Three Yucaipa councilmembers face recall drive

Recall papers were filed against three of the five members of the Yucaipa City Council, Mayor Justin Beaver, Mayor Pro Tem Bobby Duncan and Councilman  Matt Garner on Tuesday.

It was the first attempt to recall a councilmember in the history of the city of Yucaipa.

According to the website elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov, recalls have been a fundamental part of the governmental system since 1911 and has been used by voters to express their dissatisfaction with their elected representatives.

On Monday, April 24, approximately 100 people participated in a protest at John Tooker Park to recall the three councilmembers.   

The controversy began Jan. 9, as council members were criticized from a closed session item listed on the agenda that essentially ended former City Manager Ray Casey’s and City Attorney David Snow’s employment contract.

The closed session item came just two months after the former council’s performance evaluation of Casey and Snow, in which contracts were renewed. Later that night, council approved a new city manager and a city attorney, who were reportedly waiting in the parking lot.

 “Following almost twenty years of dedicated service to the city of Yucaipa, first as the director of public works for five years, and then the city manager for 14 ½ years, City Manager Raymond A. Casey and the City of Yucaipa are jointly announcing his retirement,” according to statement.

The vote to fire Casey and   was approved by a 3-2 vote on Jan. 9.  Councilmen Jon Thorp and Chris Venable voted against the change in city leadership.

Chris Mann was then immediately appointed as Yucaipa city manager, effective March 1, by a 4-1 vote, with Thorp voting no. Since then, allegations of collaborating with developers, disparaging remarks to the public and broken promises on responsible growth were expressed during public comment at city council meetings.

On April 24, three Yucaipa residents, Sherilyn Long from District 1, Steve Maurer from District 3, George Sardeson from District 4 and consultant Chris Robles entered Yucaipa City Hall at about 4:30 p.m. with the intention of filing a notice for circulate a recall petition.

Mayor Beaver’s written statement said, “Since my election in 2020 I have endeavored to fulfill every campaign promise I made. I have helped increase our law-enforcement staffing, I have helped create better communication by voting to approve the public information officer and government affairs coordinator positions, as well as vote to approve a first ever sunshine ordinance to increase transparency at city hall.

“I have helped eliminate the fire services committee and establish a new public safety committee to focus on all matters of public safety affecting our city. I have continuously voted to oppose increased development and to bifurcate rural and urban Yucaipa.”

More than 100 residents calmly lined up on the north side of Yucaipa Boulevard waving signs of protest, while passing cars honked and people yelled in approval.

There was a group of about 10 counter-protesters, including  Planning Commissioner Donna Snodgrass.  

“We’ve been trying to present facts as we find them and nobody is listening to the facts. It doesn’t seem like they care what the facts are,” she said. “They have made up falsehoods just about everybody on the city council and citizens as well, including myself and my husband.”

Snodgrass pointed to a sign about upholding the general plan and said, they did uphold the general plan.

“They are calling staff liars,” she said. “They said morale is at an all-time low. It’s not. It’s the highest I’ve seen in there since I’ve been going into city hall.”

During public comment several public speakers supported the three council members facing recall. The public can listen to public comment at yucaipa.org.

Manager Ray Casey’s and City Attorney David Snow’s employment contract.

The closed session item came just two months after the former council’s performance evaluation of Casey and Snow, in which contracts were renewed. Later that night, council approved a new city manager and a city attorney, who were reportedly waiting in the parking lot.

 “Following almost twenty years of dedicated service to the city of Yucaipa, first as the director of public works for five years, and then the city manager for 14 ½ years, City Manager Raymond A. Casey and the City of Yucaipa are jointly announcing his retirement,” according to statement.

The vote to fire Casey and   was approved by a 3-2 vote on Jan. 9.  Councilmen Jon Thorp and Chris Venable voted against the change in city leadership.

Chris Mann was then immediately appointed as Yucaipa city manager, effective March 1, by a 4-1 vote, with Thorp voting no. Since then, allegations of collaborating with developers, disparaging remarks to the public and broken promises on responsible growth were expressed during public comment at city council meetings.

On April 24, three Yucaipa residents, Sherilyn Long from District 1, Steve Maurer from District 3, George Sardeson from District 4 and consultant Chris Robles entered Yucaipa City Hall at about 4:30 p.m. with the intention of filing a notice for circulate a recall petition.

Mayor Beaver’s written statement said, “since my election in 2020 I have endeavored to fulfill every campaign promise I made. I have helped increase our law enforcement staffing, I have helped create better communication by voting to approve the public information officer and government affairs coordinator positions, as well as vote to approve a first ever sunshine ordinance to increase transparency at city hall.

“I have helped eliminate the fire services committee and establish a new public safety committee to focus on all matters of public safety affecting our city. I have continuously voted to oppose increased development and to bifurcate rural and urban Yucaipa.”

More than 100 residents calmly lined up on the north side of Yucaipa Boulevard waving signs of protest, while passing cars honked and people yelled in approval.

There was a group of about 10 counter-protesters, including  Planning Commissioner Donna Snodgrass.  

“We’ve been trying to present facts as we find them and nobody is listening to the facts. It doesn’t seem like they care what the facts are,” she said. “They have made up falsehoods just about everybody on the city council and citizens as well, including myself and my husband.”

Snodgrass pointed to a sign about upholding the general plan and said, they did uphold the general plan.

“They are calling staff liars,” she said. “They said morale is at an all-time low. It’s not. It’s the highest I’ve seen in there since I’ve been going into city hall.”

During public comment several public speakers supported the three council members facing recall. The public can listen to public comment at yucaipa.org.