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
Amendment to Memorandum of Understanding with San Bernardino County Transportation Authority for the Smart County Master Plan
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Memorandum of Understanding No. 22-1245 (Memorandum of Understanding No. 23-1002896), with San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, for the Smart County Master Plan amending the scope of work to include analysis of the Consolidated Fire Agencies’ Computer Aided Dispatch system and a remote connectivity concept for an emergency communications project, extending the term by one year, for the total period of December 13, 2022 through December 31, 2026, with no change to the initially funded amount of $1,000,000.
(Presenter: Trevor Leja, Assistant 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.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). There is an unused balance of $226,530 available in the County Administrative Office 2024-25 budget for this County Initiative (Project), which will continue to be provided to the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) on a reimbursement basis up to the total amount of $1,000,000.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On December 13, 2022 (Item No. 32), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) No. 22-1245 (MOU No. 23-1002896) with SBCTA to implement the Project through the deployment of innovative technologies on a countywide basis. This resulted in the development of the Project’s Master Plan (Plan) and included an evaluation of a broad spectrum of possible initiatives to consider for implementation throughout the county, recognizing the diverse geographic and socioeconomic nature of the region. The Plan was developed in two phases by a consultant hired by SBCTA and was focused on feedback provided by jurisdictional representatives.
After review by the County Administrative Office, the Plan was reviewed by the SBCTA Board of Directors (SBCTA Board) on December 4, 2024, and is complete as of December 31, 2024, as no further comments were received following SBCTA Board review. SBCTA is now utilizing the Plan to guide and prioritize future projects throughout the region.
Due to the efficiency with which the Project was managed, and after additional dialogue with partner agencies, it is recommended to utilize Project savings to move forward with two initiatives identified in the completed Plan. One is conducting a comprehensive assessment of the Consolidated Fire Agencies’ (CONFIRE) Computer Aided Dispatch to Computer Aided Dispatch system (System) and the second is to prepare a report which will identify different options for a remote connectivity concept for emergency communications along several state highways in the county with poor cellular coverage.
The analysis of CONFIRE’s System will aim to establish the necessary requirements to work towards a fully integrated and interoperable dispatch system among multiple medical services, fire, and law enforcement agencies. This will include, but is not limited to, a comprehensive assessment of the System’s current state, operational requirements, which agencies are currently connected, which need to be, and provide for recommendations on how best to manage this System moving forward.
The SBCTA Board is likely to proceed with dismantling the Motorist Aid Call Box System over the next six months. However, there are potential areas of poor cellular coverage on several state highways throughout the county. Therefore, the remote connectivity concept for the emergency communications project will evaluate cost-effective and secure connectivity solutions to address gaps in cellular coverage on highways throughout the county.
Amendment No. 1 was executed by the SBCTA Executive Director on March 11, 2025. Approval of Amendment No. 1 will allow the County to continue to partner with SBCTA to develop innovative solutions and technologies throughout the region.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 17, 2025; Finance (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on February 21, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on February 24, 2025.