City Council Meeting 9/29/26

At the City of Hemet City Council meeting on September 29, 2026, the council unanimously appointed Ernest “Ernie” Reyna as city manager, following a search that received more than 30 applications and included interviews with eight candidates. The council then unanimously approved his employment agreement. The agreement sets an initial annual salary of $330,000, with annual increases of 2% subject to salary-compaction and fiscal-emergency provisions, and includes benefits such as CalPERS retirement, health and other insurance, deferred compensation, and a $500 monthly automobile allowance or city-provided vehicle. Reyna is expected to begin after giving 30 days’ notice to his current employer.

Public comment raised concerns about how downtown parking requirements have been applied and whether a privately owned lot was counted toward other properties’ requirements; no council action was taken on that matter. A speaker also questioned how Measure Q funds would be distributed and the clarity of public-safety allocations. The mayor said the allocation would be discussed at a future public council meeting. No procurement or vendor-selection activity was identified.