Board Actions – March 10 – Welcome to San Bernardino County

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“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 March 10.*

St. Mary Medical Center advances to provisional Level III trauma center designation

Acting as the governing body of the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency (ICEMA), the board approved an amendment to a revenue contract with St. Mary Medical Center to change the hospital’s designation from a Level IV trauma center to a provisional Level III trauma center.

The designation reflects the hospital’s demonstrated capability to provide a higher level of trauma care, including expanded specialty services and the availability of emergency surgery to treat more serious injuries. As part of the provisional designation, the hospital must complete verification through the American College of Surgeons Level III Trauma Center certification process while continuing to meet oversight requirements established by ICEMA.

ICEMA played a key role in the designation process, conducting a comprehensive site survey to ensure the hospital met standards consistent with ACS trauma guidelines and California Title 22 regulations. Throughout the process, ICEMA worked collaboratively with hospital leadership and regional stakeholders to support the development of the trauma program and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

The advancement of Providence St. Mary Medical Center to a Level III Trauma Center is expected to improve access to timely trauma care for High Desert residents, reduce the need for secondary transfers, and strengthen the regional trauma system while maintaining ICEMA’s ongoing oversight and quality monitoring.

Supervisors support community programs, youth engagement and public safety initiatives

The Board of Supervisors approved funding allocations through the District Specific Priorities Program to support youth development, community outreach and public safety initiatives across multiple supervisorial districts. Funding allocations include:

$100,000 from Vice Chair and Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.’s District Specific Priorities Program to the city of San Bernardino to purchase a tactical robot for the San Bernardino Police Department to support tactical operations, humanitarian responses and search-and-secure missions while enhancing safety for officers, K-9s and the public during critical incidents.
$10,000 from Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to the Upland Unified School District to purchase training equipment and supplies for sports teams at Upland High School to promote participation, athletic performance and player safety.
$10,000 from Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to the San Bernardino County Fire Benevolent Foundation to support financial assistance programs and outreach efforts that assist firefighters and their families facing injury or crisis situations.

These investments reflect the board’s commitment to strengthening community partnerships, supporting youth and public safety initiatives and enhancing quality of life for residents across San Bernardino County.

G Street property acquisition preserves permanent supportive housing

The board approved the acquisition of property located at 450 North G St. in the city of San Bernardino to preserve 67 affordable housing units serving individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The property includes approximately 1.1 acres of land and an approximately 35,000-square-foot permanent supportive housing development.

The acquisition is part of a settlement agreement related to a previously funded Homekey project and will allow the county to protect the public investment while ensuring continued operation of the property as affordable housing.

The county will purchase the property for approximately $6 million, which includes a $1.35 million contribution from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, with the remaining approximately $4.7 million in funds provided by the county.

Preserving this service-enriched housing development within the county’s homelessness response system helps to achieve the Countywide Vision by providing housing opportunities to residents in need.

Federally qualified health center grant

The San Bernardino County Public Health Department received an approximately $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support operations at the county’s federally qualified health centers in Adelanto, Hesperia, Ontario and San Bernardino, as well as school-based sites in Apple Valley and Ontario through Feb. 28, 2027.

The grant will help sustain primary care, preventive services and other health programs that expand access to care for residents throughout the county, which help achieve the Countywide Vision.

Tax-defaulted property auction

The board adopted a resolution authorizing the public auction of tax-defaulted properties through an internet sale beginning on or after July 11, 2026.

Properties eligible for the annual auction have been tax-defaulted for five or more years. The sale process is designed to return these properties to tax-paying status.

Property tax revenues support essential public services including education, law enforcement, fire protection and health and social services throughout the county.

Emergency road repairs from winter storm damage

Damage to several public roads in the Wrightwood and Piñon Hills areas caused by the December 2025 storms require immediate repairs.

The San Bernardino County Public Works Department will utilize existing on-call construction contracts to complete the emergency repairs and restore safe access for residents and emergency responders.

Emergency work will include repairs to Cardinal Road, Lone Pine Canyon Road, Swarthout Canyon Road, Phelan Road and Oasis Road, where storm damage caused roadway washouts, erosion and structural damage.

By completing these storm-related repairs, the county is restoring critical roadway infrastructure and ensuring safe access for residents and emergency responders in alignment with the Countywide Vision.

Workforce Development expands clean energy job training

The San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department is partnering with the San Bernardino Community College District through an approximately $351,000 agreement to provide vocational training services through Dec. 31, 2027.

The program will provide workforce training in green construction, electric vehicle charging station maintenance, forestry and clean energy career pathways for up to 71 participants.

Funded through a California Climate Investments workforce grant, the training programs will help prepare residents for careers in the growing clean energy sector while strengthening the county’s workforce pipeline.

Big Bear Alpine Zoo donations

Acting as the governing body of the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District, the board accepted two donations totaling over $114,000to support the Big Bear Alpine Zoo.

The donations include:

Approximately $75,000 from the Friends of the Big Bear Alpine Zoo to purchase a walk-in freezer trailer with a generator to expand food storage capacity and ensure a reliable food supply during power outages or emergencies.
Approximately $40,000 from the Blanche and Gene Nay Foundation to support zoo operations and animal care programs.

By accepting the donations, the county is helping to achieve the Countywide Vision by offering residents a diverse “live, work, play” lifestyle with access to parks, recreation and cultural amenities that enhance quality of life.

County Fire submits response to 2025 Grand Jury report

The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District provided a formal response to the 2025 San Bernardino County Grand Jury report.

The response addresses findings related to apparatus maintenance operations, drone program implementation, firefighter recruitment and retention, engine staffing levels and coordination with water districts regarding fire hydrant readiness.

In addition, County Fire outlined several actions underway, including staffing improvements, plans to expand drone program capabilities, firefighter retention incentives and ongoing collaboration with water districts to improve water supply information for fire response planning.

Additional County Update News – March 12, 2026