Ordinance No. MC - 1675
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ORDINANCE NO. MC-1675
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA,
AMENDING CHAPTER 2.82 OF THE CITY OF SAN
BERNARDINO MUNICIPAL CODE TO AMEND THE
SALARY OF THE MAYOR TO AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO
FIFTY (50%) OF THE ANNUAL SALARY OF A SUPERIOR
COURT JUDGE IN THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
WHEREAS, the City of San Bernardino, California (“City”) is a chartered city and municipal corporation, duly organized under the California Constitution and laws of the State of California; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to San Bernardino City Charter (“Charter”) Article III, Section 305, compensation for the Mayor and Council Members is established by ordinance, 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; and
WHEREAS, on February 21, 2018, the City Council adopted Ordinance MC-1463 to create the Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission (“Commission”) to review, consider, and make recommendations regarding compensation for the Mayor and City Council consistent with Article III, Section 305 of the Charter. Pursuant to Section 2.19.040 of the San Bernardino Municipal Code, meetings of the Commission shall be held solely upon request for compensation review by the Mayor and City Council; and
WHEREAS, 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 from an annual salary equal to fifty percent (50%) of the annual salary of a Superior Court Judge in the County of San Bernardino to an annual salary of $50,000. The Mayor’s annual salary has not been amended since, and remains $50,000; and WHEREAS, at the September 2, 2026 regular meeting of the Mayor and City Council, in response to a request by the Mayor’s Office, City staff requested that the City Council convene the Commission to evaluate options for adjusting the Mayor’s salary including potentially reinstating the prior salary that was established for the position of the Mayor prior to adoption of Ordinance MC-1571. The Mayor and City Council approved staff’s request and directed the Commission to meet and to finalize any recommendations to the City Council on or before October 5, 2026; and
WHEREAS, on September 29, 2025, the Commission held a regular meeting at the Mayor and City Council’s direction to evaluate options for adjusting the Mayor’s salary and to review compensation of the City Council and return with recommendations for consideration at the Mayor and City Council meeting on October 21, 2026; and
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WHEREAS, at the September 29, 2026 regular meeting of the Commission, the Commission recommended the following:
• That the Mayor and City Council adjust the Mayor’s annual salary to an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the annual salary of a Superior Court Judge in the County of San Bernardino; and
• That the Mayor and City Council not adjust the annual salary of the City Council; and WHEREAS, taking into consideration the Commission’s recommendations, the Mayor and City Council now desire to amend Chapter 2.82 to adjust the compensation of the Mayor to an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the annual salary of a Superior Court Judge in the County of San Bernardino; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to San Bernardino City Charter Article III, Section 305, 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 CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by this reference.
SECTION 2. Amendment. Section 2.82.010, “Compensation of Mayor,” of Chapter 2.82, “Mayor and City Council Compensation,” is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
Ҥ 2.82.010 COMPENSATION OF MAYOR.
(A) Commencing with the date of commencement of the terms of Councilmembers elected at the November 2026 election, the Mayor shall receive the following compensation:
(1) Annual salary equal to fifty percent (50%) of the annual salary of a Superior Court Judge in the County of San Bernardino.
(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.” SECTION 3. Certification. City Clerk of the City of San Bernardino shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance and cause publication to occur in a newspaper of general circulation Ordinance No. MC - 1675
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and published and circulated in the City in a manner permitted under Section 36933 of the Government Code of the State of California.
SECTION 4. CEQA. The Mayor and City Council finds this Ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in that the activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty, as in this case, that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
SECTION 5. Severability. If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance, or any part thereof, is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this Ordinance or any part thereof. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase be declared unconstitutional. If for any reason any portion of this ordinance is found to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the balance of this ordinance shall not be affected.
SECTION 6. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its adoption.
APPROVED and ADOPTED by the City Council and signed by the Mayor and attested by the City Clerk this 4
th day of October 2026.
Helen Tran, Mayor
City of San Bernardino
Attest:
Telicia Lopez, CMC, City Clerk
Approved as to form:
Albert J. Maldonado, City Attorney
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CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO) ss
CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO )
I, Telicia Lopez, CMC, City Clerk, hereby certify that the attached is a true copy of Ordinance No. MC-1675, introduced by the City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, at a regular meeting held the 21st day of October, 2026. Ordinance No. MC-1675 was approve passed and adopted at a regular meeting held the 4
th day of November 2026 by the following vote:
Council Members: AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT
SANCHEZ _____ _____ _______ _______
IBARRA _____ _____ _______ _______
FIGUEROA _____ _____ _______ _______
SHORETT _____ _____ _______ _______
KNAUS _____ _____ _______ _______
FLORES _____ _____ _______ _______
ORTIZ _____ _____ _______ _______
WITNESS my hand and official seal of the City of San Bernardino this 22nd day of October 2026.
Telicia Lopez, CMC, City Clerk