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San Bernardino council gives first reading to municipal code recodification; second reading set for Sept. 3
Summary
Council introduced and voted 6–1 to set a second reading for Ordinance MC1653, a comprehensive codification and editorial modernization of the San Bernardino Municipal Code. City staff said changes are editorial and do not alter legal effect; one council member objected and a public speaker urged keeping industrial zoning intact.
The San Bernardino City Council introduced Ordinance MC1653, a comprehensive recodification of the city’s municipal code, and set Sept. 3 for the ordinance’s second reading and adoption after a 6–1 vote.
The city clerk’s office told the council the city contracted with American Legal Publishing to review, reorganize and host the municipal code online. Staff said the changes are primarily editorial — standardizing numbering and formatting, updating gender-neutral language and modernizing structure — and “do not alter the legal effect or intent of the ordinances.” The clerk asked the council to introduce the ordinance and set the next meeting for final adoption.
Council Member Sanchez moved to introduce the ordinance, with Council Member Kanas seconding. Council Member Ortiz attempted a substitute motion to delay the second reading to allow extra public review, but that substitute did not receive a second. The city attorney read the motion on the record as: to introduce the ordinance, read it by title only, waive further reading, and set Sept. 3 as the date for second reading and adoption. The motion then passed 6–1, with Council Member Ortiz voting in opposition.
One member of the public urged the council to preserve industrial warehouse zoning during future housing decisions. A public commenter said, “Can we do a better job at leaving warehouses in warehouse areas for residential when you guys do look at that.” The clerk and city attorney confirmed the recodification itself is intended as an editorial compilation and that substantive ordinance changes would be brought forward separately.
City staff said departments will continue to work with the codifier to address formatting, duplication and other editorial issues and will return with supplemental updates as needed. Because this was the ordinance’s first reading, the council's vote was procedural and the ordinance will return for a final vote at the Sept. 3 meeting.
