Millbrae holds off on sheriff no confidence vote

Papan, who requested the item be brought forward at what will be her last City Council meeting, expressed frustration with Fung’s decision not to agendize her entreaty and said it was not the first time a situation of this nature occurred. 

“It’s disappointing that the mayor didn’t understand the significance and importance of putting it on this agenda so this council can discuss,” she said. 

An investigation conducted by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell outlined substantial evidence of retaliation, abuse of power and conflicts of interest within Corpus’ administration, prompting calls from a variety of local and statewide officials for her to resign. 

Fung pointed to City Council protocol, which allows him up to 60 days to agendize requests from other councilmembers, and said that the item would be agendized in January, at which point Papan would be able to “come in and make comments on this item” as a former councilmember when the new City Council voted on it. 

Additionally, since the City Council will go through a reorganization process during the Dec. 10 meeting — swearing in two new councilmembers and voting on the new mayor and vice mayor — the timing was inappropriate, Fung said. 

“The nature of this business is likely to have a lot of discussion,” Fung said. “In a ceremonial celebration such as this, I think it’s far more appropriate for this item to be brought back in January.” 

Before the ceremony, the outgoing council will discuss two pieces of existing business, including district elections and leaf blowers, and hear two mayoral commendations from Fung — one to Deputy Sheriff Carlos Tapia, the president of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association, and another to the Millbrae Sheriff Police Bureau. 

“I just want to make sure the public understands how appreciative we are of the men and women who are sworn to protect this city,” he said. “The Sheriff’s Office is in a difficult time right now.” 

The mayoral commendation was not what she requested, Papan said. 

It will also be the last meeting for Schneider on the council. She said this was yet another example of Fung going against councilmembers’ wishes when it came to topics of discussion. Her requests for conversations around goal-setting, airport noise and a tree ordinance — which has since been passed — went unanswered for longer than the 60-day limit, she said. 

“Mayor Fung has consistently blocked issues of importance to the public from coming to the public,” she said. “He is abusing his power.” 

Both Schneider and Papan said that Fung delayed their requests for the agendization of a conversation around the California Voting Rights Act and the negative impact of districting on Millbrae. 

“The delays caused have been concerning. Previously, the Voting Rights Act was another example,” Papan said. “I would hope that the new council makes a modification to the protocol so this doesn’t happen [again].” 

While it’s impossible to please everyone at all times, Fung said, he maintained he has done everything “by the book exactly” as mayor and is committed to following protocol above all else. 

“A lot of people want a lot of things,” he said. “My job as mayor is that you implement and manage the agenda exactly as what the protocol says.” 

His priority is his constituents, Fung added.

“I’m not going to apologize for the success that we bring and the progress we make,” he said.

One topic that existing protocol does not accommodate for is the unprecedented nature of the upcoming City Council — which will include four new members after the past year’s recall elections and subsequent appointments of Sissy Riley and Bob Nguyen. Reuben Holober and Stephen Rainaldi will be sworn into office Tuesday after they were elected in November. Holober has previously served on the council. Fung acknowledged the new council makeup may play into conversation around who the City Council will appoint as its next mayor. 

“Tomorrow night, the new council will make a decision as to what is the right thing to do for the council, for the city, and how to bring about stability,” he said.