San Leandro council weighs disciplinary request, public demands release of investigator’s report

Mayor Juan Gonzales told the City Council on Nov. 3 that an independent investigator’s final report into an HR complaint filed by Vice Mayor Bowen was provided to the city on Oct. 31 and would be available for council members to read in person beginning Nov. 4.

The disclosure set off a lengthy public hearing and debate over process and transparency. Vice Mayor Bowen said she had filed “the request for disciplinary action, with the purpose of trying to ensure that we as a council can lead with integrity, fairness, and ground ourselves in public accountability,” and summarized allegations of gender bias, bullying and retaliation she says occurred at council meetings and retreats in 2024–25.

Why it matters: The complaint concerns workplace conduct among elected officials and implicates the council’s own code of conduct. Residents and civic groups urged the council to make the investigator’s findings public and to take disciplinary steps if the report substantiates Bowen’s claims. Others urged caution, saying the council should follow its own administrative rules and provide accused council members access to the full report before voting.

City Attorney guidance and legal questions featured prominently. Council members asked whether the city’s six‑month filing rule in the discipline policy applied; counsel said it may be tolled when an initial investigation is already pending and that courts consider equitable tolling. Counsel also explained that AP 1,000 confidentiality applies to city employees but cannot bind private interviewees, though interviewees were advised about confidentiality during the inquiry.

Public reaction was divided and vocal. Dozens of speakers — including members of the League of San Leandro Voters, former council members and residents — urged release of the investigator’s findings and called for accountability; others offered character testimony in defense of council members named in Bowen’s request. Jessie Rubin of the League of San Leandro Voters said Bowen’s complaint “constitutes a grave breach of public trust and an ethical failure,” while other speakers described the allegations as politically motivated.

Council procedure: Council member Aguilar moved to cease any further consideration of disciplinary or censure measures pending fuller disclosure and process. Council member Vivaro Swalton proposed a substitute motion to waive attorney‑client privilege, release a redacted copy of the investigator’s Oct. 31 report to the public, and continue the disciplinary discussion to the Nov. 17 meeting so all council members and the public could review the document. The chamber debated recusal rules, the timing of closed‑session briefings, and whether earlier drafts had been pared down during counsel review. The meeting record shows robust debate but no final disciplinary vote was adopted on Nov. 3.

What’s next: The mayor directed that the final Oct. 31 report be made available for council members to read in person; council members discussed continuing the item to a later meeting (Nov. 17 was proposed) so members and the public can examine a redacted version. No binding disciplinary action was taken on Nov. 3.

Quotes: Vice Mayor Bowen said she filed the request to prompt accountability and “to make systems better, not just for myself, but those who follow.” Council member Aguilar moved that the council "cease any further action or consideration of disciplinary or censure measures" while the debate over public release and process continued.

The council recessed its deliberations without adopting sanctions and discussed next steps for making the redacted report available and scheduling follow‑up consideration at a later meeting.