REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 10, 2026
FROM
JOE BACA, JR., Vice Chair and Fifth District Supervisor, Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
Board of Supervisors Discretionary Fund - District Specific Priorities Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Contract with the City of San Bernardino to contribute funding from the 2025-26 Fifth District’s Board of Supervisors Discretionary Fund - District Specific Priorities Program budget to purchase one tactical robot for the City of San Bernardino Police Department, in the not-to-exceed amount of $100,000, for the period of March 10, 2026 through March 9, 2028.
(Presenter: Joe Baca, Jr., Vice Chair and Fifth District Supervisor, 387-4565)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote and Fulfill the Countywide Vision.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). On September 21, 2021 (Item No. 18), November 16, 2021 (Item No. 33), February 6, 2024 (Item No. 61), June 11, 2024 (Item No. 110), April 29, 2025 (Item No. 86), and June 10, 2025 (Item No. 136), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved an allocation of $4 million, $7 million, $6 million, $3 million, $2.5 million, and $2.5 million, respectively, to the Board Discretionary Fund - District Specific Priorities Program (Priorities Program), for each of the five supervisorial districts for projects that meet a public purpose, and provide services to citizens that promote health, safety, economic well-being, and other public services that enhance quality of life and meet the needs of County residents. On an annual basis, unspent appropriations for discretionary funding will be carried over into the subsequent year’s budget.
The recommended project will be funded by the Fifth District’s Priorities Program budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Priorities Program projects help promote the vision of a complete County by recognizing the unique traits of each Supervisorial District and, thereby, allow individual Board Districts to work with community partners through County services and contractual agreements to identify programs, projects, and initiatives that support the vision, meet a public purpose and provide services to residents that promote health, safety, economic well-being, education, recreation, and other public services that enhance quality of life and meet the needs of the County’s residents. Projects under the Priorities Program are based on District Supervisor discretion and are presented by each District Supervisor for Board approval.
The recommended Contract will assist the City of San Bernardino (San Bernardino) by contributing funding to purchase one tactical robot for its Police Department. This Contract serves the public purpose of providing for the health and safety needs of the County residents through the robot purchase to support tactical operations, humanitarian responses, and search-and-secure missions, enhance safety for officers, K-9s, and involved parties, and reduce risk during critical incidents. San Bernardino acknowledges and agrees that it will make a matching contribution of at least 25% of the total cost of the project per County Policy 05-10.
Under the Board Discretionary Fund Priorities Program contract terms, the CEO, at the direction of the Fifth District Supervisor, may extend the terms of the contracts, in writing, under the following conditions:
a. In aggregate, all extensions do not exceed 12 calendar months;
b. Is specifically requested by the contractor;
c. Will not change the project goals or scope of services;
d. Is in the best interest of the County and contractor in performing the scope of services under the contract; and
e. Does not alter the amount of compensation under the contract.
Board discretionary funding allocations under the Priorities Program with community partners must be for projects or services of $10,000 or more as described in County Policy 05-10. Additionally, contracts that include non-profit organizations, government entities, or educational institutions are non-competitive. Contracts with community partners that include for-profit organizations are to be processed according to existing County procurement policies. Contracts with other government agencies or for-profit organizations require a matching contribution of at least 25% of the proposed projects. All contracts shall be paid on a lump-sum basis or under other terms as approved by the Board.
PROCUREMENT
No applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on February 2, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Penelope Chang, Principal Administrative Analyst, 387-4886) on February 2, 2026.