Board actions – Nov. 18 – 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 Tuesday, Nov. 18.*

Supervisors support various community initiatives

The Board of Supervisors approved funding allocations through the District Specific Priorities Program to support community wellness, health screenings, youth enrichment and economic empowerment initiatives across the Second District. Funding allocations include:

$398,000 from Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to Life Line Mobile Screening to provide preventive health screenings for up to 1,000 county residents and first responders.
$100,000 from Armendarez’s discretionary fund to San Bernardino County Human Services to distribute free turkeys, toys and resources to underserved families across the Second District.
$20,000 from Armendarez’s discretionary fund to Stage Red Fontana Youth Music Foundation to provide instruments and educational materials to youth in Fontana.
$10,000 from Armendarez’s discretionary fund to the Fontana Police Foundation to support the annual Hoops and Heroes tournament, which raises scholarship funds for Fontana students.
$10,000 from Armendarez’s discretionary fund to the Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire to help offset costs for economic development events such as job fairs, investment workshops and community programs.

By funding these investments, the board is furthering its goals of improving public health, increasing community engagement, expanding youth and educational opportunities, and fostering economic development in alignment with the Countywide Vision.

ARMC emergency department and intensive care unit expansion update

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center is moving forward with a major expansion project aimed at addressing growing regional demand and improving patient care. With support from the board, including authorizing $1 million to fund feasibility studies, preliminary design and cost analysis, ARMC will begin the planning and environmental review process for a future emergency department and intensive care unit expansion.

ARMC currently serves more than 80,000 patients annually in its Emergency Department. This expansion would allow the hospital to reduce wait times, relieve overcrowding and better serve the region’s residents with expanded trauma and critical care services. The county also adopted a reimbursement resolution enabling future bond financing of up to $350 million. Projected for construction in fiscal year 2028-29, the expansion reflects ARMC’s ongoing commitment to excellence in public hospital care.

County supports housing for veterans in San Bernardino

The board approved a $5 million loan agreement to support the development of the E Street Veterans Apartments in the City of San Bernardino. Located at 1351 North E St., the project will transform 0.76 acres of donated land into a 30-unit permanent supportive housing (PSH) complex with on-site services for veterans who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

The county’s loan—funded through the American Rescue Plan Act Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund—will help fill a financing gap in constructing this critical project, developed in partnership with U.S. VETS, Kingdom AO, and the Loma Linda VA Medical Center. The development will provide 29 affordable PSH units, plus a manager’s unit, with integrated services including case management, health care and behavioral health care access, career development and public assistance benefit coordination.

Construction on the development is expected to begin in early 2026 and conclude by summer 2027.

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

Aging and Adult Services-Public Guardian enhances coordinated care for older adults

To better serve older adults facing complex health and social needs, San Bernardino County Aging and Adult Services-Public Guardian has entered into a non-financial memorandum of understanding with Molina Healthcare of California through December 2030. This partnership supports the county’s Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP), which provides care coordination to Medi-Cal eligible individuals aged 60 and older who are at risk of institutionalization.

Through the agreement, the department and Molina will coordinate client care, reduce the duplication of services, and ensure access to critical resources that help older adults live safely at home. MSSP case managers will work closely with Molina to share health assessments, care plans and service data while protecting client confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and other applicable regulations. The collaboration strengthens Aging and Adult Services-Public Guardian’s efforts to deliver holistic, person-centered support.

Registrar of Voters reimbursed for statewide Special Election

The board approved budget adjustments to the Registrar of Voters 2025-26 budget following the receipt of approximately $24.8 million from the California Department of Finance to fully fund the Nov. 4, 2025, statewide Special Election. The funding will support all election-related activities, including staffing, polling locations, ballot printing, mailings, equipment rentals, and voter outreach efforts.

The department will report back to the state on the use of funds and may carry over any unused funds to support the 2026 statewide Primary Election.

Ontario International Airport zero-emission vehicle funding

San Bernardino County Fleet Management is entering into a $250,000 funding agreement with the Ontario International Airport Authority, a joint powers agency formed by the county and the city of Ontario, to support the purchase of a zero-emission electric vehicle for the airport’s vehicle fleet. This one-time allocation, previously approved in the county’s 2025-26 budget, will help the airport reduce emissions while maintaining efficient aircraft servicing operations through June 30, 2026.

The project helps further the Countywide Vision goals of regional sustainability and interagency collaboration.

County supports San Bernardino International Airport passenger experience

The board approved a $250,000 funding agreement with the San Bernardino International Airport Authority for infrastructure enhancements, including a domestic terminal video display board and an inter-terminal pedestrian walkway. These improvements will enhance passenger communication, convenience and safety by providing real-time visual updates and seamless connectivity between terminals. The funding was previously allocated in the county’s 2025-26 economic development budget.

Office of Homeless Services expands regional homeless services

The San Bernardino County Office of Homeless Services is entering into an approximately $654,000 agreement with Inland Temporary Homes, dba Inland Housing Solutions, to provide housing support, rapid rehousing and case management services in the Central Valley, East Desert and West Valley regions. Funded through the state’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Round 4 grant, the program will serve at least 47 individuals and families through June 30, 2027. This partnership will deliver regional solutions for homelessness prevention and permanent supportive housing.

Transitional Assistance partnership connects families with emergency housing assistance

The board approved a non-financial agreement between San Bernardino County Transitional Assistance and the Children’s Fund to support emergency housing and essential needs for at-risk families in San Bernardino County. Through this partnership, Transitional Assistance will refer eligible families, especially those with at least one child under age five, to the Children’s Fund’s Emergency Needs Program, which provides rapid rehousing, rental assistance and supportive services.

Through this integrated community partnership that will reduce housing insecurity among children and families in need, the county is working towards achieving the Countywide Vision.

CalFresh outreach to boost student access to nutritious food

Transitional Assistance is entering into a non-financial memorandum of understanding with the Colton Joint Unified School District to increase access to nutritious food for students and their families through Nov. 30, 2028. The partnership allows the school district to share information, with informed consent from parents, from its National School Lunch Program applications with Transitional Assistance to identify and assist eligible families in applying for CalFresh food assistance benefits. The collaboration supports the county’s commitment to supporting children from Cradle2Career and aligns with the state’s AB 402 guidelines for school-based CalFresh outreach.

Land Use Services receives CalRecycle grant

San Bernardino County Land Use Services has secured a $40,000 Waste Tire Amnesty Grant from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to continue operating the county’s Tire Amnesty Program from July 30, 2025, through Oct. 28, 2027. The program, managed by the department’s Code Enforcement Division, helps prevent illegal dumping by providing unincorporated county residents with free, environmentally responsible disposal of waste tires.

The grant will fund tire collection events across rural communities, covering disposal costs, staffing and program administration. No matching county funds are required.

Arrowhead Farms, Del Rosa and Highland areas road project update

The board approved an approximately $10.3 million construction contract with All American Asphalt for the Lynwood Drive and Other Roads Project, which will rehabilitate approximately 28 miles of roadway and repair damaged curbs, gutters and cross gutters across the Arrowhead Farms, Del Rosa and Highland communities. The board also approved a 10% contingency fund of approximately $1 million. Funded through a combination of approximately $1.73 million from the city of San Bernardino and SB 1 revenues, the project is part of the board’s previously approved 2020-21 road maintenance and rehabilitation account priorities. Construction is expected to begin in winter 2025 and be completed by spring 2026.

The roads project aligns with the Countywide Vision to provide adequate infrastructure that supports the development of vibrant and thriving communities.

Needles Highway Improvement Project update

The board approved a supplemental agreement with Caltrans to secure $8 million in federal Surface Transportation Program grant funds toward the approximately $11.7 million construction cost of the Needles Highway Segment 1C Improvements Project. As the latest phase in a multi-segment regional infrastructure effort, segment 1C will reconstruct pavement and improve drainage from David Drive to 0.1 miles north of Notcho Road. The county is funding the remainder through SB 1 revenues, gas tax and Measure I funds, including $900,000 from the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and $2.78 million in road maintenance and rehabilitation account funds. This agreement ensures reimbursement eligibility through Caltrans and advances the county’s long-standing commitment to improving critical transportation corridors in the Needles area.

Safe Routes to School Plan advances

San Bernardino County Public Works is advancing efforts to improve active transportation and pedestrian safety in unincorporated communities with the completion of the San Bernardino Valley Safe Routes to School Plan. The board has adopted a resolution accepting the plan as complete, following a multi-year planning process that focused on improving sidewalk infrastructure and biking routes around 20 school sites across the Valley region’s unincorporated areas.

Funded by a $500,000 grant from the California Department of Transportation’s Active Transportation Program (ATP), the plan reflects robust community engagement and is aligned with ATP guidelines. While it does not commit the county to constructing specific projects, it provides a strategic roadmap and enhances the county’s eligibility for future state and federal infrastructure funding.

This plan helps the county to achieve the Countywide Vision by promoting safe, equitable and well-connected infrastructure for future generations.

New Bloomington fire station update

Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, the board authorized San Bernardino County Project and Facilities Management to use the design-build project delivery method for the construction of new fire station No. 76 in Bloomington. The current station, originally built in the 1950s, no longer meets modern fire service standards. The new facility will be designed to meet current building codes and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, providing a safe and sustainable work environment for fire personnel.

The approximately $1.99 million project will be funded through the Valley Regional Service Zone budget. After the request for proposals process for the project is complete, the department will return to the board to award the design-build contract.

County departments partner with universities to expand hands-on training opportunities

The board approved multiple agreements supporting student internships, clinical training and educational partnerships across various county departments, providing valuable hands-on experience for students while enhancing staff’s service capacity. Agreements include:

ARMC will enter into a revenue agreement with Loma Linda University to provide physician assistant students with clinical education and training at its facilities. The county will receive up to $25,000 per year in reimbursement for use of ARMC staff, equipment and space.
ARMC also established a non-financial clinical training agreement with Western University of Health Sciences to offer health sciences students practical learning experiences in a hospital setting. Students will gain hands-on experience in patient care and hospital operations under the supervision of hospital professionals.
San Bernardino County Behavioral Health will amend its student internship agreement with California State University, Fullerton, extending the term through Dec. 31, 2029, and updating insurance and confidentiality provisions. This partnership allows graduate students in mental health fields to gain supervised clinical experience with adults, children and families, while supporting the department’s service delivery goals.

Through these dynamic internship and training partnerships, the county is proactively creating a pipeline of healthcare and behavioral healthcare professionals in alignment with the Countywide Vision.

Additional County Update News – November 20, 2025