City attorney reads findings from two personnel investigations; council votes to publish summaries

The San Bernardino City Attorney reported the results of two third‑party investigations during the council’s open session, saying the council voted unanimously in closed session to make the allegations and findings public.

“There is one reportable action,” the City Attorney said, reading a summary of the investigations and their conclusions. He described four allegations made by former acting city manager Rochelle Clayton — including a claim that the city owed her back pay and allegations about manipulation of an investigation and inappropriate comments — and said the investigator found those claims unsubstantiated. He also said Susie Soren’s allegation that Clayton breached a mutual non‑disparagement clause was substantiated.

The City Attorney then summarized a second investigation that included multiple allegations involving Mayor Helen Tran, Dr. Treasure Ortiz and other city employees. He said an allegation that Mayor Tran “yelled at” and accused an employee of incompetence was sustained; a related claim that she attempted to influence council members about a staff contract was sustained; and other allegations were sustained in part or not sustained as detailed in the City Attorney’s reading.

A formal motion to provide public descriptions of the investigations was made by Council member Sanchez and seconded by Council member Knauss; the City Attorney reported the vote as unanimous 7–0.

The City Attorney emphasized the distinction between an allegation and an investigative finding: an allegation is what someone says occurred, while a sustained or substantiated finding means the factual investigator concluded the allegation was supported by evidence. The City Attorney read which allegations were sustained, sustained in part, or found unsubstantiated. He did not announce any additional disciplinary actions in open session.

The council did not vote on personnel discipline in open session; the City Attorney’s announcement documented the closed‑session reportable action and the council’s decision to release a description of the investigations and findings.

The City Attorney’s public summary and the recorded motion are the council’s only open‑session record of the investigations; the City Attorney and the council did not provide further detail in the open meeting about follow‑up steps or personnel actions beyond the release of the findings.