MINUTES
For the
Study Session Meeting of the Mayor and City Council
of the City of San Bernardino, Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency, Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Acting as the Successor Housing Agency to the Redevelopment Agency, Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Acting as the Housing Authority, and Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Acting as the San Bernardino Joint Powers Financing Authority WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2020
4:00 PM
Study session was called to order at 4:00 PM by Mayor John Valdivia on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, via tele-conference, San Bernardino, CA.
CALL TO ORDER
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Theodore Sanchez Council Member, Ward 1 Present
Sandra Ibarra Council Member, Ward 2 Absent
Juan Figueroa Mayor Pro-Tem, Ward 3 Present
Fred Shorett Council Member, Ward 4 Present
Henry Nickel Council Member, Ward 5 Late 4:06pm
Bessine L. Richard Council Member, Ward 6 Present
James Mulvihill Council Member, Ward 7 Present
John Valdivia Mayor Present
Teri Ledoux City Manager Present
Sonia Carvalho City Attorney Present
Genoveva Rocha Acting City Clerk Present
City of San Bernardino
201 North E Street
San Bernardino, CA 92401
http://www.sbcity.org
Mayor John Valdivia
Council Members
Theodore Sanchez
Sandra Ibarra
Juan Figueroa
Fred Shorett
Henry Nickel
Bessie L. Richard
James Mulvihill
Study Session Meeting Draft Minutes July 15, 2020
Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 2 4:00 P.M.
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
There was no invocation or pledge of allegiance held.
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS LISTED ON THE AGENDA
Treasure Ortiz stated that there was an option to sell the City Hall so that it could be a functioning building again.
STUDY SESSION
1) Discussion on the City Hall Assessment and Other City Facilities City Staff provided a presentation on the assessment of the City Hall and other city facilities.
Council Member Nickel asked if the baseball stadium was sold. City Manager Teri Ledoux reported that the city had acquired the stadium. Council Member Nickel stated that there were other financing options, and he asked for all potential options to be considered. He stated that they needed to look at other ways to finance. He read a public comment into the record discussing the other financing methods. Council Member Nickel stated that he did not believe the city could keep up City Hall and it should be sold. He asked what the current assessment was. City staff reported that an appraisal still needed to be done.
City Attorney Sonia Carvalho stated that the labor code stated that if the improvements were paid for in whole or in part out of public funds, prevailing wages applied. That included direct payment by the city, a transfer of land, or the payment of rent. Almost any alternative would require a payment of wages for the project.
Mayor Valdivia stated that the project management would be offloaded with a partnership.
He discussed that it was an important decision, and there could be an opportunity for the Downtown Renaissance plan to be funneled in. He stated that staff also needed to provide direction.
Council Member Mulvihill discussed that a partnership was necessary. He asked if there was a partnership with a private developer if it would kick in the prevailing wage. City Attorney Sonia Carvalho stated that it was dependent on whether the government was subsidizing the project at all. Council Member Mulvihill suggested a public-private partnership to cut down on costs.
Council Member Figueroa stated that the public-private partnership should be an option, and he discussed the current location possibly joining a land swap.
Study Session Meeting Draft Minutes July 15, 2020
Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 3 City Manager Teri Ledoux stated that no motion was needed, but she suggested that the Council direct staff to look at appraisals and the public-private partnerships. She stated that it was possible someone would need to be hired to lead the process.
Council Member Shorett raised concerns about the market for selling commercial properties. He discussed the Carousel Mall and stated that they were close on a couple of the proposals.
Council Member Nickel recommended creating an ad hoc committee to further look at options.
Mayor Valdivia discussed that the prices were astronomical and that appraisals were needed.
Council Member Ibarra asked how much the cost of demolishing only was. Deputy Director of Public Works Alex Qishta reported that it was $2.5 million. Council Member Ibarra suggested having workshops rather than bringing the issue to an ad hoc committee.
Mayor Valdivia agreed with Council Member Ibarra on having workshops.
Council Member Richard agreed with Council Member Ibarra and discussed the potential for public-private partnerships.
City Manager Teri Ledoux stated that they would bring an item forward at an open meeting regarding the cost of getting someone to do the appraisals.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting of the Mayor and City Council was adjourned on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at 4:58 p.m.
The next joint regular meeting of the Mayor and City Council and the Mayor and City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency will be held on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, in the Council Chamber located at 555 West 6th St Street, San Bernardino, California 92401. Closed Session will begin at 5:30 p.m. and Open Session will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Genoveva Rocha, CMC, City Clerk