Laguna Beach City Council to consider employment contract for Shohreh Dupuis as city manager

Following the appointment of Shohreh Dupuis to become the next city manager of Laguna Beach, the Laguna Beach City Council will consider the employment contract under which Dupuis will begin working in her new role.

Dupuis, who currently works as assistant city manager for the city of Laguna Beach, was chosen by a unanimous vote to succeed John Pietig, the retiring city manager, at a closed session meeting of the council on Tuesday.

The start date for Dupuis as city manager is expected to be June 12, the date when the retirement of Pietig takes effect.

At the direction of the council, both the city attorney, Phil Kohn, and Gary Phillips, the executive recruiter brought in to conduct a national search for city manager candidates, met with Dupuis to work out the framework of a contract.

Terms of the proposed contract include a base salary of $275,000 for Dupuis when she starts as city manager, according to a staff report. The current salary for Pietig is $286,829.

Dupuis’ salary as assistant city manager is $238,056, but when two adjustments are accounted for leading into next year, her salary would be $250,108 as of Jan. 1, 2022. The proposed contract would mark a pay increase of roughly 10% for Dupuis over her earnings as assistant city manager come January.

The proposal would be for an initial three-year term with an automatic two-year extension. The council could elect not to extend Dupuis past the first three years, but it would have to inform her of that decision at least six months prior to the end of that term.

The regular council meeting will begin at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4. Members of the public may speak before the council in person as part of the hybrid meeting, but they must wear a face covering when entering Council Chambers and exit after speaking on their subject of interest.

The meeting can also be seen over Zoom by going to https://lagunabeachcity.zoom.us/j/93572563925, as well as by tuning in to Cox cable channel 852.

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