City Manager To Retire After 'Conflict' With Council Member

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Laguna Beach City Manager Shohreh Dupuis announced Thursday that she will retire from the city starting Sept. 1, 2023, following a 33-year career in local government.

The announcement comes as a result of a mutually agreed-upon separation agreement that was negotiated in response to a hostile work environment claim filed by Dupuis following a "period of conflict with a city council member," the city said.

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Assistant City Manager Gavin Curran will serve as Acting City Manager while the city council decides its long-term plan to fill the position.

Under the separation agreement, the city will pay Dupuis nine months of severance pay and $223,077 to settle the hostile workplace claim.

Her city health insurance will remain unaffected for nine months and she will also receive a reimbursement of legal costs up to $10,000, according to the settlement.

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“Shohreh played a key role for our City during the COVID-19 pandemic and has helped deliver on wildfire safety, transportation and mobility programs, key property acquisitions and other important City Council priorities,” said Mayor Bob Whalen in a Thursday news release about Dupuis’ departure.

“We appreciate her dedication through some very challenging times and wish her well as she enters the next phase of her life.”