INTERIM CITY MANAGER SALARY UPPED $20,000

Lundgren’s contract extended to March 31, 2023

Toni Lundgren will serve as Manteca’s interim city manager for nearly four months longer than previously negotiated.

She also will receive a 10 percent pay increase of $20,000 for an overall salary of $220,000.

The City Council — on a 4-1 vote with Councilman Dave Breitenbucher dissenting — on Tuesday modified Lundgren’s contract. In doing so, they extended the contract of Interim Assistant City Manager Jose Jasso as well.

Originally both contracts expired Dec. 12, 2021 at the same time as the current council term ends with the certification of the Nov. 8 election results.
Councilman Gary Singh noted the extension will provide the next council seated in December with time to fill the city manager position with a permanent hire.

Mayor Ben Cantu, contacted after the meeting, indicated the council felt it was appropriate to hold off on searching for a new city manager until after the Nov. 8 election.

It is deference to the possibility there could be two new faces on the council — potentially Lei Ann Larson as mayor and Nancy Watson as the District 4 City Council representative — after the Nov. 8 vote.

The city manager and the city attorney are the only two positions directly hired — and fired — by elected councils acting as a majority.

Breitenbucher had no objection to extending Lundgren’s contract or with the effort she is currently doing as the interim city manager. His issue rests with what he said would be sending a conflicting message to city employees to be patient on potential pay raises until the city has a better grasp of its financial position at mid-year.

Every other council member also commented on Lundgren’s effort on behalf of the city.

Breitenbucher’s colleagues, though, thought raising Lundgren’s salary was only right given it is less than what city managers are making in surrounding cities as well as less than what previous interim city managers in Manteca made.

“It’s only fair,” Councilman Charlie Halford said.

Michael Harden served as nine months as Manteca’s interim city manager at a rate of $240,000 a year.

Miranda Lutzow’s pay on an annual basis as interim city manager was $238,000. She was only interim city manager for a little more than a month. Lutzow, however, was the acting city manager for five months beforehand and was made permanent after being interim city manager.

The base salaries of city managers in nearby cities are as follows:

*Tracy, $270,317

*Lathrop, $251,291

*Pleasanton, $255,456

*Turlock, $226,620

*Dublin, $290,856

*Lodi, $236,095

*Stockton, $294,953

*Modesto, $254,600

*Brentwood, $273,565

*Elk Grove, $281,402

*Antioch, $293,712