REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 22, 2026
FROM
TERRY W. THOMPSON, Director, Real Estate Services Department
ROB GILLIAM, Acting Director, Community Development and Housing Department
SUBJECT
Title
Acquisition of Vacant Land in San Bernardino
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Find that the acquisition of vacant land, comprising of eight parcels totaling approximately 1.28 acres, located on the north side of Little Third Street and west side of Little Tippecanoe Avenue in San Bernardino (Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 0279-053-20-0000, 0279-063-01-0000, 0279-063-23-0000, 0279-063-24-0000, 0279-122-09-0000, 0279-122-10-0000, 0279-122-11-0000, and 0279-122-25-0000) is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act, or, alternatively, that the acquisition is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15004(b)(2)(A) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations and conditioning all future uses and development of the vacant land, comprising eight parcels totaling approximately 1.28 acres, contingent upon compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and Section 15061 (b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption).
2. Authorize the acquisition of vacant land, comprising of eight parcels totaling approximately 1.28 acres, located on the north side of Little Third Street and west side of Little Tippecanoe Avenue in San Bernardino, (Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 0279-053-20-0000, 0279-063-01-0000, 0279-063-23-0000, 0279-063-24-0000, 0279-122-09-0000, 0279-122-10-0000, 0279-122-11-0000, and 0279-122-25-0000) from the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Powers of the Inland Valley Development Agency, for a purchase price of $526,000, independent consideration of $100, plus due diligence, title, escrow, and closing costs estimated to be $10,000, in accordance with Government Code section 25350.
3. Approve Purchase and Sale Agreement and Joint Escrow Instructions with the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Powers of the Inland Valley Development Agency for the acquisition of the property identified in Recommendation No. 2, for a purchase price of $526,000, independent consideration of $100, plus due diligence, title, escrow, and closing costs estimated to be $10,000.
4. Approve Capital Improvement Program Project No. 27-042 to acquire vacant land, comprising of eight parcels totaling approximately 1.28 acres, located on the north side of Little Third Street and west side of Little Tippecanoe Avenue in San Bernardino, for a total purchase price of $536,100.
5. Authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post the necessary budget adjustments, as detailed in the Financial Impact section (Four votes required).
6. Authorize the Director of the Real Estate Services Department to execute an acceptance certificate to affix to the Grant Deed, exercise San Bernardino County’s due diligence termination right, extend the closing date by not more than 60 days without any other substantive changes, and execute any non-substantive documents necessary to complete the transaction, subject to County Counsel review.
7. Direct the Real Estate Services Department to file and post the Notice of Exemption in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
(Presenter: Terry W. Thompson, Director, Real Estate Services, 387-5000)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The acquisition cost of $526,000, independent consideration of $100, plus due diligence, title, escrow, and closing costs estimated to be $10,000, will be funded by the Community Development and Housing Department’s Redevelopment Powers of the Inland Valley Development Agency (IVDA) program funds (6210002494). The following adjustments are requested for the Real Estate Servies Department (RESD) 2026-27 budget:
|
Fund Center |
Commitment Item |
Description |
Action |
Amount |
WBSE |
|
7700003105 |
54004005 |
Land |
Increase |
$536,100 |
94.10.0016 |
|
7700003105 |
40909975 |
Operating Transfers In |
Increase |
$536,100 |
94.10.0016 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The recommended actions will approve the acquisition of vacant land, comprising of eight parcels totaling approximately 1.28 acres, located on the north side of Little Third Street and west side of Little Tippecanoe Avenue in the City of San Bernardino (Assessor Parcel Numbers 0279-053-20-0000, 0279-063-01-0000, 0279-063-23-0000, 0279-063-24-0000, 0279-122-09-0000, 0279-122-10-0000, 0279-122-11-0000, and 0279-122-25-0000) (Property), from the Successor Agency to the IVDA for a purchase price of $526,000.
The County intends to acquire the Property as a preferred site for affordable housing. This acquisition supports the County’s long-term affordable housing objectives by preserving land as a preferred site for a critical public need, expanding the potential affordable housing pipeline, and providing a pathway for potential future development of housing that serves eligible households, subject to compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
IVDA is a joint powers authority formed in 1990 by the County and the Cities of San Bernardino, Colton, and Loma Linda to facilitate redevelopment of the former Norton Air Force Base and surrounding properties. The Redevelopment Powers of the IVDA originally acquired the Property for redevelopment purposes prior to the dissolution of redevelopment powers, at which time title to the Property vested in the Successor Agency to IVDA.
Appraisal No. 25-56, a copy of which is on file with RESD, was professionally prepared and approved by qualified RESD staff. The appraisal concluded with a total market value of $526,000 for the Property. RESD negotiated a purchase price of $526,000, equal to the appraised market value. The Successor Agency to the IVDA has agreed to sell the Property to the County pursuant to the terms of the Purchase and Sale Agreement and Joint Escrow Instructions (Agreement).
The Purchase and Sale Agreement and Joint Escrow Instructions (Agreement) provides the County with a 90-calendar-day contingency period to conduct due diligence and investigate matters affecting the Property, including title, environmental, and physical conditions. The County may terminate the Agreement during the contingency period in accordance with the terms of the Agreement. Upon satisfaction with the County's due diligence requirements and all conditions of closing, including but not limited to approval of the sale of the Property by the Countywide Oversight Board, the Property will be conveyed to the County by Grant Deed.
This item will also authorize the RESD Director to execute an acceptance certificate to affix to the Grant Deed, exercise the County’s due diligence termination right, extend the closing date by not more than 60 days without any other substantive changes, and execute any non-substantive documents necessary to complete the transaction to avoid delays in the acquisition process. Other documents include amended escrow instructions, property disclosures, notices, contingency waivers, and settlement statements, which are subject to County Counsel review. The RESD Director will not be authorized to execute any documents that would bind the County to any actions not contemplated by, or arising from, the purchase of the Property.
The acquisition of this Property shall not constitute a commitment to a particular affordable housing development project or other public project as a whole or to any particular features. Therefore, the Property acquisition is not a project under CEQA, or alternatively, the Property acquisition is exempt under CEQA pursuant to Section 15004(b)(2)(A) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations and conditioning all future uses and development upon compliance with CEQA and Section 15061 (b)(3). RESD will have fulfilled its obligation under CEQA for this acquisition with the filing of the Notice of Exemption.
PROCUREMENT
The purchase of the Property is in compliance with Government Code sections 25350 and 6063.
The publication dates for the required notice were August 28, 2026, September 4, 2026, and September 11, 2026.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Agnes Cheng, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 27, 2026; Risk Management (Arrissia Beaven, Staff Analyst II, 386-9030) June 30, 2026; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Charlene Huang, Auditor-Controller Manager, 382-7022) on August 18, 2026; Community Development and Housing (Rob Gilliam, Acting Director, 382-3983) on August 5, 2026; Purchasing (Ariel Gill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2070) on August 5, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392 and Yael Verduzco, Principal Administrative Analyst, 387-5285) on September 3, 2026.
(KB: 998-0997)