Pleasanton City Manager suspended without pay




Pleasanton City Attorney Bobby Maldonaldo and City Manager Johnny Huizar after council unanimously voted to suspend Huizar for 21 days without pay during the July 15 city council meeting. The decision came after four separate executive sessions over the past two months regarding a complaint filed against Huizar. REBECCA PESQUEDA | PLEASANTON EXPRESS

Pleasanton City Attorney Bobby Maldonaldo and City Manager Johnny Huizar after council unanimously voted to suspend Huizar for 21 days without pay during the July 15 city council meeting. The decision came after four separate executive sessions over the past two months regarding a complaint filed against Huizar. REBECCA PESQUEDA | PLEASANTON EXPRESS

Pleasanton City Manager Johnny Huizar has been suspended for 21 days and put on probation for six months following an executive session during the July 15 Pleasanton City Council meeting.

This was the fourth executive session council has held regarding a complaint filed against Huizar. Previous executive sessions regarding the complaint were held during a special called meeting on May 3 as well as during the June 3 and June 17 regular meetings with each session running 45 minutes to an hour long.

This meeting was the first time council publicly discussed any action regarding the complaint in open session. Huizar’s suspension is effective July 16, 2021, through Aug. 5, 2021, and includes no pay during the 21-day suspension and a six-month, zero-tolerance probationary period during which no violations of the law, city charter, ordinances or the employee handbook will be tolerated.

The motion by District 1 Councilman Robert Leonhardt, seconded by District 4 Councilman JR Gallegos, also included that no later than Aug. 5, 2021, the mayor and city attorney are recommended to make revisions to the employee handbook as discussed by council in executive session.

Effective immediately, Public Works Director David Alviso was designated as acting city manager.

“We have a protocol we have to follow, and we did just that. It’s straight and simple,” said Mayor Clinton Powell, who further stated that details of the complaint will not be released due to confidentiality and personnel matters.

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