San Bernardino council approves city clerk employment agreement after heated debate on process and pay

The San Bernardino City Council voted 6-1 on Oct. 14 to approve an employment agreement making the acting city clerk the permanent city clerk and setting a new pay schedule, following hours of public and council discussion about process and compensation.

Council members approved an agreement that sets the city clerk’s starting base salary at $161,000, with a scheduled increase to $169,000 on April 5, 2026, subject to a professional evaluation and a written contract amendment. The contract also provides an annual cost-of-living adjustment tied to the consumer price index (capped at 3%), a vehicle allowance of $725 per pay period, and a severance payment equal to six months’ base salary plus benefits if the clerk is terminated. City Council will review the clerk’s performance at least once annually under Resolution 94-392, the contract says.

Councilwoman Ortiz led the most sustained public objections and council questioning about process. Ortiz said the appointment was “not a personal thing” but a concern about the council’s handling of hiring and transparency, noting she and others had not reviewed the candidate’s resume before the initial vote and objecting to tying the city to a large pay increase while other departments face personnel freezes. “I can't in good faith do it to you,” Ortiz said, arguing for a standard hiring process with interviews and posted resumes.

Supporters on the dais said the candidate has many years of experience in the city clerk’s office and that a formal recruitment was not required because the council already knew the candidate’s qualifications. One council member who moved approval said the acting clerk had long institutional experience and the city had sometimes seen recruitments that did not work out.

The city attorney summarized the economic terms on the record before the vote and confirmed the modifications to the timeline for the scheduled pay increase, which now requires an evaluation and executed contract amendment. The attorney also said the clerk serves at the will of the mayor and city council.

After the roll call, the vote was recorded as: six yes, one no (Ortiz). Following the vote the mayor congratulated the new city clerk.

The council’s packet shows the city intends to apply its executive compensation and benefits plan for health insurance and leave accrual. Council members asked staff to ensure the broader classification and compensation study underway be completed so pay adjustments across related positions avoid compression and retain employees.

The action formalizes the city clerk’s appointment and sets salary and benefit terms; council debate focused on process, precedent and fiscal fairness rather than the appointee’s qualifications.

Ending — The council’s decision concludes the personnel item for now; several council members said they want the city’s class-and-compensation study completed and performance reviews scheduled as outlined in the contract.