Vice Mayor requests closed‑session review after employee reports alleged threatening remarks by elected official

Vice Mayor Bush told the council she had received a report from an employee and bargaining-team representative alleging that, in a one-on-one conversation, an elected official made remarks that the employee perceived as "threatening, retaliatory, and in violation of council policy number 604." Bush asked the city attorney to investigate and to return with the matter in closed session.

"So last month, an employee who is also one of the representatives of the labor negotiations bargaining team reported to me during a one on one that during a one on one conversation with one of our elected officials, then an elected official made remarks to them that seemed to be threatening, retaliatory, and in violation of council policy number 604," Vice Mayor Bush said, requesting that the city attorney take the concern up in closed session.

The city attorney stated the closed-session agenda item was a conference with labor negotiators involving the Municipal Employees Association, the National City Fire Fighters Association, the Police Officers Association and unrepresented groups. The council went into closed session to consider that agenda item. When the council reconvened, the city attorney reported that the council had "provided the labor negotiations with instructions to respond to each of the bargaining units." The report out did not identify the person alleged to have made the remarks or provide further details about any investigation.

The meeting also included a procedural vote accepting Mayor Morrison's virtual attendance under AB 2449. The council adjourned after the attorney's report; no public timetable for further investigation or disclosure was announced.