Gardena council directs litigation, waives privilege and releases executive summary of investigation into councilmember conduct

Gardena — The Gardena City Council met in closed session Jan. 14 and took two formal steps: it directed the city to initiate litigation related to matters described in the closed session notice, and it voted to waive attorney‑client privilege to allow public disclosure of an executive summary of a special‑counsel human‑resources investigation concerning a councilmember.

Lawsuit direction

At the start of the meeting the city attorney read the closed session items, which included anticipated litigation under Government Code provisions cited on the record. The council voted unanimously (5‑0) to give direction to initiate litigation; the city attorney said the parties and other particulars would be disclosed when appropriate unless such disclosure would jeopardize service of process.

Waiver and executive summary

The council then considered a special‑counsel investigation of allegations about the conduct of Councilmember Wanda Love toward two city employees. Councilmember Love was recused from Item 2(b); the four other members voted 3‑1 to waive attorney‑client privilege and to direct the city attorney to read the executive summary prepared by special counsel Scott Tiedemann of LCW. Mayor Tasha Serta, Mayor Pro Tem Ronnie Tanaka and Councilmember Mark Henderson voted in favor; Councilmember Paulette Francis voted against; Councilmember Love recused herself from that vote.

What the investigation said (executive summary, read aloud)

The city retained outside counsel (identified in the record as Jeff Love) and special counsel (Scott Tiedemann, LCW) to investigate complaints of Councilmember Love’s conduct toward two employees and to consider facts from a prior inquiry concerning one employee. The executive summary, read into the public record by the city attorney, said investigators substantiated allegations that Councilmember Love criticized “employee 1” over the Willows wetland grant project and the demolition of the Chase Bank building despite evidence that the employee had followed applicable protocols and mitigation measures (including fencing and water‑based dust control). The summary found evidence of a pattern in which the councilmember pressed staff to prioritize specific contractors and bypassed supervisory channels.

Investigators also substantiated allegations that Councilmember Love made inappropriate remarks to “employee 2” during a city event about booth placement that the employee interpreted as a potential threat to employment; the summary said those remarks caused undue apprehension. The investigation concluded the councilmember’s conduct toward both employees was inappropriate, created unnecessary strain and undermined staff’s ability to perform duties. The city attorney reported that the city had spent approximately $20,000 on the investigation to date.

Why it matters

The council’s decision to waive privilege and publicly read the summary is notable because such waivers are uncommon and narrow: the council expressly recorded the vote and a single dissent. The findings were read into the public record by the city attorney after the waiver; the summary contains personnel matters about which the city had previously met in closed session.

Speakers (attribution whitelist)

- Unnamed City Attorney — reported closed session actions and read the executive summary into the public record. - Mayor Tasha Serta — Mayor, voted in favor of waiver and readback direction. - Mayor Pro Tem Ronnie Tanaka — voted in favor of waiver and litigation direction. - Councilmember Mark Henderson — voted in favor of waiver. - Councilmember Paulette Francis — voted against the waiver. - Councilmember Wanda Love — recused from the 2(b) waiver and vote. - Diana Schnurr — HR manager (referenced as a recipient of the executive summary). - Scott Tiedemann — special counsel from LCW (investigation coordinator; referenced in the reading). - Jeff Love — outside counsel retained to investigate (named in the executive summary as counsel who conducted aspects of the inquiry).

Authorities cited in the meeting record

The city attorney read the closed session authority language as read in the transcript, including the cited subdivisions of the Government Code (as spoken into the record). Those verbatim references were used to place the item in closed session and are recorded in the minutes and the public report that followed.

Actions

- Motion / direction to initiate litigation (Closed Session Item 2a): vote recorded as unanimous (5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain); action described as direction to commence litigation; city attorney noted defendants and particulars will be disclosed when appropriate unless disclosure jeopardizes service of process. - Motion to waive attorney‑client privilege and direct the city attorney to read an executive summary of a special‑counsel HR investigation (Closed Session Item 2b): passed 3‑1 with one recusal (Councilmember Love recused); Mayor Serta, Mayor Pro Tem Tanaka and Councilmember Henderson voted yes; Councilmember Francis voted no.

Discussion vs. decision

- Discussion: The matter began as a closed session legal briefing; council members heard legal advice and factual summaries in closed session. - Direction/assignment: Council authorized filing of litigation (direction to initiate) and instructed the city attorney to make public the executive summary (privilege waiver). - Formal action: The two votes described above are recorded outcomes.

Clarifying details

- Investigation cost: The city attorney reported an approximate $20,000 spent on the investigation to date (figure read into the record). - Recusal: Councilmember Wanda Love was recused from the vote on the privilege waiver (Item 2b).

Proper names

- Scott Tiedemann (special counsel, LCW) — coordinated the investigation and authored the executive summary cited by the city attorney. - Diana Schnurr (HR manager) — recipient of the executive summary (named in the report). - Jeff Love (retained counsel) — named in the executive summary as the attorney retained to investigate matters concerning Councilmember Love.

Meeting context

- Engagement level: Closed session was on two litigation/HR items called at the start of the meeting; public disclosure followed upon council action. - Implementation risk: High — initiation of litigation and public disclosure of personnel investigation can lead to further legal or personnel consequences.

Searchable tags

["closed session","litigation","personnel investigation","privilege waiver","Councilmember Love"]

Provenance

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