[0:01] >> Before things get out of
[0:02] control, I'm going to call this
[0:03] meeting's order up here. Thank
[0:04] you all
[0:05] for joining us this morning.
[0:06] Our pledge and invocation will
[0:07] be led this morning by. Thank
[0:09] you, fifth District.
[0:10] >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I
[0:11] have the pleasure of honor
[0:12] of introducing Pastor Eric
[0:13] Strutz. Pastor Eric Schutz and
[0:15] his wife Brenda have called
[0:16] Colton home since December
[0:17] 1985. For more than 40 years,
[0:18] Pastor Strutz has served the
[0:20] community
[0:22] through his leadership
[0:23] through the Door Christian
[0:25] Fellowship, growing the
[0:26] congregation
[0:27] from four families into
[0:28] thriving multigenerational
[0:29] church. He has served as a
[0:30] chaplain for the Colton
[0:31] Police Department since 1992,
[0:33] where he has also supported
[0:34] local youth programs such as
[0:36] the Colton Youth, the CART
[0:37] program. Pastor Strutz is
[0:39] passionate about mentoring and
[0:40] encouraging young people and
[0:42] regularly speaks at schools and
[0:43] college career opportunities.
[0:45] Prior
[0:46] to becoming a full-time pastor,
[0:48] Pastor Strutz worked 15 years
[0:49] as an engineer and five years
[0:51] as a teacher. He holds an
[0:52] undergraduate in the mechanical
[0:53] engineering and graduate
[0:54] in business with an emphasis
[0:56] in risk management. He and
[0:57] Brenda continue
[0:58] to deeply be involved,
[1:00] serving the Colton community
[1:01] and supporting families
[1:02] throughout the region. It's
[1:03] always great to see Pastor
[1:05] Strutz throughout the Colton
[1:06] community. Please welcome
[1:07] Pastor Strutz.
[1:11] >> Thank you. I appreciate
[1:13] that. Yes, let's stand.
[1:14] Again, I would like
[1:15] to thank the Board of
[1:16] Supervisors
[1:18] for the invitation,
[1:19] the opportunity to pray, and we
[1:20] as a church oftentimes pray
[1:21] for our county,
[1:24] various cities. We have a
[1:25] burden for. We have members
[1:27] in our church where they live,
[1:29] and the challenges that we
[1:31] face. And so,
[1:33] as we agree together this
[1:35] morning, we ask your blessing
[1:37] upon our meeting and ask that
[1:38] you would work and move and
[1:40] minister in a gracious and a
[1:43] wonderful way. I'm reminded the
[1:45] scripture in Jeremiah 29. I
[1:47] know the thoughts that I think
[1:50] twice toward you. And yes,
[1:53] that's you and I as
[1:55] individuals, but I think it is
[1:56] much more than that, including
[1:58] cities and counties and people.
[2:00] I think toward you, says the
[2:03] Lord, thoughts
[2:05] of peace and not of evil, to
[2:10] give you a future and a hope.
[2:12] And you will call upon me and
[2:14] go and pray to me,
[2:16] and I will listen to you, and
[2:18] you will seek me and find me
[2:20] when you search for me
[2:22] with all of your heart. We do
[2:24] that this morning. We thank you
[2:26] for all that you're doing
[2:28] in our midst,
[2:31] all that you're doing in our
[2:33] county and the various cities
[2:35] and county areas. We ask your
[2:37] blessing upon our Board of
[2:39] Supervisors, their families,
[2:41] all that they would endeavor
[2:43] to do, all that they bring
[2:45] to the table,
[2:47] all that they provide for us
[2:48] in leadership, direction,
[2:50] wisdom and understanding. We
[2:51] ask your blessing here upon our
[2:53] county employees, the various
[2:55] departments represented here,
[2:57] management, staff,
[2:59] employees and their families,
[3:00] God's grace and blessing upon
[3:03] their lives. We commit this
[3:05] meeting into your hand Ask your
[3:07] blessing as we pray. In Jesus
[3:09] name. Amen. Join me in the
[3:11] pledge.
[3:13] >> I pledge allegiance
[3:18] to the flag of the United
[3:19] States of America and to the
[3:21] Republic for which it stands,
[3:23] one nation under God,
[3:25] indivisible liberty and justice
[3:27] for all.
[3:31] >> Thank you very much. We will
[3:38] now move on to our memorial
[3:39] adjournments. Vice Chair Baca
[3:40] >> Thank you,
[3:41] Madam Chair. I do have two
[3:42] memorial adjournments. The
[3:43] first one is Trinidad Trini
[3:44] Gomez. She was born May 8,
[3:46] 1925 and passed on August 14,
[3:47] 2026. She was 101 years old and
[3:49] she was a longtime family
[3:51] friend, friend
[3:53] of my father and mother
[3:55] for many, many years.
[3:57] But we acknowledge
[3:58] of the passing
[4:00] of another community icon,
[4:01] Trini Gomez, who died at 101
[4:02] in San Bernardino where she
[4:04] lived most of her life. She had
[4:05] worked for the San Rafael
[4:07] Railroad. She and her late
[4:09] husband, Graciano Gomez worked
[4:10] to establish the Inland
[4:11] Empire Hispanic newspaper which
[4:13] is very prominent
[4:15] in this community. They were
[4:16] both advocates for the
[4:18] underserved and true champions
[4:19] throughout the community. And
[4:20] her husband, Graciano Gomez,
[4:21] actually had a school named
[4:23] after him in the city of San
[4:25] Bernardino. He was actually the
[4:26] first Hispanic ever elected
[4:28] to the San Bernardino City
[4:29] Unified School District. She is
[4:31] survived
[4:32] by her three sisters,
[4:34] daughters, five grandchildren
[4:35] and five great grandchildren.
[4:37] And the second adjourned
[4:38] in memory is actually one
[4:40] of our county employees.
[4:41] Estelita Abby Haster of Colton
[4:43] was 56. So today we honor and
[4:45] remember Estelita Abby Hassler
[4:47] and the lasting impact she made
[4:48] through her work with her
[4:49] children and family services
[4:50] employment. Abby was more than
[4:53] a dedicated county employee.
[4:54] She was a caring colleague,
[4:56] mentor and a friend
[4:58] with whose kindness, faith and
[4:59] beautiful spirit touched many,
[5:02] many lives throughout our
[5:03] county. We recognize the
[5:05] tremendous loss of the family
[5:06] of our CFS colleagues and
[5:08] experiencing and our hearts
[5:09] with them during the incredibly
[5:11] difficult time. On behalf
[5:13] of the entire County Board of
[5:14] Supervisors. San Bernardino
[5:16] county, we extend our deepest
[5:18] condolences. Abby made a
[5:19] lasting difference and will
[5:21] deeply be missed and lovingly
[5:22] remembered. Thank you, Madam
[5:24] Chair.
[5:25] >> Thank you, Supervisor
[5:27] Cook, Supervisor Armendarez
[5:29] for adjourn in memory. I have
[5:30] two this morning. I would like
[5:33] to adjourn it in memory of
[5:35] Justice Marsha Slough, a
[5:37] resident of Redlands who served
[5:39] on California's 4th District
[5:40] Court of Appeals, who was a
[5:42] two-decade veteran
[5:43] of the state judiciary. We
[5:45] thank her for her service
[5:46] to the region and our pleasure
[5:48] with her family
[5:49] during this difficult time.
[5:50] And also, for Maria Ramirez
[5:52] Schul, who is the mother
[5:53] of my team member, Christina
[5:55] Garcia. Maria passed away
[5:56] at the age of 80 and is
[5:57] survived by her children and
[5:59] grandchildren. And Christina,
[6:00] you're in our thoughts.
[6:02] Thank you.
[6:04] We have three special
[6:05] presentations this morning.
[6:06] So, if my colleagues will join
[6:07] me in the well, can we ask
[6:34] Keith Ricker
[6:35] to join us please? Good
[6:45] morning. How are you? Are you
[6:49] excited?
[6:50] >> Yes, I am.
[6:51] >> This morning we would like
[6:52] to present this special
[6:53] resolution in honor of Keith
[6:54] Ricker who's retiring after 36
[6:55] years with the county. Keith
[6:56] began his career
[6:57] with the county in 1990
[6:58] supporting systems
[6:59] in the human Resources
[7:01] department. He later advanced
[7:02] to managing critical IT
[7:03] infrastructure and customer
[7:04] facing systems within the
[7:06] Department of Public Works. He
[7:07] has played a vital role in
[7:09] modernizing operations and has
[7:10] had a lasting impact
[7:11] on technological advancement
[7:12] in the county. We thank you for
[7:14] your dedication and we wish you
[7:15] well in retirement.
[7:42] >> It's been an honor and a
[7:43] pleasure. A great opportunity
[7:44] to work for the county of San
[7:45] Bernardino. As long as I have a
[7:46] definite blessing
[7:47] to me and I just want
[7:49] to say thank you to all my
[7:52] colleagues who helped get me
[7:54] through this
[7:55] and it's a team effort and
[7:57] just appreciate all you guys.
[7:58] So, thank you very much.
[8:00] >> Would you like to bring up
[8:02] family
[8:03] or friends for photo
[8:04] >> Bringing my wife up there
[8:05] and bring up the whole crew.
[8:06] Reuben, Richard, Brad, come
[8:07] on up.
[8:08] >> Come on up here. I'm going
[8:10] to trade you. Come
[8:11] on up here.
[8:48] Congratulations.
[8:55] >> Thank you again.
[8:56] >> We have Yvonne Perez join
[8:58] us. Good morning. Welcome and
[9:18] congratulations. It is our
[9:20] honor to prevent to present
[9:21] Yvonne Perez this resolution.
[9:24] For 26 years with the county.
[9:26] She began her career in 1999 as
[9:28] a fiscal clerk with the
[9:31] Department of Human Services
[9:32] and later transferred to the
[9:33] Sheriff's Department where she
[9:34] served the rest
[9:35] of her career,
[9:36] retiring as a staff analyst.
[9:37] She's recognized
[9:38] by her professionalism,
[9:40] dependability and exemplary
[9:41] work ethic. She was even named
[9:42] 2025 Employee of the Year
[9:44] by the Sheriff's Department
[9:45] Bureau of Administration.
[9:46] Congratulations and we're
[9:48] excited for your retirement,
[9:49] but we're going
[9:51] to miss you so thank you.
[10:07] >> Would you like to say a few
[10:08] words? You don't have to do
[10:09] Anybody you want to bring up
[10:11] for a photo?
[10:12] >> Yes.
[10:15] >> Come on, dad.
[10:16] >> Come on.
[10:17] >> All right.
[10:18] >> Come on up. Come on,
[10:27] sister. Oh, really? Good
[10:29] morning.
[10:31] >> Come on up here.
[11:32] >> I would like to ask Brad
[11:33] Gates and the workforce
[11:34] development team
[11:35] to join us next.
[11:49] >> Good morning.
[12:07] >> How are you?
[12:08] >> Hi, Janet. Hey, good
[12:10] to see you.
[12:11] >> Good morning.
[12:12] >> The Board of Supervisors
[12:13] would like
[12:14] to recognize this the month
[12:15] of September as National
[12:16] Workforce Development Month.
[12:17] Our local Workforce development
[12:19] board and the county Workforce
[12:20] development board play a
[12:21] critical role
[12:22] in connecting job seekers with
[12:23] career opportunities and
[12:24] creating innovative ways to
[12:26] help residents develop skills
[12:27] needed to succeed in a rapidly
[12:28] changing labor market. We'd
[12:30] like to take this opportunity
[12:31] to recognize the work and thank
[12:33] you all for your economic
[12:34] advancement efforts. Thank you
[12:37] very much.
[12:53] >> Hi.
[13:40] >> Thank you all very much.
[13:46] Now we're going to ask Brad
[13:47] to give us a little
[13:48] presentation
[13:49] on workforce development. All
[14:12] right, Brad, you're up. You
[14:17] have to really lean
[14:18] into that one now.
[14:20] >> It's on. There we go. Good
[14:21] morning. Thank you. Thank you,
[14:22] Chair Rowe and members
[14:24] of the board. I'm Brad Gates,
[14:25] director of the Workforce
[14:26] Development Department, and I'm
[14:27] pleased
[14:28] to briefly share a presentation
[14:29] about the programs and services
[14:30] that we provide to assist the
[14:32] job seekers and businesses of
[14:34] San Bernardino County. I would
[14:36] also like to thank you for the
[14:39] proclamation that you just gave
[14:41] us recognizing the month of
[14:43] September officially as
[14:45] Workforce Development Month
[14:46] in San Bernardino County. This
[14:48] recognition helps
[14:49] to increase awareness of the
[14:51] programs that we provide and
[14:53] the impacts that we make
[14:54] in the community. Workforce
[14:56] development is really about
[14:58] bringing together federal,
[14:59] state and local resources
[15:00] to connect residents with
[15:02] employment opportunities and to
[15:04] help ensure that businesses
[15:06] have access to the skilled and
[15:07] trained workforce that they
[15:09] need to succeed. Ultimately,
[15:10] this work is
[15:12] about creating opportunity, so
[15:13] strengthening our businesses
[15:14] and our communities. A critical
[15:16] part of our mission is
[15:17] supporting the county's
[15:19] business community. Our
[15:21] business services team works
[15:23] directly with employers
[15:25] to help them recruit,
[15:26] train and retain employees.
[15:28] This includes customized
[15:29] recruitments, job fairs,
[15:31] business consulting, training
[15:33] programs, rapid response
[15:35] services when businesses are
[15:37] laying off or closing.
[15:39] In fiscal year 25-26, more than
[15:41] 2500 businesses were served
[15:44] through our programs,
[15:45] including 187
[15:46] on the job training contracts,
[15:47] resulting in over $900,000
[15:49] in wages reimbursed
[15:52] to employers. These programs
[15:55] allow us to simultaneously
[15:57] support the local business
[15:59] community while creating job
[16:01] opportunities
[16:03] for our residents.
[16:05] For our residents,
[16:07] we operate three America's
[16:09] Job Centers of California, or
[16:11] AJCCs, where customers can
[16:13] access career counseling, job
[16:15] referrals, employment
[16:16] preparation, training, funding,
[16:18] apprenticeships, work
[16:20] experience,
[16:22] and supportive services. Our
[16:24] goal is simply not
[16:25] to help someone find a job. We
[16:27] want to help residents gain the
[16:28] skills that they need so that
[16:29] they can move into sustainable
[16:30] employment and career pathways.
[16:32] In fiscal year 25-26, over 1800
[16:34] workforce innovation and
[16:36] Opportunity act customers
[16:38] received training services
[16:39] through our programs,
[16:40] and more than 2,800 individuals
[16:41] were employed generating tens
[16:44] of millions of dollars
[16:47] in earned wages in San
[16:48] Bernardino County. These
[16:50] outcomes represent residents
[16:52] gaining real skills, finding
[16:54] opportunity,
[16:56] and taking important steps
[16:57] toward economic stability.
[16:59] Another focus is our
[17:00] Opportunity Youth, those young
[17:02] adults ages 16 to 24 that we
[17:05] serve. Through seven youth
[17:06] service providers, we help
[17:08] young adults overcome barriers
[17:10] to education and employment,
[17:12] with particular emphasis
[17:13] on our foster,
[17:15] homeless and other youth
[17:16] with significant needs.
[17:18] Services include paid work
[17:20] experience, apprenticeships,
[17:22] education, occupational
[17:23] training, counseling,
[17:25] mentorship and supportive
[17:26] services. In fiscal year
[17:27] 2526, we serve more than 2000
[17:30] opportunity youth with over 70%
[17:32] achieving successful employment
[17:34] or placement
[17:36] in higher education outcomes.
[17:38] By investing in our youth,
[17:40] we are investing
[17:42] in the future workforce of
[17:44] San Bernardino county. And our
[17:45] Workforce Development Board is
[17:48] an essential partner
[17:49] in this work. I would like
[17:51] to take a moment
[17:52] to recognize several
[17:54] Workforce Board members who are
[17:55] present here with us today.
[17:57] You saw them just
[17:58] in the well a moment ago,
[17:59] but I want
[18:00] to introduce officially our
[18:02] Board Chair, Shannon, our
[18:03] immediate past chair, Will
[18:05] Sterling. And then we also have
[18:06] Alfonso Jimenez, Tanya
[18:08] Rhodes, Hensley Lowell King and
[18:11] Thomas Ruiz here
[18:12] with us today. I'd like
[18:14] to appreciate them
[18:15] for being here today
[18:17] for this special recognition,
[18:18] but really for the work that
[18:19] our entire board does each and
[18:21] every day to support our
[18:22] efforts and really move the
[18:24] needle
[18:26] on workforce development,
[18:27] innovation and programs in
[18:29] San Bernardino County.
[18:30] Under the Workforce Innovation
[18:32] and opportunity act, or WIOA,
[18:33] the Board of Supervisor
[18:36] appointed 19 member Workforce
[18:37] Development Board. Yes, you
[18:39] heard that right, 19 members.
[18:41] We have six here today,
[18:42] but I have 19 that sit
[18:43] on the board and these,
[18:45] these individuals represent
[18:46] business, labor, industry,
[18:48] workforce partners that really
[18:49] collectively come together to
[18:51] bring a unique and interesting
[18:52] perspective into how we operate
[18:54] these programs. They provide
[18:56] oversight and policy direction
[18:59] of WIOA programs and bring
[19:01] together representatives
[19:04] of business, industry and other
[19:05] partners that really expand the
[19:08] perspectives that we need.
[19:09] They help us understand the
[19:11] changing needs of employers,
[19:13] expand the reach
[19:15] of our programs,
[19:17] and better connect our
[19:19] residents
[19:21] to those opportunities.
[19:22] Together, the Workforce
[19:24] Development Department and our
[19:25] Workforce Development Board are
[19:27] committed to our shared vision
[19:28] of transforming lives and
[19:30] strengthening business.
[19:31] In closing, I would just like
[19:32] to say that workforce
[19:34] development is
[19:35] about connecting people with
[19:37] opportunity and connecting
[19:38] businesses
[19:39] with the talent that they need
[19:41] to succeed. The programs and
[19:42] results that I've shared today,
[19:44] which is just a fraction
[19:45] of what I'm able to share
[19:46] with you
[19:48] in just a few short minutes,
[19:49] are really the result
[19:50] of the dedication
[19:52] of our amazing Workforce
[19:53] Development Department team who
[19:54] bring their passion and their
[19:56] drive to work each and every
[19:57] day and also to our Workforce
[20:00] Development Board for their
[20:01] commitment and the countless
[20:03] volunteer hours that they
[20:04] commit to this work.
[20:06] In addition
[20:08] to the many county departments,
[20:09] community partners and resource
[20:11] partners that we really rely
[20:13] on to do the work that we do.
[20:15] And of course you, our Board
[20:17] of Supervisors, who we could
[20:19] not do this work
[20:20] without your support. We
[20:22] appreciate again this
[20:23] recognition that you've given
[20:25] us today. The Opportunity
[20:27] to officially recognize
[20:28] September through 2020, 2031 as
[20:30] National Workforce
[20:31] Development, Workforce
[20:33] Development Month in San
[20:35] Bernardino County. Thank you
[20:38] and I'm happy
[20:41] to answer any questions.
[20:45] >> Thank you very much
[20:46] for that. Any questions Board?
[20:47] All right,
[20:49] great job and thank you all
[20:50] for coming today. It was a long
[20:52] drive for some of you. Thank
[20:53] you. All right, we will move
[21:00] on to reports
[21:01] from county council.
[21:04] >> Thank you, Madam Chair. The
[21:05] board met in closed session and
[21:06] considering item number five,
[21:08] the board voted 5-0
[21:09] to provide authorization
[21:11] to file litigation. The
[21:13] defendants and the particulars
[21:14] of that litigation will be made
[21:15] available upon request after
[21:16] the action is filed. I have
[21:18] nothing further
[21:19] to report.
[21:21] >> Thank you very much. And
[21:22] with that, we will move on
[21:23] to our individual board member.
[21:25] Comments. Vice Chair.
[21:27] >> Yeah, thank you, Madam
[21:28] Chair. Just want to thank the
[21:29] Sheriff's department for
[21:31] hosting a sheriff's blood
[21:32] drive,
[21:33] which is they do every quarter.
[21:34] Want to thank for all the
[21:35] participants. I know many of
[21:36] our deputies and support staff
[21:37] participated,
[21:39] had the opportunity
[21:40] to donate blood. So, I just
[21:41] want to thank them and their
[21:43] partnership with Livestream.
[21:44] So, thank you
[21:46] for the good work. Had the
[21:47] opportunity to participate
[21:48] with San Bernardino County Fire
[21:49] Department a wildfire
[21:50] prevention and fuel management
[21:52] tour. So, I want
[21:53] to thank the county fire
[21:55] for the great work they did,
[21:57] the opportunity to tour
[21:58] along the foothill base
[21:59] in the city of San Bernardino
[22:01] and just so impressed
[22:02] with the amount of mitigation
[22:04] that the county fire department
[22:06] has done to prevent or, you
[22:08] know, mitigate fires,
[22:09] especially with a lot
[22:10] of the homes that are
[22:11] along the foothills
[22:12] of the city of San Bernardino.
[22:13] I know they put in a lot
[22:14] of work. When I think the hand
[22:16] crews for the great work they
[22:17] do and everything, they do
[22:18] to protect our,
[22:19] our residents here
[22:20] in our county. Also had the
[22:21] opportunity to participate
[22:22] in a back-to-school visit with
[22:23] our preschool services
[22:24] department. Our county staff,
[22:25] along with myself, delivered,
[22:26] you know,
[22:27] backpacks and school supplies
[22:29] to all of our students
[22:30] in the fifth district. I want
[22:31] to thank, you know, PSD
[22:32] for the great work they're
[22:33] doing with our students as they
[22:34] begin their school year and
[22:35] just want
[22:37] to thank our department of
[22:38] Land Use for the Arrowhead
[22:39] Farms community cleanup. It was
[22:41] at the Our lady of Assumption
[22:42] in the city of San Bernardino
[22:44] area which is part of
[22:46] Arrowhead farms. There was
[22:47] 12.51 tons
[22:48] of trash picked up, 2.4 tons
[22:50] of tires. I want
[22:51] to thank code enforcement and
[22:52] Our lady of Assumption Church
[22:53] for their partnership and
[22:55] continuing
[22:56] to do this every year.
[22:58] Just a great program.
[23:00] I just want
[23:01] to highlight agenda items
[23:02] on the agenda. Item number
[23:03] five, this is a $300,000
[23:04] investment
[23:05] of discretionary money of the
[23:06] Fifth District, which will help
[23:08] San Bernardino Valley college
[23:09] baseball program
[23:10] with improvements
[23:12] on the baseball field,
[23:13] which will
[23:14] in turn give a bigger
[23:15] investment
[23:17] by the community college
[23:18] in this ball field. And it's
[23:19] personal for me because I had
[23:20] the opportunity to play
[23:21] on this field
[23:22] in junior college,
[23:23] but it's great to give back to
[23:24] the community and see things be
[23:25] improved. The other is item
[23:26] 33, which is $250,000
[23:27] in investment that the board of
[23:28] supervisors are making. I want
[23:30] to thank my colleagues
[23:32] for their investments and
[23:34] in the San Bernardino
[23:35] International Airport
[23:37] to make some improvements
[23:38] at the airport looking to try
[23:39] to grow the region and our
[23:40] San Bernardino International
[23:41] Airport, which is just so
[23:43] critical
[23:44] for economic development
[23:46] in our community. Also item
[23:47] 39, 8 youth set aside units
[23:48] at Echo Apartments in the city
[23:50] of San Bernardino. This is a
[23:51] big investment that will help
[23:52] housing for our youth that have
[23:54] challenges finding housing.
[23:55] So, I just want
[23:57] to thank county staff
[23:58] for that great work. Also item
[24:00] 40, expanding dental care
[24:01] for preschool students. One
[24:02] of the things that we take
[24:04] for granted because many
[24:05] of us do have dental care,
[24:06] but some
[24:08] of our students that are, you
[24:09] know,
[24:10] underserved need dental care.
[24:11] So, I want to thank Head Start
[24:13] for providing these services
[24:14] for our kids. Item 53 is no
[24:15] truck parking
[24:16] in several areas throughout the
[24:18] Bloomington community. It's one
[24:19] of our community concerns. I
[24:21] want to thank staff
[24:22] for bringing it to our
[24:23] attention and addressing it
[24:25] in the Bloomington community.
[24:26] Item 55, which is a big project
[24:27] for us in the Muscoy community,
[24:29] it's the widening of
[24:30] state-street and adding
[24:32] sidewalks. So, this is another
[24:33] step to try to complete that.
[24:34] And this is
[24:36] through measure I funds. And
[24:37] the last one is the commitment
[24:39] to the Colton Joint Unified
[24:40] School District partnership
[24:43] with TAD and Colton Joint
[24:44] Unified to make sure they
[24:46] provide services for many
[24:47] of our students at the Colton
[24:48] Joint Unified to make sure they
[24:50] have free and reduced lunch and
[24:51] also CALFRESH benefits. And
[24:52] that concludes my comments
[24:56] madam Chair.
[24:57] >> Thank you very much,
[24:58] Supervisor Cook?
[24:59] Supervisor Armendarez?
[25:00] >> Thank you, Chair. Thank you,
[25:01] Chair. A lot
[25:03] of exciting things happening
[25:04] in the second district. We just
[25:05] had our fourth annual open
[25:06] house where we had over 400
[25:07] people show up. Want
[25:08] to do a special thanks to our
[25:10] county departments who came
[25:11] out and shared what they do
[25:12] with our community. ROV, the
[25:16] OAS, DPH, DBH, the sheriff,
[25:18] the county fire. As we do a lot
[25:20] of these open houses and,
[25:21] and these outreaches that we.
[25:28] We've been doing
[25:29] through the second district,
[25:30] we try to remind people that
[25:31] the county is such a. A big
[25:32] machine and we have so many
[25:33] services
[25:35] out there that are available.
[25:37] So we want
[25:38] to make sure that the. The
[25:40] public knows who we are and
[25:41] what we do. And thank you all
[25:42] who participate
[25:44] in my open houses,
[25:45] my family fun days, all these
[25:46] little things that we put
[25:47] together to show the community
[25:49] what we. I want
[25:51] to just say thank you for all
[25:52] of you participating. We also
[25:54] had our family fun day
[25:56] on last Saturday where we had
[25:58] over 600 people show up. And I
[25:59] want
[26:00] to thank the firefighters,
[26:01] our parks and recreation
[26:03] for coming
[26:05] out and coordinating with us
[26:08] and making this a great day for
[26:13] our first annual family fun
[26:15] day. We also had our mobile
[26:17] office hours in the Mount
[26:18] Baldy area where we talked
[26:20] to constituents, where they
[26:23] are, where they live. And we
[26:25] actually toured the courthouse
[26:26] in Rancho Cucamonga yesterday.
[26:28] I want
[26:30] to do a little quick shout out
[26:33] to the presiding judge Cortez
[26:34] and all
[26:36] of his team and the sheriff for
[26:38] showing us the courthouse and
[26:40] how they function. And it was
[26:41] just. It was a great event.
[26:43] And I want to take a moment
[26:45] to say happy birthday
[26:46] to my beautiful wife. Also want
[26:47] to touch
[26:48] on a few other items. We have
[26:49] some items in the second
[26:50] district where we're continuing
[26:52] to move forward
[26:53] in helping our community with
[26:54] over $75,000
[26:55] in improvements and helping,
[26:57] whether it's behavioral health,
[26:58] our youth and our seniors, to
[26:59] make sure that they have their
[27:00] meals on wheels programs that
[27:02] continue so our seniors
[27:04] continue to get fed and helping
[27:05] our kids and our youth
[27:06] through their sports
[27:07] to get them out
[27:09] in the wide open and
[27:10] off their tablets, so
[27:11] to speak. And then I want to
[27:13] actually bring up one item that
[27:15] is item 27, our property tax
[27:17] rate. There's been some
[27:20] misinformation
[27:22] out there that I want
[27:24] to clarify to the public. You
[27:25] know, people will sit here and
[27:27] say we're raising taxes, and
[27:29] they're making assumptions that
[27:30] this money is the county's
[27:32] money. And this tax that we
[27:34] have to do is something we do
[27:35] every single year,
[27:37] and it's required
[27:38] by state law. This is not a tax
[27:39] that we as the county absorb
[27:41] all this money. And I feel
[27:43] like there's some
[27:45] misinformation on social media
[27:46] where they're trying to portray
[27:47] a story that is inaccurate.
[27:49] Less than 8%
[27:50] of it actually comes
[27:52] to county government. 1% goes
[27:54] to our libraries. We have
[27:57] over 38% goes to our schools.
[27:58] If we didn't do this,
[28:00] we would jeopardize everything
[28:02] from our public safety,
[28:04] our judicial systems,
[28:06] our public health, our human
[28:09] health,
[28:11] and essential county services.
[28:12] So, when someone goes out there
[28:14] and makes misinformation,
[28:15] I want
[28:17] to make sure we clear the air
[28:18] on that. So, when people are
[28:20] paying their tax, they
[28:21] understand this isn't a new
[28:23] tax. This is a yearly basically
[28:24] resolution of the tax that we
[28:26] currently have. And we will
[28:27] continue to deliver those
[28:29] services as we,
[28:31] as we move forward. If we
[28:32] approve it today and if we ever
[28:34] got
[28:35] to a point where we didn't, we
[28:36] would jeopardize those
[28:38] services. I want to be clear to
[28:39] understand that this is not
[28:40] something that just comes
[28:42] to the county. This is how our
[28:43] cities and all the other
[28:44] entities around us,
[28:46] all municipalities
[28:47] in the county of San
[28:49] Bernardino, are funded. So that
[28:50] concludes my comments.
[28:52] >> Thank you very much,
[28:55] Supervisor Hagman.
[28:56] >> Thank you, Madam Chair.
[28:57] Just a couple updates. SCAG is
[28:58] seeking input
[28:59] for the community hubs for
[29:01] Mega Events Needs Assessment
[29:02] Survey, a weird title. Learn
[29:03] how local jurisdictions are
[29:05] planning fan sites and
[29:06] community hubs for the 2028
[29:07] Summer Olympics and
[29:09] Paralympic Games. So, passing
[29:12] off their cities
[29:13] in the county,
[29:15] IHP is hosting this 2026
[29:16] Grand Sam Health Jam on
[29:18] September 5th beginning at
[29:19] Tower Buzzard Ontario Field.
[29:20] And speaking about the
[29:22] Ontario Buzzer Field, we want
[29:23] to congratulate the Tower
[29:25] Buzzers
[29:27] for making the playoffs
[29:28] in the inaugural season. The
[29:30] team recent night honoring
[29:31] Jackie the Eagle raised over
[29:32] $16,000 for friends at Big
[29:33] Bear Valley. And I encourage
[29:35] everyone, there's a storm
[29:37] coming up this weekend. It's a
[29:38] sign of the times, may or may
[29:40] not be our El Nino year.
[29:41] But you know,
[29:43] please be aware that's supposed
[29:45] to be one of the worst seasons
[29:48] in a long hundreds of years. I
[29:51] guess so many cities have
[29:53] emergency preparedness training
[29:54] or cert training. So, contact
[29:56] your city to learn more
[29:57] about getting prepared
[29:58] for the rainy season coming up.
[30:00] Thank you.
[30:02] >> Thank you very much. I'd
[30:03] like
[30:04] to highlight agenda item number
[30:05] 38
[30:06] on today's consent calendar,
[30:07] which is the acceptance
[30:08] of a donation of 149 individual
[30:09] works of art from Joshua Tree
[30:10] Highlands Artist Residency,
[30:12] which is a nonprofit artist
[30:13] residency program out in the
[30:15] Morongo Basin area that invites
[30:16] artists from around the world
[30:18] to create works inspired
[30:20] by the beauty
[30:21] of the national park. The
[30:22] artists will the artwork will
[30:23] be used in the county museum
[30:25] exhibits and interpretive
[30:26] programming as the museum
[30:28] continues
[30:29] to expand its art collection.
[30:30] So, thank you very much
[30:32] for that generous art donation.
[30:33] And with that, we'll move on
[30:35] to changes to today's agenda.
[30:38] Lynna.
[30:40] >> Good morning, Madam Chair. I
[30:42] do not have any changes today.
[30:43] Thank you.
[30:44] >> Very good. If we have any
[30:45] board members wishing
[30:46] to disclose a conflict
[30:47] of interest,
[30:48] now would be the time
[30:49] to do so. All right. Seeing
[30:51] none, our consent calendar
[30:52] today consists
[30:53] of items number two through
[30:54] 68, do we have any board
[30:55] members wishing
[30:57] to pull an item? Discuss
[30:58] briefly an item. Agman Moose 2
[30:59] through 68. I have a motion and
[31:00] a second. And
[31:02] for clarification,
[31:04] we do not have any speakers
[31:05] on today's consent calendar.
[31:06] Is that correct? Okay, thank
[31:08] you. And just a comment,
[31:10] Supervisor Hagman,
[31:12] on item number six, seven.
[31:15] I believe I had a little
[31:16] sticky note that I've lost it.
[31:17] Is the air quality report out?
[31:19] Could we do a report either
[31:20] from your office or
[31:22] through the CAO on anything air
[31:23] quality that that item is
[31:24] bringing forward that might be
[31:25] of interest to the county?
[31:31] It's a staff.
[31:33] >> So just,
[31:35] Yeah, the letter brain knows
[31:36] when you're on AQMD,
[31:38] you get a staff allowance for
[31:39] all the boards and committees
[31:40] that you're on. I'm
[31:41] on probably every committee
[31:43] on there, so my staff has
[31:44] to go through all those
[31:45] different things. Instead
[31:46] of getting paid directly
[31:48] from AQMD,
[31:49] they reimburse the county. The
[31:50] county pays my team for that.
[31:52] That's what item seven is.
[31:54] >> And in years past, sometimes
[31:55] it's been a CAO analyst. Right
[31:57] now,
[31:58] it's a board staff analyst
[32:00] for your team. Just if they
[32:01] could act in the function of a
[32:03] CAO analyst and provide a
[32:04] report out to the full board
[32:05] through Peter's office,
[32:07] that would be great.
[32:08] >> Thank you.
[32:10] >> Thank you. All right,
[32:11] so I have a motion to second.
[32:13] All those in favor?
[32:14] Aye.
[32:15] Any abstentions? Any
[32:16] opposition?
[32:18] >> Thank you, Madam Chair.
[32:19] With that, the consent calendar
[32:20] passes unanimously.
[32:21] >> Thank you very much. And
[32:22] with that, we will move on
[32:23] to our discussion calendar,
[32:26] beginning with item number 69.
[32:27] And this is an item that
[32:29] recommends approval
[32:31] of an employment contract
[32:32] with Cindy Faulkner, the
[32:34] Executive Director of Children
[32:35] and Family Services Commission
[32:36] for San Bernardino county,
[32:37] pursuant to Government Code
[32:39] Section 54953D3. I will read
[32:40] the terms of the contract
[32:45] into the record. The new
[32:47] contract is effective
[32:48] September 5, 2026. The hourly
[32:49] pay rate is initially set at
[32:52] $81.68
[32:56] with an estimated annual salary
[32:57] of $169,894 which is set step
[33:00] 8 of range 81B in the exempt
[33:02] Group Working Conditions
[33:03] Ordinance. The annual cost
[33:05] for benefits is $57,764. The
[33:06] benefits are noted
[33:08] in the contract and pursuant
[33:11] to exempt group B, terms
[33:14] of the county ordinance. And I
[33:16] will now turn it over to
[33:18] Gilbert Ramos
[33:20] for presentation.
[33:23] >> Good morning, Chair Rowe.
[33:24] Members of the board,
[33:25] my name is Gilbert Ramos,
[33:26] Human Services Assistant
[33:27] Executive Officer.
[33:29] Recommendation
[33:30] before you today is to approve
[33:31] an employment contract with
[33:32] Cindy Faulkner to serve as the
[33:33] executive director for the
[33:34] Children and Families
[33:35] Commission for San Bernardino
[33:36] county, also known as First
[33:37] Five San Bernardino with a
[33:38] salary and benefits as reported
[33:39] by the Chair. The proposed
[33:40] contract is for the period of
[33:42] September 5, 2026 through
[33:43] August 31, 2029,
[33:45] with the option to extend
[33:47] for a maximum of three
[33:49] successive one year periods.
[33:51] On July 8, 2026, the Children
[33:52] and Families Commission
[33:54] appointed Cindy Faulkner as his
[33:55] Executive Director as subject
[33:58] employment contract being
[33:59] reached regarding the terms and
[34:00] condition of employment.
[34:02] Cindy Faulkner brings more than
[34:03] 20 years of experience with
[34:06] First 5 San Bernardino, having
[34:07] joined the organization in
[34:09] 2004. During her tenure she
[34:10] served as assistant director
[34:11] for 11 years and most recently
[34:14] as the interim Executive
[34:15] Director for Children and
[34:17] Families Commission pursuant
[34:18] to an employment contract, the
[34:20] recommended contract employment
[34:21] contract will supersede her
[34:22] existing employment contract.
[34:24] Throughout her time with
[34:25] First Five, Cindy has gained
[34:27] extensive experience
[34:28] in strategic planning, fiscal
[34:30] oversight, contracts and
[34:31] grants, personnel, program
[34:32] operations and community
[34:34] partnership. Her experience and
[34:35] long-standing knowledge of the
[34:37] organization will provide
[34:38] continuity and strong
[34:39] leadership with S. First Five
[34:40] continues this work on behalf
[34:41] of young children and children
[34:43] throughout San Bernardino
[34:45] County. With that, I
[34:47] respectfully recommend approval
[34:48] of the employment contract
[34:50] with Cindy Faulkner as the
[34:52] Executive Director of First
[34:54] Vice Chairman.
[34:56] Thank you.
[34:57] >> Thank you very much
[34:58] for the presentation. Any
[34:59] public comment? I don't see any
[35:00] on my side. No, None. I have a
[35:01] motion from Supervisor Hagman
[35:03] and a second from.
[35:04] >> I'll second it if I can make
[35:05] a comment.
[35:06] >> Vice Chair Baca.
[35:07] >> Thank you. Yeah, you know I
[35:09] serve on the first 5
[35:10] commission. Had the opportunity
[35:11] to serve with Cindy for the
[35:12] last six years as the
[35:14] underling. So, I just want
[35:15] to thank her
[35:16] for the great work,
[35:17] looking forward to her vision
[35:18] and continue great work
[35:19] to serve our county of San
[35:20] Bernardino. So,
[35:21] congratulations.
[35:22] >> Thank you very much. Any
[35:23] other comments, questions? All
[35:24] those in favor? Aye. Any
[35:25] opposed? Any abstentions?
[35:26] >> Thank you, Madam chair.
[35:28] Item number 69 passes
[35:30] unanimously.
[35:31] >> Thank you very much. Thank
[35:32] you, Gilbert. Welcome aboard.
[35:35] Congratulations. Good morning,
[35:41] gentlemen. Item number 70 is a
[35:42] public hearing
[35:43] to consider project number
[35:44] 2022-00200 consider
[35:47] of a zoning amendment for 5
[35:49] acre parcel and a conditional
[35:51] use permit for a 10 acre site
[35:52] for the Lonely Dove Motel being
[35:54] presented this morning by
[35:56] Paul Gonzalez. I will open the
[35:58] public hearing.
[35:59] >> Good morning, Chair Rowe.
[36:01] And good morning, Supervisors.
[36:03] I'm Paul Gonzalez, Planning
[36:04] Chief and I'm accompanied today
[36:05] by Paul Toomey, Planning
[36:07] Manager who will be assisting
[36:08] as well. The following project
[36:09] is an application for a zoning
[36:10] amendment and a conditional use
[36:11] permit
[36:13] for the use and expansion
[36:14] of the Lonely Dove Motel
[36:16] in the Landers community. The
[36:17] application is was submitted
[36:19] in 2022 and the applicant is
[36:22] Rod Rigol who is also
[36:23] in attendance today. The
[36:25] applicant has requested the
[36:27] phase expansion
[36:29] of the eight-unit Lonely Dove
[36:30] Motel with 33 additional units
[36:31] plus a caretaker's residence
[36:35] for a total of 42 units. The
[36:36] expansion features a one
[36:38] Futura home as well as a pool,
[36:40] spa facilities, miniature golf
[36:43] and two full-service
[36:45] restaurants. On June 4, 2026,
[36:48] the Planning Commission held a
[36:51] public hearing for the proposed
[36:54] project and a notice
[36:56] of hearing was published
[36:57] in the newspaper and mailed
[36:59] to the surrounding 14 property
[37:01] owners
[37:03] within a 300-foot radius. An
[37:04] additional 23 recipients
[37:07] from the Planning notification
[37:10] list were also requested to be
[37:12] notified and they were as well.
[37:14] No comments were received prior
[37:15] to the Planning Commission
[37:17] hearing. The project site is
[37:19] located on Womago Trail east
[37:22] of Highway 247 and comprised
[37:25] of two parcels. One of the
[37:28] existing one is the existing
[37:31] structure where the existing
[37:34] motel is on the west parcel and
[37:36] the east parcel is the one
[37:38] where requested
[37:39] for the expansion. To the west
[37:40] across from the existing motel
[37:43] is a truck and adjacent vacant
[37:45] parcel, RV storage facility and
[37:47] decorative landscape business,
[37:50] to the north and south are
[37:52] existing single family
[37:54] dwellings and
[37:56] to the east is a vacant parcel.
[37:57] The project site is currently
[37:59] Zone Rural Living Land Use
[38:01] category and Homestead Valley
[38:04] Special Development,
[38:06] Commercial and Homestead
[38:08] Valley Rural Living zoning
[38:10] districts. Land use district
[38:12] map shows the project site
[38:14] encompassing both zones,
[38:15] creating a situation where you
[38:17] have two different types
[38:18] of zoning.
[38:20] With the zoning amendment,
[38:21] the project site will continue
[38:24] to be within the Rural living
[38:26] land use category within the
[38:28] Homestead Valley Special
[38:30] Development Commercial use.
[38:40] The first phase of the motel
[38:41] expansion would encompass 12
[38:42] new guest buildings shown
[38:43] in the middle of the site plan
[38:45] with four buildings constructed
[38:46] in the second phase
[38:47] with each building consisting
[38:49] of two units. The first phase
[38:50] includes restoration of the
[38:52] existing motel and the
[38:53] caretakers unit shown as
[38:55] buildings 1 and 2
[38:56] on the bottom left,
[38:58] both accessed from Wamego
[39:00] Trail along
[39:02] with the west boundary. The
[39:04] restaurants are located
[39:06] in the upper middle
[39:08] of the site as shown and the
[39:10] Futuro home is number 10 on the
[39:12] upper right as shown as a
[39:13] circle. Also next
[39:15] to the futuro home
[39:18] to the right labeled as number
[39:20] 13 is a proposed golf miniature
[39:22] golf center before you use the
[39:24] front elevation of the existing
[39:27] and refurbished eight-unit
[39:30] motel at the top. In the middle
[39:33] is the typical two-unit motel
[39:35] building design with a Quonset
[39:37] hut style and the caretaker's
[39:38] unit on the bottom is the
[39:40] proposed future home Futuro
[39:43] home that would also be rented
[39:45] as a motel use as well. The
[39:46] following elevations depict the
[39:49] motel amenities with restaurant
[39:52] design as a warehouse hangar
[39:53] at the top to the right you can
[39:55] see the three silos which will
[39:57] be the spa and on the bottom is
[39:59] a restaurant warehouse type
[40:01] building
[40:03] for the restaurant number two.
[40:09] The project is consistent with
[40:10] a county wide policy plan
[40:12] relating to compatibility with
[40:13] existing uses and the land use
[40:14] map consistency. The site
[40:16] design and development features
[40:18] for the motel expansion comply
[40:19] with the standards
[40:21] of the development code. The
[40:22] zoning amendment allows the
[40:24] extension of the special
[40:25] development commercial zone
[40:26] designation
[40:28] on the expansion site
[40:29] to the east which allow for the
[40:30] proposed use and be consistent
[40:32] with the zoning map. The
[40:33] project also supports the
[40:35] countywide business and
[40:37] employment group policies
[40:38] by adding 40 new additional
[40:39] jobs for local residents and
[40:41] promoting the tourist industry
[40:42] with accommodations
[40:43] for visitors to the various
[40:46] desert communities.
[40:47] With the zone amendment, the
[40:52] proposed project would be
[40:54] consistent with all the
[40:55] county's development code
[40:57] standards for the Homestead
[40:59] Valley Special Development
[41:00] Commercial Zoning District
[41:02] within the Desert region
[41:04] meeting all or exceeding all
[41:06] development requirements.
[41:09] Initial study was prepared and
[41:11] mitigation measures
[41:13] to reduce impacts to make this
[41:15] a less than significant impact
[41:18] for projects. The circulation
[41:20] period ended on March 6, 2026.
[41:22] Comments were received from
[41:23] California Highway Patrol
[41:24] regarding construction safety
[41:26] and from the California Water
[41:27] Board regarding potential
[41:28] for contamination of
[41:30] groundwater and were addressed
[41:31] in the response to comments
[41:32] in the CEQA document. On
[41:34] August 7, 37 notices were
[41:36] mailed to property owners
[41:39] within a 300-foot radius,
[41:41] interested parties requesting
[41:43] notification and applicable
[41:44] entities
[41:46] of the county's referral list.
[41:47] To date no responses have been
[41:49] received. That concludes the
[41:53] presentation. Staff and the
[41:54] applicant are available
[41:56] to answer any questions.
[41:58] >> Thank you very much. I do
[41:59] not have any request
[42:00] to speak. Is that correct?
[42:01] Okay, I just had one comment.
[42:02] Thank you very much
[42:04] for all this. As we look to
[42:06] technology and how we implement
[42:10] it in the future,
[42:11] we have a lot of desert
[42:13] residents that are interested
[42:14] in future development and the
[42:16] problems that rural living as
[42:17] we've discussed
[42:19] in previous projects has
[42:21] created with sort
[42:22] of that catch all. And so,
[42:23] we do zone change and they
[42:24] like the notification. As we
[42:26] look at our ARCGIS capabilities
[42:29] and things like that,
[42:30] it'd be great to see if we
[42:32] could micro target some
[42:34] of the areas. So, we have
[42:36] Landers, we have Joshua Tree,
[42:38] we have Wonder Valley, we have
[42:39] the North Desert, the South
[42:41] Desert. Depending upon if
[42:42] you're the fire district and
[42:43] the nomenclature there,
[42:45] it's a little bit different
[42:47] than in land use. Our residents
[42:48] sign up in the Morongo Basin,
[42:49] but they're getting Needles,
[42:51] they're getting Newberry
[42:53] Springs. It'd be great to see
[42:55] if we could implement some
[42:57] technology moving forward
[42:59] for desert notifications
[43:00] for projects
[43:01] like this and then I just Had a
[43:02] question for you
[43:03] on the initial. And I.
[43:04] Initially it was noticed that
[43:05] it was a commercial
[43:06] designation, the zone plane,
[43:08] the zone change. And then that
[43:09] was changed.
[43:11] >> That's correct. So earlier
[43:12] on in the process,
[43:15] when they were going through it
[43:16] and the initial study was being
[43:18] processed, that was mistakenly
[43:20] put as a commercial. Excuse me,
[43:22] as a residential instead
[43:23] of commercial. We caught it and
[43:25] over time,
[43:27] when we noticed the project.
[43:29] So the last notice
[43:31] for planning commission and for
[43:33] the board today were both
[43:34] noticed correctly with the
[43:36] correct information.
[43:37] >> So everything is done. I see
[43:39] Paul waving a finger. Just a
[43:41] second. I want to make sure
[43:42] we're not coming back again
[43:43] with changes that need
[43:45] to be made. Have we done
[43:46] everything correctly
[43:47] for today's hearing?
[43:49] >> We have. Just want to.
[43:50] In addition to what Paul
[43:51] described. And that was the
[43:52] initial study project
[43:53] description. I think what
[43:54] you're referring to is the
[43:55] initial project notice.
[43:56] >> Correct.
[43:58] >> In 2023 project we get. We
[43:59] send everybody out on notice.
[44:00] Here's what's happening
[44:02] in this case. At the time it
[44:03] was decided that a commercial
[44:05] designation was the appropriate
[44:06] way
[44:07] to change the general plan. We
[44:08] discovered later it wasn't
[44:09] necessary to do that. The SD
[44:10] designation is implementing
[44:11] zone in any general plan
[44:14] designation. And so, this is a
[44:15] more efficient way to.
[44:17] >> I'm all for that. That's
[44:21] great. I just want to make sure
[44:22] that we're not having
[44:23] to come back and redo.
[44:25] >> Right.
[44:26] >> Okay. Very well. Thank you
[44:28] very much. I will close the
[44:29] public hearing if we have no
[44:31] other comments or questions.
[44:32] Thank you. Vice Chair
[44:34] for the motion and Supervisor
[44:35] Hagman for the second. All
[44:36] those in favor? Aye. Any
[44:38] opposed? Any abstentions?
[44:39] >> Item number 70 passes
[44:41] unanimously.
[44:42] >> Thank you very much. I will
[44:44] now move on to our reports.
[44:45] Oh, wait. We're going to do
[44:47] Luther CEO reports
[44:48] after public comment.
[44:49] Supervisor Armendarez, you want
[44:52] to step away? Supervisor
[44:54] Armendarez is going
[44:55] to leave the meeting
[44:57] for a previous engagement.
[44:58] Thank you very much,
[44:59] Supervisor. And we will now
[45:01] move on to our public comments
[45:02] of items not
[45:03] on today's agenda. We're going
[45:05] to start remote with Letitia
[45:06] Howard, followed by Delina
[45:08] Mario. And then we'll come back
[45:09] here with Carolina and then
[45:11] Jane Hunt Ruble. So, Leticia
[45:12] Howard.
[45:25] >> Madam Chair, I don't believe
[45:26] that Leticia Howard is
[45:29] connected on the call.
[45:30] >> All right. Delina Morello
[45:31] from Murillo.
[45:55] >> Good morning. I'm here today
[45:56] because we need to stop
[45:57] treating these problems as
[45:59] isolated family disputes and
[46:00] start looking
[46:01] at the larger system
[46:02] responsible for protecting
[46:03] children and families in San
[46:04] Bernardino County. I have stood
[46:06] before this board and watched
[46:07] families come to this
[46:08] Microphone time,
[46:10] time and time again. Can you
[46:11] hear me?
[46:12] >> Yes.
[46:17] >> Oh, sorry. Okay. We. I stood
[46:18] before this board and watch
[46:21] families. Come to this mom.
[46:23] Come to this microphone. Time
[46:24] and time again,
[46:26] we tell you what is happening.
[46:27] We tell you
[46:28] about feathers and services,
[46:30] visitation, communication,
[46:32] accountability and decisions
[46:33] affecting our children,
[46:34] and then we leave. But how can
[46:35] board members sit here,
[46:37] hear these stories repeatedly,
[46:38] and continue acting as though
[46:39] they do not know what is
[46:41] happening? The people connected
[46:42] to these systems are not
[46:43] operating
[46:44] on separate islands. They meet,
[46:45] they communicate,
[46:46] they participate in councils
[46:48] and committees discussing
[46:49] children's services, county
[46:50] policies, agencies,
[46:51] and systematic problems. The
[46:52] families should not have
[46:53] to become investigators just
[46:54] to discover who is connected
[46:56] to whom and who is responsible.
[46:57] Oversight means then means more
[46:58] than sitting here and
[47:00] listening. It means asking what
[47:01] is being done
[47:03] with what you are hearing. It
[47:04] means following the problem
[47:06] upstream, identifying
[47:07] responsibility and demanding
[47:09] accountability. I'm not asking
[47:10] you to discuss anyone's
[47:12] confidential case. I'm asking
[47:13] to address the system. Look
[47:14] at the policies, look
[47:16] at the relationships, look
[47:17] at the safeguards, look at why
[47:18] families continue reporting the
[47:19] same failures while nothing
[47:21] changes. We are documenting
[47:22] what is happening. We are
[47:24] informing other families,
[47:25] and we are paying attention.
[47:27] So please,
[47:28] do not just hear us act
[47:29] on what you hear. Look
[47:30] at the system,
[47:31] follow the connections. Demand
[47:33] accountability. Because if
[47:34] these systems are working,
[47:35] transparency, transparency
[47:36] should not be a threat. Thank
[47:38] you.
[47:39] >> Thank you very much,
[47:41] Carolina. Followed by Jane
[47:42] Hunt, Ruble. And our speaking
[47:49] podiums and chambers are up
[47:50] at the top on either side.
[47:51] Right or left? Thank you.
[47:53] Right up there to the right.
[47:55] That's fine. When the light
[48:00] flashes yellow, you'll have 30
[48:01] seconds left.
[48:04] >> Where's the light up?
[48:05] >> It'll come on in front
[48:06] of you, to your left,
[48:07] right up the top
[48:08] of the podium. Okay.
[48:09] >> What did. How long did you
[48:10] say you'll have?
[48:12] >> Three minutes. And when it
[48:13] flashes orange, you'll have 30
[48:14] seconds.
[48:16] >> All right, I'll try
[48:17] to focus on that. Okay. So, I
[48:22] can just start?
[48:23] >> Anytime.
[48:25] Okay, great. So, good morning to
[48:26] everybody. I'm here
[48:27] representing the Devore
[48:28] Networkers. It's a vital system
[48:31] your shelter relies on daily
[48:42] to manage overcrowding. Sorry.
[48:49] I am here
[48:50] to expose a systematic
[48:51] violation of California law.
[48:52] State law. At Devore Animal
[48:55] Shelter, Management has
[48:59] implemented an arbitrary 630
[49:01] cutoff for rescue. Pull. The
[49:04] Hayden act specifically states
[49:05] that a dog must be allowed
[49:07] to be adopted, fostered,
[49:15] or rescued up until the moment
[49:16] the animal is set
[49:17] to be killed. Yet Devore
[49:21] rejects legally binding rescue
[49:22] requests submitted after.
[49:24] Submitted at 7pm, 10pm or
[49:26] midnight, even though the dog
[49:29] is still alive all night. This
[49:34] is Truly a direct violation
[49:36] of California's Hayden Act.
[49:38] Food and agriculture code
[49:40] sections 31108 and 32001. The
[49:50] law explicitly mandates that a
[49:51] public shelter must release an
[49:52] adoptable and treatable animal
[49:53] scheduled for euthanasia if a
[49:54] qualified rescue group requests
[49:55] it. An internal office schedule
[49:56] or clerical workflow cannot
[49:59] legally override a California
[50:00] state statute. On August 27,
[50:03] 2026 at I personally asked
[50:07] Assistant director Jennifer
[50:11] Osorio, I had a phone call with
[50:15] her whether this board was
[50:18] aware of this new policy. Her
[50:20] exact words were it's
[50:23] in the process. I am behind
[50:28] on emails. This. That means
[50:30] that you were never notified.
[50:32] Someone inside the shelter
[50:33] system bypassed your authority,
[50:35] skipped mandatory oversight and
[50:36] executed a deadly policy
[50:38] without approval. A policy that
[50:39] has already taken over 69 lives
[50:42] within one week in the shelter
[50:49] in Devore Animal Shelter.
[50:50] >> 30 seconds.
[50:52] >> Animals who had rescue
[50:53] commitments. 70, 69 animals who
[50:55] could have walked out alive.
[50:56] Many
[50:57] of these dogs were healthy,
[50:58] adoptable and had no
[50:59] life-threatening conditions.
[51:00] The only lawful justification
[51:01] for euthanasia is that and I
[51:02] need to ask this board how does
[51:04] killing two dogs
[51:07] in one kennel and leaving one
[51:09] behind make space when you're
[51:10] killing for space?
[51:12] For example. 884-9604.
[51:19] >> That's time.
[51:24] >> Continue for 30 more
[51:25] seconds. It just changed yellow
[51:26] up there.
[51:27] >> Okay. There was a dog named
[51:29] Lieutenant Dan Friendly,
[51:30] adoptable, great
[51:32] with other dogs. It's still
[51:33] sitting alone
[51:34] in his kennel today but his
[51:35] kennel mate was killed. I'm
[51:41] gonna just go towards the end.
[51:44] Many of these dogs were healthy
[51:45] and adoptable. Okay.
[51:47] This is a financial. This is
[51:48] financially reckless
[51:49] to all the taxpayers of San
[51:50] Bernardino County. I don't
[51:51] understand how this can
[51:52] actually. How Jennifer Osorio
[51:54] had actually told me that she'd
[51:56] never. That you guys had never
[51:58] approved this policy
[51:59] of euthanizing animals after
[52:00] animals don't get a rescue tag.
[52:01] Aren't allowed a rescue tag
[52:03] after 630. I want. And that
[52:04] needs to be fixed. That needs
[52:08] to be rectified, that needs
[52:10] to come
[52:13] to a complete halt.
[52:19] >> Thank you very much
[52:20] for your comments. We
[52:21] appreciate that. The next
[52:23] request
[52:24] to speak that I have is Jane
[52:25] Hunt. Ruble and Jane, you might
[52:26] have to ignore the lights. I
[52:27] don't think they're working
[52:28] today.
[52:29] >> We. I believe we. Okay.
[52:30] Resolved it. Thank you.
[52:31] >> I can't see him anyway.
[52:32] >> Good morning. Boy, this is
[52:35] going to be a short meeting.
[52:36] Yeah. I'm here today
[52:38] to talk about. Well a week ago
[52:44] some friends of mine that live
[52:46] on First Avenue that aren't
[52:47] slated for sidewalks. They live
[52:50] between June street and
[52:54] Duffy. And they asked me what's
[52:56] going on the corner of Duffy
[52:59] and first Avenue. And I said,
[53:03] well, I don't know because I
[53:04] drive that way. And I was
[53:08] questioning it. Instead
[53:09] of going down second Avenue now
[53:11] I usually go out to Cajon on
[53:12] First Avenue because it's
[53:16] gotten ridiculous reckless
[53:18] driving on second Avenue. And
[53:19] so I went by there and I
[53:22] noticed they have marked off
[53:25] on each corner of Duffy and
[53:28] First Avenue for ADA's.
[53:34] But I was going. So I went
[53:36] directly to public works
[53:40] department and I showed him
[53:42] this map and I said, well,
[53:44] that's not part
[53:45] of the current. Well, as we
[53:47] speak they're doing it
[53:48] in front of my house now,
[53:49] putting in the sidewalk.
[53:50] But I said that was never
[53:51] on this. This map is. I don't
[53:54] know where they came up
[53:56] with this. And I asked the lady
[53:57] at public work,
[53:59] I said this was not supposed
[54:00] to be included because
[54:01] Duffy-street is not slated
[54:02] for sidewalks. And she couldn't
[54:04] give me a real answer. So I was
[54:07] going, well, I Resort the
[54:10] 202324 budget for the county
[54:14] and infrastructure under
[54:16] infrastructure making our
[54:18] unincorporated areas safe and
[54:19] livable and investing
[54:21] in infrastructure to spur
[54:22] economic growth and improve the
[54:23] delivery of county services is
[54:25] a high priority. So anyway,
[54:26] it states in that safer
[54:28] neighborhoods as well as road
[54:31] improvement enhancement,
[54:34] the key county owned assets.
[54:35] Additional conversion
[54:37] from septic to sewer service,
[54:38] a necessity
[54:39] for businesses seeking
[54:41] to locate their services
[54:42] within our unincorporated area.
[54:44] And I asked the lady, I said,
[54:45] well, I know about. Some of my
[54:47] neighbors are getting concerned
[54:49] that it might happen out here
[54:51] if this getting is our
[54:54] community ready for
[54:56] like warehouses? That's what it
[54:58] appears to be. And so I was
[55:01] just stunned that they.
[55:05] >> 30 seconds.
[55:06] >> Thank you very much. Bye.
[55:09] >> Thank you very much. That is
[55:10] the last request
[55:11] to speak that I have. We will
[55:12] now move on to our reports
[55:13] from our CEO.
[55:14] >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Two
[55:15] quick things. One is just I
[55:17] wanted to thank our Workforce
[55:18] development board
[55:19] for being here. Lowell, thanks
[55:20] for hanging out. Brad. You and
[55:22] your team do amazing work.
[55:24] Really appreciate the board
[55:26] giving Brad an opportunity
[55:27] to highlight Workforce
[55:29] Development Month. As we have
[55:31] three years in this role now
[55:33] and as I have looked at ways
[55:36] to try
[55:38] to improve this county, one
[55:40] of the best ways to do it is
[55:43] to employ people
[55:45] with livable wage jobs. That is
[55:47] a key. If someone is able
[55:48] to take care
[55:49] of themselves financially,
[55:50] they're able to take care of
[55:52] themselves and their families
[55:53] physically. So much of that
[55:55] work that they do helps people
[55:57] do it. So, if you're a business
[55:59] out there and you are not
[56:01] working
[56:02] with workforce development,
[56:03] please Reach out
[56:05] to them and work for them. If
[56:06] you are a job seeker
[56:07] out there and you are looking
[56:09] for help and resources,
[56:10] please reach out to our
[56:11] workforce development
[56:13] department. They can help.
[56:14] They're looking forward
[56:15] to helping. And this aligns
[56:16] in 2027. I'm really focused
[56:18] on making 2027 the year of the
[56:21] job where we as a county will
[56:23] focus, will collaborate, will
[56:25] convene, will bring together
[56:27] stakeholders, working with our
[56:29] workforce development
[56:31] department and workforce
[56:32] development board
[56:34] to really convene job seekers,
[56:37] employers, stakeholders,
[56:38] educators across the region
[56:40] to get their input, to look
[56:43] at how we can continue
[56:45] to move the needle
[56:46] like we never have before.
[56:47] Really bringing together the
[56:49] best minds, all sorts
[56:51] of different perspectives
[56:53] to really focus on that. Our
[56:54] workforce development
[56:55] department is ready for it.
[56:57] They're up for the task.
[56:58] In fact, we have two different
[56:59] tracks we're working on. Jobs
[57:00] and people. Brad wants
[57:01] to be part of both of them.
[57:03] He's like diving in
[57:04] with both feet. So, appreciate
[57:05] Brad, his team, our workforce
[57:07] development board. Great things
[57:09] have been done and great things
[57:10] to come. So thank you. One
[57:13] other thing, as was mentioned,
[57:15] this winter we stand to face
[57:16] some pretty tough weather,
[57:19] potentially with a super El
[57:21] Nino on its way. Our Office
[57:23] of Emergency Services, as well
[57:25] as the county administrative
[57:27] office, in partnership
[57:29] with public works, Sheriff,
[57:31] Fire, we're going to have
[57:32] Office of Emergency Services
[57:33] come and present to our board
[57:35] at a future board meeting ahead
[57:36] of the time to talk
[57:37] about what we're doing
[57:39] to prepare and
[57:40] to remind the public
[57:42] of what they can be doing
[57:43] to prepare. So this, this will
[57:44] be an important discussion
[57:46] that'll be done
[57:48] in the next two months. So that
[57:49] concludes my report. Thank you.
[57:50] >> Thank you very much. And
[57:53] with that, we are adjourned.
[57:54] Our next meeting will be here
[57:55] in Chambers at 10am on
[57:57] September 22nd. Thank you.