A woman identified by federal officials as “Girlfriend 1,” an apparent romantic partner and confidante of former Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, is city official Sandra Zuniga, according to people familiar with the matter. She traveled with him when he allegedly accepted improper gifts, according to federal documents.

Zuniga is the director of the city’s Fix-It Team, which works to address everyday quality-of-life issues in San Francisco neighborhoods. She’s also the director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, which works with community and neighborhood groups.

The revelation about Nuru and Zuniga’s relationship is another example of the coziness of the “city family” that critics have pointed to in the wake of the corruption allegations. They’ve held up the scandal as an example of a culture of cronyism in San Francisco government that rewards personal loyalties and helps cover up malfeasance.

The Chronicle agreed not to name its sources, who are not permitted to discuss personnel matters, in accordance with its policy on the use of anonymous sources.

“Girlfriend 1” appears nine times in the 75-page criminal complaint against Nuru and San Francisco restaurateur Nick Bovis.

Federal authorities charged Nuru and Bovis with fraud on Jan. 28 following a public corruption probe. The alleged schemes involved an envelope of cash, fraudulent city contracts, improper gifts from a Chinese developer and a $2,000 bottle of wine, according to authorities. Nuru resigned his city position on Feb. 10.

Zuniga was not charged with any crime connected to the criminal complaint against Nuru and Bovis revealed by federal officials last month. The FBI declined a request for comment.

Zuniga did not respond to multiple requests for comment. In her multiple roles, she worked closely with Public Works and Nuru, according to emails obtained by The Chronicle.

Nuru and Bovis’ arrest last month, and the revelations that followed into their alleged schemes, has pitched City Hall into a widening public corruption scandal.

The FBI considers its investigation into Nuru and Bovis’ alleged self-dealing ongoing. A separate investigation led by the city attorney’s office and the Office of the Controller is probing potential misconduct and breaches of city laws.

The FBI visited San Francisco’s Department of Building Inspection, and the scandal also ensnared Mayor London Breed, a longtime friend and brief romantic partner of Nuru decades ago. She revealed last week that she had allowed Nuru to foot the bill for car repairs, and to pay for a rental car she used last year, an undisclosed “gift” totaling $5,600.

Nuru and Zuniga traveled to South America in October 2018, a trip that federal officials believe was paid for by “a building permits expediter affiliated with Nuru,” according to the criminal complaint against Nuru.

Nuru and Zuniga were also recorded discussing in detail a trip that Nuru allegedly took to China, paid for by a Chinese billionaire that federal officials believe Nuru was helping with a development project in San Francisco, according to the complaint.

Federal officials allege that on one phone call intercepted by law enforcement agents, Nuru described “the many gifts he received during this trip” with Zuniga.

Federal officials also alleged in their complaint that “Girlfriend 1” booked a room at the Ritz-Carlton in Santiago, Chile, under her own name, and paid for the room in cash.

“The room was occupied by two people,” federal officials said, and the other person is believed to be Nuru. The cost of their stay was valued at around $1,176.

Federal investigators also recorded a February 2019 conversation between Nuru and Bovis in which Nuru mentioned that Zuniga was working to finish a project at Bovis’ restaurant, Lefty O’Doul’s.

San Francisco officials confirmed that Zuniga was placed on involuntary paid administrative leave on Feb. 11, but additional details were kept confidential because of rules governing personnel matters.

In one telephone conversation intercepted by federal agents, Nuru and Zuniga discuss the need for Nuru to limit the number of people who knew about his Stonyford (Colusa County) vacation home. Federal officials have accused Nuru of accepting free or discounted building materials and a tractor at the vacation home.

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“I just need to be careful ... I need to watch myself carefully,” Nuru said.

“Yep, don’t tell a lot of people. That’s what you really need to be careful of because that’s what’s gonna get you in the end,” Zuniga replies, according to a transcript in the criminal complaint.

“That’s what’s gonna get me in the end? Everything is legit. What are you talking about?” Nuru asked.

“Well all these people are gonna start saying stuff and speculating and this and that. You don’t need that headache.”

“No, I don’t, I don’t need that headache,” Nuru said.

“So you don’t run your mouth. That’s what I’m saying,” she said.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Anna Bauman contributed to this report.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa