In closed session tonight, the Santa Clara City Council will address a potential lawsuit filed by former City Manager Deanna Santana.
From October 2017 — when Santana was hired — until one year after she was fired, the former city manager collected a total of $3.9 million from the City of Santa Clara in salary ($2.4 million), supplemental pay ($435,000) and benefits ($1.2 million).
Now she’s back with a threat to sue Santa Clara for another two weeks of accrued vacation, sick leave and management leave from March 19, 2023 through March 31, 2023 — the final two weeks covered by her separation agreement. She first presented the city with this claim in September 2023.
Santana was an at-will employee, meaning she could be dismissed at any time for no stated reason. However, she alleges that she was dismissed as retaliation for whistle-blowing and claims has suffered “monetary damages and emotional distress as a result.”
Santana’s separation agreement with the city gave her one year of full salary and benefits, including cost-of-living adjustments and accruals of vacation and management leave, beginning March 31, 2022 and concluding March 31, 2023. Santana claims that the city reneged and “clawed back accrued” benefits beginning March 19, 2023.
Santana claims that these breaches of contract were an “after the fact pre-textual claim that it had no obligation to pay such earned wages and benefits” as discrimination and retaliation for being a “whistleblower.”
She bases her claim on a 2022 grand jury report — a discussion of which makes up two-thirds of Santana’s complaint. Former city attorney Brian Doyle tried to sue Santa Clara for wrongful firing on the same ground. Doyle’s case was dismissed with prejudice last year.
A $3.9 Million Employee
Santana’s top compensation package in 2022 was $785,300. During her tenure, she was the highest-paid city manager in California. She remains, as of 2024, the highest-paid city manager in California since 2011, when lump sum retirements and accrued pension debt are taken out of the equation.
She was dismissed in February 2022, following conflict with the city’s unions that led to a strike vote by the Field Operations and Maintenance union. Her departure from the city manager’s job in Sunnyvale followed a similar strike threat.
Source for compensation numbers: Transparent California
Glad she’s out, and now we have a city council that will truly stand up for our residents. Hopefully, the staff can hold their ground against the mayor until her time is up.
She should have taken all those SJ city people she brought to this town with her, they are totally useless and sterile attitude towards residents and career city employees.
This lady came to Santa Clara and brought all her people from Sunnyvale with her. These people then brought friends from San Jose, Sunnyvale, and other places and put them at high positions with top salary dollars. But none of them have experience to lead, manage, and grow the organization. They hide behind doors to collect top dollars then blame others for their mistakes. She also gave herself high raises each year. I got 2 words, greedy and corrupt!
Elated the criticism during Santana tenure: I’m not baffled was. There any accomplishments typical what’s in for her? Taxes we paid
never resolution, just paid bureaucratic jargon “Santana” run for something. Never qualified only verbal discourse elated your termination many others. City council whom need to be terminated along “Executive committed friends of Darling Lisa Gillmor!
“Santana was the ideal politician of Bay Area inept notice looking out for career. Irregularity Santa Clara high compensations mention efficiency of current bureaucracy equivalent to Santana. Don’t care dirty streets broken facilities mention resolution “Mayor Gillmor” doesn’t care! Forgotten hierarchy actually oppressing possibilities of economic progress. Santana never resolve public policies always, enriched her salary. Mention Jovan Grogan,Aracely Azevedo,Paulina Morales and Janine De La Vega current managers of authority for Santa Clara. Notice horrible Prop I were is results tell us, Mayoral efforts of Gillmor horrible antagonism. Towards social progress deficit criticism increasing taxes inept administration getting higher salaries! Jovan,Aracely,Patty Wong,Paulina and Janine are you competent for you duties your evasion continue to avoid principles collecting your salaries! Santana you left a legacy incompetency plenty of it Santa Clara highest salaries for workforce doesn’t care about public policies! Vote for change is coming! Example Housing Elements” paying taxes for affordable housing developments notice ratio. RV’s still n the streets I called wrote every official ignored there collecting there high salaries! Those living in vehicles why, haven’t they taken advantage of new “Housing options” Jovan,Aracely and Paulina any suggestions? Sanata Clara wake vote for change inept government whom neglected public policies governmental administration impratial! Santana influence new era be silent and collect your paycheck…Sanatana couldn’t even discuss. Logicial rendering of public policies just in generalizations ask Aracely! Plenty of Potholes street lights haven’t been replaced sewer backup when call your ignored. Greatness of Santana’s legacy!