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Home My WebLink About01-15-2026 MCC Special City of San Bernardino 201 North E Street San Bernardino, CA 92401 http://www.sbcity.org Minutes FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ACTING AS THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ACTING AS THE SUCCESSOR HOUSING AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ACTING AS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ACTING AS THE SAN BERNARDINO JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026 3:30 PM The Special Meeting of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino was called to order at 3:30 PM by Mayor Helen Tran on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at Norman F. Feldheym Central Library, San Bernardino, CA. CALL TO ORDER Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Mayor Helen Tran Council Members Theodore Sanchez Sandra Ibarra Juan Figueroa Fred Shorett Kim Knaus Mario Flores Dr. Treasure Ortiz Special Meeting Minutes January 15, 2026 Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 2 3:30 PM INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chaplain Joseph Paul Lujan from Victory Outreach Church led the Invocation, and Council Member Flores led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS LISTED ON THE AGENDA Jim Mulvihill commented on the presentation's completeness and transparency, noting the clear data and cost impacts when capacity targets are not met. Zazette Scott, from the Family Assistance Program, expressed support for the city’s navigation center and shelter efforts and offered her organization’s partnership to expand homeless services. Faith Gamble, a resident and SEIU 2015 member, spoke about homeless individuals congregating around the union hall at 195 Arrow, creating safety and sanitation concerns. Christian Shaughnessy urged the City Council to limit the collection of immigration status information at the navigation center to only what is necessary. Maelena Enriquez supported the navigation center and offered youth advisory board volunteers to help address homelessness. DISCUSSION 1. Special Meeting - Homeless Workshop Recommendation: It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of San Bernardino, California, receive the report on the Navigation Center and City Funded Homeless Initiatives and provide the City Manager direction on next steps. Deputy Director of Housing and Homelessness Cassandra Searcy, Housing Division Manager Trina Perez, Homeless Services Coordinator Damian Fonseca, Homeless Outreach Coordinator Audie Estrada, Homeless Solutions Manager Gabriela Leon, PEACE Team Lieutenant Ernest Luna, and a representative from CREED, Gina Mizorak, provided a presentation to the Mayor and City Council. The Mayor and City Council, and staff, reviewed homelessness outreach efforts and confirmed that reported outreach numbers reflected unique individuals and were not duplicative. The Salvation Army was identified as the primary provider for prevention and diversion services due to its capacity and experience, while acknowledging the need for future expansion to additional organizations. Funding allocations, sustainability concerns, and efforts to secure additional state, county, and federal resources were discussed. They also reviewed plans for the Homeless Navigation Center, including regional partnerships, operational costs, mental health services, and nonprofit accountability. Special Meeting Minutes January 15, 2026 Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino Page 3 There was a motion by Mayor Pro-Tem Knaus to direct staff to explore and report back on regional partnership options for the Homeless Navigation Center, including cost-sharing with other cities and the County, and to evaluate alternative ownership or operational models, with a full analysis of costs, offsets, and benefits to the City. The motion was seconded by Council Member Ortiz Council Member Sanchez amended the motion to direct staff to conduct an internal study or select a consultant to evaluate future development options for the Palm Field property acquired with ARPA funds, including affordable housing or permanent supportive housing; engage the County to pursue confirmation of its proposed $11 million contribution toward the Navigation Center and identify options to address the remaining estimated funding gap; and explore regional partnership options for the Navigation Center, including potential sale or transfer to the County for operation, and return to the Mayor and City Council with findings and recommendations. RESULT: DIRECT STAFF TO CONDUCT AN INTERNAL STUDY OR SELECT A CONSULTANT TO EVALUATE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS FOR THE PALM FIELD PROPERTY ACQUIRED WITH ARPA FUNDS, INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING; ENGAGE THE COUNTY TO PURSUE CONFIRMATION OF ITS PROPOSED $11 MILLION CONTRIBUTION TOWARD THE NAVIGATION CENTER AND IDENTIFY OPTIONS TO ADDRESS THE REMAINING ESTIMATED FUNDING GAP; AND EXPLORE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP OPTIONS FOR THE NAVIGATION CENTER, INCLUDING POTENTIAL SALE OR TRANSFER TO THE COUNTY FOR OPERATION, AND RETURN TO COUNCIL WITH FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS [7-0] MOVER: Kim Knaus, Mayor Pro-Tem, Ward 5 SECONDER: Treasure Ortiz, Council Member, Ward 7 AYES: Sanchez, Ibarra, Figueroa, Shorett, Knaus, Flores, Ortiz NOES: None ADJOURNMENT The meeting of the Mayor and City Council was adjourned on Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 6:45 p.m. The next joint special meeting of the Mayor and City Council and the Mayor and City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency will be held on January 21, 2026, at the Feldheym Central Library located at 555 West 6th Street, San Bernardino, California 92410. Closed Session will begin at 4:00 p.m. and Open Session will begin at 5:00 p.m. Telicia Lopez, CMC City Clerk