Santa Ana may once again find itself on the lookout for a new city manager.
Less than a year and a half after taking the job, Raul Godinez II’s employment with the city remains uncertain, Voice of OC reports. City Council members met privately Friday to discuss possible termination and a severance agreement, which could end up as high as $489,000.
Councilmembers Vincent Sarmiento, Jose Solorio, Roman Reyna and David Penaloza were in attendance. Cecilia Iglesias, Juan Villegas and Miguel Pulido were not there. None of them one would offer public comment or confirm support for the city manager.
Voice of OC says Godinez could not be reached. However, the city attorney says no reportable actions were taken. The publication has filed a California Public Records Act request for more information.
Santa Ana has been mired in serious fiscal problems and infighting at City Hall. It has also blown through four city managers in the past two years.
Godinez took over in October of 2017 following the forced resignation of David Covazos. The council was split on Godinez’s hiring (the vote was 4-3) and his generous compensation package of $489,000 made him the second-highest paid executive in the state at the time.
Read more about Godinez’s fate here.