Santa Rosa councilmember censured for behavior tied to romantic relationship

The Santa Rosa City Council censured Dianna MacDonald on Tuesday for engaging in reportedly “negative and offensive” behavior toward city employees in a case stemming from her personal relationship with a city staffer.

MacDonald was the lone opposition when the council, at the end of its regular meeting, endorsed the findings of a city investigation that determined her actions violated the council’s code of conduct and the city’s anti-harassment policy.

The extraordinary step marked only the second censure of a council member in recent Santa Rosa history. It does not affect her seat on the seven-member panel, but Mayor Mark Stapp signaled he intends to advance moves next month to remove MacDonald from her various city-related board and commission appointments.

A tearful MacDonald, in a prepared statement she read from the dais, apologized for her conduct and said she was committed to learning from the experience and to reaffirming her duties as a council member.

“I want to sincerely apologize for any of my actions that made anyone feel uncomfortable, especially our city staff. For that I’m truly sorry,” she said.

But she said while she respected the investigative process, was willing to participate in further training and supported directing staff to make necessary updates to city policy to prevent similar cases in the future, she didn’t agree with all the findings.

She opposed the censure motion before recusing herself on a vote to bring back discussion about a new policy regarding council and employee relationships.

MacDonald, who didn’t return to the council chambers, did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday.

The censure motion followed a city probe that found MacDonald made unwelcome sexual comments to city employees about her romantic relationship with the staffer, engaged in what was described as negative behavior toward city employees because of that relationship, and tried to use her position to influence a city decision she believed would benefit her partner, according to findings by an outside attorney laid out by the city and in meeting documents.

In a strongly worded statement, Mayor Stapp condemned MacDonald’s reported conduct and said council members must create a positive and respectful work culture. The council, he said, has a duty to maintain trust with employees and the public and to hold its own members accountable if they behave inappropriately.

“Part of our work as City Council is to make sure they feel valued and supported and have a respectful and positive workplace free from harassment so they can do their jobs, ” he said. “Simply put, city council members should support our staff not be sources of distraction and anxiety.”

“While none of us wish to be here in the position of censuring a colleague, this is our duty right now,” he continued.

City Attorney Teresa Stricker and outside counsel Jenica Maldonado, who has been supporting the city on the matter, summarized the findings from the city-ordered investigation. It was spurred by an employee complaint about MacDonald and cost at least $67,000.

Council members approved the censure motion without discussion and before a mostly empty chamber aside from some of MacDonald’s friends and family and a few frequent City Hall followers who decried the action as politically motivated.

The political ramifications for MacDonald are yet unknown. She has served in city office since 2022, representing District 3, spanning the city’s eastern hillside neighborhoods and Oakmont, but is wrapping up the first year of her first full term in that seat.

During her time on the council she has positioned herself as a fiscal steward, confronting city staffers with questions about contracts and spending. She also has been a staunch supporter of public safety employees and backed business causes.

A censure does not remove her from office, a power left to voters. Instead, the motion is the strongest form of official punishment elected officials can hand their fellow colleagues, though the step is often seen as a public slap on the wrist for inappropriate behavior.

Next month, Stapp said he will act both unilaterally and seek council support for a set of actions that would strip MacDonald of various city appointments, including her role as chair of the Violence Prevention Partnership, an initiative to support youth programs and a help curb gang membership.

“Representing the city of Santa Rosa is a privilege and in light of the findings of the outside independent investigator I believe Council member MacDonald is currently no longer an appropriate representative,” he said.

City officials announced the investigation into MacDonald and the censure motion in an email sent to staffers by the deputy human resources director, ahead of a public announcement issued on Dec. 4.

The city in June received a complaint from an employee who reported MacDonald had “engaged in allegedly negative and offensive behavior toward city employees that appeared motivated by the council member’s publicly known, consensual romantic relationship with a different city employee.”

The city subsequently hired Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation, an independent attorney with expertise in workplace investigations, to look into the claims and the investigator in November issued its report to the city that concluded MacDonald’s conduct likely violated city policy.

The council code of conduct requires that elected officials’ “professional and personal conduct … be above reproach and avoid the appearance of impropriety” to maintain public confidence in city government and create a positive workplace environment. The anti-harassment policy calls for council members to treat city employees with respect and to “model appropriate behavior.”

Tuesday’s discussion revealed few new details about the complaint and scope of the investigation.

The city has declined to answer questions from The Press Democrat about the scope of the investigation or provide the city-ordered report, arguing it’s exempt from disclosure as a record generated under attorney-client privilege.

The last council incumbent to be censured was Gary Wysocky, who was admonished by his colleagues in 2014 for uncivil and abusive behavior toward executive staff during a period of bitter infighting at City Hall and among council members. The Press Democrat reported at the time it was the first known censure of a council member.

The episode resulted in updates to the city’s anti-harassment policy to include a process for handling complaints against city council members but it appeared to have few implications for Wysocky himself, who went on to serve the remainder of his term.

You can reach Staff Writer Paulina Pineda at 707-521-5268 or paulina.pineda@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @paulinapineda22.