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Council reads summaries of two independent personnel investigations; several accusations found unsubstantiated

City of San Bernardino, Mayor and City Council (acting as the Successor Agency and Housing Authority) · December 18, 2025

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Summary

A council official read summaries of two independent personnel investigations. Investigators found some allegations substantiated and several others not supported; the council had previously voted 7-0 to release a public description of the reports.

A presiding council official read summaries of two independent investigations in open session, outlining allegations about current and former city staff and officials and the investigators’ determinations.

The first investigation included four allegations attributed to former City Manager Michelle Klein: claims she was owed post-employment pay, alleged pressure by then finance manager Susy Storm around city credit-card use, alleged inappropriate comments by Sonia Carvalho in a Sept. 2024 staff Zoom, and additional claims tied to workplace conduct. The official read the investigator’s opinion that several of those allegations were not founded. The official said the council previously voted 7-0 to provide the public with a description of the investigations and their findings.

A second, separate investigation examined allegations that included efforts to influence council members regarding the termination of a contract for Anabel Rocha and claims that Mayor Tran (referred to in the reading) treated Rocha poorly. The investigator found some allegations were substantiated (including a claim related to attempted influence around Rocha’s contract) while other allegations were not supported by evidence.

The reading named individuals referenced in the investigations — including Michelle Klein, Susy Storm, Sonia Carvalho and councilmember Dr. Treasure Ortiz — and repeatedly distinguished between an allegation (a reported claim) and whether the third-party investigator found facts to support it. The official emphasized that a finding of “not founded” indicated the investigator could not identify evidence that the alleged conduct occurred.

Council members did not vote that night on policy changes tied to the investigations during the open session. The public reading concluded with the official saying the written investigative reports and the determinations had closed the two inquiries presented.