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<br />6 <br /> <br />Manager, former and current City Council Members, and the former Mayor, who raised similar <br />concerns about Simon and Aguilar’s behavior towards women, were considered relevant <br />evidence as examined as part of this investigation in drawing conclusions based on the <br />preponderance of the evidence. <br /> <br /> During the course of this investigation, Simon alleged that Bowen’s complaint against <br />him and the censure was driven by racial bias since he is the only African American member of <br />the City Council. Aguilar alleged that Bowen is retaliating against him. Their contentions are <br />also addressed in this investigation summary report. <br /> <br />C. Witnesses Interviewed <br /> <br /> The following former and current City Council Members and employees were <br />interviewed: <br /> <br />1. Xouhoa Bowen, City Council Member (Complainant) – 2/14/25, 3/19/25 <br />2. Deborah Cox, former City Council Member – 3/13/25 <br />3. Pauline Cutter, former City Council Member and Mayor – 3/13/25 <br />4. Celina Reynes, former City Council Member – 3/14/25 <br />5. Janelle Cameron, City Manager – 3/14/25 <br />6. Pete Ballew, former City Council Member – 3/17/25 <br />7. Juan Gonzalez III, Mayor – 3/20/25, 3/21/25, 4/3/25, and 4/5/25 <br />8. Sheila Marquises, Public Works Director – 4/2/25 and 4/3/25 <br />9. Sbeydeh Viveros-Walton, City Council Member – 4/8/25 <br />10. Dylan Boldt, City Council Member – 4/23/25 <br />11. Bryan Azevedo, City Council Member – 4/25/25 and 4/29/25 <br />12. Fran Robustelli, Former City Manager - 5/8/25 and 7/17/255 <br />13. Victor Aguilar, Jr., City Council Member (Subject of Investigation) – 6/4/25 <br />14. Fred Simon, City Council Member (Subject of Investigation) – 6/19/25 <br /> <br />D. Documents Reviewed <br /> <br /> This investigation included an examination of relevant documents, including the video <br />and/or audio recordings of relevant City Council Meetings and committee meetings, emails <br />submitted by various witnesses, emails and documentation submitted by staff, relevant sections <br />of the City of San Leandro Charter and Administrative Procedure 1000, City Council Resolutions <br />to censure Simon and Aguilar, City of San Leandro organization chart, job descriptions, and <br />resumes of employees, applications for the City Council, and emails with Simon’s attorney <br />related to this investigation. These documents and weblinks where available are contained in <br />the Exhibits to this Summary Report. <br /> <br />III. BRIEF SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS <br /> <br />A. Simon and Aguilar Retaliated Against Bowen Following Her Censure Vote <br /> <br /> Simon and Aguilar have engaged in a pattern of retaliation against Bowen for her <br />November 18, 2024, vote to censure them based on the results of the Botterud investigation. <br />Despite a prior agreement to allow Simon to become the Vice Mayor in 2024 (since he was the <br />City Council Member with the longest tenure who had not yet served in such a capacity) in <br />exchange for supporting Bowen as the Vice Mayor this year, Simon reneged on his end of this <br />deal. Both Simon and Aguilar nominated other people, and both proffered specious reasons for <br />not supporting her nomination. Simon claimed that Bowen was dishonest and that the seniority <br /> <br />5 Robustelli has raised her own concerns about her mistreatment by Simon and Aguilar, which were <br />examined in the prior investigation completed by Mr. Botterud, so the City Council determined that an <br />examination of her specific allegations against Simon and Aguilar was outside the scope of this <br />investigation into Bowen’s complaint and therefore not addressed in this investigation summary report. <br />Exhibit A <br />Resolution No. 2026-021 Page 6