By Braden Cartwright
Daily Post Staff Writer
Two managers at Los Altos City Hall were paid three months’ salary to leave their positions and to not sue the city, according to public records obtained by the Post.
Transportation Manager Marisa Lee received $43,301 on Nov. 2, and Finance Manager Vivian Chu received $49,464 on Jan. 31, according to severance agreements signed with the employees.
Lee was with the city for just over two years. Her position was eliminated “due to organizational restructuring,” the severance agreement says.
Lee left the city around the time that residents organized against a redesign of Jardin Drive behind Los Altos High School.
The area for parked cars on Jardin Drive was moved away from the curb and into the street, so that bikes could be separated from drivers by the parked cars.
But residents said the redesign was confusing and dangerous, and they weren’t consulted first. The city is going back to the drawing board to redesign Jardin Drive again this summer.
Lee worked under Public Works Director Jim Sandoval, who retired in August.
AIM Engineering Consultants is currently helping with transportation projects, city spokeswoman Sonia Lee said in an email yesterday.
The city has to keep personnel information confidential, so no further details beyond the agreement will be disclosed, Lee said.
The city released the severance agreements after a California Public Records Act request by the Post.
Chu was hired on March 20 last year to be new Finance Director June Du’s second-in-command.
Du has been trying to correct million-dollar budgeting errors from the past and to get the city on better software.
Chu’s severance agreement says that she may have filed a legal claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
Chu promised confidentiality, “except to state that any issues relating to Chu’s employment at the city have been amicably resolved,” the agreement says.
Before coming to Los Altos, Chu was the finance director in Sausalito, pay records show.
Los Altos posted an opening for the finance manager position on Feb. 15.
The new City Manager Gave Engeland, in 2022-2023, also terminated Deputy City Manager Jon Biggs and Building Official Kirk Ballard. The Post may want to check into the City’s severance agreements with those individuals, embroiled as they (and the City) were in various resident complaints and litigation.
And 6 Tiny Tot Teachers. Can’t forget that.
Yes, the 6 Tiny Tot Teachers.
And the severance payment in 2021 to disgraced former City Manager Chris Jordan. And the severance payments in 2017-2018 to former City Manager Marcia Somers, Deputy City Manager James Walgren, former Planning Director David Kornfield. The termination of then City Attorneys Jolie Houston, later Chris Diaz, and the rehiring of Jolie Houston. The more severance payments and terminations, the more things remain the same.