REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 1, 2026
FROM
GILBERT RAMOS, Assistant Executive Officer, Human Services
SUBJECT
Title
Employment Contract for the Executive Director for the Children and Families Commission for San Bernardino County
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Employment Contract with Cindy Faulkner, as Executive Director, to support the Children and Families Commission for San Bernardino County, for the estimated annual cost of $227,658 (Salary - $169,894, Benefits - $57,764), for the contract period of September 5, 2026 through August 31, 2029, with the option to extend the term for a maximum of three successive one-year periods.
2. Authorize the Assistant Executive Officer to execute amendments to extend the term of the Employment Contract for a maximum of three successive one-year periods, on behalf of the County, subject to County Counsel review.
3. Direct the Assistant Executive Officer to transmit all amendments of the Employment Contract to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Gilbert Ramos, Assistant Executive Officer, 387-4261)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Employment Opportunities and Economic Value in the County.
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 estimated annual cost of $227,658 will be 100% reimbursed by the Children and Families Commission Trust Fund, which is funded 100% through Proposition 10 tobacco tax. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Children and Families Commission’s 2026-27 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Children and Families Commission for San Bernardino County (County), also known as First 5 San Bernardino, uses California’s tax on cigarettes and tobacco products to provide services for the State’s youngest residents and their families. First 5 San Bernardino collaborates with the community and child serving agencies to fulfill their mission of promoting, supporting, and enhancing the health and early development of children from the prenatal stage to five years of age, and their families. First 5 San Bernardino consists of seven members: a member of the Board of Supervisors (Board), the County Public Health Officer, the Assistant Executive Officer (AEO) for Human Services (HS) and others appointed by each of the Board members.
On January 23, 2001, (Item No. 59), the Board approved Memorandum of Understanding No. 01-50 with First 5 San Bernardino to maintain a cooperative working relationship to effectively and efficiently implement First 5 San Bernardino’s mission, with automatic renewals annually unless terminated as provided in the MOU. The terms and conditions of the MOU require HS to provide First 5 San Bernardino with support for the administration of staff benefits, review and act on Board items and personnel related issues and provide employment contract administration services. MOU No. 01-50 with First 5 San Bernardino has been amended five times since it was approved on January 23, 2001, to revise language regarding existing services or to add services provided by the County. First 5 San Bernardino fully reimburses the County for the cost of these services.
On April 8, 2025, (Item No. 28), the Board approved a Standard Employment Contract Template for various positions to support First 5 San Bernardino, including the Assistant Director position, and authorized the AEO to execute individual employment contracts.
On May 15, 2025, Employment Contract No. 25-159 with Cindy Faulkner was executed to perform services as the Assistant Director working under the direction of the Executive Director of First 5 San Bernardino. As the Assistant Director, Ms. Faulkner participates in the further development of First 5 San Bernardino’s County Strategic Plan by providing technical assistance, administrative support, promoting broad-based community outreach, and managing day-to-day operations. Due to the retirement of the former First 5 San Bernardino Executive Director Karen Scott on March 20, 2026, Ms. Faulkner has been serving as the Interim Executive Director under Employment Contract No. 25-159.
On July 8, 2026, the First 5 San Bernardino Commission appointed Cindy Faulkner as its Executive Director, subject to a future employment contract being reached regarding the terms and conditions of employment.
Approval of Recommendation No. 1 will approve the new Employment Contract with Ms. Faulkner, as Executive Director, to support First 5 San Bernardino for the period of September 5, 2026, through August 31, 2029, and will supersede any previous contract with Ms. Faulkner. The recommended Employment Contract has an estimated annual cost of $227,658 (Salary - $169,894, Benefits - $57,764), with the salary initially set at Step 8 of Range 81B and the benefits to be provided as the same benefits in Exempt Group B of the San Bernardino County Exempt Group Working Conditions Ordinance.
Approval of Recommendation No. 2 will authorize the AEO to execute any amendments to extend the term of the Employment Contract for a maximum of three one-year extensions, on behalf of the County, subject to County Counsel review.
The County or the contract employee may terminate the Employment Contract at any time without cause upon 14 days prior written notice to the other party. The County may terminate the Employment Contract immediately for just cause.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services (Lisa Rivas-Ordaz, Contracts Manager, 388-0222) on August 19, 2026; County Counsel (Scott Runyan, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 26, 2026; Human Resources (Jose Mancilla, Employment Division Chief, 387-6080) on July 31, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (John Hallen, Principal Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on August 13, 2026.