Willits Postpones Consultant Vote Over Conflict Questions, Approves HR Contract Despite Concerns
'The process "smells fishy"' — Vice Mayor Matthew Alaniz
The Willits City Council voted last week on two consultant contracts—one to retain former interim City Manager Rod Wilburn, and another to retain Deborah Muchmore, a human resources consultant who worked on the recent layoffs of seven city employees.
Both contracts drew controversy.
Vice Mayor Matthew Alaniz raised significant objections to Wilburn’s contract, citing a clause in Wilburn’s agreement as interim city manager that prohibited him from soliciting or participating in city business for six months after leaving the position.
City Attorney Jim Lance defended the proposed contract, which would engage Wilburn as a negotiator for a wastewater agreement with the Brooktrails Township Community Services District.
“I’m familiar with the Section 3D paragraph that Councilmember Alaniz referred to—I drafted it,” Lance said.
He explained that the clause was intended to prevent conflicts of interest during Wilburn’s tenure, specifically by stopping him from steering public works and engineering contracts to his firm, LACO Associates.
“That would look bad,” Lance said. “We wanted to make sure that while he was working as interim city manager, his focus was entirely on fulfilling those duties.”
While acknowledging that the prohibition on “any and all contracts” language in the clause was broad, Lance argued that the clause was meant to narrowly apply to public works and engineering services, not to negotiating a wastewater agreement.
Lance added that there also had been concern Wilburn could gain inside knowledge unavailable to other firms. For that reason, he said, the contract included a six-month restriction.
“It is like five months past his termination,” Lance said. “One month from now, that six-month window will be over.”
Lance said Wilburn is “the most qualified person to represent the city” in negotiations with Brooktrails, citing his experience as a former city engineer and his role in similar negotiations five years ago.
Alaniz did not challenge Wilburn’s qualifications but questioned why the contract did not explicitly name him.
“For those of you who had a chance to read through the packet, the proposal promoted by RW Consulting does not specify his name at all,” Alaniz said. “Why wouldn’t the name Rod Wilburn be anywhere in the several-page contract proposal?”
Alaniz also disclosed a potential conflict of interest: his wife, Tamara Alaniz, is the general manager of the Brooktrails district. Alaniz said he had contacted the state Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) for guidance on whether he should recuse himself, and he proposed postponing the vote until a response was received.
Mayor Tom Allman, speaking after Alaniz, focused on the procedural aspects of the request and suggested the council wait for a formal written advisory opinion from the FPPC.
The council voted unanimously to postpone approval of the RW Consulting contract pending that response. Lance noted that by then, the six-month restriction on Wilburn working for the City of Willits would likely have expired.
Alaniz also raised concerns about a second contract with Muchmore Than Consulting, a payroll and human resources firm owned by Deborah Muchmore. Based in Rohnert Park, CA, the firm has a staff of 12, including Muchmore, who is one of two full-time employees.
The city hired Muchmore Than Consulting in September 2025 to provide “strategic human resources” support. In January, the total amount of the contract was increased to $85,900 for the six-month term.
Alaniz said he was troubled that only two bids were received and that the process could create the perception that Muchmore had an inside advantage. Willits resident Nici Caldwell illustrated this concern when she asked during public comment whether Muchmore herself had handled the request for proposals.
Interim City Manager Bob Richardson said he personally handled the RFP.
“I did 100% of the work, and there is a digital trail of everything that occurred that is available to all,” Richardson said.
MendoLocal.News submitted a public records request Tuesday, April 28, seeking that documentation.
Later, in an interview with MendoLocal.News, Muchmore said she was not involved in the development of the RFP. She said prior to the RFP being created she and Richardson had a conversation about it, and she laid out two options: she could help with the RFP but in that case she could not respond. Or her firm would be excluded from all aspects of the RFP, including discussions, planning, creation and selection process — and in that case they could respond.
After the RFP was created, Muchmore said she received an email from Richardson that said “please see attached RFP.”
Alaniz argued the city should not “force” a decision from such a limited pool and suggested re-advertising the position. He said the process “smells fishy” and questioned whether the public could trust a decision when it was unclear “who hired who when” and whether the process was “legit.”
During a recent public comment period, an employee questioned a statement by Muchmore that she had worked for the city for free prior to the contract taking effect. Muchmore confirmed to MendoLocal.News that she had done some pro bono work.
Allman noted that some employees have also raised concerns about potential breaches of confidentiality during the restructuring process.
During public comment, Caldwell said “confidential compensation information was shared inappropriately between employees,” adding that there was a lack of trust and confidence in the consultant among staff.
“I’m not going to agree or disagree with that,” Allman said. “I wasn’t there. I don’t know.”
He expressed confidence in the firm’s ability to maintain privacy. In correspondence with MendoLocal.News, Muchmore said: “I did make an unfortunate mistake during a meeting where we were providing layoff and transfer offers to a few employees. I unintentionally handed the wrong folder to one of the employees in a small group meeting. As soon as the employee let me know, I replaced the folder with their correct folder. I am and was very sorry that happened and apologized at the time and again now for my error.”
At Allman’s suggestion, the council amended the contract to require a survey of city employees at the 10-month mark to evaluate the effectiveness of the services and address concerns about trust and confidentiality.
Muchmore said she welcomed the amendment and described it as a best practice.
The council approved the contract with Muchmore Than Consulting in a 4–1 vote, with Alaniz dissenting.