City Manager contract

Urged the council to explain why City Manager Dan Singer's contract won't be renewed and to extend it two more years if no viable candidates emerge, citing his seven-plus years of service.

Asked whether the performance evaluation is finished and questioned spending taxpayer money on a search firm before the November election; also asked why July 30 meeting recordings aren't on the city website.

Read the city's leadership change letter praising Dan Singer's six-plus years of accomplishments and asked the council to extend his contract three years.

Argued changing city managers costs money and creates inefficiency; asked the council to delay any executive search until after the election.

A 29-year resident credited City Manager Dan Singer with the city's progress — passing two tax measures and delivering on projects — and urged the council to extend his contract three years, warning against focusing on one past hiring mistake.

A Santa Paula-born attorney said the council's decision not to renew Singer's contract leaves major questions unanswered, praised the staff team Singer built, and argued the current council shouldn't bind the incoming council elected in November.

A resident since 1969 said he's disappointed the council won't renew Dan Singer's contract, said most people he talks to are in shock, and urged the council to state the direction it wants before making the change.