Embattled City Manager Returns To Work

An embattled Coachella Valley city leader returned to work Monday after a stint in rehab.

Desert Hot Springs City Manager Rick Daniels joined the city council for it’s scheduled meeting. It was his first day on the job since announcing last month that he was seeking treatment for alcoholism.

He was greeted by several members of the community.

Daniels shook hands with them and returned some hugs.

He declined to speak on-camera but said he’ll be available next week.

There’s a lot on his plate and his colleagues expect that he’ll be taking it slow the next few weeks.

“We’re thrilled,” said Mayor Yvonna Parks. “We’re thrilled.”

“We’re real happy to have him back,” said Russell Betts, a councilman.

Daniels’ initial 3-year contract has expired.

Discussions over renewing his deal were put on hold when he checked into rehab in late September.

The city extended his contract 90 days while he was gone. But it will expire on Jan. 20.

“He’s probably not going to be working full-time,” said Parks. “But, yes, I think he’s up to it.”

“Obviously, he has some challenges — that’s not a secret,” said Betts. “The city has had quite a bit that it’s had to work through in the last 30 days.”

City officials acknowledge some disorganization in the city during Daniels’ absence and miscommunication with the media.

“I think the last week, I’ve got about 50 voice mails I’m trying to work through,” said Jason Simpson, the Assistant City Manager. “I got back to (News Channel 3) today as soon as I could.”

Phone calls and voice messages left with several city officials made by News Channel 3 this week were not returned.

The city was accused of failing to report salaries and compensation earned by city employees to the State Controller’s office.

The State Controller launched a new website Monday listing all salaries of all California city and county employees in an effort to avoid scandals like that in the Los Angeles County suburb of Bell.

“It was filed late,” said Simpson. “I believe they gave the cities, everyone across the state about five to six weeks to respond in a certain format.”

The information was requested by the state in mid-August, and the paperwork was due by Oct. 1.

However Simpson did not send the information out until last Friday.

“Primarily because we have a third-party payroll provider and we were trying to get the data in their format that they requested,” he said.

Desert Hot Springs is the only city the Coachella Valley to file its paper work with the state late.

The requested data is still not on the state’s website.

The city could be fined $5,000 for not filing on time. But Simpson doesn’t expect that will happen.

“Even themselves,” he said. “They were over 100 days late passing their budget. So, you know, I would have an issue if they did try to access the (penalty).”

Meanwhile, Daniels settles back into work with a lot on his plate.

“Maybe we put too much pressure (on him) at once,” said Betts. “The city’s gotten a lot done in the last three years, and when you think back, sometimes you gotta step back, take things a little slower, regroup and then move ahead.”

The council had a talk with Daniels during closed session. But the city attorney said his contract was not discussed.

However, it was announced Tuesday that communications and community services director Laura Green has been released of her duties.

The city said that the move was made to cut costs. She made more than $115,000 per year.