Ventura parks commissioner removed following allegations of harassment

A Ventura parks and recreation commissioner was removed by the City Council on Monday following an investigation into alleged harassment of city employees.

The City Council unanimously voted to oust from the commission Spencer Noren for acting in an intimidating and threatening manner.

During public comment, Noren said it was an honor to serve as a volunteer commissioner and that he cared very deeply about city employees. 

"I had no idea and awareness in real time, and if I would have known I would have shown 'understandingness' and a willingness to change my approach as chair," Noren said.

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The city hired Fresno-based law firm Lozano Smith to conduct a six-month investigation into Noren's actions. The probe, which included more than 10 interviews and a review of 30 documents, cost the city about $50,000, said Ventura City Attorney Andy Heglund.

"It was important to the city that we retain an independent third party who would have experience in being able to conduct a fair process," Heglund said Tuesday. "It was an expensive process but one well worth it given the circumstances." 

Heglund declined to get into specifics of the allegations and refused to release the investigation, citing personnel matters. 

Noren said he was not given the results of the investigation.

In November, the city received a formal employee complaint alleging that Noren acted in an intimidating and threatening manner toward city employees, according to a city staff report.

The investigation concluded that Noren had violated various city policies in his dealings with members of city staff and acted outside the bounds of his role as a commissioner.

According to a recorded interview for the investigation, which was shared by Noren, an investigator told him he was being accused of harassing or showing hostile and bullying behavior toward city employees. 

Noren hadspoken out about the cutting of decades-old pine trees at a mobile home park in East Ventura last November, which upset many residents. The park had hired a private company to remove the trees.

Noren said in an interview last week that he doesn't think he harassed or intimidated anyone when he brought up the tree-cutting incident. 

"I'm very sorry if I was misinterpreted. I've never been given the chance to say I'm sorry," Noren said.  

Heglund said Noren was interviewed during the investigation and knew the City Council was considering Noren's removal on Monday but he still did not apologize, Heglund said.

Nine people spoke in support of Noren at the council meeting. No one spoke in favor of Noren's removal.

Matt Foster, who serves on the Foothill Little League board of directors with Noren, said he had known his friend for 30 years and never experienced intimidating or threatening behavior.

Foster said Noren was passionate but he had never seen him "cross that line where the opposing person feels uncomfortable."

Foster said the City Council spent his tax dollars on a predetermined outcome. 

Another resident asked if Noren's removal was somehow payback for his role pointing out the City Council's violation of the Brown Act, the state's open meeting law. In March, Noren asked if some council members had violated the law during their Washington, D.C., trip because they failed to post an agenda. 

"This seems a bit political to me," said Ventura resident Glenn Overley, who added that the investigation was a misuse of public funds.

City Manager Alex McIntyre later apologized for giving the council bad advice about a trip that led to the Brown Act violation.

The decision to remove Noren doesn't preclude him from being able to serve in the future, Heglund said.

Noren is not the only commissioner the city has removed.

Ventura spokeswoman Heather Sumagaysay said the last commissioner removed was Gary Jacobs from the mobile home rent review board in November 2021. Jacobs had not completed mandatory ethics training, she said.

Noren, who ran for the City Council unsuccessfully in 2018, was unanimously appointed by council members to the parks and recreation commission in August 2019, Sumagaysay said. A vacancy will remain on the commission until the post is filled, she said.

"There were legitimate issues that happened in regards to staff, and I have to support staff," said Councilmember Doug Halter, the only one to speak on the removal. "I wanted it to be known that what we all did here tonight, early on was not a political issue. It was truly about supporting staff and doing the right thing as leaders of our community."

Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.