REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 24, 2026
FROM
MELANIE OROSCO, County Librarian, County Library
SUBJECT
Title
Community Development Block Grant Subrecipient Agreement for Adult Literacy Services with the City of Chino Hills
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Subrecipient Agreement, including non-standard terms, with the City of Chino Hills, to accept the Community Development Block Grant subaward for the Adult Literacy Services Program, in the amount of $10,000, for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
2. Authorize the County Librarian or Assistant County Librarian, to electronically execute and submit the Subrecipient Agreement required for acceptance of the Community Development Block Grant program subaward, and any required subsequent forms including quarterly, mid-year and final reports, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the County Librarian to transmit the Subrecipient Agreement to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Melanie Orosco, County Librarian, 387-2220)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote and Fulfill the Countywide Vision.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
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 Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The total revenue for the Subrecipient Agreement (Agreement) from the City of Chino Hills is $10,000 and will be received as reimbursement for staff support. This subrecipient grant award does not require a match. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the County Library’s (Department) 2025-26 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The City of Chino Hills awarded the James S. Thalman Chino Hills Branch Library (Chino Hills Library) $10,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding for the Adult Literacy Services Program (Program). The Program provides one-on-one literacy instruction and individualized tutoring for illiterate adults. Program participants accomplish many goals through building self-confidence in applying for jobs, being able to vote, and much more. Additionally, the Program supports the County’s Cradle to Career Road Map to achieve the Countywide Vision.
Teaching illiterate adults to read not only helps the individual but also their children, as parents who read are able to give children the literacy support needed to succeed. The Program allows the Chino Hills Library to increase the literacy rate in the County. The Department has received grant funds from the City of Chino Hills annually for this purpose since 2004.
On February 27, 2025, the Department received notice of the 25-26 grant award, in the amount of $10,000 that would be made available to the Department. On January 13, 2026 the Department received the Agreement from the City of Chino Hills for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. This item is being submitted at the earliest available meeting following the required legal, fiscal, and administrative reviews, and approval at this time will have no impact on the Program.
This item will authorize acceptance of a subrecipient grant award from the City of Chino Hills, in the amount of $10,000, offsetting staffing costs for the Program at the Chino Hills Library in fiscal year 2025-26. Department staff track the time spent facilitating the Program over the fiscal year, ensuring the grant funds reimburse the staffing costs as expected. The Chino Hills Library anticipates serving approximately 100 individuals with the awarded Program funding through June 30, 2026. Literacy programs in public libraries transform the lives of adults in the communities served by providing access to tools that support individuals to gain basic literacy skills.
Library Adult Literacy services are free of charge to all learners participating in the Program. Direct services and assistance are provided by Department staff, as well as trained literacy tutor volunteers. Dedicated tutoring space and special Program materials (leveled student readers, workbooks, dictionaries, etc.) are supplied to participating learners at no charge. The Chino Hills Library uses the grant funding to offset staffing costs for the Program. Learners are strongly encouraged to attend free basic computer skills classes taught in the Chino Hills Library. Those with young children are encouraged to attend early learning and preschool story time activities to foster a love of reading and ensure school-age reading readiness.
The Agreement includes terms that differ from the standard County contract. The non-standard terms include the following:
The County is required to hold harmless, defend and indemnify the City of Chino Hills from any and all claims that arise out of the County’s performance or nonperformance of the services called for in the Agreement.
• The County standard contract does not include any indemnification or defense by the County of a contractor.
• Potential Impact: By agreeing to indemnify the City of Chino Hills, claims that may otherwise be barred against the County, time limited, or expense limited could be brought against the City of Chino Hills without such limitations and the County could be responsible to defend and reimburse the City of Chino Hills for costs, expenses, and damages.
The Department recommends approval of the Agreement, including the non-standard terms, as the subrecipient grant award will allow the Department to improve literacy rates in the county.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Daniella Hernandez, Deputy County Counsel, 387-3121) on January 27, 2026; Risk Management (Stephanie Pacheco, Staff Analyst II, 386-9039) on February 9, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on March 6, 2026.