Employee. Employee may voluntarily terminate this interim assignment at any time by giving not less than fourteen (14) days' notice. Upon receipt by the City of Employee's notice to voluntarily terminate pursuant to this provision, the City shall
return Employee to the Assistant City Manager position at any date within that 14-day notice period. Employee will be paid for the Interim assignment for the days it was performed, with the Assistant City Manager salary resuming upon the effective date of return to that position.
Termination of Employment by Employee. Employee may voluntarily terminate employment with the City at any time by giving not less than fourteen (14) days' notice. Upon receipt of voluntary termination, the City may, at its option, relieve Employee of duty effective any date prior to the end of such period, provided that the City pays Employee all salary that would have been earned by the Employee through the balance of the notice period.
Return to Former Position. Employee currently holds the position of Assistant City Manager. City agrees to keep the Assistant City Manager position available during the Term of this Agreement.
Should Employee's service as Interim City Manager be terminated, Employee may (at her discretion) resume her duties as the Assistant City Manager.
Section 8. Notices
Notice pursuant to this Agreement shall be given by personal service, by overnight delivery service (e.g. Federal Express), or by depositing in the custody of the United States Postal Service, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
Employer: City of Yucaipa
34272 Yucaipa Blvd
Yucaipa, CA 92399
Attn: Mayor & City Attorney
Employee: Jennifer Crawford
Mailing address last on file with City
Notice shall be deemed given as of the date of personal service or as of the date of deposit of such written notice in the course of transmission by overnight delivery or by the United States Postal Service.
Section 9. General Provisions
Integration. This Agreement sets forth and establishes the entire understanding between City and Employee with respect to the interim appointment. Any prior discussions or representations by or between the parties regarding this appointment are merged into and rendered null and void by this Agreement. The parties by mutual written Agreement may amend any provision of this Agreement during the life of the Agreement. Such amendments shall be incorporated and made a part of this Agreement.
Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding on City and Employee and shall not be assignable or transferable, in whole or in part, by either parry. Any such purported transfer or assignment shall be null and void.
Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective April 15, 2025, and shall be retroactively applied to April 1, 2025, as specified in Section 1.
Severability. The invalidity or partial invalidity of any portion of this Agreement will not affect the validity of any other provision. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, the remaining provisions shall be deemed to be in full force and effect as if they have been executed by both parties subsequent to the expungement or judicial modification of the invalid provision.
Attorney's Fees. If any legal action or proceeding is brought to enforce or interpret this Agreement, the prevailing party, as determined by the court, shall be entitled to recover from the other party all reasonable costs and attorney's fees, including such fees and costs as may be incurred in enforcing any judgment or order entered in any such action. Nothing in this subsection shall be read to prevent the parties from agreeing to some alternative method of dispute resolution. If such a method is agreed to, any final determination shall include an award of attorney's fees and costs by the presiding officer.
Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. Employee and City agree that venue for any dispute shall be in San Bernardino County, California.
Representation by Counsel. The parties acknowledge and agree that they were, or had the opportunity to be, represented individually by legal counsel with respect to the matters that are the subject of this Agreement and that they are fully advised with respect to their respective rights and obligations resulting from signing this Agreement.
Waiver. Any failure of a party to insist upon strict compliance with any term, undertaking, or condition of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such term, undertaking, or condition. To be effective, a waiver must be in writing, signed and dated by the parties.
Counterparts. The Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, including via facsimile or electronically -transmitted signature, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one -in -the -same document. [Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement the day and year first above written.
CITY OF YUCAIPA
Jon Thorp, Mayor
ATTEST:
Ana V. Sauseda, MMC
Director of General Services/City Clerk
I- 1»:Z01T/01OXMIwe] el 3"
Steven Graham Pacifico, City Attorney
EMPLOYEE
Jennifer Crawford, Interim City Manager