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Charter review committee opposes rushed bid to put mayoral changes on June ballot
Summary
San Bernardino’s Charter Review Advisory Committee voted unanimously to oppose council efforts to place unvetted charter amendments discussed at the Feb. 2 special meeting on the June 2026 ballot, citing lack of public vetting and staff review.
The Charter Review Advisory Committee voted unanimously to oppose any effort to place on the June 2026 ballot charter amendments that were discussed by the City Council at a special Feb. 2 meeting without prior public vetting.
The motion, introduced by Vice Chair Tim Prince, said the committee "strongly oppose[s] efforts by the council to place on the June 2026 ballot charter amendments brought for discussion at the February 2nd mayor and city council special meeting agenda." Members said the committee’s objection was not to the substance of possible reforms but to the timing and the absence of research, public outreach and committee review.
City Attorney Albert Maldonado reminded members that the mayor has veto authority when a proposal does not receive five affirmative council votes; he also confirmed that the council’s prior four-to-three vote to direct staff to draft the three proposals was later vetoed by the mayor, so staff was not currently directed to study them. Committee members repeatedly cited the large February public turnout in opposition to the council’s expedited approach as the principal reason to oppose placing an unvetted proposal on the June ballot.
"Given the lack of time, the lack of time afforded to this committee, [and] the strong public input at the early February special council meeting ... we strongly oppose any effort to put an unvetted charter amendment proposal on the June ballot," Prince said during debate.
The committee recorded the motion and passed it by voice vote; members confirmed the committee would also pursue formal public outreach and more thorough review before recommending any charter changes to the council.
What happens next: The committee will return a written statement to the City Council (as has been standard practice) and pursue research and public education before weighing specific charter amendments. Any charter amendment that the council eventually places on a ballot would still require the council’s formal direction and, if placed, voter approval.
