Council interviews personnel-board candidates, appoints two members

The Santa Rosa City Council on Tuesday interviewed four applicants for two at-large seats on the Personnel Board and voted to appoint Deanna Martin and Erica Thibault to four‑year terms.

During the interviews, candidates described relevant experience and what they saw as the primary role of the Personnel Board. Deanna Martin, a longtime Santa Rosa resident and transactional paralegal, said the board’s most important duty is “to show up with an unbiased outlook” and to weigh facts to pursue corrective action that reinforces positive behavior. Stacy Spector, who has worked in human resources and as a school‑district assistant superintendent, described the board’s role in protecting the merit system, ensuring adherence to classified‑service rules and overseeing grievances and discipline. Bridal DeBeau, a public‑agency library director with collective‑bargaining and grievance experience, highlighted fair hearings, interpreting memoranda of understanding and ensuring impartial review.

After the interviews, Councilmember Victoria Fleming moved to appoint Deanna Martin and Erica Thibault to the two vacancies; the motion received a second and passed on a 5‑0 vote with Councilmembers McDonald and Okrepkie absent. The deputy city clerk recorded the roll call as: Rogers — yes; Fleming — yes; Benuelos — aye; Alvarez — aye; Mayor Stapp — yes.

Council members asked candidates how their service would reflect community interests and sought specifics about personnel‑oriented experience. Martin cited volunteer work including suicide‑prevention hotline counseling and participation in a diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging team at her workplace. Spector noted juvenile‑justice commission service, and DeBeau described experience negotiating labor contracts and adjudicating grievances in both union and civil‑service environments.

The Personnel Board handles grievance hearings and disciplinary appeals under the city’s civil‑service and memorandum‑of‑understanding structures; council members pressed candidates on their ability to follow policy and preserve confidentiality during personnel matters.

With Tuesday’s votes, the council filled the two at‑large personnel board seats. No additional formal council action on personnel‑board rules or appointment process occurred at the meeting.