The Santa Rosa City Council has formally censured Councilmember Dianna MacDonald following an investigation into her conduct with city staff.
In a 6-to-1 vote Tuesday, the council backed findings from an outside attorney who determined MacDonald violated the city’s anti-harassment policy. The Press Democrat reports the probe, which cost the city at least 67-thousand dollars, found MacDonald made ‘unwelcome sexual comments’ regarding her romantic relationship with a city staffer and attempted to use her office to influence decisions benefiting that partner.
MacDonald issued a tearful apology at the meeting, stating she was truly sorry for making staff uncomfortable, though she noted she did not agree with all the investigation’s findings.
Mayor Mark Stapp condemned the behavior, calling it a ‘source of distraction and anxiety’ for city employees. While the censure is a formal public reprimand that doesn’t remove MacDonald from office, Mayor Stapp plans to move to strip her of all board and committee appointments in January.