San Leandro City Manager To Receive $350,000 Severance

SAN LEANDRO, CA — Less than a month after he was cleared of sexual harassment allegations, San Leandro City Manager Chris Zapata has agreed to a separation agreement that includes a $350,000 severance payment, city officials said.

Zapata has been San Leandro's city manager since 2012 but was put on paid administrative leave on Jan. 23 after Rose Padilla Johnson, the chief executive of the Davis Street Family Resource Center, alleged that he
attempted to pressure her into having a sexual relationship with him in exchange for continued public funding for her program.

The Davis Street Family Resource Center is a nonprofit group that helps poor and disadvantaged people gain access to health care.

The City Council voted on June 4 to reinstate Zapata after a five-month independent investigation found that the sexual harassment allegations against him lacked credibility.

San Leandro Mayor Pauline Cutter said at that time that she looked forward to working with Zapata again, saying, "We are eager to move forward and strongly advise everyone involved to continue to work together for the betterment of San Leandro."

Cutter said, "Through his work as city manager, Chris Zapata has brought many positive changes to San Leandro. We look forward to working with him to maintain that momentum."

But in a statement she issued Monday, Cutter said, "We have agreed to enter into a mutual separation agreement with the City Manager" and that Assistant City Manager Jeff Kay will serve as acting city manager.

The City Council voted on Monday night to approve Zapata's separation agreement, which is effective on July 10.

Cutter said, "Since coming to San Leandro in 2012, Chris has been a valued leader in our community. Included in a long list of accomplishments, our city has made advances in technology, has a strong support net in place for those residents who depend on city services and is more diverse financially than ever before in our history."

Cutter said, "I know Chris and his mentoring abilities will be missed but I want to assure you we are planning for his departure and will be in good hands going forward. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors."

Zapata's employment contract had been set to expire in January 2020.

Zapata said in a statement, "I want to thank San Leandro and particularly want to thank city staff and the Mayor and City Council for their work during my time here."

— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock