San Bernardino council holds closed session on city manager search amid public criticism of timing and transparency

The San Bernardino mayor and city council convened a special closed session Sunday evening to continue the recruitment of a permanent city manager, and later said the closed session produced no reportable actions.

Council members moved to closed session shortly after public comment began; the meeting was called to order at about 5:32 p.m., closed session began at 6:06 p.m., and the council announced after the closed session that there were "no reportable actions from closed session." The council also set a special meeting for April 29, 2025, at the multipurpose conference room at 201 B Northeast Street, San Bernardino.

The meeting drew several speakers during the public-comment period who criticized the council for holding the special session while Mayor Gloria Tran and Councilmember (Treasurer) Ortiz were absent and urged a slower, more transparent hiring process. The council and its supporters countered that the city has been without a permanent city manager for about 12 months and that delaying the process would risk losing qualified candidates.

"I am here in speaking in opposition to…