REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 20, 2026
FROM
DEEPAK BAHL, Director, Economic Development Department
SUBJECT
Title
Agreement with Hammerking Productions Inc. for the Barstow-to-Needles Off-Highway Vehicle Corridor
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Reallocate $250,000 in Discretionary General Funding, approved by the Board of Supervisors on June 9, 2026 (Item No. 126), for the Off-Road Vehicle Race Initiative, to instead be used for planning, development, and evaluation of the proposed Barstow-to-Needles Off-Highway Vehicle Corridor.
2. Approve Agreement with Hammerking Productions Inc., in the amount of $250,000, to support planning, development, and evaluation of the proposed Barstow-to-Needles Off-Highway Vehicle Corridor, for the period of October 20, 2026 through October 19, 2027.
(Presenter: Deepak Bahl, Director, 387-4385)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Employment Opportunities and Economic Value in the County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). On June 9, 2026 (Item No. 126), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved $250,000 in one-time Discretionary General Funding for the Off-Road Vehicle Race Initiative. The recommended action will reallocate the previously approved $250,000 to support planning, development, and evaluation of the proposed Barstow-to-Needles Off-Highway Vehicle Corridor. Sufficient appropriation is included in the Economic Development Department's (Department) 2026-27 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On June 9, 2026 (Item No. 126), as part of the 2026-27 Recommended Budget, the Board approved $250,000 in one-time Discretionary General Funding for the Off-Road Vehicle Race Initiative. The funding was identified to support legislative efforts and related activities necessary to enable an off-road vehicle race from Barstow to Needles using public roadways, with the goal of enhancing regional economic activity and tourism.
Following the budget approval, the Economic and Development Department (Department) further evaluated implementation of the initiative. Through this process, the proposed use of funding was clarified as supporting the planning, development, and evaluation of an off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation corridor between Barstow and Needles, including addressing regulatory, land-use, public safety, access, and route-development considerations. Accordingly, the proposed agreement focuses on evaluating and supporting development of a proposed OHV recreation corridor, rather than legislative efforts related to a specific Barstow-to-Needles race.
The proposed Barstow-to-Needles OHV recreation corridor will evaluate opportunities to connect existing legal access routes, public lands, Route 66 communities, and OHV recreation opportunities between Barstow and Needles. Development and evaluation of the proposed corridor will include coordination with the Bureau of Land Management regarding development and implementation of any necessary agreements, including a volunteer service agreement, and will include identification of potential conflicts involving private property, restricted areas, environmental sensitivities, hazardous terrain, unsafe crossings, and other conditions affecting legal and safe OHV travel.
The proposed agreement with Hammerking Productions Inc. (Hammerking), will support planning, development, and evaluation of the proposed corridor, including project coordination, field reconnaissance and GPS route documentation, identification of hazards and access conflicts, GIS mapping and route-resource development, stakeholder coordination, public safety planning, and educational and tourism outreach. Potential connectivity opportunities involving Amboy, Ludlow, Goffs, and surrounding recreation areas will also be evaluated.
The proposed project will also support coordination with the City of Needles regarding implementation of its OHV street-use program, including evaluation of legal ingress and egress opportunities connecting regional OHV routes with fuel, lodging, restaurants, and other visitor-serving businesses in Needles. These efforts are intended to improve regional OHV connectivity, visitor safety, and access to recreation while supporting tourism and recreation-based economic activity in eastern San Bernardino County.
The proposed corridor represents a change from the implementation approach contemplated when the one-time funding was approved. The Department recommends reallocating the previously approved funding to corridor planning and development activities that address legal access, route connectivity, public safety, mapping, and stakeholder coordination while advancing the regional economic development and tourism objectives of the original funding. The agreement serves the public purpose of supporting the recreational and economic needs of County residents.
PROCUREMENT
The proposed agreement with Hammerking is a non-competitive procurement for specialized consulting services related to the planning, development, and evaluation of the proposed Barstow-to-Needles OHV Corridor. Hammerking has been involved in discussions regarding implementation of the initiative and has experience related to OHV recreation, route development, field reconnaissance, stakeholder coordination, and recreation-based tourism. The Department recommends Hammerking based on its prior involvement with the initiative and familiarity with the proposed project and scope of services. The Purchasing Agent has reviewed and approved the non-competitive justification for the procurement of these specialized consulting services from Hammerking.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 2, 2026; Purchasing (Ariel Gill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2070) on October 5, 2026: County Finance and Administration (Eduardo Mora, Administrative Analyst, 387-4376) on October 6, 2026.