Board Actions, May 5 – 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 May 5.*

Board supports recovery services, youth programs and community safety initiatives

The Board of Supervisors approved discretionary funding allocations through the District Specific Priorities Program to support community services, youth programs and public safety initiatives, including:

$50,000 from Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to Social Science Services, Inc. dba Cedar House Life Change Center to support the delivery and expansion of substance use disorder treatment and recovery services at the organization’s Bloomington campus, including maintenance, infrastructure improvements, equipment and technology upgrades.
$20,000 from Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to Seven Point, Inc. to support the 27th annual San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Pro Rodeo event, which raises funds for youth and charitable programs throughout the county.
$15,000 from Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to Upland National Little League to support roof repairs, facility upgrades and restroom improvements at its Upland facility to enhance recreational opportunities for youth and families.
$10,000 from Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to the Sheriff’s Citizens on Patrol Program at the Fontana station to support the purchase of safety and volunteer equipment, including emergency lighting, protective gear and operational supplies.

Behavioral Health peer-run transitional housing program

The San Bernardino County Behavioral Health Department received approval for its 2025 Mental Health Services Act Peer Housing Innovation Project Plan, an approximately $2.1 million initiative designed to provide peer-supported transitional housing for adults experiencing homelessness and behavioral health challenges.

The program will establish a six-bed, peer-run transitional housing facility operated in partnership with the county’s Clubhouse programs. The facility will be managed by certified Medi-Cal peer support specialists, who will provide oversight of daily operations, coordinate peer programming and serve as liaisons to County Behavioral Health. Participants will receive housing, life-skills development, peer support and connections to behavioral health services with the goal of transitioning to permanent housing and greater independence.

The project is expected to serve 12 to 24 individuals annually and is fully funded through Mental Health Services Act Innovation funding.

Expanding supportive housing options and behavioral health services helps to achieve the Countywide Vision by improving care and stability for vulnerable residents.

State behavioral health agreement for funding eligibility and oversight

The board approved a non-financial performance contract with the California Department of Health Care Services outlining requirements necessary for the county to continue receiving state and federal funding for mental health, substance use disorder and supportive services through June 30, 2029.

The agreement establishes standards for quality assurance, program oversight, budgeting and accountability for behavioral health programs administered by San Bernardino County Behavioral Health, including services funded through the Behavioral Health Services Act and Medi-Cal programs.

Expanding remote public participation for board meetings

The board received a presentation on the implementation of remote public participation for its public meetings and approved an outreach plan to support public awareness and participation ahead of new state requirements taking effect on July 1.

The county will provide telephonic participation capabilities, launch a dedicated public meetings webpage and conduct multilingual outreach through social media, newsletters, public service announcements and community partnerships to improve access to board meetings, particularly for residents who do not traditionally participate.

By expanding opportunities for civic engagement and public access, the county is making continued progress toward achieving the Countywide Vision.

HUD funding plan for housing and community development programs

The board approved the county’s Final Program Year 2026-27 Annual Action Plan for federally funded housing and community development programs totaling approximately $10 million.

The funding includes approximately $6.5 million through the Community Development Block Grant program, $2.9 million through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and $588,000 through the Emergency Solutions Grant program. Funds will support affordable housing development, neighborhood infrastructure improvements, homelessness services and public service programs benefiting low- and moderate-income residents throughout the county’s participating 13 cities and unincorporated communities.

The plan includes funding for affordable rental housing expected to create approximately 105 new units, including housing dedicated to transitional-age youth, as well as programs supporting homelessness prevention, emergency shelter, transportation, childcare and senior services.

Preschool Services purchases support classroom expansion and safety improvements

The board authorized up to approximately $10.1 million in purchases for classroom furniture, educational materials, food service equipment, security systems, vehicles and technology upgrades for Head Start and Early Head Start programs operated by the San Bernardino County Preschool Services Department.

The purchases will support programming at new and existing classrooms and outdoor learning areas throughout the county, including sensory room equipment, playground furnishings, classroom supplies, access control systems and refrigerated vehicles for food service operations. The improvements are intended to enhance learning environments, strengthen site safety and support compliance with federal Head Start standards.

By investing in early childhood education facilities and resources, the county is supporting school readiness in alignment with the Cradle-to-Career Roadmap.

Coordinated In-Home Supportive Services

The board approved a non-financial memorandum of understanding with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. to support coordinated care for In-Home Supportive Services recipients through May 2029.

The agreement establishes processes for collaboration, data sharing and care coordination between Kaiser and the San Bernardino County Aging and Adult Services – Public Guardian to better connect eligible residents with community-based services and support. The partnership is required under updated state Medi-Cal managed care requirements focused on improving whole-person care.

Modernized Human Resources and payroll management system

The board approved a contract with Oracle America Inc. for software and implementation services to design and develop an integrated system that will support key workforce functions, onboarding, benefits administration, training, payroll, compensation, and performance management. This system will serve as the county’s new enterprise Human Capital Management platform replacing the county’s existing PeopleSoft system, known as EMACS, which has been in use since 1999.

The partnership with Oracle America Inc. represents a significant strategic investment in strengthening the county’s technology foundation, improving operational efficiency and supporting long-term scalability.

Modernizing core workforce systems supports efficient county operations and helps advance the Countywide Vision priorities.

Countywide Unmanned Aerial Support Workshop

The San Bernardino County Administrative Office provided a workshop presentation on the county’s growing Unmanned Aircraft System program and discussed future opportunities to expand drone technology use for emergency response, public safety, infrastructure inspections and operational coordination countywide.

County officials highlighted that departments across the county logged more than 420 drone flight hours in 2025 supporting flood response inspections, fraud investigations, homeless outreach, mapping, emergency response and multimedia operations. The Sheriff’s Department and County Fire Protection District outlined current and planned drone programs, including drone-as-first-responder operations, search-and-rescue support, wildfire response, real-time information sharing and future capabilities such as autonomous fire suppression, water delivery and beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations.

The board discussed the rapid evolution of drone technology and expressed support for greater coordination among county departments, cities and public safety agencies. Discussions included potential development of a centralized or co-located real-time information center, expanded regional partnerships, future policy updates and opportunities to improve emergency response in remote desert and mountain areas. Supervisors also emphasized the importance of balancing innovation with privacy, safety and operational oversight considerations.

The workshop concluded with direction from the board for County Administrative Office leadership to continue evaluating countywide coordination strategies, policy modernization and future infrastructure needs related to unmanned aerial systems.

By exploring emerging technologies and improving emergency response capabilities, the county is working to enhance public safety, operational efficiency and disaster readiness and fulfill the Countywide Vision’s public safety goal.

Additional County Update News – May 7, 2026