Council approves city manager’s evaluation

San Benito News
By TONY VINDELL -Special to the NEWS
February 10, 2023

After a three-week delay, the San Benito City Council gave its okay for the routine evaluation of the top administrator for the municipality.

City Manager Manuel De La Rosa received a score of 4.9 on a five-point scale and his job was discussed during executive session held during the Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, meeting of the council.

De La Rosa has been managing the city since 2015 and was the focus on an attempt to remove from office by group of concerned citizens that claimed he was not doing his job, particularly with subdivision regulations. A routine evaluation of his job was to be discussed during a previous meeting, but the council tabled it for a later date.

He earns an annual salary of about $135,000.

In other business, the council heard a presentation from Martin Saenz, the Community Development Block Grant director for the city, on projects and available funds.

He said $210,000 was available for funding a number of projects. For the Falligant and Landrum Park renovations, some $120,000 were allocated for these projects that are to be completed in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Saenz said close to $404,000 are in another fund to be used for rental assistance for area residents.