Board actions – Nov. 4 – Welcome to San Bernardino County

A "San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Meeting Actions" banner with five members standing in front of the County Government Center.

The Board of Supervisors took several actions during its regular board meeting on Nov. 4.

Supervisors support community initiatives using discretionary funding

The Board of Supervisors approved funding allocations through the District Specific Priorities Program to support mental health outreach, senior services, public safety training, veterans’ legal assistance and community engagement programs across the county. Funding allocations include:

$132,000 from Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to Stay Here Nonprofit Corporation to distribute 100,000 mental health Lifeline Bracelets and implement a suicide prevention pilot program.
$100,000 from Fourth District Supervisor Curt Hagman’s District Specific Priorities Program to Veterans Legal Institute to fund three attorneys providing legal assistance to county veterans.
$70,000 from First District Supervisor Col. Paul Cook (Ret.)’s District Specific Priorities Program to The Woman Today, Inc. to support nutrition, aging and mental health programs and workshops.
$53,068 from Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District to purchase two fire extinguisher training devices.
$26,534 from Armendarez’s Second District discretionary fund to the city of Rancho Cucamonga to purchase a public fire extinguisher training device.
$10,000 from Armendarez’s Second District discretionary fund to the Upland Chamber of Commerce to support community programs and events.
$10,000 from Armendarez’s Second District discretionary fund to the San Antonio Hospital Foundation, Inc. to assist with health-related community program and event costs.
$10,000 from Armendarez’s Second District discretionary fund to Seasonal Adventures, Inc. to provide pumpkin vouchers for underprivileged children at the Rancho Cucamonga Pumpkin Festival.

These investments reinforce the board’s commitment to improving health, safety and quality of life for residents, supporting communities in need and strengthening community partnerships to bring the county closer to achieving the Countywide Vision.

Board to hold Nov. 18 meeting in Ontario

The board approved an amendment to its 2025 annual meeting calendar to relocate its regular meeting on Nov. 18, 2025, to Ontario City Hall’s city council chambers, located at 303 E. B St. Closed session will begin at 8 a.m., followed by the public session at 9 a.m.

County supports Sheriff’s Employee Assistance Team

The County Administrative Office is providing a $50,000 donation to the Sheriff’s Employee Assistance Team, Inc. (SEAT), a nonprofit organization that provides vital support for the well-being of the County Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s employees and their families. The funds will be used to assist department members and their families facing critical hardships such as serious illness, accidents, housing emergencies and bereavement.

This donation aligns with the county’s ongoing efforts to support public safety personnel and their well-being.

$1.7 million public safety state grant award

The board accepted a $1.7 million grant award from the California Board of State and Community Corrections for the 2025–26 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Equipment and Training Program. The grant will support multi-agency efforts to strengthen public safety and behavioral health services across the county for the period of Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026, and support targeted initiatives, including:

The development of Behavioral Health’s secure web-based data portal for mental health detention reporting – approximately $145,000
The procurement of District Attorney’s advanced forensic tools and training for digital investigations – approximately $268,000
The procurement of field deployment of handheld narcotics analyzers for County Probation – $160,000
The Sheriff Department’s expansion of its tactical training programs, including crisis simulators, red-dot optic firearms and medical kits – approximately $1,135,000

Countywide Emergency Operations Plan update

The San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services is updating the San Bernardino County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) to enhance emergency response coordination and operational preparedness throughout the county’s operational area.

The updated plan incorporates recommendations from a comprehensive gap analysis and introduces 21 emergency support function annexes designed to standardize county department coordination during all-hazards incidents.

Originally adopted in 2013 and last revised in 2019, the EOP serves as a high-level guidance document outlining the county’s framework for emergency response, continuity of government and departmental responsibilities. The revised plan builds upon the county’s commitment to proactive emergency planning by integrating lessons learned, new threats and updated response protocols across all phases of emergency management — preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.

By updating the EOP with enhanced department coordination plans for a range of emergencies, the county is working to achieve the Countywide Vision’s public safety goal.

Internship agreements support workforce development in health and early education

The board approved nonfinancial internship agreements that will provide hands-on field experience for students pursuing careers in public health and early childhood education.

San Bernardino County Preschool Services is partnering with the University of New England to allow student interns to gain experience through the County’s Preschool Services Department from Nov. 5, 2025, through Oct. 31, 2030. Interns will assist staff in delivering Head Start, Early Head Start and State Preschool programs that promote child development, health, nutrition and family engagement for approximately 2,000 children ages 0 to 5 enrolled across the county.
San Bernardino County Public Health is collaborating with Patton State Hospital near Highland to provide fieldwork opportunities for student interns through June 30, 2030. Interns will gain experience in dietetics and other public health fields under the supervision of qualified County staff, contributing to programs in nursing, nutrition, environmental health, health education and social work.

These internship programs help the county to achieve the Countywide Vision and the Cradle2Career goal by preparing children and students to thrive in school and life.

County updates Land Use Services building codes

Land Use Services will align county building codes with state-mandated 2025 California Building Standards Codes, which go into effect January 1, 2026. The changes apply to all new construction and development in the county’s unincorporated areas and include:

Updated safety and construction standards required by state law.
Improved rules for water protection, including:
- Increased distance requirements between septic systems and drinking water wells to help prevent groundwater contamination. The minimum setback for standard systems will increase from 50 feet to 100 feet, and for high‑capacity systems (more than 5,000 gallons per day), the setback will increase from 100 feet to 200 feet.
Simplified grading rules: No permit needed for projects moving less than 100 cubic yards of soil.

The ordinance also adopts the latest editions of the International Property Maintenance Code and swimming pool and spa code, as well as the wildland‑urban interface code, for fire‑prone areas. These updates are part of a regular statewide building code cycle and help ensure the county’s land‑use regulations reflect current safety, environmental and development needs.

For more information, visit bit.ly/3WDGCMc.

Additional County Update News – November 6, 2025