$180K Salary Approved For New Lake Elsinore City Manager

In a 4-0 vote Tuesday night, Lake Elsinore City Council confirmed the employment agreement of its new City Manager.

Grant Yates was tapped for the job last month after spending the last 21 years working with the City of Temecula where he held numerous positions including Community Relations Director, Deputy City Manager and Financial Services Administrator.

According to his new three-year employment agreement with Lake Elsinore effective Nov. 17, 2012, Yates will receive an annual salary of $180,000. The city will also contribute $915 a month toward a health and retirement account for Yates in lieu of city medical, dental and vision coverage.

In addition to 12 paid holidays and one paid personal holiday, Yates will receive 48 days per year of personal time off. Yates will also be provided with a city vehicle and is entitled to six months severance pay under the agreement.

Yates replaces interim City Manager Tom Evans who has been serving Lake Elsinore since April following the March firing of City Manager Bob Brady.

During Tuesday’s meeting, city council members thanked Evans for his professional service and welcomed Yates, who was in the audience with his wife.

Evans has repeatedly said that while he enjoys serving Lake Elsinore, he did not want the top job on a permanent basis.

City Councilwoman Melissa Melendez was absent for Tuesday's vote.