Update 2: A press release from the city of San Bernardino announced that Eric Levitt has been selected as the city’s new  City Manager and will begin on August 4, 2025. https://www.sanbernardino.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=515

Update 1: A reliable source said that City Manager Eric Levitt accepted another position and the announcement will be made after this closed session meeting.

The City Council of Fullerton has announced a special meeting set for Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 5 pm. The public is welcome to speak before the closed session meeting. The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers located at 303 West Commonwealth Avenue.

The focus of this upcoming session is listed as a public employee performance evaluation for City Manager Eric Levitt, in accordance with Government Code Section 54957(b)(1). Section 54957(b)(1) allows local agency legislative bodies to hold closed sessions to consider certain matters related to public employees, including their appointment, employment, performance evaluation, discipline, or dismissal.

In recent years, Fullerton has experienced a difficult tenure with its City Managers, prompting speculation and concern among residents. There are questions surrounding whether this evaluation signifies a continuation of past issues with city council leadership.

A brief history reveals that Fullerton was without a permanent City Manager from April 2021 until Levitt’s appointment in March 2022. The previous City Manager, Ken Domer, was terminated without cause, resulting in costly severance pay amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the city laid off over 150 part-time employees and seven full-time staff. After Domer’s departure many experienced city employees also left the city for better jobs elsewhere.

After Domer’s exit, Steve Danley was appointed as acting City Manager but faced criticism for his lack of experience and engagement. Jeff Collier briefly took on the role as an interim, bringing a wealth of local government experience before Levitt was ultimately selected as City Manager following an extensive search.

Levitt, who previously served as City Manager in Alameda and other cities, took office with a substantial base salary of $250,000 per year, beginning work on May 10, 2022. The City Manager is tasked with leading and managing all city departments while implementing policies set forth by the City Council.

Among the pressing challenges Levitt tackled included restoring city services impacted by the pandemic, addressing significant budget deficits, maintaining public safety, and improving aging infrastructure, including roads, sewer, and water systems that had years of neglect. The City Council had previously acknowledged a $10 million budget deficit before the pandemic, with financial projections indicating further depletion of reserves without intervention despite the availability of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

The current majority on the City Council has faced criticism for spending significant amounts of money on consultants without producing tangible results. They have also been accused of failing to engage with public feedback, aligning their votes with the interests of their donors, lacking transparency, and providing insufficient reporting on the boards they represent in Fullerton. This lack of accountability has led many to believe that the city is experiencing ineffective leadership from the council majority.