The Costa Mesa City Council approved a three-year employment agreement with City Manager Cecilia Gallardo Daley on Tuesday, authorizing a $320,000 annual base salary, $50,000 in deferred compensation, 40 hours of executive leave, use of a city vehicle and placement on the same benefits package as other city executives.

The agreement includes a termination provision that makes the contract terminable at will, with a one‑year base-salary severance payment in the event of termination without cause; termination for cause carries no severance. Council amended the performance-goal language to require the city manager and council to jointly develop annual performance goals and committed to timely evaluations.

Council members expressed appreciation for Gallardo Daley’s leadership and stressed the importance of clear, council-wide performance expectations and ongoing communications. The motion to approve the agreement carried 6–0.