12REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 24, 2026
FROM
MOE YOUSIF, Interim Director, Project and Facilities Management Department
BEAHTA R. DAVIS, Director, Regional Parks Department
SUBJECT
Title
Continuation of Emergency for Roof Repairs and Water Damage Remediation at Calico Ghost Town Regional Park
End
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Continue the finding, first made by the Board of Supervisors on January 13, 2026, that there is substantial evidence that immediate action is needed to prevent or mitigate the threat to property and public health posed by an unprecedented storm occurring on November 14 through November 16, 2025, that caused water damage to the roof and interior areas of multiple buildings located at Calico Ghost Town Regional Park, including the structures known as Lil’s Saloon, Dorsey’s Dog House, Calico Rock and Gift Shop, Calico Candle Shop, Print Shop, Calico Coffee, Tea, and Pottery Shop, and Mystery Shack, which has resulted in imminent risk of failure of the roofs, roof structures, and interior ceilings of historical buildings and constitutes an emergency pursuant to Public Contract Code section 22050, and that this emergency will not permit the delay resulting from a formal competitive solicitation of bids to procure materials and construction services, and delegating authority, originally by Resolution on January 13, 2026, and as amended by Resolution No. 2026-26 on March 10, 2026, to the Chief Executive Officer to direct the Purchasing Agent to issue purchase orders and/or contracts, in a total amount not to exceed $1,310,834, for any construction, remediation, and modifications related to the weather and water damaged roofs, roof structures, interiors, and building components, finding the issuance of these purchase orders and/or contracts are necessary to respond to this emergency pursuant to Public Contract Code section 22035 and 22050 (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Moe Yousif, Interim Director, 387-5000)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
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 March 10, 2026 (Item No. 29), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved a budget increase of $711,916 for the Calico Roof Repair and Remediation Project (WBSE 10.10.1977) which will be fully funded through the Community Service Upgrades Reserve Fund, resulting in a total project budget of $1,310,834. This increase was necessary to award the construction contract and proceed with the required remediation work.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Calico Ghost Town Regional Park (Calico) in Yermo is a premier destination attraction in the High Desert, attracting visitors from our local communities and from around the world. Calico showcases the historical and recreational significance of both the High Desert region and San Bernardino County through its preserved historical buildings and attractions, themed events, camping, and outdoor activities. Calico also generates substantial revenue to the Regional Parks Department (Regional Parks) through concessionaire-operated business located in the County-owned historical buildings.
The Capital Improvement Program Project No. 25-231 (WBSE 10.10.1863) was approved by the Board on June 10, 2025 (Item No. 104). As part of this project, the Project and Facilities Management Department (PFMD) was evaluating design and constructability challenges associated with the unique roofs of several historic structures, including Lil’s Saloon, Dorsey’s Dog House, Calico Rock and Gift Shop, and the Calico Candle Shop. However, during this evaluation, an extraordinary rain event from November 14 through November 16, 2025, inundated the already compromised roofs, resulting in significant water intrusion and creating an imminent risk of roof and structural failure. The rainfall caused substantial interior damage, including ceiling deterioration to the Print shop and soil erosion that blocked access to the Mystery Shack, and mud intrusion into the Pottery Shop. With the continued threat of additional rainfall, immediate action is required to replace the roofs, repair structural and interior damage, and implement erosion control measures to prevent further deterioration, thereby necessitating the Calico Roof Leak Remediation and Repairs Project (WBSE 10.10.1977) to incorporate this additional scope of work.
On January 13, 2026 (Item No.42), the Board found there is substantial evidence that immediate action is needed to prevent or mitigate the threat to life, health, property and essential public services posed by the extensive water damage to roofs and buildings at Calico Ghost Town, which constituted an emergency pursuant to Public Contract Code section 22050, requiring immediate action.
Further, the Board adopted Resolution No. 2026-02 authorizing the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to direct the Purchasing Agent to issue purchase orders and/or execute contracts, in a total amount not to exceed $598,918, for any emergency remediation, construction and modifications of internal and external structures related to the project and found that the issuance of these purchase orders and/or contracts is necessary to respond to this emergency pursuant to Public Contract Code sections 22035 and 22050.
On March 10, 2026 (Item No. 29) the Board approved a budget increase in the amount of $711,916 to Capital Improvement Program Project No. 26-133, increasing the total project budget from $598,918 to $1,310,834, to perform the required roof replacement, interior repairs, structural modifications, and erosion mitigation as well as authorizing the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post the necessary budget adjustment. At the same time, the Board adopted Resolution No. 2026-26, which amended Resolution No. 2026-02 and authorized the CEO to direct the Purchasing Agent to issue purchase orders and/or execute contracts, in a total amount not to exceed $1,310,834, for any construction, remediation, and modifications related to the weather and water damaged roofs, roof structures, interiors, and building components related to the Project and found that the issuance of these purchase orders and/or contracts is necessary to respond to this emergency pursuant to Public Contract Code sections 22035 and 22050.
Emergencies related to Public Contract Code section 22035 and 22050, once ordered, must be affirmed at each subsequent meeting until terminated.
PROCUREMENT
On December 18, 2025, following a solicitation directly to local contractors, PFMD held a mandatory site walk and reviewed the scope of work with the attending contractor.
Due to the lack of responding contractors for the first site walk, PFMD held a second site walk on December 29, 2025, with the initial contractor, HS Brown Construction, Inc. and a second contractor, Best Contracting Services, Inc., to ensure the most fiscally responsible bids were received. Bids were due on January 8, 2025, and PFMD received a bid from HS Brown Construction, Inc. in the amount of $1,493,514 and a bid from Best Contracting Services, Inc. in the amount of $946,985. PFMD reviewed each bid for best value and conducted follow-up meetings with each bidder to ensure schedule, labor force, solvency, and understanding of the scope.
Following this review by PFMD’s Project Manager and Supervising Project Manager, PFMD selected Best Contracting Services, Inc. (Contractor) as best value for the County based on bid total, schedule, and understanding of the required scope of work. PFMD has prepared a contract to be approved by the CEO and then signed by the Contractor. Following execution of the contract, a purchase order will be requested and finalized by the Purchasing Department to engage the Contractor to provide the required construction services.
On March 16, 2026, PFMD held a preconstruction meeting with the Contactor and Regional Parks staff at Calico to review the scope of work, site logistics, operational and administrative requirements, and the Project schedule. PFMD continues to evaluate the emergency and scope of work to complete the roof replacement, interior repairs, and erosion mitigation measures.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Kaleigh Ragon Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on March 9, 2026; Purchasing (Ariel Gill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2070) on March 9 , 2026; Regional Parks (Beahta R. Davis, Director, 387-2340) on March 10 , 2026; Project and Facilities Management (Sarah Riley, Chief of Project Management, 387-5115) on March 9, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Elias Dueñas, Administrative Analyst, 387-4052, and Yael Verduzco, Principal Administrative Analyst, 387-5285) on March 12, 2026.