Board actions – July 9, 2024 – Welcome to San Bernardino County

Board favors plan to ask voters about collecting more from STR and hotel guests

The Board of Supervisors preliminarily approved asking voters to create $9.4 million in annual funding for infrastructure, public safety and other basic resident needs by increasing the transient occupancy tax charged to those who stay in hotels and short-term rentals in the unincorporated areas of the county from 7 to 11 percent.

Nearly all California counties collect transient occupancy taxes (TOT), also known as bed taxes. Los Angeles and Inyo counties collect 12 percent, while Riverside and Orange counties collect 10 percent. TOT is also collected by many if not most cities.

In San Bernardino County, funds could be used to fund maintenance of streets and sidewalks, keep parks and other public spaces clean, increase support for public safety, and other services impacted by hotel and short-term rental guests.

On July 23, the board will make a final decision about whether to place the measure on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Board expands treatment to reduce homelessness

Supervisors approved plans to invest $51.4 million in state grant funding to expand the availability of substance use disorder treatment to reduce the risk of homelessness.

The funding will be used to construct new facilities at the Comprehensive Treatment Campus in Victorville.

Last year, the county acquired nine single-story buildings, totaling about 17,770 square feet, on almost 30 acres in Victorville for the Comprehensive Treatment Campus.

The plan approved by the board this week will add 18 adult withdrawal management beds, 36 adult substance use disorder residential treatment beds, an adult outpatient facility, as well as a youth campus consisting of a 14-adolescent-bed Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility, a 16-bed adolescent substance use disorder residential treatment facility, a youth and adolescent outpatient treatment facility, and a wellness center.

Supervisors help veterans purchase homes

The board approved a proposal by Fourth District Supervisor Curt Hagman to help fund Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to help low-income military veteran families buy homes.

The county will provide Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity with $88,000 from Hagman’s discretionary funds to support the Salute to Service Program, which assists low-income military veteran families buy homes at a below market value with a low interest loan.

Funding will be utilized towards the construction of two homes in Chino Hills. Qualifying households partner with Habitat for Humanity and agree to provide 250-500 hours of “sweat equity” during the construction phase, giving an added buy-in and the honor that comes from building one’s own home. The homes are being built to serve two disabled veteran families and are anticipated to be completed this fall.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing organization that works with families, local communities, volunteers and partners from around the world so that more people can live in affordable and safe homes.

The Board of Supervisors Discretionary Fund – District Specific Priorities Program allows the county to fund programs specific to the unique needs of communities within the five supervisorial districts that meet a public purpose and provide services to citizens that promote health, safety, economic well-being, and enhance quality of life and meet the needs of county residents.

Supervisors continue to enhance Animal Care services

In the wake of approving plans to assist community cats and build a new state-of-the-art regional animal care facility in Bloomington and seeing the initiation of a volunteer program and enrichment services at the Devore animal shelter, the Board of Supervisors added two rescue coordinators to work directly with individual rescue groups to better streamline adoptions and provide other services.

The rescue coordinators will meet the growing demands of the County Animal Care Division and improve the well-being of animals in need by developing and implementing outreach strategies to increase the visibility and success of general adoptions and work with rescue groups and other stakeholders to develop an expanded media campaign to enhance communications with the public.

Staff will participate in community events and events hosted by rescue groups and educate the public about the benefits of adopting animals and the various shelter programs offered through the County Animal Care Division. The new positions will also provide additional support to county animal shelters in Devore and Big Bear, as well as the contracted Apple Valley Animal Shelter.

Cameras approved for ballot drop boxes

In response to concerns expressed by some residents, the board agreed to install cameras at more ballot drop boxes throughout the county.

State law required the county to provide a minimum number of lockable drop boxes for the 2020 Presidential General Election. There are currently more than 70 drop boxes installed throughout the county, which provide voters a safe and expedient way to cast a voted ballot.

About half of the county’s drop boxes were placed in locations monitored by existing cameras. Cameras for drop boxes are suggested but not required. In response to concerns from the public about the need for cameras at all locations, the county will begin installing cameras next week at drop boxes located on county government properties. The county will continue to work toward securing cameras to monitor all drop boxes in the county.

Board supports license plate readers in key unincorporated areas

Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) systems will be deployed by the Sheriff’s Department to prevent and fight crime in Muscoy, Arrowhead Farms and Rosena Ranch, thanks to action taken by the Board of Supervisors.

The board approved a proposal by Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., to allocate $364,750 from the 2024-25 Fifth District’s Board of Supervisors Discretionary Fund – District Specific Priorities Program budget to the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator for the installation of ALPR systems in the unincorporated Fifth District communities of Muscoy, Arrowhead Farms and Rosena Ranch.

ALPR systems automatically capture an image of a vehicle and the vehicle’s license plate, transform the plate image into alphanumeric characters using optical character recognition, compare the plate number acquired to one or more databases of vehicles of interest to law enforcement, and then alert law enforcement officers when a vehicle of interest has been observed.

The stored license plate data also provides law enforcement investigators with a pointer system that may help them identify vehicles associated with suspects, witnesses or victims, and to develop exculpatory information that assists them with focusing their investigative resources. The data also allows law enforcement to connect serial criminal activities that may have occurred in other law enforcement jurisdictions.

ALPRs will be installed in nine locations in Muscoy, seven locations in Arrowhead Farms, and two locations in Rosena Ranch as identified by the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator, who will manage and oversee the ALPR project.

Lucerne Valley Community Center renovation approved

The board approved plans to renovate the heavily used but outdated Lucerne Valley Community Center.

The project focuses on kitchen equipment, windows, meeting rooms and existing bathrooms to ensure the community center complies with current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards. The kitchen upgrade will provide new opportunities that include cooking classes and special events such as pancake breakfasts, wedding receptions, food service at public events and community cook-offs.

The project will also include repairs to park walkways and modifications to existing facilities, such as reconstruction of damaged curbs and providing ADA access to the basketball court, skatepark, restrooms, baseball field and park benches located at Pioneer Park.

County Service Area 29 Lucerne Valley was established by the board in December 1964 to provide, among other things, a cemetery, TV translator, fire protection, park and recreation, streetlights, ambulance services, and water services. The district includes Pioneer Park.

The Lucerne Valley Community Center, located within Pioneer Park, has been a great asset to the local community, offering many programs and being utilized regularly by local non-profits and private parties for community meetings, celebrations and classes. However, over the years, the community center has become outdated and deteriorated due to age, severe weather events, and extensive use of the facilities.

The renovation project will be funded through an allocation from the County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. The next step will be seeking bids to carry out the work.

Additional County Update News – July 11, 2024