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San Bernardino council appoints Tanya Romo as acting city manager after closed session; members questioned consultant contract signing authority

2282963 · February 10, 2025

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Summary

The San Bernardino Mayor and City Council unanimously appointed Tanya Romo as acting city manager effective immediately after a closed session. Before the closed session, council members raised questions about a consultant contract and which city officials have signing authority under the city—s procurement policy.

The San Bernardino Mayor and City Council voted unanimously to appoint Tanya Romo as acting city manager effective immediately, the city attorney reported after a closed session Tuesday night.

The decision followed a prelude of questions from council members about a consultant who would join a closed-session discussion and whether an executed consultant contract required public approval or fell under existing signing authority in the city—s procurement policy.

City Attorney (name not specified) reported to the council at 9:17 p.m. that the council "has decided to appoint a new acting city manager effective immediately; that person is Tanya Romo." The attorney said the appointment motion was made by Councilman Ortiz and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Figueroa and that the vote was unanimous.

Before the closed session, Council Member Flores asked whether the council needed a publicly executed contract approved in open session before staff could work with a consultant. The city attorney and the city clerk explained that the contract involved did not have to come before the full council because it fell below the city—s public-approval threshold: according to remarks in the meeting, contracts that exceed roughly $100,000 must come to council, while the city clerk has signing authority for contracts under $50,000 under the city—s procurement policy. The city attorney said it was the office—s legal opinion that "no missteps have been made." The city clerk likewise said the contract was "under 50,000." (The transcript does not provide an exact contract dollar amount.)

Council members debated whether the council had explicitly granted the clerk signing authority and pointed to earlier direction to the city attorney. One council member said they had "directed the city attorney," who, they noted, does not themselves have signing authority under the city's rules. To avoid discussing the substance of the closed-session item in public, the city attorney advised the council not to continue the procurement deliberation in open session and suggested that the council proceed into closed session without a consultant present; the council then entered closed session.

After the closed session concluded, the city attorney announced the appointment of Romo. The report named Ortiz as the mover and Mayor Pro Tem Figueroa as the seconder; the attorney described the vote as unanimous. The transcript does not read a roll-call showing individual yes votes during the announcement.

The meeting was called to order at 5:31 p.m.; the council recessed into closed session and returned at 9:17 p.m. The city clerk announced the meeting adjourned at about 9:18 p.m. The council also announced its next regular joint meeting will be held on Feb. 19, 2025, at the Feltime Central Library, 555 West Sixth St., San Bernardino, Calif.; closed session is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. with open session at 5 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Appointment of Tanya Romo as acting city manager — Motion: appoint Tanya Romo as acting city manager, effective immediately; Mover: Councilman Ortiz; Seconder: Mayor Pro Tem Figueroa; Outcome: approved (unanimous).