Board actions – Feb. 25, 2025 – Welcome to San Bernardino County

San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Meeting Actions banner with the county shield emblem, displaying five supervisors in professional suits, smiling in front of a backdrop featuring the San Bernardino County Government Center building with palm trees.

Board funds District Priorities Program initiatives

The board approved funding for several district-specific projects, including:

Bloomington Alleyway Water Main Replacement Project – Phase 3C: $1.52 million from Vice Chair and Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.’s District Specific Priorities Program to the West Valley Water District to replace old, undersized water lines and install 10 additional fire hydrants in Bloomington.
Fontana sphere of influence development: $200,000 from Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to the Land Use Services Department for a contract with PlaceWorks, Inc. to fund technical assessments of infrastructure needs, market demand, transportation capacity and urban design in unincorporated areas of Fontana—helping guide well-planned and sustainable development as the community grows.
El Rancho Verde Median revitalization – $190,000 from Baca, Jr.’s District Specific Priorities Program to the San Bernardino County Department of Public Works – Special Districts to replace aging plants with drought-tolerant species, restore signage along the roadway and add additional streetlighting along the El Rancho Verde median. Paired with existing funding from other sources, the $610,000 project will improve visibility and beautify the area.

The funding initiatives align with the Countywide Vision to provide adequate infrastructure that supports the development of vibrant and thriving communities.

Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention contracts approved

The county’s Office of Homeless Services is providing $1.26 million in homelessness support services contracts on behalf of the San Bernardino City and County Continuum of Care to serve the county’s central region, Morongo Basin region, desert region, west region and youth experiencing homelessness.

The funding was awarded by the state’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Round 4 (HHAP-4) block grant award for Feb. 25, 2025, through June 30, 2027.

The contract awards are as follows:

City of Montclair – approximately $153,000 for rapid rehousing and street outreach services.
City of Redlands – approximately $300,000 for operational subsidies.
Family Assistance Program – approximately $334,000 for a homeless youth shelter program.
Morongo Unified School District – approximately $99,000 for rapid rehousing, rental assistance, interim shelter and service coordination.
Symba Center – approximately $380,000 for interim shelter, street outreach services and service coordination.

By coordinating resources to support residents in need of housing, the county is working to achieve the Countywide Vision.

New animal resource center joint powers agreement
In cooperation with the cities of Ontario and Chino, the board approved a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (JPA) to establish the Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire. This partnership will provide animal control and shelter services in the region, consolidating resources to improve animal welfare and reduce costs for all member agencies.

By joining the JPA, the county will contribute approximately $1.6 million to $2 million towards the construction of and approximately $208,000 towards the start-up costs to open the new animal shelter facility—securing a 4 percent ownership share in the estimated $40 million to $50 million project.

The future resource center, located on an approximately 11-acre site in Ontario, will take several years to construct.

Fourth District Supervisor Curt Hagman will serve as a director on the resource center’s board of directors, with Armendarez as the alternate director, since the facility’s service area overlaps their districts.

Donation supports Big Bear Alpine Zoo

The Board of Supervisors accepted a donation of more than $34,000 from the Blanche and Gene Nay Foundation to support operations at the Big Bear Alpine Zoo. The funds will support wildlife care, rescue efforts and educational programming operations.

The Blanche and Gene Nay Foundation has a long history of supporting the zoo through financial donations, fundraising efforts and initiatives that enhance the zoo’s programs and animal welfare services.

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center to partner with Cal State San Bernardino on physician assistant clinical training program

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) will partner with California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) on a physician assistant clinical training program.

CSUSB is opening a new physician assistant school and developing its partnerships for clinical rotations. Under a five-year affiliation agreement, ARMC will provide practical, hands-on experience to physician assistant students.

CSUSB will reimburse ARMC for teaching and support, helping to offset the program costs.

The partnership advances ARMC’s mission as a teaching hospital and supports the Countywide Vision by providing high-quality healthcare services by addressing the physician assistant shortage in the county and cultivating homegrown talent.

HIV prevention and care services grant award
The San Bernardino County Department of Public Health (DPH) received an approximately $1.08 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration for Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America – Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program parts A and B from March 1, 2025, through Feb. 28, 2030.

The grant funds will help efforts to reduce new HIV infections in San Bernardino County and provide services for individuals living with HIV in the Inland Empire, including outpatient medical care, case management, and access to essential services, such as food and transportation.

By ensuring that individuals living with HIV have access to high-quality healthcare services and equitable support services, DPH is helping to achieve the Countywide Vision.

Additional County Update News – Feb. 27, 2025