[7:15] If you guys are here this evening and

[7:16] wish to provide public comment, if you

[7:19] could please fill out a speaker card if

[7:20] you haven't already done so.

[15:13] Welcome and good evening everyone. Today

[15:15] is Thursday, January 8th, 2026 and the

[15:18] time is 6 pm. The special meeting of the

[15:20] following will come to order. The

[15:22] Victorville City Council and the same

[15:23] council sitting as the Victorville

[15:24] Library Board of Trustees. The Southern

[15:27] California Logistics Airport Authority.

[15:29] Successor Agency to the Redevelopment

[15:31] Agency. The city as a housing asset

[15:33] successor. Joint Powers Finance

[15:35] Authority and the Victorville Water

[15:37] District. Madame Clerk, will you kindly

[15:38] call the role?

[15:39] >> Council member Godam

[15:40] » Council member Godam

[15:40] >> here. Council member Irving,

[15:42] » here. Council member Irving,

[15:42] >> present. Council member Mora is absent.

[15:45] » present. Council member Mora is absent.

[15:45] Mayor Prom Herman

[15:46] >> here.

[15:46] » here.

[15:46] >> Mayor Bisera

[15:47] » Mayor Bisera

[15:47] >> here.

[15:47] » here.

[15:47] >> We have quorum.

[15:49] » We have quorum.

[15:49] >> Thank you. At this time, will you please

[15:51] » Thank you. At this time, will you please

[15:51] stand for invocation or pledge of

[15:52] allegiance? The invocation tonight will

[15:54] be led by our pastor Josh Gerbot from

[15:56] Victorville's First Assembly of God. And

[15:58] the pledge will be led by Captain

[16:00] Davenport.

[16:03] » Thank you. I see you again, mayor.

[16:06] Let's pray. God, thank you for a

[16:08] beautiful night. Thank you for our city.

[16:10] Lord, I think about our city as

[16:12] established so many years ago. All the

[16:14] people that are a part of it, the

[16:15] families, Lord, the kids. I just pray,

[16:17] God, tonight, Lord, your protection upon

[16:19] our city, Lord, that your guidance on

[16:21] our city economically, Lord,

[16:23] politically, Lord, socially, Lord, that

[16:25] you would continue to guide us. Lord, I

[16:27] pray for our city council tonight, for

[16:29] our mayor, Lord, and the city council

[16:31] members, Lord, that you'd give them

[16:33] wisdom tonight, that you would guide

[16:34] them, Lord, that every decision would be

[16:36] made uh for your glory. So, pray your

[16:38] blessings on this evening and on this

[16:40] meeting and all that's here in the name

[16:42] of Jesus. Amen.

[16:44] >> Amen.

[16:48] » Place your right hand over your heart.

[16:49] Ready? Begin. I pledge allegiance to the

[16:52] flag of the United States of America and

[16:55] to the republic for which it stands. One

[16:58] nation under God, indivisible, with

[17:01] liberty and justice for all.

[17:10] » Thank you, Madame Clerk. Will you

[17:11] present the agenda and any revisions

[17:13] there, too?

[17:14] >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. There are no

[17:15] » Thank you, Madam Mayor. There are no

[17:15] revisions to the agenda this evening.

[17:18] I will call for conflict of interest

[17:19] from any of my council members. None.

[17:21] None. We will move on to item one,

[17:24] written communication. City's position

[17:27] on the county of Sanino's proposed

[17:29] comprehensive treatment campus project.

[17:31] Mr. Medro, would you kindly introduce

[17:33] this item?

[17:34] >> Thank you, Madame Mayor, and members of

[17:36] » Thank you, Madame Mayor, and members of

[17:36] the council. Uh, this item involves a

[17:39] resolution memorializing a position of

[17:42] opposition to a project being undertaken

[17:45] by the county of Sanernardino upon uh

[17:48] upon approximately 29 acres of property

[17:50] owned by it at the southeast corner of

[17:53] Palmdale and Cobalt Road with Silverado

[17:56] High School and Cobalt Institute of Math

[17:58] and Science to the west uh and Laura

[18:00] Middle School uh to the south. Uh on the

[18:03] site currently, the county contracts

[18:05] with the Phoenix House of California to

[18:07] operate a 66 bed drug and alcohol

[18:10] treatment facility. Uh the county

[18:12] recently commenced construction of a

[18:13] significant expansion as the current

[18:16] construction project is adding

[18:17] approximately 144 beds uh which will

[18:20] provide additional support services

[18:22] including a youth psychiatric res

[18:24] residential treatment uh adult and youth

[18:27] residential substance use disorder

[18:28] treatment, adult and youth outpatient

[18:31] substance use disorder treatment,

[18:33] withdrawal management and outpatient

[18:35] wellness center services. Uh altogether

[18:39] the project will increase bed capacity

[18:41] to 210 which to make this uh scale

[18:44] relatable is just shy of the region's uh

[18:47] largest hospital the 213 bed St. Mary's

[18:50] Hospital uh in Apple Valley. Uh in

[18:53] addition to what is under construction,

[18:54] the county has applied for additional

[18:56] state funding that could further

[18:58] increase their bed and chair count by 72

[19:01] for the following services. a

[19:03] psychiatric health including acute care

[19:05] crisis intervention and involuntary 5150

[19:08] holds an adult social rehab uh and 247

[19:13] crisis stabilization units and a

[19:14] sobering center. So why are we here? Uh

[19:18] first I think it's important to

[19:19] recognize uh that Victorville and thei

[19:22] and the entire high desert has a need uh

[19:25] for these supportive services and the

[19:26] county should be applauded for their

[19:28] effort to address our community need. Uh

[19:30] however, considering the approach the

[19:32] county took to advance this project

[19:34] forward, uh it's certainly not

[19:35] reflective of a good governance

[19:38] approach. I can say that because I've

[19:40] reviewed enough of a chronology of

[19:42] events uh to cause me to believe that

[19:45] the county wasn't entirely forthcoming

[19:47] uh with the city about its intentions

[19:49] with this property, ignored our requests

[19:51] about what planning and public noticing

[19:53] process it would be following and failed

[19:55] to answer specific questions raised by

[19:57] council members at a December 10th, 2025

[20:00] community forum. Uh interestingly, the

[20:03] community forum was the first attempt

[20:04] seen by this city uh staff where uh the

[20:07] county attempted to do community

[20:08] outreach uh despite the fact that the

[20:10] county had already approved its

[20:12] environmental document on November 4th,

[20:15] 2025 and construction had already

[20:17] started. Uh with all that said, the

[20:20] county's preempt authority allows them

[20:22] to do what they did. However, that does

[20:25] not make what they did right. Good

[20:27] governance would have more likely looked

[20:28] like a formal invitation to affected

[20:31] public agencies such as the city, such

[20:33] as the high school district, such as the

[20:36] residents. It would have in invited

[20:37] residents in the surrounding areas to

[20:39] provide input. Uh because none of that

[20:41] happened, we didn't have an opportunity

[20:43] to suggest pursuing an alternative

[20:45] location. We didn't have an opportunity

[20:47] to determine if the project was going to

[20:49] fiscally impact the public services

[20:51] already provided to the city and by this

[20:54] city. uh we didn't have an opportunity

[20:55] to truly weigh the pros uh and the cons

[20:58] of this project. Uh before I conclude,

[21:02] uh before you tonight is a resolution

[21:04] officially opposing phase one and phase

[21:07] two of the project just described to you

[21:09] uh and that opposition remain intact

[21:12] until such a time that we are satisfied

[21:14] that the project has been relocated to a

[21:16] more suitable location. is also it also

[21:19] opposes any opposes any uh proposed

[21:23] countywide sobering center unless and

[21:25] until potential impacts to our public

[21:28] services can be uh mitigated and that we

[21:31] oppose counties related funding efforts

[21:33] until meaningful public engagement uh

[21:35] has uh occurred at this time. Madame

[21:39] Mayor, I do believe Miss Diane Rundles,

[21:41] assistant CEO for the county, has a

[21:43] brief presentation and following her is

[21:46] Mr. Carl Kohl's, the Victor Valley Union

[21:48] High School District Superintendent.

[21:51] This item has been authored by your

[21:53] deputy city manager, uh, Mr. Scott Webb,

[21:56] both he and I, after the presentations,

[21:58] we'll remain available for any questions

[21:59] or comments you might have.

[22:02] >> Thank you, sir. So, at this time, it's

[22:04] » Thank you, sir. So, at this time, it's

[22:04] my understanding that the county would

[22:06] like to make a presentation regarding

[22:07] this item.

[22:16] Good evening, Madame Mayor and members

[22:18] of council as well as leadership within

[22:19] the city. My name is Diane Rundles. I'm

[22:22] assistant executive officer with the

[22:23] county and I appreciate the opportunity

[22:25] to speak about this project today.

[22:29] Our goal today is to clarify the scope

[22:31] of this project and address any

[22:33] questions you may have. We look forward

[22:34] to a thoughtful discussion and

[22:36] meaningful engagement as we work

[22:38] together to ensure the needs of

[22:39] Victorville residents are met.

[22:44] The St. John of God Healthcare Services

[22:47] Center has served this region providing

[22:48] withdrawal management services and

[22:50] residential treatment since 1985

[22:53] without disruption to surrounding

[22:54] neighborhoods and is actively providing

[22:56] these services today. This history shows

[22:59] that well-managed facilities can coexist

[23:02] peacefully and even strengthen

[23:04] communities. The initial purpose of the

[23:06] comprehensive treatment campus was to

[23:08] provide diverse levels of treatment and

[23:10] care for individuals with with substance

[23:12] use disorders.

[23:13] Scope is now expanding to include

[23:15] diverse levels of treatment for

[23:16] individuals with mental health concerns,

[23:19] but the intensity of operations does not

[23:21] increase. By having added options for

[23:24] treatment, the campus broadens the

[23:26] staff's ability to provide more levels

[23:28] of care. Keeping patients at this lower

[23:31] level is good for the patients and the

[23:32] community.

[23:34] The goal is to enable individuals with

[23:36] complex behavioral health needs to move

[23:39] through the continuum of care and

[23:40] receive all necessary services in one

[23:42] place and avoiding multiple trips to

[23:45] local emergency rooms and hospitals or

[23:47] interactions with law enforcement. This

[23:50] campus is currently operational with

[23:51] nine buildings and 66 treatment beds.

[24:02] [clears throat]

[24:02] Apologies.

[24:09] So phase one includes 51.4 4 million in

[24:13] behavioral health continuing

[24:14] infrastructure program BIUP grant with

[24:18] outpatient co-occurring facility youth

[24:20] wellness center for recovery and support

[24:23] 16 bed psychiatric residential treatment

[24:25] facility a 16 bed adolescent substance

[24:28] use disorder residential treatment

[24:30] facility 36 bed adult substance use

[24:33] disorder residential treatment facility

[24:35] and an 18 bed withdrawal management

[24:38] facility that there's also 10.5 million

[24:42] from our community care expansion grant

[24:44] dedicated to this project for 52

[24:46] recovery residents beds. I want to note

[24:49] that phase one does not include a

[24:51] sobering center just for clarification.

[25:00] These services will operate in a secure

[25:02] gated portion of the campus designed

[25:04] specifically to provide a safe,

[25:06] structured and compassionate environment

[25:08] for adults, youth, and families.

[25:15] The high desert region accounts for 30%

[25:17] of all consumers served in the substance

[25:20] use disorder continuum of care and is

[25:22] the highest referring region for I'm

[25:24] going to refer to it as SUD for

[25:26] substance use disorder. Highest

[25:27] referring region for SUD services in San

[25:30] Bernardino County. Substance use has

[25:33] significant ripple effects. In fiscal

[25:35] year 2324, Victor Valley Union High

[25:38] School District reported 251 drugrelated

[25:41] suspensions, making drugs the second

[25:43] highest cause for suspension.

[25:45] Victorville ranked second highest in the

[25:47] county for EMS overdose incidences with

[25:50] 454 cases in 2425.

[25:54] A lack of SUD services has broad

[25:56] implications not only on individual

[25:59] health but also on families, schools,

[26:01] public safety, and the community. The

[26:04] project is an opportunity to expand

[26:05] these services for treatment capacity

[26:09] and make them meaningful positive impact

[26:11] in the high desert community in the

[26:13] entire region.

[26:18] I want to touch on campus security and

[26:20] logistics.

[26:24] Safety is a top priority for this campus

[26:27] as it has been throughout the year since

[26:29] 1985. Behavioral health facilities like

[26:32] this have operated safely in

[26:34] neighborhoods for decades. Programs are

[26:36] licensed, accredited, and meet strict

[26:39] standards of 247 staffing, secure

[26:42] medication management, and emergency

[26:44] response protocols.

[26:47] Programs arrange transportation for

[26:49] clients upon discharge to reduce impact

[26:51] on the city.

[26:54] Students and school staff have no

[26:56] interaction with individuals from the

[26:57] campus campus staff 247 for supervision,

[27:01] care and support.

[27:04] Security measures. We will have

[27:06] perimeter fencing and gates to control

[27:08] any kind of access and on-site trained

[27:11] security personnel to monitor and

[27:13] maintain safety.

[27:16] A community advisory council based on

[27:19] our lasting community engagement meeting

[27:20] will be established to uh to address

[27:22] needs, logistics, security and

[27:24] programming.

[27:26] And this would be open to all community

[27:28] members and we look forward to further

[27:29] discussion about what that advisory

[27:31] committee could look like.

[27:38] Residential treatment

[27:40] will provide 24-hour short-term care for

[27:42] withdrawal management and rehabilitation

[27:44] for substance use disorders overseen by

[27:47] a medical director or licensed

[27:48] practitioner for for the healing arts.

[27:51] We're offering sober living housing for

[27:53] adults, including those with children.

[27:55] Requires attendance at recovery or

[27:57] treatment programs. This includes

[28:00] education and employment support to help

[28:01] clients transition to permanent housing

[28:04] and integrate into the community.

[28:07] We will provide services to maintain

[28:09] substance use disorders and co-occurring

[28:11] mental health issues simultaneously.

[28:14] This use is integrated treatment pro

[28:16] approach for better outcomes and improve

[28:18] quality of life.

[28:20] All of these services are unlocked in

[28:23] nature of the facilities.

[28:31] For the adolescent services, we'll have

[28:33] a 16 bed facility uh providing

[28:35] residential and recovery services for

[28:37] adolescence with substance use

[28:39] disorders. Admission based on medical

[28:41] necessity and individual treatment plans

[28:44] determined by a medical director or

[28:46] LPHA.

[28:47] first of its this is the first of its

[28:49] kind in San Frernardino serving

[28:51] approximately 170 youth annually

[28:54] for the adolescent psychiatric

[28:56] residential treatment facility this is a

[28:58] 16 bed facility inpatient psychiatric

[29:00] care for adolescence who need more than

[29:02] outpatient treatment but do not qualify

[29:04] for psychiatric hospital

[29:07] stay is 10 days for stabilization and

[29:09] ongoing care and expected to serve about

[29:11] 500 youth annually

[29:13] for the wellness center a resource hub

[29:16] would be located the two facilities

[29:18] providing recovery services and family

[29:20] resources to support youth and families.

[29:23] Access is limited to youth receiving

[29:25] services at this campus.

[29:36] We appreciate the opportunity to present

[29:37] on this project today and reaffirm our

[29:39] commitment to providing comprehensive

[29:41] care that supports successful

[29:43] transitions of every individual that we

[29:44] serve. Upon entering any of the

[29:46] treatment programs, each individual

[29:48] receives a thorough assessment and

[29:49] personalized treatment plan designed to

[29:52] connect them with essential community

[29:53] supports and resources. Our dedicated

[29:56] case managers and care coordinators play

[29:58] a critical role in guiding individuals

[30:00] through this process and um addressing

[30:03] case management needs and ensuring

[30:04] smooth transitions of care. This

[30:06] includes referrals to low intensity

[30:09] treatment when appropriate as well as

[30:11] connections to employment opportunities,

[30:13] food resources, housing, and other vital

[30:15] community supports.

[30:19] I do want to make a note right here um

[30:21] to state that there was discussion about

[30:23] phase two of this project and I do want

[30:25] to say uh upon discussion with the

[30:28] county administrative office and our CEO

[30:30] Luther Snoke, I do have authority to

[30:32] share with you tonight that we are

[30:33] actually going to pull phase two of this

[30:35] project. So, I wanted to make that known

[30:37] on the record.

[30:40] Together, [clears throat] these efforts

[30:41] reflect our shared goal to provide not

[30:43] just treatment, but a pathway to

[30:45] stability and success for every

[30:46] individual we serve. Thank you for your

[30:49] time and partnership as we work towards

[30:51] building stronger, healthier

[30:52] communities. These commitments align

[30:54] with the sound the Sanino Countyy's

[30:56] countywide vision as well advancing the

[30:59] city's Victorville strategic vision to

[31:01] build a safer, cleaner, fiscally healthy

[31:03] Victorville with strong community

[31:05] connections, solid infrastructure, a

[31:07] thriving economy, and reduced

[31:08] homelessness. As we move forward, we

[31:11] welcome continued collaboration with the

[31:13] council, city staff, and community

[31:14] partners to ensure the comprehensive

[31:16] treatment campus strengthens local

[31:18] safety, connection, and opportunity. We

[31:21] do appreciate the opportunity to speak

[31:23] and forward. We look forward to working

[31:25] together to deliver measurable outcomes

[31:27] for the city and families within the

[31:29] community.

[31:32] Thank you so much.

[31:34] Thank you. At this time, I would like to

[31:37] call up Victor Valley Unified School

[31:39] District. Mr. Kohl's, if you can come

[31:42] forward.

[31:52] Thank you. And uh good evening uh madame

[31:54] mayor uh city council members, staff uh

[31:57] and community members. Thank you for the

[31:58] opportunity to just be able to uh speak

[32:01] here in front of you tonight. My name is

[32:03] Carl Kohl's and I serve as the proud

[32:04] superintendent of schools for the Victor

[32:06] Valley Union High School District. And

[32:08] today I am here on behalf of the 11,500

[32:11] students and over 2,000 staff members

[32:13] comprising of our teachers, our

[32:15] counselors, classified employees, and

[32:17] our management teams regarding the

[32:19] behavioral health facility expansion

[32:21] currently under construction off of

[32:22] Cobalt and Palmdale.

[32:25] So let me first by uh let me first say

[32:27] that this situation it's truly in

[32:29] unforced air and it serves as an example

[32:32] of the utmost importance of authentic

[32:34] collaboration amongst public entities

[32:36] that serve the same people and

[32:39] communities. The authentic collaboration

[32:41] it cannot happen in isolation.

[32:44] I also want to continue to go on the

[32:46] record as supporting the behavioral

[32:48] health and substance abuse services in

[32:50] the high desert and the efforts of the

[32:52] San Bernino County its elected

[32:54] officials. the executive team and the

[32:56] behavioral health department. Our

[32:58] concern is not whether these services

[32:59] are needed, it's the location of this

[33:01] project for our district. Over 4,000

[33:04] students in nearly 1,000 staff members

[33:06] attend Silver Alder High School, Laura

[33:09] Middle School, and Cobalt Institute of

[33:10] Math and Science every day. As a

[33:13] district, we have a long list of

[33:15] concerns, but this is not a study

[33:17] session. So, I will be brief on a few

[33:19] significant ones here tonight. Number

[33:22] one, the only way for me to put this

[33:24] project into perspective, and we've

[33:25] heard some today, is to put some context

[33:27] to it. Currently, there's over 60 beds

[33:30] available to serve the community who

[33:31] have drug and alcohol addiction. And we

[33:34] are in no way opposed to the current

[33:35] location or the services that are

[33:37] currently being provided. In fact, the

[33:40] facility was there before Silver Idol

[33:42] High School was even built. However,

[33:45] with the new design, we argue that this

[33:47] is not a true expansion, but rather a

[33:50] whole new concept of concept of

[33:52] services. What has been approved and

[33:54] authorized by the county of Sanernardino

[33:56] is 210 beds with a continuum of services

[33:59] ranging from a detox center, outpatient

[34:01] services, residential care, psychiatric

[34:04] care, just to name a few. If at any

[34:07] point our schools tripled in size, it's

[34:09] not just a scale issue. It truly changes

[34:12] the dynamic of teaching and learning and

[34:14] the safety. St. Mary's, it's been told

[34:16] today is the largest hospital up in here

[34:19] in the high desert. And as a hospital

[34:21] with 213 beds, this facility is going to

[34:24] rival one of the largest care facilities

[34:26] in the high desert. Managing a facility

[34:28] of this size, it comes with multiple

[34:30] organizational and safety uh measures

[34:32] that do not belong adjacent to a middle

[34:35] school and across the street from a

[34:36] large comprehensive high school.

[34:39] Additionally, the facility in question,

[34:41] it sits on 29 acres. To put that in

[34:44] perspective, Silverado sits on about 50

[34:46] acres. And then when you add Cobalt to

[34:49] it, that sits at about 65 acres. Just to

[34:51] put some context to what 29 acres is.

[34:54] And the current design and layout are at

[34:56] the closest points to our schools. They

[34:59] can't get any closer. We were there

[35:00] today. We took pictures. The grading,

[35:03] it's going to border the defense line

[35:06] with our schools.

[35:09] The current ingress and egress point is

[35:11] going to be off of Cobalt, which is

[35:14] already a complete mess. I don't know

[35:16] another word to say, but it's a complete

[35:17] mess in the morning and in the afternoon

[35:20] because nearly 4,000 students who ride

[35:22] buses, they walk or they're dropped off

[35:24] coming and going to school. Currently,

[35:26] there's 30 parking spots in the current

[35:28] facility, and the project design calls

[35:30] for an additional 250 parking spots. On

[35:34] December 22nd, during a special uh board

[35:36] meeting, the district formally opposed

[35:38] the county's action regarding the site

[35:40] location through a board action and

[35:42] direct communication with county with

[35:44] the county of San Bernardino's

[35:45] representatives. We did so because the

[35:47] facility's immediate proximity to three

[35:49] active school campuses and the

[35:51] unresolved questions and concerns that

[35:53] it raises. Those questions and concerns

[35:56] include student and staff uh student and

[35:58] staff safety, emergency response

[36:00] coordination, traffic impacts, uh

[36:03] operational disruptions, amongst others.

[36:05] We also know that none of us in this

[36:07] room can guarantee an outcome, which is

[36:09] why it is irresponsible to add the

[36:11] safety concerns to all schools

[36:13] throughout the United States that we

[36:15] already currently face on a daily basis.

[36:18] For example, just last month, a detainee

[36:20] escaped the Victor Valley Global Medical

[36:22] Center, forcing Victor Valley High

[36:24] School to go on a lockdown for hours,

[36:25] and it required additional police

[36:27] officers from the indivi until the

[36:29] individual was detained by law

[36:30] enforcement. And that medical center is

[36:33] several blocks from the Victor Valley

[36:34] High School. Not to mention, the

[36:36] district does not believe that a

[36:38] large-scale drug and alcohol

[36:39] rehabilitation center is an appropriate

[36:41] backdrop for our students to see every

[36:44] day.

[36:45] Schools should be surrounded by parks.

[36:47] They should be surrounded by communities

[36:48] and homes. The environment in which

[36:51] students attend is equally as important

[36:52] as to the academics, as to the arts, the

[36:55] activities and and the athletics uh that

[36:58] schools provide to our students every

[37:00] day. These are not theoretical issues.

[37:02] They are practical realities that we

[37:04] manage daily in our schools. The county

[37:07] of Sanernardino did not notify the

[37:09] school district, so we were completely

[37:10] blindsided until the construction fences

[37:13] went up.

[37:14] And although the district recognizes the

[37:16] Sanino County's autonomy to exempt

[37:18] itself from the environmental impact

[37:20] study under the welfare code, nor do

[37:22] they actually have a legal obligation to

[37:24] collaborate beforehand. But which begs

[37:27] the question, what you can do and what

[37:30] you should do are two very different

[37:31] things. I have personally met with

[37:34] several students and staff and not one

[37:36] of them has expressed a belief that the

[37:38] location of the facility is appropriate

[37:40] or responsible. But on the flip side,

[37:43] One of them have mentioned that it is

[37:45] not needed in the high desert.

[37:48] Despite many concerns raised, the

[37:50] construction activity, it still

[37:52] continues. That is why the district

[37:54] fully supports the city in passing a

[37:56] resolution that is before you tonight.

[37:58] Similarly, the district is asking the

[38:00] county to pause until uh to pause

[38:03] further work at the site and engage in a

[38:06] more deliberate process with community

[38:07] input. Specifically, we're asking for

[38:10] the support of city leadership and the

[38:12] community at large as we request three

[38:14] things from the county. First, that a

[38:17] full study is conducted and meaningful

[38:20] with meaningful eval evaluative uh

[38:23] impacts on all of our schools. Second,

[38:25] that the county consider alternative

[38:27] locations that can meet service needs

[38:29] without placing this burden on our

[38:31] school communities. And third, during

[38:33] this time, the pause that there be a

[38:35] structured community input, including

[38:38] parents, staff, and nearby residents

[38:40] before decisions are finalized. We're

[38:42] not here by any means to obstruct the

[38:44] services or delay care. We're here to

[38:46] advocate for our students, our staff,

[38:48] and our families. We believe there is a

[38:50] path forward that serves the broader

[38:52] community while protecting our schools.

[38:54] We believe this requires a pause. It

[38:56] requires transparency, collaboration,

[38:58] and true partnership. We appreciate the

[39:01] city of Victorville's attention to this

[39:02] issue and your continued advocacy for

[39:04] responsible planning in our community.

[39:06] Thank you.

[39:10] » Thank you.

[39:14] At this time, we are going to move on to

[39:15] public comment. I will remind the

[39:18] public, you'll have three minutes.

[39:21] You will be respectful to everybody in

[39:23] here, folks. So, let's keep it forward.

[39:26] Our

[39:28] our first speaker is Dr. Elise

[39:30] Belelfford Selana.

[39:35] [clears throat]

[39:35] >> Hello, my name is Dr. Alice Belelfford

[39:37] » Hello, my name is Dr. Alice Belelfford

[39:37] Selona and I am a deputy director for

[39:40] the county of San Bernardino.

[39:42] [clears throat] Excuse me. I'm here just

[39:45] to speak to you on a personal level, but

[39:47] also tie it into the work that we do and

[39:50] how this campus will be affected. Um,

[39:53] I'll just say this that I um can tell

[39:57] you a really quick story. I lost my

[39:59] sister um 20 years ago to addiction. She

[40:02] froze to death in a car and died. Her um

[40:06] she was she was high. She was overdosed

[40:09] um in the vehicle. And I'll never forget

[40:11] a story. We lived in Riverside at the

[40:13] time and we were trying to take her

[40:14] because they didn't have treatment

[40:16] centers in the local community. they had

[40:18] to bust them out to the desert. And when

[40:22] they um when I went to take her to get

[40:24] on the bus, I'll never forget the moment

[40:27] I looked back in the rearview mirror of

[40:28] my car and I saw her running down the

[40:30] street. She was scared. She didn't want

[40:33] to leave the community she knew and

[40:35] therefore

[40:37] left and and never was successful in

[40:40] going to treatment. I too as a member of

[40:43] Sanino County have lived here most of my

[40:46] life. I call this home and I'm very

[40:48] proud to be an employee of the county of

[40:50] San Bernardino now where I have the

[40:52] opportunity to oversee programs that can

[40:55] make differences in people's lives. I

[40:58] too can tell you that I have had my own

[41:00] experiences doing really stupid things

[41:02] like drugs and alcohol getting caught up

[41:05] in the system and almost failing my life

[41:08] on multiple occasions. I was lucky

[41:11] enough to have people that came to me

[41:13] and said, "You can do better. You are

[41:15] better. be better. And I said, "Okay,

[41:17] how? Show me." Because I was super

[41:19] angry. And I just didn't think that that

[41:22] was possible. And what ended up

[41:24] happening is I allowed the help to

[41:26] happen. And today, I can stand before

[41:28] you and say, "I'm an executive manager

[41:29] for the county of San Bernardino. I'm a

[41:32] high school dropout. I have my doctorate

[41:34] degree. Today, when they came to help

[41:37] me, they didn't say to me, Dr.

[41:38] Belelfford or Alice at the time, we want

[41:41] to help you, but we don't want to help

[41:42] you here. we want you to move to the

[41:44] valley or to some other location where

[41:47] you won't be seen by people who know

[41:49] you. They actually said we're going to

[41:51] do it right here where it's going to

[41:53] make a difference in the community that

[41:55] you reside. These treatment centers are

[41:58] not for people who are forced into

[42:00] treatment. These are people who want

[42:03] help. These are not easy programs to

[42:06] participate in. They have highly

[42:09] structured environments where they wake

[42:11] up at 6 in the morning. and they eat

[42:13] breakfast at 6:30. They're at group by

[42:15] 8:00. They run groups all day long. They

[42:18] learn how to take responsibility for

[42:20] their lives. They learn how to be better

[42:23] contributing citizens. It's not because

[42:25] of the location that they're at that

[42:28] makes them better at who they are, but

[42:30] it is always better to be close to home

[42:32] because that's the environment that

[42:34] you're going to thrive in. And I know

[42:37] many of us walk

[42:38] >> your time is up.

[42:40] » your time is up.

[42:40] >> Thank you.

[42:41] » Thank you.

[42:41] Our next speaker is Moch Blumenstein.

[42:53] » Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

[42:55] My name is Michael Blumenstein and I'm

[42:56] here to speak speak based on personal

[42:58] experience. I was once a client of a

[43:00] crisis stabilization unit and during one

[43:03] of the most difficult moments of my

[43:04] life, that support helped me feel safe,

[43:06] respected, and heard. Because of that

[43:09] experience, I saw firsthand how powerful

[43:11] these services are, not just in

[43:13] stabilizing a crisis, but in restoring

[43:15] hope. I later had the opportunity to

[43:17] give back by starting as a peer support

[43:19] worker using my lived experience to help

[43:21] others navigate their own crisis. Since

[43:24] then, I've grown into a quality

[43:25] assurance data clerk role where I now I

[43:28] now help ensure these programs remain

[43:30] effective, accountable, and responsive

[43:32] to community needs. I've seen the impact

[43:35] of outreach and connecting people to

[43:37] support before situations escalate. And

[43:39] I've witnessed how peer support builds

[43:41] trust and reduce stigma in ways

[43:43] traditional systems often can't. Crisis

[43:46] stabilization units outreach and peer

[43:49] support don't just change outcomes, they

[43:51] change lives. And I am living proof of

[43:53] that. Thank you for your time.

[43:56] >> Our next speaker is Rachel Wish.

[44:14] Good evening, Madame Mayor, council

[44:16] members, and staff. My name is Rachel

[44:18] Wish, and I'm a teacher at Silverado

[44:20] High School, one of the schools directly

[44:22] adjacent to the proposed expansion of

[44:25] the comprehensive treatment campus. And

[44:27] I'm here tonight to ask you not to

[44:29] approve this expansion. I want to be

[44:31] very clear. I support access to these

[44:34] type of services. Our families, our

[44:37] students, our community absolutely need

[44:39] them. And this is not about stigma. It's

[44:41] about process, transparency, and

[44:43] location. And right now, all three are

[44:45] deeply concerning. The decision to move

[44:48] forward without conducting an impact

[44:49] study raises serious questions. When a

[44:52] facility sits directly next to three

[44:54] schools serving over 4,000 students, the

[44:56] failure to formally evaluate safety,

[45:00] traffic, emergency response, campus

[45:03] supervision, and student well-being is

[45:05] not a minor oversight. It suggests a

[45:07] deliberate choice to avoid scrutiny. If

[45:10] there are other teachers, parents,

[45:12] students, or community members here

[45:14] tonight who share these concerns, I

[45:16] invite you to stand up right now.

[45:19] The absence of an impact study does not

[45:21] mean that there is no impact. It means

[45:24] the county chose not to look. As a

[45:26] teacher on one of these campuses, I can

[45:28] tell you that schools are not insulated

[45:30] environments. We manage the arrival and

[45:32] dismissal congestion, campus security,

[45:36] lockdown protocols, and emotional

[45:38] well-being of students every single day.

[45:40] An expansion of this nature, especially

[45:42] without coordinated or assess

[45:44] coordination or assessment, directly

[45:46] affects our ability to do our jobs and

[45:48] keep our students safe. Equally

[45:51] important, this is the wrong location.

[45:53] Schools are highdensity environments

[45:55] with minors present for most of the day.

[45:58] Putting a facility of this nature

[46:00] immediately adjacent to multiple school

[46:01] sites without heightened review

[46:03] disregards best practices and planning

[46:05] and the student centered

[46:06] decision-making. There are locations in

[46:09] the city that make much more sense. What

[46:11] is most troubling is that school

[46:13] communities were not meaningfully

[46:15] consulted early in the process.

[46:17] Teachers, admin, facility, and districts

[46:19] should not be finding out after fences

[46:21] are up and dirt is being moved. That

[46:24] undermines the trust and damages the

[46:26] relationship between the county, the

[46:27] city, and the people who serve the

[46:29] children every day. You have the

[46:31] authority and the responsibility to

[46:32] pause this decision, require a full

[46:35] impact study and reconsider the

[46:36] location. This is responsible

[46:38] governance. I urge you not to improve

[46:41] the expansion as proposed because our

[46:43] desert our students deserve thoughtful

[46:45] planning, transparency, and decisions

[46:47] that place their safety and well-being

[46:49] first. Thank you.

[46:54] » Our next speaker is Ed Marino.

[47:01] Good evening, guys, staff. Um, I was

[47:04] just aware of the uh proposition that's

[47:07] going on. Like I said, I'm literally a

[47:09] resident. I live about two two and a

[47:11] half blocks from the proposed location.

[47:13] I have uh two three kids, two daughters,

[47:16] and a son. Um, both of my girls uh go to

[47:20] uh well, they went to Discovery, now

[47:21] that they're going to SIMS. As a parent,

[47:24] it's very troubling to hear that they're

[47:27] planning to do this really close to my

[47:29] home staff. You know, there there's

[47:31] there's families around the area. It's

[47:34] it's just not it's it's not I'm not okay

[47:36] with it. You know, I'm asking and I'm

[47:38] pleading you guys to to please stop

[47:40] this. You know, it's

[47:44] it's just troubling. You know, I I

[47:45] literally I I work in Ontario. I left

[47:48] work. I just found out I was emailed

[47:50] today that you guys were having this

[47:52] this uh meeting. I left work to be here

[47:55] to to basically let you guys know that

[47:58] that this is not this not okay, you

[48:01] know, and and I thank you for for

[48:03] everything you guys are doing. I I hope

[48:04] and I pray that that God give you guys

[48:07] wisdom and we as a community stand not

[48:11] for this, not not we don't our kids

[48:13] deserve better. You know, that's all I'm

[48:15] asking. Thank you.

[48:18] >> Our next speaker is Christian Viscara.

[48:39] Um, hello. My name is Christian Riscara.

[48:42] I am a senior at Silverado High School.

[48:45] I am also a part of my school's ASB

[48:47] leadership and I'm here on behalf of my

[48:49] other ASB classmates and the other

[48:52] student boss, the other student body

[48:54] that attends my school. First off, I

[48:56] would like to start off by saying that

[48:57] the way that this was introduced was

[48:59] very unprofessional on the county's

[49:00] behalf. Neither of the school the

[49:03] schools in the area or the residents

[49:04] were notified of the treatment facility

[49:06] when the construction first started.

[49:08] Many residents and students are still

[49:10] not aware of this facility being built

[49:12] so close to our community. I am

[49:14] knowledgeable that yes, we do need these

[49:15] kind of programs especially in the high

[49:17] desert. Although the location of where

[49:20] is being built is very inappropriate.

[49:22] The county project stated that there

[49:23] will be no impact because there is no

[49:26] demand for new expansions of school

[49:27] facilities. This is not only false but a

[49:30] slap to the surrounding community's fa

[49:32] face. You show no regard or interest in

[49:35] the safety of the surrounding area. Why

[49:38] do we need new school facilities to show

[49:42] concern when there's already school

[49:43] facilities? Now, there are many risk

[49:46] factors for the area that it's in. What

[49:49] if one of these residents just just

[49:51] flip? How can you guys guarantee that

[49:54] this person won't leave your open

[49:55] facility and walk out onto nearby school

[49:57] grounds? All three schools in the

[49:59] surrounding area have constant after

[50:01] school activities and leave our gates

[50:02] open 24/7. Not only will this affect us

[50:05] during school hours, but even after. I

[50:08] am aware that St. John's has been here

[50:10] for over 30 years with no issues, but

[50:12] this is not a minor expansion. This is a

[50:15] major expansion with over two head with

[50:17] 200 beds being built. the chances of a

[50:20] problem happening majorly increase and

[50:22] when there is a chance and risk it is

[50:24] not worth it especially with the

[50:25] surrounding environment. If this

[50:27] facility is built will it not only

[50:29] affect my generation

[50:31] um other kids siblings, my kids or even

[50:35] my grandchildren.

[50:37] Um

[50:39] so I would like to say that again I am

[50:41] in support of such treatments being open

[50:43] for people who need them. But again the

[50:45] location is very inappropriate. I will

[50:47] finish off if that if construction if

[50:50] construction continues, not only will

[50:52] you continue to hear from the school

[50:54] board, but the many residents and

[50:56] thousands of students that are in this

[50:57] community today. Thank you.

[51:01] » Our next speaker is Melissa B.

[51:16] Good evening.

[51:17] My name is Melissa Buchary

[51:19] [clears throat] and I am actually a

[51:21] resident of City of Victorville um since

[51:24] about four years old. So that's about 32

[51:26] years.

[51:27] I am a professional therapist that works

[51:30] in addiction specialties right in a

[51:32] healthcare setting. I have worked in

[51:35] this community in a community aspect for

[51:38] much of my career before college um

[51:42] substitute taught before becoming a

[51:44] therapist. So I've been doing this for

[51:45] about 11 years and I come to you as a

[51:48] resident to be able to say I understand

[51:50] many of the concerns that have been

[51:52] expressed. I can see them from a lot of

[51:53] angles. But my encouragement as a

[51:56] resident who lives within a few miles of

[51:58] the new facility, which is actually an

[52:01] expansion, right, of Phoenix House

[52:03] Services,

[52:04] this is so needed and we have an

[52:07] opportunity as voted in by Proposition

[52:10] One, right? And this is um something

[52:14] that has been very nerve-wracking for me

[52:15] to share with you, but I want you to

[52:17] hear my heart. We can look at

[52:19] statistics. We can look at all of the

[52:21] highest needs. I hear them daily. The

[52:23] calls of heartbreaking family members

[52:25] and how I can best direct them to

[52:27] treatment services to get them in. When

[52:29] they need alcohol detox or withdrawal

[52:31] management services, they're out of the

[52:33] area. This can bring jobs. I understand

[52:36] the schools. I understand everything for

[52:38] the community. But I urge my leaders,

[52:41] this is our opportunity to pioneer,

[52:44] to take leadership. Victorville has

[52:46] always been innovative

[52:48] and in a sense where we can set the tone

[52:51] for okay how do we sit down have

[52:54] conversations with respect to an

[52:56] important time frame this is the first

[52:58] time we have an opportunity with VHIP

[53:00] but department of healthcare services

[53:03] has set a timeline for that and that's

[53:04] very important to be mindful of so I

[53:06] encourage you to be mindful and um

[53:10] encouraging to to say hey we have a lot

[53:13] of partners

[53:14] How can we come alongside each other and

[53:17] unify to bring the necessary services

[53:21] alterations but expediting because there

[53:24] is a time frame and it is hard to open a

[53:26] treatment center. Takes about 5 years to

[53:29] get a medical approval from the state.

[53:32] So there's a lot of treatment services.

[53:35] Substance use disorder and mental

[53:36] services does not discriminate. I see it

[53:39] in our healthcare setting every day. Our

[53:41] youth are hurting and they do not get

[53:43] transferred out out of the area nearest

[53:46] to us for a higher level of care for

[53:47] psychiatric services is Colton.

[53:50] We're done and we send them for

[53:52] appropriate levels of care. We

[53:53] understand many of the medical um

[53:56] necessity stabilization before

[53:58] appropriate referrals to the coordinated

[53:59] history system of care for entry. So

[54:04] concerns in that regard for for

[54:06] treatment being provided. We should take

[54:08] a look at the other facilities and how

[54:11] Phoenix House is operating now where

[54:13] there isn't many to

[54:16] I think hinder.

[54:18] >> Your time is up.

[54:19] » Your time is up.

[54:20] >> Please.

[54:20] » Please.

[54:20] >> Thank you.

[54:21] » Thank you.

[54:21] >> Our next speaker is Stephanie Landez.

[54:36] Good evening, members of the board,

[54:38] city, and community members. My name is

[54:40] Stephanie Landez, and I am both a parent

[54:42] of a sophomore at Silverado High School

[54:44] and the activities director. I have the

[54:47] help the privilege to help facilitate

[54:49] and guide 70 high school students within

[54:51] our associated student body. I am here

[54:53] tonight to share their voice and their

[54:55] concerns regarding the development

[54:57] occurring for the rehab uh center

[54:59] directly across the street. And while we

[55:01] understand that the final decisions and

[55:02] issues actually rest with the county and

[55:04] not the city, we felt it important to

[55:06] have their voices heard in a public

[55:08] forum so that the city is aware of the

[55:10] Associated Student Body perspective. And

[55:12] thank you, Christian, for sharing.

[55:15] I'm here tonight on behalf of more than

[55:17] 2,000 students from Silverado High

[55:19] School who attend school every day

[55:21] around this proposed site. I am speaking

[55:23] for students whose voices were not

[55:25] meaningful incl meaningfully included in

[55:27] this decision but who will live with its

[55:30] consequences. So here is what they have

[55:32] to say. Let us be clear from the

[55:34] beginning. Students support behavioral

[55:36] health and substance abuse treatment. We

[55:39] understand its importance. Our concern

[55:41] is not whether the treatment facilities

[55:43] should exist. It's where they're placing

[55:45] this one. We walk these streets. We wait

[55:48] at these crosswalks. We experience

[55:51] lockdowns. traffic gridlocks and safety

[55:54] drills, not as policy discussions, but

[55:56] as interruptions to our learning and our

[55:58] own sense of safety. Making a

[56:01] large-scale open treatment facility the

[56:03] front door to our schools introduces

[56:06] risks that students can't simply opt out

[56:08] of. Schools should be places where

[56:10] students feel safe, welcomed, and proud

[56:13] where they learn. Instead, this

[56:14] placement risks creating fear, anxiety,

[56:17] long-term damage to school climate,

[56:19] enrollment, and community confidence.

[56:22] Students are also concerned about

[56:24] messaging. Adolescence are still

[56:25] developing. School work schools work

[56:28] intentionally to promote prevention,

[56:29] healthy choices, and accountability.

[56:31] Placing a large-scale drug and alcohol

[56:33] treatment facility adjacent to our

[56:34] campus risks unintentionally normalizing

[56:37] substance abuse, not because treatment

[56:39] is wrong, but because location matters.

[56:42] At the same time, students believe

[56:44] strongly that patients in recovery

[56:45] deserve dignity, privacy, and the best

[56:48] po possible environment for healing.

[56:49] Recovery is fra fragile. A densely

[56:52] populated, hightraic school zone

[56:54] surrounded by thousands of students does

[56:56] not support that goal. That location

[56:59] fails both students and patients.

[57:01] Traffic is already overwhelming. The

[57:03] two-lane road serving these schools as

[57:05] gridlocks for hours every morning and

[57:08] every afternoon. Thousands of students

[57:10] walk the corridor daily, many after

[57:12] sunrise or before before sunrise and

[57:14] after dark. Their routes can't be

[57:16] changed. Their schedules cannot be

[57:18] adjusted. Their safety depends on adult

[57:20] decisions. Students feel unheard.

[57:22] Decisions about our safety and learning

[57:24] environment were made without us at the

[57:26] table. Please listen to us. We're not

[57:28] asking for convenience. We're asking for

[57:30] responsibility, transparency, and

[57:32] safety. Thank you.

[57:34] >> Thank you.

[57:39] Madame Mayor, I do not have any

[57:40] additional speaker cards.

[57:43] >> I know some people got here late.

[57:45] » I know some people got here late.

[57:45] Anybody else with a speaker card?

[57:51] » Let's bring them over to our city clerk,

[57:53] please. His name is Roger

[57:57] Yinski.

[58:05] Good evening, mayor, city council. Uh my

[58:08] name is Roger Yaminsky. I'm the CEO of

[58:10] Citrus Counseling Services or not

[58:12] for-profit behavioral health clinic

[58:14] system. Uh one of our clinics is here in

[58:16] your town. And um you know, from what

[58:18] I've heard here, I think of um you know,

[58:22] something that I'm very familiar with,

[58:23] which is in the absence of information,

[58:25] people make up the worst possible

[58:26] stories. And so I think that you know,

[58:29] it sounds like um our concerns that the

[58:32] uh the county could have done a much

[58:33] better job in terms of uh providing some

[58:36] information, letting people know about

[58:37] this project, what the impact is going

[58:39] to be, etc. Um that being said, from

[58:44] what we do and what we see and what my

[58:46] staff experiences,

[58:48] uh this particular project is something

[58:50] that's sorely needed in this area. There

[58:52] are incredible weight lists uh for the

[58:55] types of services that are going to be

[58:57] provided by this particular project that

[58:59] is incredibly needed. Not having this

[59:02] has um some serious impact on human

[59:06] lives, especially young people. Uh what

[59:09] this can do is can do it can prevent um

[59:12] and treat a lot of things that are going

[59:14] on with trauma, with substance use,

[59:17] domestic violence, human trafficking,

[59:20] etc. So based on that, um I just want to

[59:23] speak in support of this particular

[59:25] project. I hope that there's a way that

[59:27] uh this council and this community can

[59:29] work together to figure out how to make

[59:31] it uh go forward and understand, you

[59:34] know, possibly what the um potential uh

[59:38] issues are with it and come up with

[59:40] reasonable ways to mitigate that. Um

[59:43] it's an incredible opportunity with

[59:45] these funds that are available that

[59:47] don't come around very often. Uh and it

[59:49] would be a terrible thing to lose that

[59:51] in this community. So, thank you very

[59:52] much for your time and your

[59:53] consideration. I appreciate it.

[59:56] Thank you.

[1:00:00] I would like to read a statement.

[1:00:03] First of all, I think it's important to

[1:00:05] recognize and appreciate the input from

[1:00:07] the county, the school district, and

[1:00:09] even the staff regarding this matter.

[1:00:11] With all that said, I remain surprised

[1:00:14] how quickly the county moved on this

[1:00:16] project forward when you consider all

[1:00:18] that's typically involved to move to

[1:00:19] move a project forward. obtaining

[1:00:22] funding and obtain the res the requisite

[1:00:25] land use approval to construct. This

[1:00:28] project has moved at a pace that I have

[1:00:30] never seen from the county.

[1:00:35] They chose instead of involving our

[1:00:37] community to ram this project through,

[1:00:40] dump it on the residents of the city of

[1:00:42] Victorville and the parents of the high

[1:00:44] school district with zero regard for our

[1:00:46] concerns.

[1:00:48] And we asked, does this mean that the

[1:00:50] first district supervisor doesn't care

[1:00:53] what happens in Victorville? I don't

[1:00:55] think so. I would like to believe that

[1:00:57] is not the case. Prior to this action by

[1:00:59] the county, I believe the county and the

[1:01:01] first district supervisor cared about

[1:01:03] this community. But I definitely

[1:01:05] questioning now that given the warp

[1:01:08] speed that this project has moved.

[1:01:10] Finally, I have no doubt about the need

[1:01:12] for the services that are being

[1:01:14] contemplated by the county with this

[1:01:16] project. The problem is location. And

[1:01:19] like they say, location, location,

[1:01:21] location. The problem is not knowing how

[1:01:24] this project will physically impact this

[1:01:26] community. I have no doubt that the

[1:01:28] county reached out to us like a partner,

[1:01:31] we would not be here today and we would

[1:01:33] be more focused on a suitable location.

[1:01:36] I urge my fellow council members to

[1:01:38] adopt the resolution opposed in this

[1:01:40] project. And I encourage every resident

[1:01:43] of the city of Victorville to reach out

[1:01:44] to your first district supervisor, the

[1:01:46] board of supervisor of San Marino

[1:01:48] County, the Sun newspaper, and express

[1:01:51] their concern about this county's wrong

[1:01:53] deal.

[1:01:55] Now, at this time, we will take

[1:01:56] questions from my fellow council

[1:01:58] members. We'll start off with Council

[1:02:00] Member God.

[1:02:01] >> I'm sorry, Madame Mayor. Would you like

[1:02:02] » I'm sorry, Madame Mayor. Would you like

[1:02:02] me to read the recommendation?

[1:02:03] >> That would be good, too. Thank you.

[1:02:05] » That would be good, too. Thank you.

[1:02:05] >> You're welcome. that the honorable city

[1:02:06] » You're welcome. that the honorable city

[1:02:06] council adopt resolution number 25

[1:02:09] 26-00005

[1:02:12] thereby formally opposing the county of

[1:02:14] San Bernardino's proposed comprehensive

[1:02:16] treatment campus expansion in its

[1:02:18] current proposed location and

[1:02:20] configuration and opposing the award of

[1:02:22] state of California behavioral health

[1:02:24] continuum infrastructure program funding

[1:02:27] for the projects proposed within the

[1:02:29] city of Victorville due to the lack of

[1:02:31] community engagement and further

[1:02:33] directing staff to transmit the city's

[1:02:35] position ition to the county board of

[1:02:36] supervisors, state legislator,

[1:02:39] legislators, and relevant state funding

[1:02:41] agencies.

[1:02:44] >> Thank you. At this time, we'll start

[1:02:46] » Thank you. At this time, we'll start

[1:02:46] with questions from council members.

[1:02:47] Council member Kodan.

[1:02:49] >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. I do have

[1:02:50] » Thank you, Madam Mayor. I do have

[1:02:50] several questions as this is a very

[1:02:52] complex situation. Um my first question,

[1:02:56] um in the uh presentation that we

[1:02:59] received from the county to start off

[1:03:01] the meeting, there was some um

[1:03:02] indication that this would be something

[1:03:05] that's just for the city of Victorville

[1:03:06] or could be taken that it's just going

[1:03:08] to be for the city of Victorville, but

[1:03:09] it's my understanding that this is a

[1:03:10] countywide facility.

[1:03:13] Mr. Mer,

[1:03:16] >> uh that that's my understanding, but I I

[1:03:18] » uh that that's my understanding, but I I

[1:03:18] think it might be best to invite a

[1:03:20] representative from the county to to

[1:03:23] clarify that.

[1:03:30] Hello, my name is Jennifer Alcena. I'm

[1:03:33] the assistant director for the

[1:03:34] department of behavioral health. Um,

[1:03:36] what I can tell you is, uh, this this

[1:03:39] area has a high need for these services.

[1:03:42] So, bringing the services here to this

[1:03:44] community would meet the folks where

[1:03:46] they're at. So, right now, um, we don't

[1:03:49] have the infrastructure to serve this

[1:03:51] community, but there is a very large

[1:03:52] need here. which we share on the slide.

[1:03:55] >> So does that mean that there would be

[1:03:56] » So does that mean that there would be

[1:03:56] priority given to Victorville residents?

[1:04:01] » Um the way our system works is we do a

[1:04:04] first come first serve. So the folks are

[1:04:05] already calling in for services. Uh so

[1:04:08] for this campus if you have someone that

[1:04:10] lives here and they're calling in, this

[1:04:12] would be the um the the best place for

[1:04:16] them.

[1:04:16] >> So first come first serve though, just

[1:04:18] » So first come first serve though, just

[1:04:18] to clarify so I understand that could be

[1:04:20] anybody within the county of San

[1:04:21] Bernardino.

[1:04:22] >> Yes. Okay. And what steps were taken

[1:04:27] » Yes. Okay. And what steps were taken

[1:04:27] prior to acquisition of the property to

[1:04:30] notify residents?

[1:04:41] » I think that would be a twofold

[1:04:43] question. So I want to make sure that

[1:04:44] our assistant director Jennifer answers

[1:04:46] the question on the community engagement

[1:04:47] piece but also answer the question in

[1:04:50] regarding to engagement overall on the

[1:04:52] project. Is that is that the request?

[1:04:53] Yes. Okay. So, go ahead and Jennifer,

[1:04:55] answer that question and then we'll ask

[1:04:57] our uh project facilities management

[1:04:59] leadership team to come up as well and

[1:05:01] answer that question.

[1:05:01] >> Thank you.

[1:05:05] » For the purposes of the grant

[1:05:06] stakeholder engagement piece, we held uh

[1:05:09] 20 uh different forums um and we had

[1:05:13] almost 500 people participate in those.

[1:05:16] So, that's the uh for for these uh

[1:05:19] facilities

[1:05:20] >> and that was prior to acquisition.

[1:05:22] » and that was prior to acquisition.

[1:05:22] Yes, we are in the acquisition process.

[1:05:25] >> In the process of acquisition.

[1:05:27] » In the process of acquisition.

[1:05:27] >> Yes.

[1:05:27] » Yes.

[1:05:27] >> Okay. So,

[1:05:30] » Okay. So,

[1:05:30] phase two would have brought a different

[1:05:33] dynamic clearly. Um I know that there's

[1:05:36] been a obviously a change in the plan.

[1:05:40] So, I have two questions in regard to

[1:05:42] that. The St. John of God, the level of

[1:05:45] service that was provided, there were no

[1:05:47] lockdown. There were no 5150 holds. That

[1:05:50] was just residential care and it was

[1:05:53] volunteer. Correct.

[1:05:54] >> Correct.

[1:05:55] » Correct.

[1:05:55] >> So phase one, would that involve the

[1:05:58] » So phase one, would that involve the

[1:05:58] same care level?

[1:06:01] >> Um, a couple of these are step down

[1:06:03] » Um, a couple of these are step down

[1:06:03] levels of care. None of them are locked

[1:06:06] facilities.

[1:06:07] >> Okay. So, would we be increasing the

[1:06:09] » Okay. So, would we be increasing the

[1:06:09] level of care from what St. John of God

[1:06:11] was offering?

[1:06:12] >> No, it would be the same level of care.

[1:06:14] » No, it would be the same level of care.

[1:06:14] Right now, we only serve adults. So this

[1:06:16] would be expanding that level of care

[1:06:18] but also to serve a youth.

[1:06:21] >> So it would be expanding the bed count.

[1:06:23] » So it would be expanding the bed count.

[1:06:23] Correct.

[1:06:23] >> Correct.

[1:06:24] » Correct.

[1:06:24] >> Okay. What what guarantee or what

[1:06:27] » Okay. What what guarantee or what

[1:06:27] assurance would we have that the county

[1:06:30] wouldn't later on decide we do want to

[1:06:33] do phase two?

[1:06:41] » Thank you council member Goden. So to

[1:06:43] answer your question regarding phase

[1:06:45] two, there's a purpose for me putting

[1:06:46] that on the record today to to state

[1:06:48] publicly that we are we will be pulling

[1:06:50] that application. That being said, we

[1:06:52] have not yet pulled the application. And

[1:06:54] the reason being is we do have an

[1:06:56] opportunity as many have mentioned with

[1:06:58] these resources from the state to have

[1:07:00] some conversations with the city

[1:07:01] regarding those those resources that are

[1:07:03] needed to see if maybe we can repurpose

[1:07:05] that application and maybe find another

[1:07:07] location where that those types of

[1:07:09] services can uh be committed for the

[1:07:11] city because we do understand that it is

[1:07:13] still a need, maybe just not the best

[1:07:15] location, but the county's commitment is

[1:07:18] to pull that application for that

[1:07:19] facility.

[1:07:21] Okay. Uh, one last question for you. On

[1:07:23] the map that you provided in the um,

[1:07:26] presentation, the existing campus was

[1:07:28] not included in the exterior fencing.

[1:07:32] >> I'm sorry, say that again. On the map

[1:07:34] » I'm sorry, say that again. On the map

[1:07:34] that you provided in your presentation,

[1:07:36] the existing campus that's there

[1:07:38] already, not including the expansion, it

[1:07:41] you show a new exterior fence being

[1:07:44] constructed around the new construction,

[1:07:47] but not the existing campus. So there

[1:07:49] wouldn't be any protective or security

[1:07:51] fencing that would encompass the entire

[1:07:54] campus is my question.

[1:07:55] >> Yes, there would be fencing um

[1:07:56] » Yes, there would be fencing um

[1:07:56] encompassing the entire campus. It will

[1:07:58] be a locked gated facility.

[1:08:00] >> Okay. So this map just isn't proper

[1:08:02] » Okay. So this map just isn't proper

[1:08:02] representation of the actual security

[1:08:04] fencing.

[1:08:05] >> Yeah, I believe it's temporary fencing.

[1:08:06] » Yeah, I believe it's temporary fencing.

[1:08:06] I I may need to call on our project

[1:08:08] facilities management team to discuss

[1:08:10] that as far as the construction versus

[1:08:12] the final phase on the fencing. But I

[1:08:14] believe we have some temporary fencing

[1:08:15] now and then we will have permanent

[1:08:16] fencing when the project is completed.

[1:08:19] But I do also want to note that some of

[1:08:21] those conversations can be conversations

[1:08:22] that can be had with the city as far as

[1:08:24] the preference and the school district

[1:08:26] as well with their input as far as the

[1:08:28] preference as to what that looks like

[1:08:29] aesthetically. Um I'd like to ask our

[1:08:31] leadership from project facilities

[1:08:33] management though to touch on that

[1:08:34] further if that would be okay.

[1:08:35] >> Yes, please. Thank you very much.

[1:08:39] [clears throat]

[1:08:40] >> Good evening, honorable

[1:08:42] » Good evening, honorable

[1:08:42] representatives from Victorville. Uh my

[1:08:44] name is Don Day. I'm represent our

[1:08:46] design, construction, and facilities

[1:08:48] management. And um I can point to uh the

[1:08:51] site map that was shown earlier in the

[1:08:53] presentation. Uh and I can confirm that

[1:08:55] the new facility that's being built does

[1:08:57] have a 10-foot uh protective gate around

[1:09:00] it. The existing campus uh is not

[1:09:03] intended to have the existing fencing

[1:09:05] Ed. Um, however, it does have existing

[1:09:08] fencing around it right now. Um, but as

[1:09:11] we've discussed as a county, we're here

[1:09:13] to have discussions with the city and

[1:09:16] and you have discussion with the city

[1:09:18] about our current design and if there

[1:09:21] are any feedback that the city has, we

[1:09:23] would surely love to sit down and have a

[1:09:25] conversation with you about any other

[1:09:27] elements that you might be interested in

[1:09:30] seeing.

[1:09:31] >> And what does that current fencing look

[1:09:32] » And what does that current fencing look

[1:09:32] like around the existing campus? It's a

[1:09:34] chain link fencing around the current

[1:09:36] campus right now and I guess I would

[1:09:39] call it a rod iron decorative steel

[1:09:42] fencing is what's being proposed for the

[1:09:44] new facility.

[1:09:46] >> Okay.

[1:09:51] And so just to clarify one last

[1:09:53] question, the the phase one would

[1:09:56] include a total bed count of 210. Is

[1:09:58] that correct?

[1:10:04] Yes, that is correct.

[1:10:10] » Yes. Okay, that is correct. [laughter]

[1:10:12] Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam

[1:10:13] Mayor. That's all I have.

[1:10:15] >> Thank you, Council Member Irving.

[1:10:17] » Thank you, Council Member Irving.

[1:10:17] >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, first of

[1:10:19] » Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, first of

[1:10:19] all, I want to say that I in no way want

[1:10:22] to create an adversarial environment uh

[1:10:26] between the city of Victorville, our

[1:10:28] community at large, and the department

[1:10:30] of behavioral health. However, my

[1:10:33] concerns um my concerns center on

[1:10:36] accountability.

[1:10:38] Um, as I look on the on on the audience

[1:10:42] and I see a very what I presume to be a

[1:10:45] very seasoned group of public

[1:10:47] administrators, can someone give me the

[1:10:49] rationale as to why

[1:10:52] the department of uh behavioral health

[1:10:54] did not engage with the city of

[1:10:56] Victorville and the school district uh

[1:10:59] in the fashion that we so deserved.

[1:11:01] That's my first question. Secondly, at

[1:11:04] your public forum, I asked for some very

[1:11:06] specific data because I knew or I

[1:11:09] believe that a night like this would

[1:11:10] come and I so much wanted to be in

[1:11:12] support. But as you know, without data,

[1:11:15] data drives uh decisions. Without data,

[1:11:18] when I get phone calls from parents that

[1:11:21] are angry about the proposed proximity

[1:11:24] of your comprehensive facil treatment

[1:11:27] center to schools, what am I to say? you

[1:11:30] you left me in the dark and I want some

[1:11:32] answers about your accountability

[1:11:36] and Miss Rles Rundles you can you

[1:11:40] answer.

[1:11:42] Thank you very much. Um I would like to

[1:11:44] say first of all we agree with you in

[1:11:46] the sense of the level of community

[1:11:49] engagement that is warranted for a

[1:11:50] project like this. I think we fell short

[1:11:52] and I'm going to speak to that and I

[1:11:53] spoke to that in our community

[1:11:54] engagement meeting. As far as following

[1:11:56] all legal requirements and notices, the

[1:11:58] county did do so. We did follow all all

[1:12:00] of our legal requirements and noticing

[1:12:02] and were happy to provide any

[1:12:03] information in regards to what that

[1:12:05] looked like and and the history on that.

[1:12:07] Uh but I do I do want to acknowledge

[1:12:10] that I I believe that the community

[1:12:12] deserved more engagement on this

[1:12:14] project. Absolutely 100%. And uh we're

[1:12:18] here to say we want to make this right

[1:12:20] uh with the community with the city. We

[1:12:22] respect the city very much. This is a

[1:12:24] very important project and uh we have

[1:12:27] the best of intentions as far as the

[1:12:29] services for the community for the city

[1:12:31] but uh I think we could do a lot more

[1:12:33] and having engagement with the city

[1:12:35] engagement with the school district and

[1:12:37] having discussions around this project.

[1:12:40] >> Thank you. I appreciate your comments.

[1:12:41] » Thank you. I appreciate your comments.

[1:12:42] For me, I guess as a policy maker, the

[1:12:44] question is does the public good

[1:12:46] outweigh the proposed proximity the the

[1:12:49] um incumbrance that you will put on the

[1:12:52] community? I've been concerned about

[1:12:54] cost because you're going to deal with

[1:12:55] some of the most traumatized individuals

[1:12:58] at this particular site. Correct.

[1:13:00] Probably within the county. And to me

[1:13:02] that just to me trauma it it equates to

[1:13:06] public safety. I've heard the word

[1:13:08] safety resonate throughout the the

[1:13:10] chamber tonight. And I couldn't agree

[1:13:12] more. But to say I'm sorry that we

[1:13:15] didn't do a good job. It still doesn't

[1:13:16] provide the rationale as to why not. For

[1:13:19] me, I'm wondering whether or not because

[1:13:21] you have pre preemptive authority, you

[1:13:23] don't have you did not have a legal

[1:13:25] requirement to do so. Thereby, you

[1:13:27] didn't. I hope that you did not show

[1:13:29] blatant disregard for the city of

[1:13:30] Victorville and this leadership because

[1:13:32] as I look over the comprehensive

[1:13:34] timeline that was provided,

[1:13:37] it looks like about a year and a half

[1:13:39] ago to two years ago, you decided you

[1:13:41] weren't going to engage with the city of

[1:13:43] Victorville in the fashion that I think

[1:13:45] that you should have. Well, I I would

[1:13:47] love to sit down and have some

[1:13:48] discussion regarding the chronology of

[1:13:49] noticing it, etc. But I do acknowledge

[1:13:51] once again, I want to say to you that I

[1:13:54] think we did not do uh the best of

[1:13:56] partnership on this project to say the

[1:13:58] least. Um I think we absolutely owe that

[1:14:00] to the city and the school district to

[1:14:02] have a better partnership on this

[1:14:04] project. Um no doubt. Um I do want to

[1:14:07] say that we haven't had safety concerns.

[1:14:10] There's very very minimal safety

[1:14:11] concerns that have existed on the

[1:14:13] current campus. um our law enforcement,

[1:14:16] you know, we work closely with them.

[1:14:17] We've had looked at statistics on the

[1:14:19] the uh any kind of safety calls for that

[1:14:22] campus and it's very been very

[1:14:23] dimminimous. Um they've shared with us,

[1:14:26] the sheriff's office has shared with us

[1:14:28] um that they've gotten very few calls

[1:14:30] and and most calls that they've received

[1:14:31] are from other business entities, not

[1:14:33] not necessarily this campus. It's been

[1:14:35] pretty um pretty quiet. I mean, given

[1:14:38] it's been there since 1985 and we're

[1:14:40] just some of us are just realizing it's

[1:14:41] it's there. Well, I appreciate your

[1:14:43] comments. I'm very disappointed.

[1:14:45] >> Yes, I understand.

[1:14:47] » Yes, I understand.

[1:14:47] >> Thank you. And I would I would have

[1:14:49] » Thank you. And I would I would have

[1:14:49] thought that you would have done more to

[1:14:51] engage with the city and the school

[1:14:53] district about um a project of this

[1:14:56] nature. Thank you so much.

[1:14:57] >> That we acknowledge that. Thank you very

[1:14:59] » That we acknowledge that. Thank you very

[1:14:59] much.

[1:15:00] >> Thank you,

[1:15:03] » Mr. Mayor Prom. Before I continue, I'm

[1:15:05] going to read a statement from Council

[1:15:07] Member Mo for not being able to attend

[1:15:09] tonight. To my mayor and fellow city

[1:15:11] council members, I'm truly sorry I can't

[1:15:13] participate in person tonight. I had a

[1:15:14] pre-arranged vacation that conflicts

[1:15:16] with tonight's meeting. However, I want

[1:15:18] to share with you this statement to be

[1:15:19] read into the meeting record so that you

[1:15:21] and the community are aware of my views

[1:15:23] on this subject. I would like to support

[1:15:25] staff's recommendation for Sanita

[1:15:27] County's comprehensive treatment campus

[1:15:29] project, which opposes the current

[1:15:31] location and configuration. Although

[1:15:34] behavioral health and facilities that

[1:15:35] can support our community are important,

[1:15:38] I am happy to see that the county

[1:15:39] investing in this type of facilities in

[1:15:41] our community. I do not believe the

[1:15:43] location is the best interest of our

[1:15:45] students and our community. This

[1:15:47] location is right next door to schools

[1:15:49] and practice fields which I believe

[1:15:51] creates unnecessary risks. As a mother

[1:15:54] of students who practice at Laura Middle

[1:15:56] School, I see firsthand the concerns of

[1:15:58] the community. I believe it is our

[1:16:00] responsibility and duty to protect the

[1:16:02] citizens especially children in our

[1:16:04] cities. That was from council member Mo.

[1:16:08] Mayor Pam Haramman.

[1:16:12] Okay. Um I I'll start with some of my

[1:16:16] questions have already been asked.

[1:16:19] Um

[1:16:22] but I'm a blunt person so I'm just going

[1:16:24] to get blunt. Why did you take the path

[1:16:29] that you did? Especially when you stand

[1:16:32] here and tell us that you've failed.

[1:16:43] » I do want to share with you um

[1:16:47] the requirement. So, what I think may

[1:16:49] have led to some of this lack of

[1:16:51] communication or or really thorough

[1:16:53] communication, if you will, um, and

[1:16:55] engaging and having conversations about

[1:16:57] this project has to do with timelines.

[1:16:59] Um, we have a state agreement that has

[1:17:02] an extremely rigorous timeline on this

[1:17:04] project. And I think with the pressure

[1:17:07] of the state's timeline to meet our

[1:17:10] construction deadlines and the costs

[1:17:12] that could be incurred with delays on

[1:17:15] this project, I think that that caused a

[1:17:17] level of pressure and stress on the

[1:17:20] staff to perform and to manage this

[1:17:22] project as efficiently and as

[1:17:24] effectively as possible, which I think

[1:17:26] may have led to a bit of a oversight as

[1:17:30] to other critical parts of this

[1:17:32] conversation that needed to occur.

[1:17:35] Um, I hope you know I know that this is

[1:17:37] a frustrating process, but I think

[1:17:38] that's the best I can do in answering

[1:17:40] your question right now.

[1:17:42] >> Um, why was it not an option to uh not

[1:17:49] » Um, why was it not an option to uh not

[1:17:49] use the grant and reapply for it once

[1:17:52] you had a plan in place? We went through

[1:17:55] this in the city of Victorville.

[1:17:57] We had a was it I believe a home key

[1:18:00] grant for our wellness center and we

[1:18:02] were we were awarded that grant and our

[1:18:06] city staff went over and beyond and

[1:18:10] decided we could not do the project in

[1:18:13] the the timeline that the the granter uh

[1:18:18] demanded and we gave we we waited and I

[1:18:23] just why was that avenue not visited? by

[1:18:28] your staff or or I don't know if it all

[1:18:31] sits on your shoulders. Maybe it does.

[1:18:34] But who whoever is the decision maker?

[1:18:37] You guys are professionals. I I you know

[1:18:40] I I have the utmost respect for the

[1:18:42] county. I really do. Especially my my uh

[1:18:45] county supervisor Cook and his staff. I

[1:18:48] don't really know you guys. That that's

[1:18:50] a political thing. I I get it. But I I I

[1:18:54] I

[1:18:57] can taste incompetency is the taste I'm

[1:19:00] getting.

[1:19:02] >> So um as far as any um ex expediting of

[1:19:07] » So um as far as any um ex expediting of

[1:19:07] this project,

[1:19:09] it came once the grant was actually um

[1:19:12] provided to us. So we had already been

[1:19:14] receiving in receipt of the grant um I

[1:19:16] believe in 2023.

[1:19:19] That's correct. Yes. So um you know the

[1:19:22] the need to expedite the the grant came

[1:19:25] from the timing in which we got we

[1:19:27] actually received the award and then

[1:19:30] were a you know the timing that they we

[1:19:31] were given from the state to actually

[1:19:33] execute and and complete the project. So

[1:19:35] at that point we had already been given

[1:19:37] the grant uh funding. So there wasn't

[1:19:39] really an opportunity for us to say

[1:19:41] we're not going to receive those funds.

[1:19:43] we were way past that point and I think

[1:19:45] at that point once the grant funds were

[1:19:47] received that is the point in which I

[1:19:49] think some of this expediting processing

[1:19:51] that might have taken place that did not

[1:19:53] include enough comprehensive discussion

[1:19:58] would you agree with me then that you

[1:20:00] you were not prepared for the grant

[1:20:03] because

[1:20:05] what I'm talking about is being prepared

[1:20:08] for it you had to you had to apply for

[1:20:10] it

[1:20:11] >> yes

[1:20:13] » yes

[1:20:13] I mean, I I just

[1:20:16] I don't understand why nobody about

[1:20:19] things until the grant was awarded.

[1:20:23] >> I really can't speak to that to be

[1:20:24] » I really can't speak to that to be

[1:20:24] honest with you other than the fact that

[1:20:27] um there was, you know, we'd have to

[1:20:29] really discuss all the engagement that

[1:20:32] took place, the steps that took place in

[1:20:34] this process to really help understand

[1:20:36] the context of the situation and how

[1:20:38] those notifications took place.

[1:20:40] I don't believe that the county did

[1:20:42] anything that was outside of the legal

[1:20:44] parameters in in executing this this

[1:20:47] application and moving forward and

[1:20:48] executing this project. I think what

[1:20:51] needed more time and and Jennifer

[1:20:53] Alcena, our assistant director, alluded

[1:20:54] to the amount of community engagements

[1:20:56] that took place on the side of uh

[1:20:58] behavioral health, but what I think

[1:21:00] needed more time and investment was our

[1:21:02] relationship with the city and our

[1:21:03] relationship with the school district on

[1:21:05] this project.

[1:21:07] Um, Madame Mayor, C, could I get another

[1:21:09] minute?

[1:21:15] » If you were to uh

[1:21:19] look back and and and start from the

[1:21:22] beginning, where where where and let's

[1:21:26] say you knew that the community and this

[1:21:29] wasn't going to work there. Where where

[1:21:31] where did you guys look at another

[1:21:33] location or did you just stay focused on

[1:21:36] one?

[1:21:37] >> I will let Jennifer Alcena comment

[1:21:39] » I will let Jennifer Alcena comment

[1:21:39] because I don't want to uh speak out of

[1:21:41] turn, but I believe there were a number

[1:21:42] of sites uh reviewed. Jennifer, could

[1:21:44] you please

[1:21:49] » before I uh answer that question, I do

[1:21:51] want to say that previous rounds of the

[1:21:53] grants were targeted to uh specific

[1:21:56] populations or were uh quote unquote

[1:22:00] launch ready, meaning you had the shovel

[1:22:02] in the ground. Um so at the time of this

[1:22:05] is this is round five that we were

[1:22:06] awarded. For round three, that was a

[1:22:09] launch ready grant. We did not own the

[1:22:11] property. A big um component of being

[1:22:15] competitive for that round is you had

[1:22:17] secured property and we were still in

[1:22:20] the acquisition phase at that point.

[1:22:22] Round

[1:22:22] >> what year?

[1:22:23] » what year?

[1:22:23] >> Uh what was that?

[1:22:24] » Uh what was that?

[1:22:24] >> What year?

[1:22:25] » What year?

[1:22:25] >> Um probably the previous year maybe

[1:22:27] » Um probably the previous year maybe

[1:22:27] 2022.

[1:22:29] Uh early early on I can go back and look

[1:22:31] at the dates but the next round round

[1:22:33] four was for adolescent services.

[1:22:36] >> Okay. You're you're veering off. You're

[1:22:38] » Okay. You're you're veering off. You're

[1:22:38] you're you're floating away. I I I want

[1:22:42] to know why you guys didn't have you say

[1:22:48] you had multiple locations and you came

[1:22:51] to the decision that this was the best

[1:22:54] location because I I I find that

[1:22:57] decision

[1:22:58] incompetent.

[1:22:59] >> I see.

[1:23:00] » I see.

[1:23:00] >> Um well, I didn't get to that to that

[1:23:02] » Um well, I didn't get to that to that

[1:23:02] point. Okay. So, I'm answering your

[1:23:04] previous question about um uh why didn't

[1:23:07] we apply for different uh rounds of

[1:23:10] these grants. Uh so round three was a

[1:23:12] launch ready grant and we did not own

[1:23:14] the property. Round four was uh targeted

[1:23:17] to youth services. So they had to be

[1:23:19] youth only facilities. We did consider

[1:23:22] applying for round four and we knew we

[1:23:24] were not ready to apply for that grant

[1:23:26] and we would wait for round five which

[1:23:27] is the grant that we applied for. Um so

[1:23:30] these timelines are very aggressive.

[1:23:31] It's a lot to do in a very short amount

[1:23:33] of time. Um we did hear uh some

[1:23:37] rumblings um around the state that the

[1:23:39] round six may or may not happen and it

[1:23:42] ultimately did not happen. Um and uh

[1:23:45] that was the terms of the of the grant.

[1:23:48] Now to answer your other question when

[1:23:50] we were looking at the acquisition um

[1:23:52] for this parcel it was previously owned

[1:23:55] by St. John of God and they own 10 other

[1:23:58] properties. We visited all of these

[1:24:00] properties. It would have been more

[1:24:02] costly to renovate these other

[1:24:04] properties. I think our outpatient was

[1:24:05] over 100 years old, that building that

[1:24:07] we were operating in. Um, so buying this

[1:24:11] property had the uh potential to do new

[1:24:14] construction where the other properties

[1:24:16] did not have that opportunity.

[1:24:21] » Okay. Thank you.

[1:24:23] >> I'm going to touch on something. Come

[1:24:25] » I'm going to touch on something. Come

[1:24:25] back. I'm going to touch on something

[1:24:26] you just said that these other

[1:24:28] properties didn't have the position to

[1:24:30] do it. You bought this property [snorts]

[1:24:33] for $2 million back in 2021. From that

[1:24:37] point forward, you guys are asking for

[1:24:39] grants. You guys are asking for money.

[1:24:42] And we are emailing you asking, "What do

[1:24:45] you plan on doing?" And on one email, we

[1:24:48] have, "Oh, nothing. Nothing. We're not

[1:24:50] doing anything with the property." We

[1:24:52] send another email. We hear crickets.

[1:24:56] When somebody hides something from you,

[1:24:58] it's no good. And this is what this is.

[1:25:01] This is a shellgate. This is hidden.

[1:25:04] This is what this reads to me. You guys

[1:25:07] are picking on our city. And I'm going

[1:25:08] to call it picking on because you say

[1:25:12] that drugs are the highest second

[1:25:13] offense for suspensions annually in 2023

[1:25:16] 2024 Victor Valley Union High School

[1:25:18] District. 251 drugrelated suspensions.

[1:25:21] Sir, how many students do we have in

[1:25:23] Victor Valley Senior School District?

[1:25:25] 10,000. And 251 kids may have gotten

[1:25:29] caught with a Tylenol, a vape. When you

[1:25:32] say drugrelated, it could be anything

[1:25:34] from a Tylenol to a an asthma spray.

[1:25:38] Correct. If a child has an asthma spray

[1:25:40] and it is not a doctor written behind

[1:25:43] it, that child is suspended for for use

[1:25:46] of his asthma spray for a drugrelated

[1:25:49] offense. Correct. Okay. So when you're

[1:25:51] picking on our schools, it drugreated

[1:25:54] suspension. 270 calls for service for

[1:25:58] our related to public public

[1:26:01] intoxication

[1:26:02] for the desert. We have 500,000 people

[1:26:06] that live in the desert. And not all of

[1:26:08] them are addicted to alcohol and drugs.

[1:26:10] Some of them are just stupid and go out

[1:26:12] partying and then they drive home drunk.

[1:26:15] We have a higher fatal injury crashes

[1:26:17] from 2022. Why? Because everybody moved

[1:26:20] from down the hill and think because

[1:26:21] we're country bumpkin and it's the

[1:26:23] desert, you can drive 80 miles an hour

[1:26:25] down Armagosa and Bear Valley. We have

[1:26:27] the most high desert. We have overdose

[1:26:30] incidents as the second highest. We have

[1:26:33] the second largest homeless population.

[1:26:36] Will the homeless people be able to be

[1:26:37] dropped off and say no insurance, no

[1:26:40] benefits, no nothing? You treat them for

[1:26:42] free like Victor Valley Hospital, St.

[1:26:44] Mary's, and Desert Valley Hospital has

[1:26:46] to do. No. No. Yes, we do. Okay. But

[1:26:49] where are you going to send them

[1:26:50] afterwards? Back on the street because

[1:26:53] they're homeless to begin with. You

[1:26:55] mentioned, oh, we're going to be

[1:26:56] partners and send them to our wellness

[1:26:58] center. Uh-uh. That's our wellness

[1:27:02] So, your people that are homeless and

[1:27:04] you guys are bringing in and treating

[1:27:06] now they're fine. Now, you want them at

[1:27:08] our homeless center. Then you say that

[1:27:11] you didn't know. We emailed you guys on

[1:27:14] many, many occasions and we got nothing.

[1:27:16] We got no we're not doing anything. And

[1:27:19] yet days later we can prove by public

[1:27:22] record you guys applied for grants and

[1:27:25] still nothing.

[1:27:26] >> Your time is up.

[1:27:27] » Your time is up.

[1:27:27] >> I'm going to take one minute. You make

[1:27:28] » I'm going to take one minute. You make

[1:27:28] the mention of 20 additional for you 20

[1:27:32] forums. You consider forums a meeting.

[1:27:34] So you had 20 meetings.

[1:27:37] >> Yes.

[1:27:38] » Yes.

[1:27:38] >> In Victorville.

[1:27:40] » In Victorville.

[1:27:40] >> Um

[1:27:40] » Um

[1:27:40] >> I may be blind but I I think I would

[1:27:42] » I may be blind but I I think I would

[1:27:42] have heard of one.

[1:27:45] My granddaughter wanted me to ask you

[1:27:46] this question. Why isn't this boot in

[1:27:48] Ranch Cookamonga? Maybe because their

[1:27:50] homes cost two and three million

[1:27:52] dollars. Why not Fontana? Why not

[1:27:54] Rialto? Why not somewhere down the hill?

[1:27:56] Because they would have said no. And

[1:27:59] their tax dollars are higher than ours

[1:28:01] for Sanino County.

[1:28:04] So why pick on us? That's all I have.

[1:28:08] Thank you.

[1:28:13] At this time, I'll invite a motion to

[1:28:16] adopt staff's recommendation.

[1:28:20] » Motion to adopt. Go ahead. Go ahead.

[1:28:22] Mayor Pro.

[1:28:23] >> Uh motion to approve uh item one. Uh as

[1:28:28] » Uh motion to approve uh item one. Uh as

[1:28:28] to

[1:28:32] 26005.

[1:28:36] Is that good, Jen?

[1:28:38] >> Would that be to approve staff's

[1:28:40] » Would that be to approve staff's

[1:28:40] recommendation as presented on the

[1:28:41] agenda to adopt resolution number

[1:28:43] 26-005?

[1:28:44] >> Yes. My apologies. I I I'm not the

[1:28:47] » Yes. My apologies. I I I'm not the

[1:28:47] correct.

[1:28:47] >> Thank you.

[1:28:48] » Thank you.

[1:28:48] >> Second.

[1:28:49] » Second.

[1:28:50] >> I have a first by council me by Mayor

[1:28:52] » I have a first by council me by Mayor

[1:28:52] Pam Herman and a second by council

[1:28:53] member Irving. Council me Mayor Pam

[1:28:56] Haramman. Comments on the pending

[1:28:58] motion.

[1:28:59] >> Um yeah. Um so I I just I I'm going to

[1:29:04] » Um yeah. Um so I I just I I'm going to

[1:29:04] speak to the audience. Um, so, uh, I I

[1:29:09] got I got voted in by my constituents

[1:29:11] and I I have, uh, since attending the

[1:29:16] forum,

[1:29:17] it's been a couple weeks ago now. Um, I

[1:29:20] have talked to many people and I'm here

[1:29:23] to represent the people and

[1:29:26] overwhelmingly

[1:29:28] 99

[1:29:30] say.5%

[1:29:32] were against this. Uh the people that

[1:29:35] had kids attending the Victor Valley

[1:29:39] Union High School District were 100%

[1:29:41] against it. And I represent the people

[1:29:43] of Victorville.

[1:29:45] So I have all the compassion in the

[1:29:48] world. I I could do the same thing

[1:29:50] everyone else did and say I my brother

[1:29:54] year younger than me went through it

[1:29:56] all. Also took him 15 years to get

[1:29:58] clean. He ended up with the Salvation

[1:30:01] Army actually in Santa Monica to clean

[1:30:03] himself up. But so the compassion is

[1:30:07] here. But this look I agree it needs to

[1:30:13] be in Victorville because we are the hub

[1:30:15] of the high desert and there's a half a

[1:30:17] million people up here. But we're 74

[1:30:19] square miles and there's even county

[1:30:22] property that areas in Victorville that

[1:30:26] we haven't annexed. So there's that, you

[1:30:29] know,

[1:30:31] there's plenty of area that I just feel

[1:30:34] like the staff, the county staff, uh,

[1:30:37] just just failed. And, um, like I said,

[1:30:40] I I'm comparing that with with my staff.

[1:30:44] It

[1:30:45] we are we have got it together. We have

[1:30:48] some of the greatest people running this

[1:30:50] city. And when they couldn't do

[1:30:53] something with that grant, they declined

[1:30:55] it and went back to get it when we were

[1:30:58] prepared. You got to be prepared. If you

[1:31:02] want grants, you got to be prepared. I

[1:31:04] will also say I think the state screwed

[1:31:08] up also because they should have had

[1:31:10] some oversight. They they should have

[1:31:13] maybe asked more questions to the county

[1:31:16] on your preparedness to spend the money.

[1:31:18] So I I you know I know it's a very

[1:31:21] complex thing but like I said my

[1:31:23] constituents are against this against

[1:31:25] this. I represent the people of

[1:31:27] Victorville and so that's that's that's

[1:31:30] where I'm at.

[1:31:33] >> Council member Irving.

[1:31:34] » Council member Irving.

[1:31:34] >> Thank you Madame Mayor. I echo the

[1:31:36] » Thank you Madame Mayor. I echo the

[1:31:36] sentiments of my colleague Mayor Pro Tim

[1:31:39] Haramman. I too represent the community,

[1:31:42] the citizens of Victorville, and most

[1:31:44] that I've spoken to are against this

[1:31:46] project because of the proximity. I also

[1:31:50] heard the the words or the sentiments of

[1:31:52] the educational community. I'm a

[1:31:54] teacher, so I understand the hard work

[1:31:56] that we put forth in trying to protect

[1:31:58] our children. They're young.

[1:32:02] This could be a distraction, and we're

[1:32:03] trying to keep them on on the path to

[1:32:05] success. But I also understand that

[1:32:08] there's a need for this this kind of

[1:32:10] facility in the district. So I'm hopeful

[1:32:12] that there is a pathway moving forward.

[1:32:14] I would uh encourage the public

[1:32:16] administrators in the audience from the

[1:32:19] department of behavioral health to

[1:32:21] engage and collaborate with the

[1:32:23] stakeholders of this community. I do

[1:32:25] think that there is an outcome that will

[1:32:27] be favorable for all. And so I encourage

[1:32:30] you to continue to to reach out to the

[1:32:33] city and to the school district so that

[1:32:35] we can help find a different location

[1:32:37] because I think we all agree we all

[1:32:40] agree that these services are needed. So

[1:32:42] thank you very much.

[1:32:46] » Councilwoman God. Thank you Madame

[1:32:48] Mayor. I too am uh also in support of

[1:32:53] these services within our city. uh it's

[1:32:56] something that's highly needed and we

[1:32:57] certainly don't want to underscore part

[1:32:59] of our population um because of another.

[1:33:03] At the same time, I think it's really

[1:33:05] important that the county doesn't use

[1:33:06] the city and the residents as a

[1:33:08] scapegoat.

[1:33:09] We all are in agreement. I believe that

[1:33:12] this is a needed a needed facility, a

[1:33:15] needed treatment. But I also am a mom

[1:33:18] and I also am hearing the residents and

[1:33:21] the concern of the teachers and the

[1:33:22] educators. We have to protect our

[1:33:25] children. We have to protect their

[1:33:27] minds. And we have to protect them

[1:33:29] physically. And I agree that we need

[1:33:32] these services, but I also am in

[1:33:34] disagreement with where these services

[1:33:35] would be provided in the proximity of

[1:33:38] our schools and campuses and our

[1:33:40] children. I also realize that the county

[1:33:42] has preemptive authority. They can go

[1:33:45] ahead with this project whether we like

[1:33:46] it or not. But I do think it's important

[1:33:49] that we state our case and we take our

[1:33:52] position. We uh you know want to hear

[1:33:55] what the county has to say and I agree

[1:33:57] with uh what the mayor stated that had

[1:34:00] communication been offered we would have

[1:34:02] gladly accepted we would have loved to

[1:34:04] partner with the county to come to the

[1:34:08] right answer because there is a right

[1:34:11] answer and I believe that we can come

[1:34:13] together and my hopes is is that by

[1:34:15] taking this stance that the county will

[1:34:18] listen that we will be able to go back

[1:34:20] to the drawing board and that we will be

[1:34:22] be able to make a decision that benefits

[1:34:25] all. So, with that being said, I hope

[1:34:28] that um I hope that our comments tonight

[1:34:31] will be heard. Thank you, Madam Mayor.

[1:34:33] >> Thank you. My com my comments go along

[1:34:36] » Thank you. My com my comments go along

[1:34:36] with Councilman God. They can move

[1:34:38] forward on this, folks. Silverado, let's

[1:34:41] see what 4,000 letters to our first

[1:34:43] district supervisor look like. Laores,

[1:34:45] same thing. Sims, same thing. Let's

[1:34:47] start writing letters, folks, because if

[1:34:49] they continue this and the first child

[1:34:52] that gets hurt, because it can't happen,

[1:34:56] I will be standing there. So, please get

[1:34:59] your schools, get your get the residents

[1:35:01] in the area. Let's start writing letters

[1:35:04] and it's just to say, "Hi, please stop

[1:35:06] the project." That's it. Put it in an

[1:35:07] envelope, put it in the mail because

[1:35:10] they can move forward with this. Thank

[1:35:12] you, Madam Clerk. Will you take the

[1:35:15] vote, please?

[1:35:15] >> Council member Goian. Yes. Council

[1:35:17] » Council member Goian. Yes. Council

[1:35:17] member Irving.

[1:35:18] >> Yes.

[1:35:19] » Yes.

[1:35:19] >> Mayor Prom Haramman.

[1:35:21] » Mayor Prom Haramman.

[1:35:21] >> Yes.

[1:35:21] » Yes.

[1:35:21] >> Mayor Bisera.

[1:35:22] » Mayor Bisera.

[1:35:22] >> Yes.

[1:35:22] » Yes.

[1:35:22] >> Motion passes with Council Member Mora

[1:35:25] » Motion passes with Council Member Mora

[1:35:25] being absent.

[1:35:26] >> We've now taken action to approve

[1:35:28] » We've now taken action to approve

[1:35:28] resolution 260005

[1:35:31] as stated in the agenda.

[1:35:34] And at 7:20, this meeting is adjourned.

City Council Special Meeting of January 8, 2026

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