- February 5, 2025
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In the space of one City Council meeting, City Manager Jake Johansson was accused by a resident of thinking he’s “above the law” and performing a “strip session” stunt, but was also praised by City Council members as being “solid” and worthy of a “significant” raise.
Port Orange resident Wendell Dallarosa began his 3-minute public comment allotment May 1 by requesting a meeting with the city attorney about another matter, but then used the time to badger Johansson.
“What’s the city policy on employees keeping firearms concealed on city properties?” Dallarosa asked. He said he had heard rumors that Johansson and his secretary “have armed themselves.”
Johansson replied that he does not carry a weapon in City Council chambers. Doing so, he said, would be against state law. To prove it, Johansson walked down from the dais and stood near where Dallarosa was standing, and Johansson took off his suit jacket to show the audience that he was not carrying a gun, which Dallarosa called a “strip session.”
One of the City Council members said, “Jake, come on back up here.”
“You seem to think you’re above the law,” Dallarosa said to Johansson.
He continued by accusing Johansson of speeding in his “little Porsche.” Dallarosa claimed to have a camera in his car, and that he had recorded Johansson speeding on Dunlawton Avenue.
(Earlier in the meeting, Johansson had pointed out that when you drive the speed limit, the speed limit signs now flash the words, “thank you.” Johansson joked, “Never seen them myself.”)
In the middle of Dallarosa’s comments, after Johansson had returned to this seat, Johnasson told the City Council, “I’m going to excuse myself,” and he left the room.
Dallarosa wasn’t finished, even though his time limit of 3 minutes expired. He demanded, “Add my minute back on. I’m going to continue to talk since he decided to take my time (for the ‘strip session’).”
Dallarosa requested to know the city’s policy on employees carrying firearms. Then he said that although he deserved more time, he didn’t have anything further to say and hurled one last insult at Johansson, who was still not in the room: “Tell him he’s still a little short guy.”
After Dallarosa sat down, Johansson returned to the meeting. Staff was directed to look up the city’s policy on weapons.
Later on the agenda, Johansson’s salary was to be addressed. The matter was first brought up on April 17, but it was tabled for more information. According to the city agenda packet, Johansson’s salary is $140,000, the same as it was when he was hired on Aug. 13, 2015. By comparison, Ormond Beach’s city manager earns $155,000 after nine years; New Smyrna Beach’s city manager makes $139,172 after eight years.
For fiscal year 2018, the average raise for city employees has been 3.64%. However, there was no money budgeted to increase the city manager’s salary, and Councilmen Drew Bastian and Chase Tramont said they were uncomfortable going against the budget. Bastian suggested approving a raise for next year’s budget, effective Oct. 1.
When Tramont said Johansson had been “solid” in his role but that he would like to table the decision for a second time to look at the numbers again, Mayor Don Burnette challenged him, asking twice, “What numbers do you need?”
Burnette said he was in favor of a “significant” raise for Johansson. He added, “I don’t want to break the bank, but I don’t think 5% is too much.”
Johansson made the case for himself before the vote.
“Here’s an opportunity for this city to do something that’s almost impossible to do in government,” Johansson said, “and that’s pay somebody what the governing body thinks they are worth. No matter what that number is, you gotta look at that and add it to $140,000 and make sure, that’s what I’m worth.”
He pointed out that his contract does not include an automatic cost-of-living increase. He said to only give him a raise if he deserves it.
With a vote of 4-0, with Bob Ford absent, Johansson was given a raise, effective Oct. 1, of not only the 3.64% but also the expected average wage increase for city employees next year, which is likely to be more than 3%. The motion put a cap on Johansson’s raise at no more than 7%, regardless of next year’s average.
In his closing comments at the meeting, Johansson apologized for departing the meeting while Dallarosa was speaking.
“I just have a problem when my character is being assaulted,” Johansson said. “I apologize.”
