Antioch City Council Schedules October 19 Closed Session on Interim City Manager Appointment

The Antioch City Council will convene a special closed-session meeting on Monday, October 19, at 2:00 PM at City Hall on H Street to deliberate the potential appointment of an interim city manager. This executive session represents the latest step in a closely watched municipal leadership transition in eastern Contra Costa County. Residents will have an opportunity to deliver public comments in the council chambers before elected officials adjourn into the private deliberation room.

Monday's session follows an earlier closed-session gathering held on October 7, during which council members elected to keep Acting City Manager Ana Cortez in her current administrative role. During that same October 7 meeting, the council provided formal direction to city department staff to initiate a Request for Proposal process to recruit a permanent city manager. Securing stable executive oversight remains a central priority for municipal operations, public safety administration, and capital improvement programs across the district.

City Attorney Lori Asuncion outlined the legal and procedural requirements governing the upcoming executive transition following the October 7 deliberations. Asuncion noted that if and when an interim city manager is selected and a contract agreement is reached, both the formal appointment and the employment agreement will be brought forward to an open session during a regular council meeting for public consideration and a final board vote. This two-step process ensures full compliance with California open-meeting statutes and municipal transparency rules.

Civic observers across Antioch, Concord, and Walnut Creek have followed the administrative recruitment closely as the city manages ongoing infrastructure funding initiatives and departmental staffing priorities. Establishing clear leadership at the top of the municipal organization allows department heads to coordinate effectively with regional agencies and county boards. The Request for Proposal for a permanent recruitment firm is expected to attract experienced municipal executive search consultants from across the Bay Area.

Antioch residents and community stakeholders can watch the public portion of the Monday, October 19 session live through the official municipal portal at antiochca.gov or on the city YouTube channel. Written comments and inquiries regarding the council agenda may be submitted to the City Clerk department prior to the 2:00 PM gavel. Any subsequent open-session vote on an interim executive contract will be listed on a future regular meeting agenda.