Vancouver, Wash. – In a special council meeting held Friday morning, the Vancouver City Council approved a preliminary resolution to remove City Manager Lon Pluckhahn and designate Deputy City Manager Lisa Brandl as acting city manager, according to a statement released by the city and reported by Clark County Today.
The meeting began at 9 a.m. and, after a brief period of public comment, council business – the sole agenda item – lasted just 40 seconds. Councilor Ty Stober moved to approve the resolution, and Councilor Sarah Fox seconded the motion. All six councilors voted in favor, and Mayor Anne McEnerny‑Ogle announced at 9:05 a.m., “Motion passes unanimously. That is the work of the city council… we are adjourned.”
Pluckhahn attended the meeting, sitting in the public gallery, and after the vote he declined to comment, thanking those who came to show support. Two community members spoke in favor of Pluckhahn during the public comment period.
The preliminary resolution places Pluckhahn on administrative leave with pay for the next 30 days and provides him the opportunity to request a hearing with the council within that period. Councilor Fox explained that a hearing request would allow the council to provide a more detailed basis for its decision.
According to KATU, the council’s action is framed as a termination “for the convenience of the City” under the City Charter, following “ongoing evaluations of the City Manager’s performance and the city’s long‑term strategic direction during Executive Sessions over the past year.” The final resolution on Pluckhahn’s employment agreement is scheduled for the regular council meeting on Dec. 14, 2026.
Deputy City Manager Lisa Brandl was sworn in as acting city manager immediately after the meeting, a step Mayor McEnerny‑Ogle highlighted in a media statement. The city also noted that municipal services will continue uninterrupted and that council members will focus on adopting the 2027‑28 biennial budget on Monday, Nov. 16.
What’s next: Residents can watch for a potential hearing request from Pluckhahn within the next 30 days. The council will consider a final termination resolution on Dec. 14, 2026, and the upcoming budget adoption on Nov. 16 will shape city finances for the next two years.
Sources: clarkcountytoday.com, katu.com
