San Bernardino · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in San Bernardino public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Calles dañadas y mantenimiento de calles
The city has 557 miles of streets averaging a condition score of 51 (benchmark is 65), and the new three-year plan only fixes about 66 miles. Council members from multiple wards said their worst streets were missing from the map and there's no money for years two and three.
Measure I Street and Safety Projects
The city has 557 miles of streets averaging a condition score of 51 (benchmark is 65), and the new three-year plan only fixes about 66 miles. Council members from multiple wards said their worst streets were missing from the map and there's no money for years two and three.
Immigration enforcement resolutions (Items 17 & 18)
Roughly a dozen speakers from CHIRLA, PEOC, the ACLU-adjacent community, and San Bernardino Community Service Center urged the council to bring forward a pro-immigrant resolution developed with community organizations, citing fear from ICE enforcement activity near schools and hospitals. No resolution was on this agenda.
SB HOPE Campus funding reallocation
The Navigation Center's modular units arrive next week; the project is now $33.1 million with about $1.2 million unspent, and doors are expected in late Q1/early Q2 2027 — with operating cost negotiations with Helping Hearts still underway.
HoHo Parade fee waiver and park conditions
The council waived $5,545.26 in fees for the 14th Annual Community HoHo Parade; a school principal testified that volunteers and organizers fund the tradition out of pocket. Councilmember Ibarra also flagged broken lights and restrooms at Nunez Park.
Elected officials' compensation
A new pay plan for top city staff includes a 3.5% cost-of-living increase — and a contested $29,000 raise for the police chief. It passed over one no vote.
Boston Dynamics Public Safety Robot Purchase
The city is buying a Boston Dynamics SPOT robot for up to $370,973 for public safety use — a notable tech purchase on consent.
Litigation settlements totaling $583,500
The council settled four lawsuits against the city for a combined $583,500, all approved unanimously in closed session. Residents won't see this on any agenda line item, but it's real money coming from the city's liability exposure.
Shandin Hills Golf Course management and audit
A year after residents began pressing for accountability at the city-owned golf course, the council approved Phase II financial review procedures (up to $136,500) and expanded the citywide audit. Residents say the course was closed on a day other courses were open, $120,000 in transfers can't be traced, and the course is bleeding money.
Homelessness services and nonprofit contracting accountability
The council added $86,880 to the Navigation Center modular contract, approved a new interim housing provider with $400,000 in state encampment funding, and reported 222 people served in October — but the facility's opening slipped to early-to-mid 2027.
Three-year pavement work plan
The city will repave about 66 residential miles over three years using fiber-reinforced asphalt that lasts longer — but that leaves roughly $11 million unfunded in year three and a total backlog near $600 million. Council members from several wards complained their worst streets aren't on the map yet.
Surplus Land Disposition Framework
The city will market 27 cleared surplus properties to developers for infill and market-rate housing. It passed 6-1 after a fight over transparency — Councilmember Ortiz wanted the RFP template, a lobbying quiet period, and a formal policy before anything goes out.
YMCA of the East Valley Lease
A 25-year lease keeps the San Bernardino Family YMCA at 808 E. 21st Street operating, with the YMCA planning facility investments now that it has long-term tenure.
Camping ban on public property
The council adopted stricter rules on camping in public streets and parks, replacing Chapter 12.98 of the municipal code. Supporters say it protects public access and safety; the ACLU spoke against it, calling it criminalization of poverty.
Joint Powers Authority Creation
The council quietly created a new joint powers authority between the city and the Housing Authority to finance public capital improvements. It's a financing tool that could matter for future big projects.
Camping ordinance on public streets and parks
The council adopted the camping ordinance restricting encampments on streets and parks; one written commenter objected that it criminalizes poverty.
Speicher Park Ballfields Contingency Increase
A proposed $1.3 million boost to the contingency budget for the Speicher Park ballfields, bringing it to about $2.04 million, signals rising project costs for a Ward 2 park.
County Election Results
San Bernardino County election results are coming in, and the big races could reshuffle who runs local government. The outcomes will shape county priorities and leadership—so if you care about local services, budgets, or power, this is worth watching.
FY 2026-27 city budget and capital plan
Roughly 11 capital projects are proposed for deferral and 12 for reduced funding, about $15.1 million total, due to staff capacity and budget pressure. Council members flagged City Hall renovation and Tom Malaney Park and asked staff to bring back options.
Animal control underfunding
Speaker Lidia Zavala challenged the city's shelter data and noted animal services spending has grown from $2.3 million to $9.7 million in five years, demanding a plan and accountability.
Speed hump policy
Eight intersections in Wards 1, 2, 4 and 5 are getting stop control to improve safety.
Meyers Creek flooding and sedimentation
Verdemont-area flooding and sediment problems persist; fixes cost $25 million (storm drain) or $64.1 million (debris basin and channel), with county partnership and grant potential for the larger option.
University Parkway Median Landscaping
A $1.1 million streetscaping contract sparked debate over whether public funds are being used efficiently when everyday neighborhood streets and lights need urgent repairs.
Pedestrian safety at Highland Avenue intersection
Family and friends of 15-year-old Raylen Ayala, killed September 1 at Highland and Guthrie, urged the city to run a rigorous 24-hour traffic and pedestrian count with peak-window analysis before another life is lost.
Privacy and neighborhood impacts of three-story multifamily development
The city had to update its local rules to match new state laws on backyard granny flats and garage conversions, sparking major resident and council pushback over lost parking, increased density, and a lack of local enforcement against illegal building.
ABC license upgrade at Palm Avenue truck service station
A request to upgrade the convenience store's alcohol license from beer-and-wine to general off-sale was pushed to November 10 so the commission can consider it fully.
Alcohol sales conditions at Waterman Avenue convenience store
The commission let a Waterman Avenue store update its alcohol conditions to match changing industry packaging — allowing any-size factory multi-packs instead of six-packs only — citing low area crime stats and no policing issues.
Future of the animal shelter facility and contract cities
The city is terminating its off-site shelter lease with Casa Ramona while the Waterman Avenue shelter faces a month-long access restriction starting February 9. A resident praised the mayor's shelter visit and begged the council to plan sustainable, humane shelter operations.
Independent financial process assessment
Councilmembers Knaus, Ortiz, and Shorett renewed calls for a forensic audit of city finances; staff will bring back within 60 days what type of audit is appropriate and which firms could perform it.
New Revenue from Industrial and Logistics Sector
The council greenlit a feasibility study on making the logistics industry pay its fair share for streets and community services — with a warning not to tax businesses out of town.
Feldheym Central Library improvement project
A $10.2 million renovation of the Feldheym Library moved forward with an $8.3 million construction contract — ADA upgrades, backup power, HVAC, security. Most is state grant money, but the council had to find $3.8 million locally and chose the Measure S fund balance over cutting other park and street projects.
Waterman Avenue Landscaping Improvements
One of the city's main corridors finally gets a landscaping facelift — the council approved the conceptual plan, already fully funded.
Homeless drop-off notification and vacant property ordinances
The Redlands Boulevard facility's operator did extensive unpermitted construction and ran recuperative care without authorization. The commission moved to schedule a revocation hearing after the applicant missed repeated permit-resubmittal deadlines.
Water-Efficient Landscaping Standards (Ordinance MC-1669)
The city's landscaping development rules were up for an update to comply with state water-efficiency law (SB 1383/MWELO). This affects what new developments must plant and irrigate citywide.
Vacant and abandoned building registration
Councilmember Knaus's proposal would require registration of vacant properties, mandatory maintenance, and progressive fees to fight blight.
Commission meeting schedule and review cycle
Commissioners noted they got this assignment with almost no lead time before the October 5 deadline, and want the commission to meet regularly — possibly reviewing salaries early in even-numbered years — so future decisions aren't rushed.
Arts and downtown revitalization funding
A blunt debate broke out over whether anything is actually happening downtown. Veteran commissioners said twelve years of "it takes time" hasn't produced visible results, noting the fire at the old Woolworth building, while staff countered that the general plan, housing element and downtown specific plan are now all in place and it's time to execute.
Servicios de animales y crisis de población de animales sin hogar
Varios comentaristas describieron un sistema de refugios sobrecargado: se dijo a los vecinos que no alimenten o agüecen a los perros callejeros en calor de tres dígitos, las llamadas fuera de horario no son respondidas, y el presupuesto de refugios se ha duplicado a $10 million. Los residentes pidieron un programa de esterilización financiado y mejores horas de teléfono de emergencia.
Five-year homelessness strategic plan
The council extended the motel voucher program contracts, and Councilmember Ibarra shared January outreach numbers: 143 people contacted, 104 helped with motel vouchers, 61 connected to treatment.
Shelter operator local-priority rules
The city wants shelters to reserve beds for San Bernardino residents, report outcomes, and meet safety standards — but councilmembers stressed that without a named enforcement position, rules are just paper.
Homeless transport notification ordinance
Cities and nonprofits would have to file a 24-hour notice form before dropping homeless individuals in San Bernardino, with fines — possibly per person, per day. Councilmembers want teeth in enforcement.
Treasure Ortiz v. City of San Bernardino litigation
Councilmember Ortiz is suing the city in federal court, and the city is paying outside attorneys to defend itself. Nearly every public speaker called on the council to settle the case, saying legal costs are draining money from services residents actually need. The litigation has become a flashpoint for broader complaints about accountability and public trust.
68-home PRD subdivision in Ward 2
Century Communities wants to turn about 5.8 acres of commercially-designated land near N. Miramonte Drive and N. Little Mountain Road into 68 two-story homes. Changing the land's designation from commercial to residential would bring new housing — and new neighbors and traffic — to Ward 2.
Business registration tax liens
Landlords with unpaid rental-property business registration taxes face liens on their parcels; about $255,000 expected, with a two-week grace period to clear accounts.
Akoma Unity Center lease dispute
The youth development organization at the Anne Shirrells Community Center faces lease expiration, and dozens of students, parents, and community leaders showed up to support renewal. The council voted to start lease renewal negotiations, keeping the West Side's main youth program in place.
Street vacations on San Manuel Boulevard and Parley Avenue
About an acre of Victoria Avenue north of Lynwood Drive — a non-through street leading only to the Yaamava Resort and Casino — would be vacated to the San Manuel Nation, which already does 100% of the maintenance. The council makes the final call.
Liquor license concentration near Highland Avenue
The commission weighed whether an already alcohol-saturated census tract needs one more full-liquor bar. The applicant argued duplicate caterer's permits overstate the count and volunteered a security guard on weekend nights; the commission approved it 4-1 with inspections.
Charter school campus in a residential neighborhood
A new Springs Charter Schools campus for up to 420 TK-through-eighth-grade students will open at the former church site on Sierra Way, bringing an educational option to a neighborhood zone. Neighbors raised traffic on Sierra Way and access to a long-used back-gate easement, and the commission pressed the applicant on fencing and landscaping commitments.
New single-family homes near Kendall Drive
Seven two-story homes on sizable lots will be built near the corner of Kendall Drive and Western Avenue, with the developer covering curbs, gutters, sidewalks and lighting. Commissioners flagged street parking and emergency-vehicle access concerns tied to ADU growth citywide.
Animal Shelter Access and Overpopulation
Residents pushed for a new animal shelter, calling the current facility unsafe, and welcomed new Animal Services Director Jasmine Glover.