San Bernardino Moves Moratorium Ordinance to Future Meeting

The San Bernardino City Council considered its options for a moratorium on new warehouse development at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting.  While no official action could be taken, by the end of discussions and on a 5-2 vote, the council directed staff to bring an urgency ordinance back to the City Council for deliberation at a future meeting.

Nearly an hour of public comment preceded the agenda item with comments both in favor and in opposition to the moratorium, including obviously scripted proponents, environmental organizations, and local labor union members representing laborers and carpenters.

While proponents of the moratorium have criticized warehouses and the jobs they provide as “low wage,” it was members of the building trade unions that spoke most vociferously against the moratorium as many of the warehouse construction jobs are union-represented positions that provide healthcare benefits, a pension plan and good wages according to their members.

Ordinance sponsor Councilmember Ben Reynoso, urged support for a moratorium, which if passed and extended by the council could last up to two years under current state law.  Other members of the council appeared satisfied that the matter could be incorporated, as it would normally, into the revision of the city’s general plan update which is currently funded and underway.

Current locations for warehousing in the City of San Bernardino are determined by the zoning in the general plan and development code, all of which have been previously approved by the elected city council.  All projects, including warehouse and distribution development, must meet the strict criteria that exists under these documents, the California Environmental Quality Act, and state laws, which also includes separate public approval by the appointed San Bernardino Planning Commission and, if appealed, the City Council itself.

An urgency ordinance would require a supermajority of the council or six votes of the seven members for approval.  Councilmember Theodore Sanchez warned Reynoso that the council did not appear to have the six votes required for ultimate passage of the measure.

Multiple councilmembers mentioned that business leaders had contacted them regarding the negative implications of a moratorium on the city’s already tarnished business climate.