During a special meeting Wednesday, the Monterey Park City Council voted 3-2 to dismiss City Manager June Yotsuya.

“The decision, because of this economic condition all over the state right now, we decided to go in another direction,” said Councilman Frank Venti.

Jim Smith, the city’s interim police chief, will serve as acting city manager, Venti said.

Venti said he expects that an interim city manager would be chosen within the next week.

“We’re looking for somebody definitely who has city manager experience, with a good, strong financial background,” Venti said.

Yotsuya, who served as assistant city manager for the city of Seal Beach before coming to Monterey Park, was appointed in April 2008.

She was hired by the old City Council majority, which was overturned in when Betty Tom Chu beat out Sharon Martinez in the last City Council election.