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Charter committee pauses effort to give San Bernardino mayor power to nominate city manager or a full council vote
Summary
The City of San Bernardino Charter Review Committee discussed proposals to let the mayor singly nominate the city manager and to give the mayor a full legislative vote, but members agreed not to rush changes onto the November ballot and asked staff for comparative research and operational analysis.
The San Bernardino Charter Review Committee debated whether to amend the city charter to give the mayor sole authority to nominate the city manager and whether to grant the mayor a full vote on council legislative matters, but members concluded there was not enough time for meaningful public engagement and asked staff to return with comparative research.
Vice Chair Casey Daley opened discussion on the item and summarized the three conceptual amendments staff had outlined: mayor nomination authority, a mayoral vote on legislative matters, and added detail on mayoral duties. Staff liaison Corey Hodges told the committee the current recruitment process typically involves a recruiting firm and closed-session council vetting; under the old charter, by contrast, "the mayor shall appoint, subject to the confirmation by the common council, a city manager" (old-charter language staff provided).
Committee members raised practical and governance concerns about both proposals. Several members said giving the mayor a vote could require redistricting or changing the number of wards to avoid an even-numbered voting body, and that the change could alter the balance of powers between the mayor and council. "If the mayor were to be given a vote, then that veto would need to be taken away," Daley said, arguing the city should not create an imbalance where the mayor both votes and retains a veto.
Opponents also cautioned against rushing amendments onto the November ballot. Hodges noted the filing cutoff for a November measure is typically late June, a timeline several members said would not allow adequate community outreach. "I wouldn't say nothing is gonna happen because we also have the option for the community to put something on the ballot," committee member James Albert said, but most members favored a more deliberative pace.
The committee asked staff for a focused research package that includes: comparative examples of how similarly sized charter cities elect mayors and whether mayors have legislative votes; operational impacts of giving the mayor additional powers; and clear descriptions of what would have to change (for example, redistricting or removing veto authority). Hodges said he would prepare those materials for a future meeting.
Outcome: The committee did not advance either charter change at the meeting. Members agreed to table efforts to put changes on the November ballot and requested staff research and analysis to inform a later recommendation to the mayor and city council.
