Charter Review Meeting 022526

The Charter Review Advisory Committee of San Bernardino convened to resume its work after a hiatus, focusing on reviewing and potentially amending the city charter. The meeting featured extensive public participation, with community members expressing concerns about the mayor's role, the council-manager form of government, and the need for greater transparency and citizen involvement. Committee members discussed their purview, emphasizing that while they cannot debate the merits of a strong mayor system, they can consider enhancing the mayor's voting powers within the council-manager framework. Key agenda items identified for future meetings include the role of the mayor, term limits, public outreach and education on the charter, and improving the council-manager form of government. The committee also addressed procedural matters such as electing a chair and vice chair and setting a regular meeting schedule. The meeting underscored the importance of community engagement and the challenges of operating within limited staff resources and budget constraints.