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CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: September 2, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Eric Levitt, City Manager
Department: City Manager's Office
Subject: Request for the Mayor and City Council to direct that the Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission
meet to Evaluate Options for Adjusting the Salary of the Mayor (All Wards)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California,
1. Direct that the Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission meet to evaluate options for adjusting the Mayor’s salary, including but not limited to reinstating the Mayor’s salary at an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the annual salary of a Superior Court Judge in the County of San Bernardino; and
2. Provide a recommendation by 5:00 PM on September 18, 2026.
City Manager's Comments
This item is to receive City Council approval to provide authority for the Elected Officials Compensation Advisory Commission to meet.
Executive Summary
The City Council has the authority under the San Bernardino City Charter to adjust compensation for elected officials following an analysis and recommendation from the Elected Officials Compensation Advisory Commission. In response to a request from the Mayor’s Office, staff is seeking Council approval to convene the Commission to evaluate the compensation for the Office of the Mayor and provide a recommendation to the Mayor and City Council based on an analysis of compensation for mayors in comparable California cities and whether it is appropriate to reinstate the prior salary that was established for this position under Ordinance MC-1504 where it was equal to fifty percent (50%) of the annual salary of a Superior Court Judge in the County of San 3 5
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Bernardino. Following receipt of the Commission’s recommendation, the Council may also direct staff to conduct a separate classification and compensation study for the position of the Mayor. The Council would then consider the Commission’s recommendation at a public hearing.
Background
The Mayor and City Council established the Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission on February 21, 2018 (Ordinance MC-1463 establishing Chapter 2.19 in the Municipal Code). The nine-member commission was tasked with serving in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and City Council in making recommendations relating to the compensation of city-elected officials. The commission conducts compensation surveys of city-elected officials in other California charter and/or general law cities, reviews Government Code provisions for compensation of city-elected officials and provides compensation recommendations to the Mayor and City Council pursuant to Section 305 of the City Charter.
On February 2, 2022, the City Council adopted Ordinance MC-1571, which amended Section 2.82.010 of the San Bernardino Municipal Code and adjusted the compensation of the Mayor as follows:
(A) Commencing with the certification of the November 2022 election, the Mayor shall receive the following compensation:
(1) Annual salary of $50,000;
(2) Employer health benefits contribution equivalent to that offered by the city to management employees; and
(3) An auto allowance of $725 per month.
(B) The compensation set forth herein shall be paid without regard to the number of City Council meetings attended by the Mayor. The Mayor may waive all or any portion of her or his own compensation. The compensation set forth herein is exclusive of any amounts payable to the Mayor as per day compensation for city business-related travel and further exclusive of any amounts payable to the Mayor for out of town attendance on city-related business.
Prior to Ordinance MC-1571, the compensation of the Mayor was set to equal fifty percent (50%) of the annual salary of a Superior Court Judge in the County of San Bernardino, subject to annual adjustment to be implemented January 1 of each subsequent year (Ordinance MC-1504).
Discussion
As outlined in the City of San Bernardino Charter, the City Council has the authority to adjust the compensation package of elected officials. The San Bernardino City Charter Article III, Section 305 titled “Compensation; Expenses” states:
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“Compensation for the Mayor and Council Members shall be established by ordinance following a public hearing, giving due consideration to the recommendations of an advisory commission charged with the periodic review of compensation for City-elected officials. Compensation for the Mayor shall be commensurate with that for a full-time position.
No ordinance increasing such salaries shall become effective until the date of commencement of the terms of Council members elected at the next regular election. The Mayor and Council members shall receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties of office.”
In response to a request by the Mayor’s Office, staff is requesting for the City Council to convene the Elected Officials Compensation Advisory Commission to evaluate options for adjusting the Mayor’s salary. This includes potentially reinstating the prior salary that was established for the position of the Mayor where it was equal to fifty percent (50%) of the annual salary of a Superior Court Judge in the County of San Bernardino. Convening the Commission requires Council approval per Section
2.19.040 of the San Bernardino Municipal Code:
“The Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission shall hold meetings and shall function pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 2.17 except that the meetings shall be held solely upon request for compensation review by the Mayor and City Council.”
If requested by the Mayor and City Council, the Elected Officials Compensation Advisory Commission will perform the following duties:
1. Conduct a compensation survey of city-elected officials in other California charter and/or general law cities.
2. Review Government Code provisions for compensation of city-elected officials of general law cities.
3. Provide compensation recommendations to the Mayor and City Council pursuant to Section 305 of the City Charter, including but not limited to the compensation structure that was set under Ordinance No. MC-1504.
4. Encourage public participation in the process.
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5. Provide a recommendation by 5:00 PM on Friday, September 18, 2026.
Once the Commission provides a recommendation, the City Council may consider whether to, and to what degree, the salary for the position of Mayor should be adjusted by taking the steps noted below.
1. Review and consider the recommendation of the Elected Officials Compensation Advisory Commission when available.
2. If desired, direct staff to conduct a classification and compensation study for the position of Mayor.
3. Give due consideration to the recommendations of the Elected Officials Compensation Advisory Commission, consider any additional study performed at the Council’s request, and consider an ordinance at a public hearing amending San Bernardino Municipal Code section 2.82.010.
Strategic Goals and Priorities
Directing staff to convene a meeting of the elected official compensation commission to evaluate the salary of the Mayor to appropriately reflect the duties of the office aligns with Key Target No. 2: Focused Aligned Leadership and Unified Community.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with the Mayor and City Council directing the City Manager to convene the Elected Officials Compensation Advisory Commission. If the Commission provides a recommendation that changes the salary for the position of the Mayor, and Council approves the recommendation, there would a fiscal impact resulting from either an increase or decrease in the compensation for the position of Mayor.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California,
1. Direct that the Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission meet to evaluate options for adjusting the Mayor’s salary, including but not limited to reinstating the Mayor’s salary at an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the annual salary of a Superior Court Judge in the County of San Bernardino; and
2. Provide a recommendation by 5:00 PM on September 18, 2026.
Attachments
Attachment 1 – City Charter Section 305 - Compensation; Expenses 3 5
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Attachment 2 – Municipal Code Chapter 2.19 - Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission
Attachment 3 – Municipal Code Chapter 2.82 - Mayor and City Council Compensation
Attachment 4 - Ordinance MC-1504 - Establishing Compensation and Benefits for the City-Elected officials
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
N/A
CC