San Bernardino Council appoints interim city manager amid management concerns

The Special Meeting of the Mayor and City Council of San Bernardino, held on February 21, 2025, focused on critical discussions surrounding the appointment of an interim city manager and the ongoing challenges faced by the city council.

The meeting commenced with council members expressing their concerns regarding the frequent turnover of city managers, with one member highlighting the disappointment of having gone through three city managers in just one year. This instability was attributed to personal disagreements among council members, which hindered the progress of the city. The council member emphasized the need for the interim city manager to be allowed to perform their duties effectively, rather than merely maintaining the status quo.

A significant portion of the discussion revolved around setting clear expectations for the interim city manager. The council acknowledged past failures in this area and stressed the importance of establishing direct expectations to ensure accountability and effective governance. Concerns were raised about the ability of newly elected council members to evaluate the performance of the city attorney and city clerk, given their limited time in office.

Public comments were also a key feature of the meeting. Several residents voiced their opinions, with one individual expressing a desire to contribute ideas for the city's development, particularly in the area of affordable housing. This speaker criticized the practice of hiring city managers from outside the community, advocating for local talent to be considered for leadership roles.

Another resident welcomed the new interim city manager, Mr. Gallardo, acknowledging his long tenure in previous positions and expressing hope for positive changes in San Bernardino. The meeting concluded with a motion to adopt a resolution appointing Mr. Gallardo as the interim city manager, which was supported by council members.

Overall, the meeting underscored the council's commitment to addressing the challenges of leadership turnover and the need for a collaborative approach to governance. The next steps involve the formal appointment of the interim city manager and the establishment of clear expectations to guide the city's future direction.