DISCUSSION
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: October 15, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Eric Levitt, City Manager
Department: City Manager's Office
Subject: Approve a City Clerk Employment Agreement (All Wards) Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California:
1. Approve a City Clerk Employment Agreement on behalf of the Mayor and City Council; and
2. Authorize the Mayor to execute the City Clerk Employment Agreement on behalf of the Council.
Executive Summary
The City of San Bernardino is seeking to appoint Telicia Lopez to the position of City Clerk, a vital role responsible for maintaining official records, managing public meetings, overseeing elections, and ensuring transparency in municipal operations.
Telicia Lopez has been selected as the recommended candidate based on her extensive experience in municipal administration, knowledge of public records law, and demonstrated leadership in civic engagement.
Background
Section 400 of the City Charter of the City of San Bernardino states that the Mayor and City Council shall appoint a City Clerk and set the City Clerk’s compensation, as provided in section 304(b) of the Charter which requires five affirmative votes of the Mayor and members of the Council.
Discussion
The Mayor and City Council provided direction to negotiate an employment agreement upon the terms and conditions summarized below and set forth in the attachment to this report.
The agreement includes the following terms:
Salary terms: Commencing on the effective date, the Employee's annual base salary will be $161,000.00. This salary is scheduled to increase to $169,000.00 ($14,083.33 per month) beginning January 5, 2026. Following that, on August 4, 2026, and each year thereafter, the Employee's annual salary will be automatically increased according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), with a maximum increase of three percent (3%).
Health Insurance: City Clerk will receive a City contribution in accordance with the Executive Compensation and Benefits Plan Resolution.
Vehicle Allowance: City Clerk shall receive $725.00 per pay period for use of her personal vehicle for City business.
Paid Leave: Vacation, Sick, Administrative and other: City Clerk shall receive leave and accrue in accordance with the Agreement and the Executive Compensation and Benefits Plan Resolution.
At-Will Employee: City Clerk shall serve at the will and pleasure of the Mayor and City Council. Nothing in the Employment Agreement shall prevent, limit or otherwise interfere with the right of the City Council to suspend from duty, remove from office or otherwise terminate the services of Employee at any time, at the sole discretion of the City Council.
Severance: City Clerk shall be entitled to and receive upon termination a severance payment equivalent to six (6) month’s base salary plus benefits in effect on her termination date.
Performance Evaluation: The City Council shall review City Clerk’s job performance at least once annually. City Clerk shall remind the City Council of its obligations under this Section each year and shall work with the City Council in finding an appropriate time to place his or her annual evaluation on the agenda. The City Council may also review City Clerk’s performance at other intervals as it deems appropriate. In connection with review of City Clerk’s job performance, City shall utilize Resolution No. 94-392 and shall consider a step increase of Employee’s Base Annual Salary. 2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
The approval of a City Clerk Employment Agreement aligns with Strategic Goal No. 2a: Focused Aligned Leadership & Unified Community – Build a culture that attracts, retains, and motives the highest quality talent.
Fiscal Impact
Due to savings accrued through the City Clerk receiving Acting pay and the fact that the Deputy City Clerk position remained vacant, there will be no Fiscal Impact to the budget with the current contract. The HR Department performed an informal market study on comparisons with other City Clerk positions in the region.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California:
1. Approve a City Clerk Employment Agreement on behalf of the Mayor and City Council; and
2. Authorize the Mayor to execute the City Clerk Employment Agreement on behalf of the Council.
Attachments
Attachment 1 City Clerk’s Employment Agreement
Attachment 2 Resolution No. 2022-059 Executive Compensation And Benefits
Attachment 3 Resolution No. 94-392 Establishing Compensation Attachment 4 Resolution No. 2024-034 Auto Allowance
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
N/A