HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-31-2024 MCC SpecialCity of San Bernardino
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San Bernardino, CA 92401
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Minutes
FOR THE
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO, MAYOR 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, 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 FINANCING
AUTHORITY
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2024
3:00 PM
The Special Meeting of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino was called to
order at 3:05 PM by Mayor Helen Tran on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at Feldheym Central
Library, San Bernardino, CA.
CALL TO ORDER
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Theodore Sanchez Council Member, Ward 1 Present
Sandra Ibarra Council Member, Ward 2 Present
Juan Figueroa Council Member, Ward 3 Present
Fred Shorett Mayor Pro-Tem, Ward 4 Present
Ben Reynoso Council Member, Ward 5 Present
Kimberly Calvin Council Member, Ward 6 Present
Damon L Alexander Council Member, Ward 7 Present
Helen Tran Mayor Present
Charles Montoya City Manager Present
Edelia Eveland Assistant City Manager Present
Sonia Carvalho City Attorney Present
Genoveva Rocha City Clerk Present
Telicia Lopez Chief Deputy City Clerk Present
Mayor Helen Tran
Council Members
Theodore Sanchez
Sandra Ibarra
Juan Figueroa
Fred Shorett
Ben Reynoso
Kimberly Calvin
Damon L. Alexander
Study Session Draft Minutes January 31, 2024
Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 2
3:00 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Al Palazzo shared that he had many ideas for developing the Carousel Mall and for
alternatives to City Hall.
Jorge Gonzalez expressed strong support as a business owner for both the proposed
security cameras and the Property and Business Improvement District (PBID).
Ed Adams expressed full support for the proposed camera monitoring system and the
formation of a business improvement district.
Junior Carillo spoke in support of Item No. 4, urging respectful dialogue with city officials
and emphasizing that collaboration leads to better outcomes than public criticism.
BJ Sims spoke in support of agenda Item No.1 and the PBID, urging collaboration with
the city to improve downtown safety.
Val Christensen stated that the downtown active camera monitoring system is a step
towards the right direction.
Glenn Hellmans, a local developer, questioned the cost-effectiveness of remodeling City
Hall, supported exploring alternatives like the Carousel Mall site, and suggested
opening the process to public-private partnership proposals.
Tansu Philip expressed strong support for the PBID, citing safety concerns, repeated
break-ins, and the lack of city support, while emphasizing small business owners'
commitment to improving downtown San Bernardino.
David Friedman voiced frustration over ongoing break-ins, lack of police response,
broken streetlights, and poor city communication, urging the City Council to prioritize
forming the PBID and better support for small businesses.
Dana Fisher criticized Council member Sanchez for lack of downtown engagement and
unfulfilled promises regarding public safety and PBID effort
Mark Romero expressed support of agenda Item No.1, highlighting recent break-ins,
insufficient police response, and the negative impact of poor lighting on businesses.
Alma Rosa Rivera urged the council to fund the formation of the downtown San
Bernardino Property and Business Improvement District, emphasizing the importance of
beautifying and supporting the city's youth and cultural efforts.
Lydia Boumart urged the city council to fund agenda Item No.1 and the Property and
Business Improvement District, citing ongoing safety issues, break-ins, and shootings in
downtown San Bernardino, while expressing optimism about the community.
Casey Daily praised the City Manager and staff for their leadership on the Carousel Mall
redevelopment and City Hall repairs
Study Session Draft Minutes January 31, 2024
Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 3
Less urged addressing lighting and landlord issues before installing cameras and
criticized Council ethics.
Claudia Cano urged the city to open agenda Item No. 4 to RFPs with small developers
and to consider pilot programs providing mental health services, veteran support, and
affordable student housing.
James Smith commended the Council for holding the special meeting, emphasized the
importance of improving San Bernardino’s image by meeting at City Hall, praised the
efforts of city officials, and encouraged continued progress for the city.
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pastor Lee Coe from Calvary Chapel – San Bernardino led the invocation and Council
Member Ben Reynoso led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
DISCUSSION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & CITY REINVESTMENT
1. Downtown Active Camera Monitoring System
Darren Goodman, Police Chief provided a presentation on the San Bernardino Smart
Camera System. The Chief spoke about the history of the city’s efforts to implement a
camera system throughout the city, the background and goals with the project,
technology considerations and other key factors, including community involvement.
The city's camera system was described as dilapidated and in need of dire repair, with
only four out of approximately 95 cameras installed currently functioning.
Chief Goodman advised that the goal was to implement a SMART (Security Monitoring
Advanced through Real-Time Technology) plan, aimed to allow the cameras to act as
deterrents and use the system to actively investigate and monitor the area to integrate
into police operations.
The plan sought to use overlapping camera placement for comprehensive coverage
and emphasized the integration of camera data with police operations to enhance real-
time response capabilities.
The proposal also underscored the importance of community partnerships, allowing
businesses and residents to integrate their camera systems with the city's real-time
information center for enhanced monitoring and response to incidents.
Councilmember Calvin inquired about the number of cameras one officer could
monitor, and Chief Goodman responded that one officer can manage up to 20
cameras.
Councilmember Alexander asked if the system could integrate with business security
systems, and Chief Goodman confirmed it is possible depending on available funding.
NO ACTION TAKEN – THIS ITEM WAS PRESENTED AS PART OF A STUDY
SESSION AND WAS NOT AN ACTIONABLE ITEM
Study Session Draft Minutes January 31, 2024
Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 4
2. City Hall Renovation Project
William Lampi Management Analyst from the City Manager’s Office began the
presentation with background information, financing details, and an overview of the
proposed renovation process for the City Hall building.
Staff Lampi described the structure as containing over 100,000 square feet of office
space across six to seven floors plus a basement. Noting, 90% of the building’s
exterior consists of glass windows. The building was designed to reflect civic pride and
the urban environment and has received recognition from the Library of Congress and
the American Institute of Architects as one of the 49 most outstanding City Halls in the
United States
The building was vacated due to seismic safety concerns. Seismic assessments
conducted in 2007, 2016, and 2018 all concluded that retrofitting was necessary.
Estimated costs for retrofitting ranged from $7.8 million to $15 million, though these
were preliminary figures lacking detailed engineering plans.
William Lampi presented two retrofit concepts: an interior retrofit that would reduce
usable interior space but preserve the exterior design, and an exterior retrofit that
would preserve interior space but alter the building's appearance.
The financing portion of the presentation was delivered by Sarah Brown and Mark Rier
from Stifel. They outlined how the City could legally finance the renovation through
lease revenue bonds or certificates of participation, which are not considered traditional
debt under the California Constitution and do not require voter approval. These
financing methods have been widely used across California, with over $21 billion
issued in the past 11 years, $8.9 billion of which was new money. Brown and Rier
noted an increasing trend of cities undertaking infrastructure projects due to aging
assets and limited revenue growth.
The presentation concluded with a note that the City Hall building could become
eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places if renovated and
reoccupied.
Councilmembers discussed the City Hall Project, with inquiries regarding the RFP
process, potential federal funding, the proposed timeline and the inclusion of City staff
for development opportunities. City Manager Montoya was in agreement with the City
Council’s request for the Mayor and Council to be involved in the service contracts
related to the City Hall project and providing development opportunities for staff.
NO ACTION TAKEN – THIS ITEM WAS PRESENTED AS PART OF A STUDY
SESSION AND WAS NOT AN ACTIONABLE ITEM
Study Session Draft Minutes January 31, 2024
Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 5
3. Carousel Mall Redevelopment Project
William Lampi, Management Analyst with the City Manager’s Office, provided a
presentation on the Carousel Mall Project. He gave an overview of the site’s
background, history, and future plans.
The mall originally included 76 stores and three department stores, later expanding
to about 100 retailers. Its primary purposes were to generate sales and property tax
revenue and to encourage further downtown development.
Staff Lampi noted that a series of economic and structural challenges led to the
mall’s decline. These included the closures of Norton Air Force Base, the Santa Fe
Rail Yards, and Kaiser Steel, which collectively eliminated around 20,000 jobs. In
addition, the realignment of Interstate 15 diverted traffic away from downtown, and
the opening of Inland Center Mall drew customers elsewhere.
Public Works Director Lynn Merrill to provided an update on the mall’s demolition
and current status.
Director Merrill provided an update on the Carousel Mall demolition project.
Director Merrill presented aerial photos showing the demolition progress, by late
October of 2023. By the current month, the site was largely cleared, with processed
materials placed strategically to create safety barriers and prevent falls in areas with
significant elevation changes.
Director Merrill also stated that a Phase I Environmental Assessment had been
completed. A Phase II Environmental Assessment involving soil sampling and
testing for contamination was scheduled to begin the following week.
William Lampi provided an overview of the Surplus Land Act (SLA) process and its
application to potential redevelopment sites, including the Carousel Mall property.
Staff Lampi then discussed conceptual plans for the redevelopment of the Carousel
Mall site. The vision divides the property into five “quadrants,” each with distinct
uses.
Redevelopment is expected to occur in phases, with a focus on creating a
sustainable, pedestrian-friendly, and economically vibrant city center.
Councilmembers discussed various aspects of the Carousel Mall project, including
its potential impact on the Inland Center Mall, alignment with the community’s
vision, and the amount of new information presented without prior review.
Study Session Draft Minutes January 31, 2024
Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 6
City Manager Montoya clarified that the presentation was a study session intended
for information and discussion only, with no commitments made.
Councilmembers expressed appreciation for staff’s efforts, noting the opportunity for
multiple developers to participate and emphasizing the importance of continued
transparency and collaboration as discussions move forward.
NO ACTION TAKEN – THIS ITEM WAS PRESENTED AS PART OF A STUDY
SESSION AND WAS NOT AN ACTIONABLE ITEM
DISCUSSION POLICIES, PROCEDURES & COMMUNICATIONS
4. Code of Ethics and Conduct Policy
Cory Hodges, Senior Management Analyst in the City Manager’s Office, presented a
brief PowerPoint outlining conceptual ideas for a proposed Code of Ethics and Conduct
policy.
The presentation covered policy goals, core ethical values, and proposed next steps.
Key goals included establishing clear ethical standards to enhance service quality and
build public trust. Core values presented included professionalism, fiscal responsibility,
collaboration, and accountability.
Staff planned to incorporate feedback from the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and
department directors before returning with a formal draft for further discussion and
potential adoption.
Councilmember Alexander questioned if the City of San Bernardino already had a code
of ethics.
City Manager Charles Montoya clarified that many of the ethical standards are already
outlined in the Municipal Code and included within the City Charter.
Assistant City Attorney Rice added that Councilmembers are subject to AB 1234 ethics
training and an existing Code of Conduct, noting that the proposed Code of Ethics
would serve as an aspirational guide for conduct beyond current requirements.
The Mayor and City Council convened into closed session at 5:52 p.m.
Study Session Draft Minutes January 31, 2024
Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 7
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS (Pursuant To
Government Code Section 54956.8)
Property: APN 0141-412-48-0000
Agency Negotiator: Charles A. Montoya, City Manager, or designee
Negotiating Parties: Jayashree Krishna, Inc
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Assistant Thomas Rice reported that there was no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting of the Mayor and City Council was adjourned on Wednesday, January 31
2025, at 6:26 p.m.
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, February 21, 2024, at the Feldheym Central Library located at 555 West
6th Street, San Bernardino, California 92401. Closed Session will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Open Session will begin at 7:00 p.m.
By:_________________________
Telicia Lopez, CMC
City Clerk