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Home My WebLink About08-28-2023 MCC SpecialMayor Helen Tran City of San Bernardino Council Members 201 North E Street Theodore Sanchez San Bernardino, CA 92401 Sandra Ibarra http://www.sbcity.org Juan Figueroa Fred Shorett Ben Reynoso Kimberly Calvin Damon L. Alexander 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 MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2023 5:30 PM The Special Closed Session Meeting of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino was called to order at 5:34 PM by Mayor Helen Tran on Monday, August 28, 2023, at the Multipurpose Conference Room, 2nd Floor, 201 North E Street, San Bernardino, CA. CALL TO ORDER Theodore Sanchez Council Member, Ward 1 Present Sandra Ibarra Council Member, Ward 2 Arrived at 5:45p.m. 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 Sonia Carvalho City Attorney Present Genoveva Rocha City Clerk Present Special Meeting Minutes August 28, 2023 Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 2 5:30 P.M. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Pastor Doctor Reginald Woods of Life Changing Ministries gave the invocation, and Council Member Figueroa led the Pledge of Allegiance. Prior to convening to Closed Session, Mayor Tran made an announcement. She explained that the City has used a professional recruiter to handle the City Manager Recruitment process. The process has been handled professionally, and everyone involved was advised of confidentiality laws. The Mayor and City Council have met several times to discuss applicants and are confident that they will select a highly qualified candidate. CLOSED SESSION PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA “Les” stated that there is a rumor that the City Council was going to hire Steve Carrigan, and that the residents did not want him for City Manager. He also spoke on other items not related to the agenda. Carolyn Tillman stated that it is important to put the right people in the right seats. She stated that she has looked at the background of some of the candidates and did not approve. She also mentioned items that were not on the agenda. Treasure Ortiz stated that the Mayor and City Council do not follow their own rules. She stated that one of the candidates that the community knows about is unqualified. There have been 12 City Managers in 12 years, and the Council needs to make better decisions. Stan Futch (phonetic spelling), president of Westside Action Group, commented that it appears that since there have been so many Closed Sessions about the recruitment, that the Mayor and City Council must be having difficulty voting unanimously. He encouraged the Mayor and City Council to hire a black candidate. Dolores Armstead commented that a new recruitment firm should be hired. She opposed Steve Carrigan being hired as City Manager. Cheryl Brown commented that citizens have been calling her asking what is going on with the City Council. She stated that the City has had too many City Managers. She informed that consistency and leadership are very important in this process. “Yolanda” spoke about issues not related to the agenda. “Maria” stated that the Mayor and City Council do not help the local business community. Joshua Beckley asked the Mayor and City Council not to hire the candidate that has been fired for financial mismanagement. He asked that they take their time in the recruitment and find someone else. Miriam Nieto commented that she agreed with previous speakers. She stated that Interim City Manager McNeely has been consistent and he should stay in his position, and the City Council should wait to hire someone until they find an appropriate candidate. Special Meeting Minutes August 28, 2023 Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 3 Speaker, Pastor Ray Turner, stated that San Bernardino does not have as many opportunities as surrounding cities. He commented that the City should not be serving special interests when conducting the recruiting process. He further stated that the religious community support Interim City Manager McNeely’s plan. Mr. Segura commented that he does not want a City Manager that won’t stay at the City for long. He asked for transparency and communication from the City. He expects the candidate to be experienced and consistent. City Clerk Genoveva Rocha then stated that there was one written comment received from Tim Dorame, and it was available online for public viewing. At this time, Council Member Calvin made a motion to immediately close the recruitment for City Manager, end the contract with Koff & Associates, and re-agendize the topic to the next Regular Meeting of September 6, 2023. She stated that the Mayor and City Council should conduct a process that is open and includes community input. She stated that the current recruitment failed due to the process lacking confidentiality and ethics. The motion was seconded by Council Member Reynoso. City Attorney Carvalho stated that the council could not vote to end the process at that time, because the item had been agendized for Closed Session. She advised that any motion from a Council Member would be overruling the Chair. She asked if Council Member Calvin was attempting to make a motion to end the meeting. Council Member Calvin confirmed that she was. City Attorney Carvalho stated that it would be more beneficial to continue into Closed Session, and the Council could provide more information and discuss any concerns at that time. Council Member Calvin amended her motion to end the current meeting and agendize the City Manager recruitment item for September 6, 2023. This motion was seconded by Council Member Reynoso. RESULT: ADJOURN THE SPECIAL MEETING AND RE-AGENDIZE THE CITY MANAGER RECRUITMENT FOR THE OPEN MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 [FAILED 3-4] MOVER: Kimberly Calvin, Council Member, Ward 6 SECONDER: Ben Reynoso, Council Member, Ward 5 AYES: Reynoso, Calvin, Alexander NOES: Sanchez, Ibarra, Figueroa, Shorett Since the motion to end the meeting failed, the Mayor and City Council then proceeded into Closed Session at 6:07 PM. Special Meeting Minutes August 28, 2023 Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 4 CLOSED SESSION A) PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957) City Manager B) CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6) Unrepresented employee: City Manager CLOSED SESSION REPORT City Attorney Sonia Carvalho informed that there was no reportable action from Closed Session, and that the matter would continue to be agendized based on the City Council’s direction. ADJOURNMENT The Special Closed Session of the Mayor and City Council was adjourned on Monday, August 28, 2023 at 7:29 PM. 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, September 6, 2023, at Feldheym Central Library, 555 W. 6th St., San Bernardino, California 92401. Closed Session will begin at 5:30 p.m. Open session will begin at 7:00 p.m. Telicia Lopez, CMC, City Clerk