Councilors are scheduled to vote Dec. 14 on a resolution that would formalize Pluckhahn's termination. Deputy City Manager Lisa Brandl will serve as acting city manager effective immediately, according to the council's Friday statement.

Pluckhahn has worked for the city of Vancouver since 2021 and has held the city manager position since 2024. He earned $340,000 in 2025, according to city records. He could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday morning.

The vote comes as Vancouver, the largest city in Southwest Washington and the seat of Clark County, continues to grapple with the same pressures facing many fast-growing Pacific Northwest municipalities: housing affordability, homelessness, transportation funding and the day-to-day delivery of basic services. The city manager is the chief executive responsible for carrying out council policy and overseeing the city's departments and workforce.

The council's statement offered no further explanation for the decision, and it was not immediately clear whether the move stemmed from a specific incident or a broader breakdown in the working relationship between Pluckhahn and a majority of councilors. The lack of a public rationale is likely to draw scrutiny from residents who expect transparency from their local government, particularly on a decision that affects the city's top unelected official and its day-to-day operations.

Brandl, who has served as deputy city manager, steps into the acting role as the city heads into its budget and policy planning season. Her appointment is effective immediately, giving the city a leadership continuity plan while the council prepares for the Dec. 14 vote.

The termination resolution is expected to be a focal point at the council's December meeting, where residents may press councilors for a fuller explanation of the decision. Until then, the city's administrative leadership will rest with Brandl, and Pluckhahn remains formally employed by the city pending the outcome of next month's vote.