SeaTac city manager names acting city attorney, sets Feb. 11 update on ethics complaints and personnel investigations

City Manager Jonathan Yang told the SeaTac City Council on Jan. 28 that he has appointed an acting city attorney and engaged outside counsel to review recent ethics complaints and personnel investigations, and he pledged to return to council with an investigative report on Feb. 11.

At the start of the meeting a resident, Errol Simpson, used public comment to read a proposed resolution asking the council to fine Deputy Mayor Iris Guzman and to find she violated the city’s code of ethics for remarks Simpson attributed to Guzman during a Dec. 10 council meeting. Simpson asked the council to waive rules and consider his resolution that would fine the deputy mayor $1,000 and issue a public reprimand. The council did not take that request up during public comment.

City Manager's update and process: Yang said the ethics complaint arrived at a time when SeaTac lacked a sitting city manager and city attorney, which created a timing lag. On joining the city last week he appointed an acting city attorney "for the purposes of conducting the review that's contemplated by SeaTac Municipal Code section 2.90.04(o)," and he scheduled presentation of that report for the council’s Feb. 11 meeting. Yang said the acting attorney would apply the city's written framework for evaluating ethics complaints and would report findings to the council.

Yang also addressed multiple personnel matters. He said some employees are on administrative leave and that outside counsel will review work already done and advise whether any previously completed investigations should be re-examined to ensure alignment with industry standards. "We will make sure that every matter that has been alleged and all the complaints that we have received are submitted to an appropriate investigator to review and to determine whether the allegations meet an appropriate investigative standard," Yang said. He added he is mindful of privacy constraints and will be transparent "to the extent that privacy allows."

Interim appointment: To ensure continuity in the city manager's office, Yang announced that Finance Director Gwen Pilo will serve as interim deputy city manager through March 23 after the department’s recent deputy city manager announced her resignation. Yang praised Pilo’s experience in municipal finance and regulatory matters and said the change is intended to sustain operations during transition.

Timeline and next steps: Yang promised a follow-up update about personnel matters approximately 60 days after his appointment; he also said the acting city attorney would present the ethics-review report on Feb. 11. Several council members urged care about the cost and scope of any re-investigations. Councilmember Iris Guzman and others asked that administrative-leave decisions be reviewed promptly to minimize disruption.

Public comment: During the public comment period, Errol Simpson read a proposed resolution alleging Deputy Mayor Guzman violated the municipal code and urged immediate council action; other public commenters defended former councilmember Pam Fernald’s record and asked for an apology. The council did not vote on Simpson’s proposed resolution during the meeting.