Chris Mann Poised To Land In Wildomar As Interim City Manager

WILDOMAR, CA — An experienced city manager is on his way to becoming the next one for Wildomar.

An employment agreement is expected to be approved during the 6 p.m. May 14 Wildomar City Council meeting, naming Chris Mann as interim city manager.

His employment agreement takes effect May 14 and expires Nov. 14, 2025. The estimated cost to the city for the six-month term is $146,744.09, which includes Mann's pay based on an annual base salary of $250,000 plus benefits, city documents show.

Under the current agreement, Mann is not entitled to any additional compensation or severance pay upon his employment termination.

Mann's contract with the city could expire sooner if a permanent city manager is found before the November date, according to city documents.

In the documents, Mann was praised: "After a thorough search for an Interim City Manager and interviewing several candidates, the City has agreed to terms with Mr. Mann as the Interim City Manager. Mr. Mann brings a wealth of relevant expertise and will provide the City with leadership during this critical transitional period."

During an April 29 special closed-session meeting of Wildomar City Council, Mann was tapped to become interim city manager by a 4-1 vote, with Councilmember Joseph Morabito dissenting.

Mann most recently served as city manager for the cities of Yucaipa (January 2023 - March 2025) and Canyon Lake (March 2019 - January 2023).

In a City of Canyon Lake press release announcing Mann's resignation and job acceptance in Yucaipa, he was credited with turning around Canyon Lake's finances over his four-year stint.

Then Canyon Lake Mayor Jeremy Smith said in a released statement, "I truly believe Chris Mann is simply the best Manager the City has had in its 32-year history."

Smith said Mann's decision to take the city manager job in Yucaipa "just makes sense for Chris and for the City of Yucaipa."

Mann and his family live in Yucaipa, according to his bio.

Mann's work in Yucaipa was brief. He served as city manager for just over two years before city council members there voted during a March closed-session meeting to place him on paid administrative leave.

The City of Yucaipa followed it up with a statement: "The decision was reached with three affirmative votes, one negative vote, and one abstention ... ."

In the days that followed, a separation agreement was reached and Mann resigned.

A similar scenario played out in Wildomar last month when City Manager Dan York was placed on paid administrative leave. By the end of April, York and the city reached a retirement separation agreement, and he was gone.

Janet Morales has served as acting city manager since York's departure.

In addition to Mann's city manager experience, he owned and operated the public relations firm Mann Communications. He also worked as an administrative analyst and then as deputy chief of staff for a member of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, according to his bio.

He has served on two separate elected water boards, the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (2004-2008) and the Yucaipa Valley Water District (2016-2023).

At a young age, he was elected to the Westlake Village City Council.