An investigation into workplace complaints against former Tigard Mayor Heidi Lueb has surfaced alarming issues at City Hall, revealing a toxic environment that has driven at least seven high-level city employees to resign in the last two years.
The recent resignation of Lueb was preceded by findings that she exhibited “disrespectful workplace conduct” and violated city personnel policies. This investigation suggested a correlation between Lueb’s actions and the significant staff turnover within the council.
Records obtained by OPB indicate that the workplace culture at Tigard City Hall has been marked by discord and unresolved grievances. Employees have described a pervasive atmosphere where complaints pertaining to racism, sexism, and other misconduct were neglected, while leaders allegedly retaliated against those who raised concerns.
In April 2024, Kent Wyatt, the city’s communications manager, wrote to City Councilor Maureen Wolf, expressing that a culture of bullying and retaliation under Assistant City Manager Kathy Nyland has left many staff feeling targeted.
Wyatt claimed that at least 15 to 20 current and former employees had shared their negative experiences with both Nyland and other city leadership, including City Manager Steve Rymer and City Attorney Shelby Rihala, yet no remedial efforts were taken. The situation, according to Wyatt, led to an increasingly toxic workplace.
This discontent became increasingly clear following the departure of IT Director Maiya Delgoda, who resigned less than a year into her tenure, citing workplace safety concerns. Delgoda expressed her discontent in her resignation letter, indicating she could no longer execute her duties under the prevailing conditions.
Community Development Director Kenny Asher’s resignation letter further addressed these workplace issues, referencing threats that arose when employees attempted to perform their jobs without being undermined. Asher’s words illustrated that workers felt unsafe when their livelihoods were threatened for speaking truths to those in power or when leadership acted contrary to stated values of equity and belonging.
Wyatt alleged that Nyland specifically targeted Delgoda and Kurt Jun, the city’s inaugural diversity, equity, and inclusion manager, undermining their initiatives and creating barriers to their projects. Jun would later resign in 2024, calling for an investigation into the alleged toxic culture under Nyland’s leadership.
Jun’s letter to the City Council highlighted a consistent pattern of bullying and unethical behavior that has harmed staff morale and led to significant resignations, including Delgoda’s. He explicitly called for action against Nyland and requested disciplinary measures against City Manager Rymer as well.
Moreover, Wyatt pointed out apparent conflicts of interest concerning the process for reporting complaints. Allegations against Nyland were reviewed by the HR director she directly supervised. Additionally, complaints directed to the city manager were, according to Wyatt, ignored.
Jun had shared his concerns about Nyland with Rymer repeatedly, but his requests to no longer report to Nyland were dismissed. Wyatt noted the unparalleled inaction from management despite the flood of complaints, leading to not only a toxic environment, but also increasing legal liabilities related to claims of discrimination and retaliation.
Wyatt further detailed instances where Nyland allegedly attempted to retaliate against Councilor Wolf for her concerns raised in 2023. He described a troubling dynamic where his attempts to document the grievances against Nyland coincided with a sudden shift in his professional circumstances at the city.
In the ensuing 10 months after presenting his complaints to the HR director, Wyatt faced a systematic disregard from Nyland. She ceased communication with him altogether and excluded him from key projects, which starkly contrasted their previous collaborative relationship.
Asher’s resignation similarly intimated at possible retaliation following his concerns. He was threatened with disciplinary action from Deputy City Manager Emily Tritsch, alleging that he had failed to build a conducive workplace environment.
In the context of these unfolding events, the investigation into Lueb described a tangible link between her conduct and the exodus of staff, suggesting that employees left or transferred positions for their own financial detriment due to negative working experiences under her leadership.
While the investigative report documented numerous allegations against Lueb, it reportedly did not delve deeply into the strained dynamics among city staff and management. Many of the claims regarding Lueb’s contentious behavior surfaced during 2025, years after she assumed office in 2023 following a tenure on the council.
Jason Snider, a Washington County Commissioner who previously served as Tigard’s mayor, noted that Lueb did not stand out as particularly problematic during their time together. He recounted efforts to help foster better communication among council members, acknowledging that challenges existed but were not unique to Lueb.
In the wake of Lueb’s resignation, Councilor Wolf, who is now acting as mayor pro tem, reassured city staff of the Council’s commitment to foster a respectful workplace. She emphasized the necessity for an environment where unprofessional behaviors would be addressed and outlined a reporting process to handle concerns moving forward.
Wolf articulated a message during an all-staff meeting, urging employees to come forward with grievances and assuring them that significant efforts would be taken to amend the workplace culture.
City Manager Brent Stockwell, who took over leadership in June, pledged that city management is dedicated to supporting the Council’s initiatives to rectify the toxic work environment and was advocating for anti-bullying and harassment training for council members.
Wolf emphasized plans for reevaluating existing policies and establishing an escalation process for complaints, aiming to prevent the reoccurrence of the challenges that plagued Tigard City Hall in the past. “You deserve a workplace where unprofessional behavior is not tolerated,” she stated, focusing on restoring trust amongst staff and leadership in the aftermath of a tumultuous period.
image source from：opb
