[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.