REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 8, 2024
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Resolution Issuing Orders Under the Bridge Fire Local Emergency Related to Disposal of Solid Waste
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution issuing orders under the Bridge Fire Local Emergency to allow out of county solid waste to be disposed of in the San Bernardino County Waste Disposal System, upon payment of applicable fees, through May 1, 2025, unless rescinded earlier by the Board of Supervisors or the Board of Supervisors terminates the Bridge Fire Local Emergency.
(Presenter: Luther Snoke, Chief 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.
Focus on Recovery and Resiliency Following Major Emergency Responses such as the December 2, 2015 Terrorist Attack (SB Strong) and the Global COVID-19 Pandemic.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as there is no cost or financial impact associated with adopting this Resolution. However, if approved, the standard gate and disposal fees will be charged to any out of county refuse haulers, individual property owners/occupants, and/or the authorized contractors for property owners/occupants who choose to dispose of acceptable waste at County waste disposal sites.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On September 8, 2024, the Bridge Fire began to rapidly spread within Los Angeles County and eventually spread into the Mt. Baldy community. On September 10, 2024, the Bridge Fire spread into portions of San Bernardino County, near the community of Wrightwood, posing an immediate threat to lives, structures, property, and the environment within San Bernardino County communities. The rapid spread of the fire necessitated evacuation warnings and orders by the San Bernardino County Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator.
On September 10, 2024, the Chief Executive Officer, while serving as the Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency within San Bernardino County as a result of the Bridge Fire. On September 12, 2024 (Item No. 1), the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors (Board) ratified the proclamation of the existence of a local emergency as a result of the Bridge Fire and continued the local emergency.
The Bridge Fire resulted in damage to, and destruction of buildings, residences and other structures in both Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County. San Bernardino County owns a waste disposal system consisting of landfills and transfer stations throughout the county. Some of these facilities, including the Mid-Valley Sanitary Landfill, are the closest disposal facilities to the buildings, residences, and other structures damaged or destroyed in Los Angeles County from the Bridge Fire.
The recommended Resolution contains orders for the Board to issue under the Bridge Fire Local Emergency to provide for the protection of life and property through the proper disposal of refuse and solid waste from the Bridge Fire.
The orders will allow refuse generated in Los Angeles County, as a result of the Bridge Fire, to be disposed of in the San Bernardino County Waste Disposal System without a written contract. The refuse may be disposed of by refuse haulers, individual property owners/occupants, and/or the authorized contractors for property owners/occupants. The refuse must be acceptable for disposal and cannot contain asbestos, hazardous materials, or other unacceptable waste. The standard gate and disposal fees will be charged. The order will remain in effect until May 1, 2025, unless rescinded earlier by the Board or the Board terminates the local emergency proclaimed as a result of the Bridge Fire.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 1, 2024; Public Works-Solid Waste Management (Noel Castillo, Director, 387-7906) on October 1, 2024; Finance (Jessica Trillo, Administrative Analyst, 387-4222) on October 2, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on October 2, 2024.