City Council to consider increasing staff, approving new projects

The City of San Bernardino Mayor and City Council will be holding a workshop on Friday, June 30 at 9:00 am to consider recommendations involving key city issues and to approve a strategic staffing plan. The special meeting will take place at 201 North E Street in the Multipurpose Conference Room on the 2nd floor and is expected to last the entire day.

“Most of our regular City Council meetings involve conducting the day-to-day business of the City,” said interim City Manager Charles McNeely. “This workshop is an opportunity for the Mayor and Council to take a deep dive in to critical City issues in close partnership with City staff, and to provide strategic direction, set policy, and take action.”

City staff is recommending the Council approve a contract to establish an interim shelter at a local motel while the City’s permanent shelter and navigation center is in development, create a dedicated police multi-disciplinary team to focus on downtown quality-of-life issues, extend the contract to provide after-hours security to City parks, expand encampment and city clean ups, and to establish a park ranger program.

Economic development items to be considered include launching a revitalization effort for downtown San Bernardino, conducting an engineering and space study for the rehabilitation of city hall, and partnering with the Cal State San Bernardino’s Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship to establish a center in Downtown San Bernardino.

The Council will also be considering a four-year plan to address staffing shortages in the City. Many departments remain at staffing levels significantly lower than when San Bernardino entered bankruptcy in 2012.

“Over the past several months, we have been looking at our operational structure and staffing levels, and how they can be improved to serve our residents,” added McNeely. The proposal coming to the Council on June 30 lays out a fiscally responsible road map for San Bernardino to strategically hire in conjunction with new initiatives and community needs.”

Most of the proposed projects and staffing will be funded through a strategic initiative allocation in the 2023-2024 general fund budget, approved on June 21st by the City Council.