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Daly City council issues public censure for Council Member Pamela DeGiovanni, sets conditions after independent investigation
Summary
Following an independent investigation that the city attorney described as substantiating multiple complaints of misconduct, the Daly City Council on Oct. 27 voted to publicly censure Council Member Pamela DeGiovanni and adopted conditions including removal from committees, mandatory trainings, and a six‑month ban on city vehicle use.
The Daly City Council conducted a public censure hearing on Oct. 27 concerning Council Member Pamela DeGiovanni and voted to issue a formal public censure with specific conditions after hearing a summary of independent investigative findings.
City Attorney (presenting the independent investigation) told the council the inquiry followed earlier 2023 findings and additional complaints in 2025 and concluded there were substantiated instances of misconduct. The presentation summarized multiple complaints from March–August 2025 and a prior April 2023 investigation. The investigator reported examples including: directing an off‑duty city employee to assist with a personal dispute, repeatedly making staff feel singled‑out or uncomfortable at public events, and failing to complete recommended sensitivity and ethics trainings after an earlier admonishment. The city cited municipal code provisions (Daly City Municipal Code sections cited in the presentation) that prohibit individual council members from directing staff and require noninterference with the city manager's administrative authority.
Council Member Pamela DeGiovanni was not present. The city clerk read a written statement submitted by DeGiovanni saying she could not attend due to health risks and requesting the hearing be halted; her statement also said she intends to continue serving on the council.
Investigator Nikki Hall, available by Zoom, told the council she had documented outreach attempts and that staff members had reported feeling uncomfortable in multiple instances at city events. The city attorney presented potential outcomes for council consideration: formal public censure with conditions, a second written admonishment, or no immediate action.
After deliberation, Vice Mayor Glenn Sylvester moved to issue a formal public censure and the council voted to adopt that course. The council then adopted a package of conditions by roll call, including: removal from committees and city‑sponsored seminars for six months; temporary prohibition on staff preparing ceremonial certificates for six months; mandatory HR‑coordinated sensitivity and ethics trainings coordinated by the city; city manager oversight of interactions with staff; prohibition from using a city vehicle for six months; and city staff providing printed copies of relevant municipal code sections to the council member (with signature or witnessed delivery). The council also urged (but did not compel) a public apology, after city legal counsel cautioned against compelled speech.
Council members framed the action as necessary to protect city staff and to add "teeth" to the earlier admonishment, which council members said had not been complied with. Public commenters included remarks urging mercy and understanding for DeGiovanni. The investigator emphasized that the probe was independent and reported no interference.
The council recorded roll‑call votes in favor of censure and adoption of conditions; those voting 'Aye' in the roll calls recorded in the transcript were Miss Perano, Glenn Sylvester, Miss Manalo and Mayor Doctor. Roderick Dossmangpual. The transcript does not record an in‑person rebuttal from DeGiovanni.
Next steps identified in the meeting packet included coordination with HR on required trainings and administrative steps for enforcement of the conditions.
