San Bernardino council approves consent calendar, legislative contract, land MOU and Highland reorganization unanimously

The San Bernardino Mayor and City Council approved the consent calendar and multiple staff recommendations unanimously at their Feb. 5 joint meeting, including a legislative advocacy contract, a memorandum of understanding on a city-owned parcel, and authorization to begin a reorganization with the city of Highland for a 0.56‑acre parcel.

The votes followed routine presentation and brief questions from council members before each motion was called. The city clerk recorded unanimous approval for the consent calendar and each separate item when put to a roll call vote. The council did not debate alternatives at length during the recorded motions.

Key outcomes

- Consent calendar: Approved unanimously. The council did not pull items for separate discussion except those previously announced as pulled for later consideration.

- Legislative/advocacy contract: Council approved a contract recommended by staff to provide legislative advocacy services in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. Staff said five proposals were reviewed and the recommended firm will be overseen by the city’s new legislative and governmental affairs manager. The contract was described by staff as budgeted within the city’s existing allocation (the manager said the position is budgeted under $25,000 and the contract is within the total budgeted amount of $35,000). The council approved the contract unanimously.

- Property memorandum of understanding (agenda item 15): Council approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the water department to redesignate a parcel of land currently owned by the water department. Staff clarified the action before council was an MOU (not final purchase) and that any planning or purchase steps will follow, including review by the planning commission and later return to council. The council approved the MOU unanimously.

- Authorization to initiate reorganization proceedings with the city of Highland (agenda item 22): Council authorized staff to begin reorganization proceedings for a 0.56‑acre parcel at the southeast corner of Victoria Avenue and Fifth Street, APN 1192‑551‑01. The motion passed unanimously.

What the votes mean

Staff described the legislative contract as a representation and advocacy service to help secure legislative and budgetary priorities for San Bernardino at the state and federal level; the contract will be managed by the city’s legislative and governmental affairs manager. The property MOU is a step toward transferring or redesignating city‑owned land; staff said the land is currently owned by the water department and any subsequent purchase or zoning changes will proceed through the planning process. The reorganization authorization begins a formal process with the neighboring city of Highland for a small parcel, as presented in the staff report.

Procedural notes

Several items were pulled earlier in the meeting for later consideration, and staff and council clarified eligibility rules for one commission appointment (see separate article on appointments). Votes were recorded electronically and the city clerk confirmed the unanimous outcomes on the public record.

Ending

Council members did not attach conditions or amendments to these approvals during the session; staff said follow‑up steps (planning review, MOU execution, and contract oversight) will be handled administratively and reported back to council as required.