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Home My WebLink About12-17-2025 Special Meeting Agenda PacketMayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 1 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO AGENDA SPECIAL AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ACTING AS THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ACTING AS THE SUCCESSOR HOUSING AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, AND MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ACTING AS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ACTING AS THE SAN BERNARDINO JOINT POWERS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2025 9:30 AM DOUBLE TREE BY HILTON HOTEL - VISTA ROOM Theodore Sanchez Helen Tran Dr. Treasure Ortiz COUNCIL MEMBER, WARD 1 COUNCIL MEMBER, WARD 7 MAYOR Sandra Ibarra Eric Levitt COUNCIL MEMBER, WARD 2 CITY MANAGER Juan Figueroa Sonia Carvalho MAYOR PRO TEM, WARD 3 CITY ATTORNEY Fred Shorett Telicia Lopez COUNCIL MEMBER, WARD 4 CITY CLERK Kim Knaus COUNCIL MEMBER, WARD 5 Mario Flores COUNCIL MEMBER, WARD 6 Welcome to a meeting of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino PLEASE VIEW THE LAST PAGES OF THE AGENDA FOR PUBLIC COMMENT OPTIONS, OR CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK: TINYURL.COM/MCCPUBLICCOMMENTS PLEASE CONTACT THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE (909) 998-2680 TWO WORKING DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING FOR ANY REQUESTS FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS To view PowerPoint presentations, written comments, or any revised documents for this meeting date, use this link: tinyurl.com/agendabackup. Select the corresponding year and meeting date folders to view documents Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 2 CALL TO ORDER Attendee Name Council Member, Ward 1 Theodore Sanchez Council Member, Ward 2 Sandra Ibarra Mayor Pro Tem, Ward 3 Juan Figueroa Council Member, Ward 4 Fred Shorett Council Member, Ward 5 Kim Knaus Council Member, Ward 6 Mario Flores Council Member, Ward 7 Dr. Treasure Ortiz Mayor Helen Tran City Manager Eric Levitt City Attorney Sonia Carvalho City Clerk Telicia Lopez 9:30 AM INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS LISTED ON THE AGENDA We ask that you please observe proper decorum, and do not speak out of turn or make comments from your seat. If you wish to address the Mayor and City Council please be sure to submit a speaker slip. If you speak out of turn or disrupt the meeting a warning may be given and/or you will be asked to leave the meeting pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.9 and Penal Code 403. INTRODUCTION DISCUSSION 1. Mayor and City Council Team Building and Goal Setting Session The Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and Facilitator Knight Leadership Solutions, will hold a team building session. The session will include discussions aimed at creating strategic goals; and how its goals and strategies should drive decision-making and resource allocation. The facilitator will then lead a conversation about past achievements the Council wishes to build upon, followed by a discussion clarifying governance roles and responsibilities and the essential partnership between the Council and staff in achieving the City’s Vision and Mission. The group will also explore steps for identifying mutual purpose and common ground on key policies, issues, and decisions, while establishing effective communication norms. The facilitator will share overarching themes from one-on-one Council interviews, and the Council and City Manager will discuss anticipated community and organizational challenges over the next 12–18 months. ADJOURNMENT The next Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council and the Mayor and City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency will be held on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the Norman F. Feldheym Central Library located at 555 West 6th Street, San Bernardino, California 92410. Closed Session will begin at 4:00 p.m. and Open Session will begin at 5:00 p.m. Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 3 CERTIFICATION OF POSTING AGENDA I, Telicia Lopez, CMC, City Clerk for the City of San Bernardino, California, hereby certify that the agenda for the December 17, 2025, Special Meeting of the Mayor and City Council and the Mayor and City Council acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency was posted at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in the Vista Room located at 285 E Hospitality Lane, San Bernardino, CA 92408; Norman F. Feldheym Central Library located at 555 West 6th Street, San Bernardino, California 92410; on the City's bulletin board located at 201 North "E" Street, San Bernardino, California; and on the City's website sbcity.org on Friday, December 12, 2025. I declare under the penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Telicia Lopez, CMC, City Clerk Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 4 NOTICE OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DATE: Friday, December 12, 2025 SUBJECT: Special Meeting on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a consensus of the City Council of the City of San Bernardino, has called a Special Meeting for Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. Said meeting shall be for the purpose of considering the following: DISCUSSION 1. Mayor and City Council Team Building and Goal Setting Session The Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and Facilitator Knight Leadership Solutions, will hold a team building session. The session will include discussions aimed at creating strategic goals; and how its goals and strategies should drive decision-making and resource allocation. The facilitator will then lead a conversation about past achievements the Council wishes to build upon, followed by a discussion clarifying governance roles and responsibilities and the essential partnership between the Council and staff in achieving the City’s Vision and Mission. The group will also explore steps for identifying mutual purpose and common ground on key policies, issues, and decisions, while establishing effective communication norms. The facilitator will share overarching themes from one-on-one Council interviews, and the Council and City Manager will discuss anticipated community and organizational challenges over the next 12–18 months. The next joint regular meeting of the Mayor and City Council and the Mayor and City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency will be held on December 17, 2025 at the Feldheym Central Library located at 555 West 6th Street, San Bernardino, California 92410. Closed Session will begin at 4:00 p.m. and Open Session will begin at 5:00 p.m. Telicia Lopez, CMC, City Clerk Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 5 NOTICE: Any member of the public may address this meeting of the Mayor and City Council and the Mayor and City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency on any item appearing on the agenda by approaching the microphone in the Council Chamber when the item about which the member desires to speak is called and by asking to be recognized. Any member of the public desiring to speak to the Mayor and City Council and the Mayor and City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency concerning any matter not on the agenda but which is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Mayor and City Council and the Mayor and City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency may address the body at the end of the meeting, during the period reserved for public comments. Said total period for public comments shall not exceed 60 minutes, unless such time limit is extended by the Mayor and City Council and the Mayor and City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency. A three-minute limitation shall apply to each member of the public, unless such time limit is extended by the Mayor and City Council and the Mayor and City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency. No member of the public shall be permitted to "share" his/her three minutes with any other member of the public. Speakers who wish to present documents to the governing body may hand the documents to the City Clerk at the time the request to speak is made. (Must bring a minimum of 15 copies.) The Mayor and City Council and the Mayor and City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency may refer any item raised by the public to staff, or to any commission, board, bureau, or committee for appropriate action or have the item placed on the next agenda of the Mayor and City Council and the Mayor and City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency. However, no other action shall be taken nor discussion held by the Mayor and City Council and the Mayor and City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency on any item which does not appear on the agenda unless the action is otherwise authorized in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (b) of Section 54954.2 of the Government Code. Public comments will not be received on any item on the agenda when a public hearing has been conducted and closed. Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 6 PUBLIC COMMENT OPTIONS Please use ONE of the following options to provide a public comment: Written comments can be emailed to publiccomments@sbcity.org. Written public comments received up to 8:00 a.m. on the day of the meeting (or otherwise indicated on the agenda) will be provided to the Mayor and City council and made part of the meeting record. Written public comments will not be read aloud by city staff. Written correspondence can be accessed by the public online at tinyurl.com/agendabackup . Attend the meeting in person and fill out a speaker slip. Please note that the meeting Chair decides the cutoff time for public comment, and the time may vary per meeting. If you wish to submit your speaker slip in advance of the meeting, please submit your request to speak using the form on the following page: tinyurl.com/mccpubliccomments. Any requests to speak submitted electronically after the 8:00 a.m. deadline will not be accepted. Please note: messages submitted via email and this page are only monitored from the publication of the final agenda until the deadline to submit public comments. Please contact the City Clerk at 909-998-2680 or SBCityClerk@sbcity.org for assistance outside of this timeframe. Written correspondence submitted after the deadline will be provided to the Mayor and City Council at the following regular meeting. MEETING TIME NOTE: Pursuant to Resolution No. 2024-029, adopted by the Mayor and City Council on February 21, 2024: “Section 3. All meetings are scheduled to terminate at 10:00 P.M. on the same day it began. At 9:00 P.M., the Mayor and City Council shall determine which of the remaining agenda items can be considered and acted upon prior to 10:00 P.M. and will continue all other items on which additional time is required until a future Mayor and City Council meeting. A majority vote of the Council is required to extend a meeting beyond 10:00 P.M.to discuss specified items.” City of San Bernardino 2025 City Council Strategic Plan Workshop Agenda City of San Bernardino City Council Strategic Plan Workshop December 17, 2025 9:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. Doubletree Hotel Facilitated by: Knight Leadership Solutions WORKSHOP AGENDA Administrative Items •Breakfast: 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. •Meeting Called to Order at 9:30 a.m.: Mayor •Public Comment: Mayor •Introduction of Facilitator: City Manager Facilitated Workshop •Purpose of the Strategic Plan: The goals and strategies identified should be used to drive decision making, resource allocation, •Achievements/Accomplishments: Consultant will facilitate a discussion about past accomplishments/achievements that the Council would like to build upon in the future. •What’s My Role? This discussion will focus on a review of City Council/Staff Governance roles and responsibilities, and the critical partnership that must exist to achieve the City’s Vision and Mission. •Discovering Mutual Purpose and Common Ground: This discussion will focus on the steps of identifying Mutual Purpose and finding Common Ground on policies, issues, services, and important decisions that come before the City, and communication norms for a successful partnership. City of San Bernardino 2025 City Council Strategic Plan Workshop Agenda 2 • Discovering our Core Values: This exercise focuses on identifying and sharing the personal core values of each individual. As the leaders of the organization, it is critical to understand what is important to each person and what drives their decision making. A greater sense of the core values of each member will help drive increased collaboration. • What You Said: Facilitator will review the overarching comments and themes from the one-on-one pre-workshop interviews with the City Council. • Challenges Ahead: During this discussion, City Council Members and the City Manager will be asked to briefly share their thoughts on trends and challenges that they foresee for the community and the organization in the next 12-18 months that may have an impact on future strategic goals. • What’s your Why? Consultant will facilitate a discussion related to the City’s Vision and Job statements focused on how these are used as a compass that guides decision making, resource allocation, and prioritization of work. • Check the Sails: Consultant will facilitate a discussion related to the current 2020-2025 goals: o Financial Stability o Focused, Aligned Leadership and Unified Community o Improved Quality of Life o Economic Growth and Development Key discussion points will be: a) Are they still relevant? b) Have any of them been successfully achieved? c) Is there more to be done? d) Do any of them need to be refined or changed? e) Is there anything missing that needs to be added? • Finalize new 2-3 year Strategic Goals • Impact and Success: Once the new goals are set, Consultant will facilitate a discussion related to the further impact desired for the community of each goal as well as the indicators of success. City of San Bernardino 2025 City Council Strategic Plan Workshop Agenda 3 • Actionable Objectives: The group will be guided through a discussion of identifying potential actionable objectives related to each goal for (1) The City Manager and/or the Organization over the 18-24 months. • Next Steps: After the workshop, Consultant will provide a summary report of the day’s discussions, a final list of the new Strategic Goals and Potential Objectives. Utilizing that report the City Manager will meet with the Executive team to create specific SMART Objectives identifying timelines for completion, as well as who/what department will take the lead on each objective. All objectives will be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time based. City Council Strategic Planning Workshop December 17, 20252025 Facilitated by: Marie Knight -Owner, Knight Leadership Solutions Agenda Morning Discussion: Foundational •What is today? •Roles, Responsibilities, and Lanes •Mutual Purpose/Common Ground/Decision Making •Accomplishments and Achievements •Core Values •Council Interview Summary Potential •Vision for the future •Future challenges Afternoon Discussion: Directional •Current goals- still relevant? •New 3- year goals •What would success look like? •Setting SMART objectives •What are the resources needed to move the needle? •Next steps About me •35 Years in Public Service •Cities of: Garden Grove, Newport Beach, Orange Long Beach, Huntington Beach •Led team of over 1,000, Oversight of Recreation Programs and Services, Marinas, Park and Facility Maintenance, Golf Courses, Cemeteries, Finance, HR, PIO, Harbor Master, $250 Mil in Cap Improvement •2020, Director of Organizational Learning and Engagement – City of HB •25 years experience Leadership Development Training, Board Development - both for-proﬁt and non-proﬁt, •Certiﬁed Teacher, Trainer, Speaker, Coach, Behavioral Assessment Specialist, with Maxwell Leadership •Owner and Chief Inﬂuencer, Knight Leadership Solutions •Consultant Aﬃliate with MRG – Municipal Resources Group What does this look like? Stewardship of the public's resources serving the public interest Making informed decisions, in an open and accessible format Exhibiting integrity, ethics, compliance with all laws and policies and not misusing information or resources Promoting values for the entire organization through respectful and professional behaviors Developing the capacity and capability of the governing body to be eﬀective Performing eﬀectively in clearly deﬁned roles – Stay in your lane Consensus oriented, mediating the diﬀerent interests to reach a broad consensus Engaging stakeholders and being accountable for actions Focusing on the organizations purpose and outcomes for the community •The Council should provide vision and strategic leadership •The Council should primarily focus on Ends: “what and why” of City’s management and operations •The City Manager & staff should primarily focus on the Means: “who, how, when, & at what cost” of management & operations •All should look for Common Ground in Mutual Purpose Governance 101: Who Should Do What and Why? What does Mutual Purpose Look Like? Listening – seek ﬁrst to understand rather than to be understood Be guided by common need, not singular want Seek similarities more than diﬀerences Look for Win-Win, avoid Win-Lose or Lose-Lose Remember that how someone feels can’t be wrong Getting curious about the other persons perspective Start with ABC’s: ABC’s of Mutual Purpose AGREEMENT: ALWAYS START WITH THE AREAS OF AGREEMENT, COMMON GROUND, BUILD: WITH KEY FACTS COMPARE WHERE YOU DIFFER AND EXPLORE PATH TO CONSENSUS With respect to communication and collaboration among the City Council - What is working? Strong communication from the City Manager and generally reliable information flow. Good collaboration among most Council members, especially on Ward-related issues. Positive individual relationships and the ability to unite on certain matters. Some effective cross-ward collaboration, with several members working well together. With respect to communication and collaboration among the City Council - What would you like to see improve? Information gaps, especially from the Homelessness Ad Hoc Committee, leaving Council members under-informed. Low trust and limited communication among some members, with avoidance and minimal interaction outside official meetings. Perceived unilateral behavior by certain members, causing misinformation and tension. Some concerns raised about the current structure of the City Council and thoughts that it has created a divisive, unilateral, and politically counterproductive environment. Lack of shared priorities and clear processes, including the agenda-setting process which is creating a staff workload management issue. Need for communication norms and a code of conduct to improve professionalism and support staff effectiveness. With respect to communication and collaboration between the City Council and City Staﬀ, What is going well? The City Manager and City Council have a strong working relationship. Eric, the City Manager, is seen as humble, responsive, and effective, especially during emergencies, and his weekly meetings are valued. Council members agree that questions should go through the City Manager to manage staff and priorities. Some believe the City Manager needs time to evaluate the organization before strategic planning. Staff are praised for professionalism and improved responsiveness, with more requests now handled via the City Manager. With respect to communication and collaboration between the City Council and City Staﬀ, What needs to improve and why? The Council requests clearer, timely updates from staff on community issues. 1 Earlier deadline notices and regular progress reports on City goals are needed. 2 Council questions should go through the City Manager, not directly to staff. 3 Concerns persist about some senior staff undermining the City Manager. 4 3. With respect to City operations, what are some key successes areas? Strong leadership and communication keep the Council informed, with improved accountability in Public Works. Police morale and community engagement have risen, and Parks continues to provide quality services. The City’s operations are more stable as employees follow established processes. Staff show support and compassion for residents, while visible leadership builds community trust. With respect to City operations, what are some areas of concern? A slow, inconsistent permitting process, Staffing issues due to inconsistent hiring and high turnover, and vacant key positions affecting project progress. Governance concerns arise from improper staff direction by Council members. Infrastructure projects are delayed Communication is unclear Public Works performance varies, impacting efforts like homelessness initiatives. What are your top priorities for the Organization in the next few years? Boosting economic development Improving service consistency Attracting investment. Restore accountability Stabilize staffing Complete major projects like the Carousel Mall redevelopment Address homelessness and public safety Enhance public relations Empower the City Manager to lead effectively. What are your top priorities for the Community in the next few years? Upgrading infrastructure like roads, streetlights, sidewalks, and parks is a top priority to improve quality of life and support economic growth. Attracting retail, restaurants, and essential services, especially in underserved areas, is key to stabilizing city finances. Simplifying permitting aims to encourage private investment. Public safety efforts focus on reducing crime and improving police-community relations. Tackling homelessness and blight requires innovative solutions and stronger partnerships. Ensuring equitable investments across all neighborhoods is vital for community pride. Increased community engagement and better communication are needed. Strong leadership and consistent policy enforcement are essential for progress and responsive governance. Are They: Still Relevant? Completed? In need of reﬁnement? Anything missing? Previous Strategic Goals •Financial Stability •Focused, Aligned Leadership and Uniﬁed Community •Improved Quality of Life •Economic Growth and Development City Manager and Executive Team will reﬁne the objectives Assign the Who and When Present to the City Council at an upcoming meeting Work the plan! A-ha Time Comments & Observations