The Santa Clara City Council members voted to fire the city manager in a closed-door session. Mayor Lisa Gillmor told the San Francisco Chronicle that the council voted 4-2 on two resolutions, one to remove Deanna Santana, the other to suspend her from her position as city manager.
Mayor Gillmor also told the Chronicle that she believes the football team wanted Santana fired because she had suggested, days before, that Niners President Al Guido had a conflict of interest in the club’s 2026 World Cup bid. Santana had also challenged the club’s operation of Levi’s Stadium, which is publicly-owned.
The city council said it fired Santana – who became city manager in 2017 – over a “lack of confidence” in the city manager. The council took the vote, despite being advised against the action by the assistant city attorney, who argued that there was no attorney to represent the city.
The Santa Clara City Charter states that the council must give a 30-day notice to the city attorney and put its reasons for dismissal in writing. It also gives the city attorney the option to respond and a public hearing.
The Chronicle also has reported 49ers executives have frequently held closed-door meetings with five council members, according to city records. The paper also reported owner Jed York spent nearly three-million dollars into the 2019 city council race.
