Healing the Toxic Culture in the City of Willits Workplace*

The Grand Jury found the existence of a toxic and intimidating workplace culture at the City of Willits (excluding the Police Department). This has prompted highly qualified, dedicated workers to leave City Employment. Response to Finding F1: The Willits City Council agrees that the Grand Jury found the existence of a toxic and intimidating workplace culture at the City of Willits (excluding the Police Department). However, it is unclear which highly qualified, dedicated workers are referenced in Finding F1 nor does the report indicate the time in which the referenced employees left their employment. As such, Willits City Council cannot comment on the reasons that such employees left their employment.

The Grand Jury found the Willits City Council failed to provide oversight of top management for compliance with personnel policies. Response to Finding F2: The Willits City Council respectfully disagrees with Grand Jury Finding 2. The F2 finding is a conclusion reached by the Grand Jury and based upon (1) its interpretation of Section 3.1 of the city's Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual, and (2) its determination that the City Council has not conducted annual performance reviews of the City Manager as required by its Manual of Procedures and Protocols. Section 3.1 of the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual is merely a statement of the City Council's limited role and involvement with the city's employees. Specifically, it is a statement that the City Council will not exercise any control directly over the city's personnel. Section 3.1 does not discuss a duty to provide oversight of top management. The council acknowledges it has a duty to provide oversight of the City Manager; Section 3.1, however, does not address that duty. Rather, that section is merely a statement that is consistent with Willits Municipal Code chapter 2.08.070, subdivision R which describes the broad and exclusive role of the City Manager to provide supervision and management of all subordinate city employees. Additionally, as explained in the Council's Response to Finding F5 below, the Grand Jury's conclusion that the Willits City Council failed to conduct annual performance reviews of the City Manager by April 30 of each year is inaccurate.

The Grand Jury found the City of Willits employees do not have an effective avenue for bringing complaints to the attention of top management. This is due to the failure to follow the Willits Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual. Response to Finding F3: The Willits City Council agrees with Grand Jury Finding F3.

The Grand Jury found the City of Willits presently does not have a Director of Human Resources. Portions of the Willits Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual expressly contemplate such a position as employees are instructed to seek help from the Director of Human Resources. Response to Finding F4: The Willits City Council agrees with Grand Jury Finding F4.

The Grand Jury found that the Willits City Council had not conducted annual performance reviews of the Willits City Manager by April 30 of each year. Response to Finding F5: The Willits City Council respectfully disagrees wholly with the Grand Jury Finding F5. Specifically, the Council conducted annual performance evaluations of the manager on the following dates: 2/9/2022, 2/8/2023, 3/13/2024, 4/10/2024. Additional performance evaluations of the City Manager were made on the following dates: 1/22/25, 2/26/25, 3/12/25, 3/21/25, 3/28/25. These evaluations and dates can be confirmed in the public records for those dates.