A Redwood City councilwoman accused of pushing the police department to cancel a planned DUI checkpoint in a highly Hispanic area did not violate the city’s charter by trying to influence events, according to the city manager.

Both City Manager Peter Ingram and Mayor Rosanne Foust consider the matter closed, said city spokesman Malcolm Smith.

After the July 2 checkpoint in North Fair Oaks was shut down, Councilwoman Barbara Pierce caught heat for having called Police Chief Louis Cobarruviaz about its proximity to the Fair Oaks Community Center at 2600 Middlefield Road. Pierce said she was responding to constituent concerns but never directed the chief to act. Naysayers said she overstepped her authority.

Pierce e-mailed the chief after Sheryl Munoz-Bergman, of the International Institute of the Bay Area, contacted her about how the checkpoint would affect the city’s relationship with the community. Pierce passed on the comments and the department later opted to reschedule the checkpoint.

 Following the brouhaha, Foust asked Ingram to investigate the situation. In an Oct. 16 letter to Foust, Ingram said Pierce’s communication with Cobarruviaz did not violate the city charter section prohibiting interference between the council and the city manager, officer or department director.