REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
April 29, 2025
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt Resolution to Extend Orders Under the Bridge Fire Local Emergency Related to Disposal of Solid Waste
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution to amend Resolution No. 2024-148 issuing orders under the Bridge Fire Local Emergency to extend the time to allow out of county solid waste to be disposed of in the San Bernardino Waste Disposal System, upon payment of applicable fees, through November 1, 2025, unless rescinded earlier by the Board of Supervisors or the Board of Supervisors terminates the Bridge Fire Local Emergency.
(Presenter: Luther Snoke, Chief Executive Officer, 387-4811)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Focus on Recovery and Resiliency Following Major Emergency Responses such as the December 2, 2015 Terrorist Attack (SB Strong) and the Global COVID-19 Pandemic.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as the Department of Public Works - Solid Waste Management Division (SWMD) is financed by fee revenue. SWMD establishes fees that are charged to the public and other agencies for utilization of the County’s Waste Disposal system. If the Resolution is approved, the standard gate and disposal fees will be charged to any out of county refuse haulers, individual property owners/occupants, and/or the authorized contractors for property owners/occupants who choose to dispose of acceptable waste at County waste disposal sites. Sufficient appropriation and revenue are included in SWMD’s 2024-25 budget and will be included in the 2025-26 Recommended Budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On September 8, 2024, the Bridge Fire began to rapidly spread within Los Angeles County and eventually spread into the Mt. Baldy community. On September 10, 2024, the Bridge Fire spread into portions of San Bernardino County, near the community of Wrightwood, posing an immediate threat to lives, structures, property, and the environment within San Bernardino County communities. The rapid spread of the fire necessitated evacuation warnings and orders by the San Bernardino County Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator.
On September 10, 2024, the Chief Executive Officer, while serving as the Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency within San Bernardino County as a result of the Bridge Fire. On September 12, 2024 (Item No. 1), the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors (Board) ratified the proclamation of the existence of a local emergency as a result of the Bridge Fire and continued the local emergency. The Board continued the Local Emergency Proclamation related to the Bridge Fire on October 22, 2024 (Item No. 18), December 17, 2024 (Item No. 40). February 11, 2025 (Item No. 16), and April 8, 2025 (Item No. 24).
The Bridge Fire resulted in damage to, and destruction of buildings, residences and other structures in both Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County. San Bernardino County owns a waste disposal system consisting of landfills and transfer stations throughout the county. Some of the facilities, including the Mid-Valley Sanitary Landfill, are the closest disposal facilities to the buildings, residences, and other structures damaged in Los Angeles County from the Bridge Fire.
On October 8, 2024 (Item No. 17), the Board approved Resolution No. 2024-148 issuing orders under the Bridge Fire Local Emergency to allow out of county waste to be disposed of in the San Bernardino County Waste Disposal System, upon payment of applicable fees, through May 1, 2025.
The proposed Resolution will amend Resolution No. 2024-148 to allow the disposal of out of county waste in the San Bernardino County Waste Disposal System to continue through November 1, 2025, unless rescinded earlier by the Board of Supervisors or the Board of Supervisors terminates the Bridge Fire Local Emergency.
The extension will continue to allow refuse generated in Los Angeles County, as a result of the Bridge Fire, to be disposed of in the County’s Waste Disposal System without a written contract. The refuse must be acceptable for disposal and cannot contain asbestos, hazardous materials, or other unacceptable waste. The standard gate and disposal fees will be charged.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 10, 2025, Finance (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on April 14, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on April 15, 2025.