Morro Bay appointed a new interim city manager after suddenly terminating former City Manager Yvonne Kimball last month, who served less than two years on the job.
On July 10, the Morro Bay City Council approved appointing Andrea Leuker as the interim city manager, replacing Kimball who had served in the role since August 2023.
City Councilmember Jeff Eckles said that it was time for new leadership.
“The city needed new leadership at the top,” he said at the meeting. “I’m proud of this council for taking the stand and taking the actions of taking our city management to a better position.”
The city hasn’t commented on the reason Kimball was dismissed.
“Because it is a personnel issue, the city cannot comment,” Interim City Attorney Robert Schultz told New Times via email.
Newly appointed Leuker is no stranger to the beachside city, previously serving as its city manager from 2007 to 2013. Leuker was also removed from the position in 2013 without cause, New Times previously reported.
Since Leuker’s removal, the city has had four interim city managers in the past 12 years, Mayor Carla Wixom noted at the July 10 meeting. That number doesn’t include city managers like Kimball, who were hired as permanent administrators.
According to the meeting’s staff report, Leuker served as Port San Luis Harbor District‘s harbor manager before retiring. She more recently served as a board member for local group REACT Alliance, which opposes the development of offshore wind energy on the Central Coast. Leuker resigned from her position at REACT Alliance in preparation for the interim position.
Her past advocacy prompted concern from residents who spoke at the meeting and Councilmember Cyndee Edwards, who was the sole opposing vote against Leuker’s appointment that night.
Edwards said she believed Leuker to have the integrity to serve in the role but was concerned about Leuker’s ability to display neutrality about the various environmental issues Morro Bay faces.
Resident Jim Gross shared a similar sentiment during public comment.
“There will inevitably be questions as to whether that advocacy might somehow bias her or present even potentially conflicts as she comes back into public service,” he told the council.
Another resident, Jane Heath, brought up past grievances surrounding Morro Bay’s polarized $116 million wastewater facility, which came into play in 2013 when Leuker was city manager.
Heath said the end of Leuker’s previous role was “divisive,” and that “bringing her back opens wounds.”
Councilmember Eckles said it was time for the community to move on.
“We are in the present. We need to hire someone that is going to serve all residents at the highest level,” he said. “I’m not holding political grudges from 15 years ago. I don’t have any axe to grind that way. And if you do, for crying out loud, get over it. This is 2025 and we have a city to run, and we have citizens to serve.”
New Times contacted Leuker for comment but did not hear back in time for publication. At the July 10 meeting, she said she was excited to start again.
“I am clearly aware of the perception of conflicts and conflicts in general,” she said, adding that she planned to approach the council if any conflicts did arise during her time as interim.
Leuker began the new role on July 14 as the city started its process to find a permanent city manager. Δ
This article appears in Jul 17-27, 2025.
Great to see Andrea Leuker back in Public service. I’ve followed her career and have always been impressed with her public service skills, positive energy and knowledge. It has been unfortunate for the public that some elected offcials did not recognize her value to the agency(s). Morro Bay will greatly benifit with Andrea at the helm.
Perhaps slightly off-topic…
Regarding the hiring and firing of certain people relating to the City Manager position, especially since we’ve had no less than four Interim City Managers in the past 12 years, I’m calling BS on the Interim City Attorney’s statement: “Because it is a personnel issue, the city cannot comment.” Excuse me?
For perspective, bottom line, let’s zoom out for a moment. The salaries of these Interim City Managers are being paid by us taxpayers. As such, they are our employees, and We The Taxpaying People are their employers. Got that? We therefore have every right to know exactly what the hell is going on here. As taxpayers – as YOUR EMPLOYERS – it’s about time you stop playing games, come clean with us, and explain these wildly erratic “personnel issues.” Never forget that YOU, “The City”, WORK FOR US. As your employer, I for one am demanding some answers.