Vancouver's city manager could face a vote on his removal Friday morning. The Vancouver City Council has scheduled a special 9 a.m. meeting to vote on a resolution to remove Lon Pluckhahn as city manager, and so far, no elected official has publicly said why.
According to OPB, the council will vote on whether to remove Pluckhahn from his role this Friday, Nov. 13. City documents reviewed by the outlet show his dismissal was already discussed behind closed doors during three separate executive session meetings since October. Despite that paper trail, OPB reports that elected leaders have not yet publicly given the reasoning behind their possible vote to fire the city's top administrative official.
KATU similarly reported no cause has been cited for the special meeting, which the station said is set to begin Friday at 9 a.m. OPB reported on Nov. 6 that the council would vote on removing Pluckhahn; The Columbian later described the move as unexpected.
What Happens If the Vote Passes
If councilors vote to remove Pluckhahn, he could be immediately replaced by Deputy City Manager Lisa Brandl, per OPB's reporting. The council is also set to vote on a resolution designating Brandl as acting city manager, according to The Columbian.
The timeline for when Pluckhahn's employment would actually end is unsettled. OPB reports his employment could be officially terminated on Dec. 14, 2026, while The Columbian's reporting indicates the council plans to terminate his employment agreement on Dec. 16. The discrepancy between the two dates has not been resolved in either outlet's reporting.
Under Washington law, the mechanics of the vote itself are straightforward. Per RCW 35A.13.130, a city manager is appointed for an indefinite term and may be removed by a majority vote of the council.
A Strong Review Just Months Ago
The possible ouster is a sharp turn from where things stood at the start of the year. Pluckhahn received a positive review from the city last January, in which he was described as having excellent performance, as reported by The Columbian; he was given a 5% pay raise at the time, per OPB's account of that report.
Pluckhahn has been with the city for years. The council voted to hire him as city manager in late 2024 after he had served three years as deputy city manager, OPB reports, a role he held beginning in 2021 according to The Columbian's earlier coverage. He succeeded Eric Holmes, who had served as Vancouver's city manager for 14 years before retiring. Before arriving in Vancouver, Pluckhahn spent 14 years as city manager in Marion, Iowa, according to KATU.
Budget Discussions Preceded the Vote
The possible removal vote follows council discussions over Pluckhahn's proposed 2027-28 budget. Vancouver city councilors in late October asked Pluckhahn to remove a $1.4 million line item for consultant services related to annexation planning, as well as four new staff positions, The Columbian reported. Officials later agreed to reallocate about $2 million originally earmarked for annexation-related staffing and consulting services to public safety and city park maintenance, as well as to offset future budget deficits, according to a separate Columbian report.
For now, Vancouver residents are left waiting on a City Hall decision that could reshape the city's top administrative post, with little public explanation of what prompted it.
