Willits Grapples with Fallout from Scathing Grand Jury Report
The Mendocino County Grand Jury report finding “a toxic and intimidating workplace culture at the City of Willits” is prompting calls for reform by former employees, even as a former mayor and council member dismissed the findings as politically motivated.
The report, titled Healing the Toxic Culture in the City of Willits Workplace, was released June 30. It is based on interviews with 15 city employees, department heads and top managers, along with three members of the City Council.
The Mendocino County Grand Jury serves as an independent watch dog of government agencies. Comprised of 19 community volunteers, the civil grand jury investigate government entities and officials, including city councils, law enforcement agencies, and school districts. In contrast, criminal grand juries investigate individuals or organizations suspected of criminal misconduct. A civil grand jury operates independently, under the guidance of a judge and county counsel.
The grand jury cited troubling conduct by members of the city’s management team, including threats, bullying, disparaging remarks and unprofessional language. Such behavior may constitute illegal harassment if based on protected characteristics under federal law, such as race, religion, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or genetic information. However, the examples cited by two former employees during public comment were more than six years old — exceeding time limits for filing a claim under California or federal law.
In addition to finding a toxic workplace culture, the report criticized the City Council for failing to adequately oversee top management. It stated the council had not completed performance reviews of the city manager by April 30 of each year, as required.
Former Mayor Saprina Rodriguez, who left the council in 2024, said in a Facebook post that the grand jury interviewed only male councilmembers, including “one who didn’t even serve during the time in question.”
Rodriguez disputed the report’s claim about city manager evaluations, saying the council completed “all three manager evaluations on time in February and March of each year.”
Three former city employees spoke during public comment at the July 23 council meeting, sharing personal accounts that echoed and, in some cases, went beyond the report’s findings.
Debra Huddle, who worked for the city from 2012 to 2018, said she left due to “ongoing harassment.” She said a judge initially ruled in her favor when she applied for unemployment benefits, but the city appealed the decision.
“Instead of resolving this matter fairly, the city hired two private attorneys from San Francisco to fight me — a single former employee,” Huddle said. The city won the appeal, and she was forced to repay the benefits. “I want to be clear — this felt retaliatory. The city used public funds to silence and penalize me instead of addressing the original harm.”
Karen Stevenson, who worked as the city’s human resources manager, said the report “did not go far enough.”
“It was a toxic environment on both sides of the house — leadership as well as nonmanagement,” she said. Stevenson described a workplace where employees were afraid to say no. “You give somebody what they want, and you’re their best friend. You don’t, and you’re the bad guy.”
Cathrine Masiello, who worked in the city’s finance department from 2008 to 2019, said she “absolutely did not want to retire,” but felt forced to leave after the hiring of a new finance director. Masiello described a hostile work environment dominated by a “controlling person” who was not her supervisor but maintained power over staff.
“It was very clear who was in control, and that control continues to this day,” she said.
Masiello alleged that discriminatory comments about her age and salary were made in front of HR staff, and claimed the department failed to protect employees due to a conflict of interest: the finance director and HR officer were living together.
She also criticized the creation of an assistant city manager position, calling it financially irresponsible. “We never needed that position before, and more importantly, didn’t have the money for it,” she said.
“This has been going on too long,” Masiello said. “I am begging and pleading with you all to return the City of Willits to the government office it should be — for the people, the employees, and especially for the good people of this town.”
The grand jury has requested that the Willits City Council respond to the report’s findings within 90 days. The council is also required to respond to each recommendation by either implementing it, providing a timeline for implementation, conducting further study, or explaining why it will not be adopted.
The report issued four recommendations:
Direct the city manager to comply with the City of Willits Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual by July 31, 2025.
Create a mechanism to ensure oversight and compliance with all personnel policies by Jan. 1, 2026.
Restore and fill the position of human resources director by Jan. 1, 2026.
Conduct annual performance reviews of the city manager by April 30 of each year.
This story was updated August 8, to correct spelling of Cathrine Masiello’s name and on August 7, 2025 with explanation about the function of a civil grand jury.