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DISCUSSION
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: September 3, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Eric Levitt, City Manager
Department: City Manager's Office
Subject: Review and consider the selection of a consultant for the Strategic Planning, Goal Setting and Team Building
Session involving the City Manager, Mayor and City
Council (All Wards)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, review and consider the selection of a professional consultant to lead a Strategic Planning, Goal Setting and Team Building Session involving the City Manager, Mayor and City Council.
Executive Summary
The proposed session will provide a structured environment for identifying strategic objectives, setting measurable goals, and enhancing interpersonal dynamics among the Council and City leadership. A professional facilitator will ensure the process is inclusive, focused, and results driven.
Background
On July 23, 2025, the City issued a Request for Quotes (RFQ) for the City Strategic Planning, Goal Setting, and Team Building initiative. The RFQ officially closed on August 14, 2025, and generated a robust response, with 26 proposals submitted.
Following a thorough evaluation, staff recommends that the Council consider selecting one of the five shortlisted consultants or alternatively, opt to have the City Manager facilitate the session:
BridgeGroup LLC
HR Dynamics & Performance Management, INC.
Knight Leadership Solutions
Raftelis
The Organizational Network
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The selected proposed consultants have been identified based on:
Experience working with municipal governments and elected officials Proven success in strategic planning, goal setting and team building Neutrality and ability to manage diverse perspectives
Strong communication and facilitation skills
Proposal Cost
Discussion
The City is preparing to host a facilitated session aimed at setting goals for the City Manager, enhancing communication, team building, and strategic alignment among elected officials and the City Manager. This initiative supports the City’s commitment to transparent governance, effective teamwork, and long-term planning.
The selected consultant will be expected to:
Design and lead a structured session tailored to the City's needs Encourage open dialogue and consensus-building
Help define actionable goals and priorities
Foster a collaborative and respectful environment
2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
Engaging in a strategic planning, goal setting, and team building session aligns with Key Strategic Goal No. 1: Improved Operational & Financial Capacity, and Key Strategic Goal No. 2: Focused Aligned Leadership & Unified Community.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact will be identified based on the selection of the consultant.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, review and consider the selection of a professional consultant or City Manager as the facilitator to lead the Strategic Planning, Goal Setting and Team Building Session involving the City Manager, Mayor and City Council.
Attachments
Attachment 1 - BridgeGroup LLC
Attachment 2 - HR Dynamics & Performance Management, INC.
Attachment 3 - Knight Leadership Solutions
Attachment 4 - Raftelis
Attachment 5 - The Organizational Network
Ward:
All
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
None.