City Manager could get new contract
While meeting with reporters Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Jon Harrison mentioned that contract renegotiations with City Manager N. Enrique Martinez could result in a new agreement by the April 15 City Council meeting.
Martinez's current contract is dated March 20 of last year. The five-year deal gives him a base annual salary of $218,000 per year.
Martinez was hired to whip the city's budget into shape. There was some controversy during the immediate aftermath of his hiring, as he had been placed on administrative leave from the city manager's post in Lynwood. A report leaked from that city revealed that Martinez neglected to inform his Lynwood council members that he married a subordinate while in office there.
That report exonerated Martinez of a more serious allegation of improperly using Lynwood's money to remodel offices. At the time, Redlands council members said they were aware of the allegations and defended Martinez's record and character.
Since then, council members have generally had positive things to say about Martinez's work in Redlands. Although the city manager's proposals to raise sales taxes and undertake a complicated plan that would have used water payments to create an endowment for city projects were rejected, Martinez has promised that Redlands will avoid red ink and Harrison on Wednesday voiced his approval for the city manager's fiscal efforts.
"He's been able to get the departments to step up and work with the funds we have," Harrison said.
Measure F, a new levy on distribution centers, is another of Martinez's proposals. Voters ratified that tax in November.
Contract negotiations have been held in closed session over the course of recent weeks.
A new contract could be voted upon in public session during Tuesday's council meeting,.
"If it's not agreeable, we'll go back to the table," Harrison said.