REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 3, 2026
FROM
CRISANTA GONZALEZ, Director of Emergency Management, Office of Emergency Services
SUBJECT
Title
Fiscal Year 2025 Emergency Management Performance Grant
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve and accept Fiscal Year 2025 Emergency Management Performance Grant (Award No. 2025-5008) from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, to continue to enhance local emergency management capabilities and strengthen core emergency management functions throughout the County, in the amount of $499,805, for the grant performance period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027.
2. Approve the Subrecipient Assurances template between San Bernardino County and all grant subrecipient cities and towns for the grant referenced in Recommendation No. 1.
3. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, County Chief Financial Officer, Director of Emergency Management, or Assistant Director of Emergency Management to accept and execute the Subrecipient Assurances from each subrecipient city and town identified in the Fiscal Year 2025 Emergency Management Performance Grant, ensuring that the subrecipients comply with all applicable terms and conditions of the grant.
(Presenter: Crisanta Gonzalez, Director of Emergency Management, 658-2847)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Enhance Readiness for Major Emergency Responses.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Out of the total Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) amount of $499,805 awarded to the County by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), $293,284 will be allocated to the County’s Office of Emergency Services (OES). This amount includes a maximum of 5% of the EMPG funds ($24,990) that OES receives as the lead agency for the County’s Operational Area for management and administration costs associated with administering the grant. The remaining $206,521 will be distributed among 12 subrecipient cities and towns within the County. The participating cities and towns are Big Bear Lake, Chino, Chino Hills, Fontana, Montclair, Needles, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Upland, Victorville, and Yucca Valley.
The EMPG requires a dollar-for-dollar match (cash or in-kind) that will be met proportionately between OES and the participating cities and towns, based on the specific allocation provided to each given city and town. OES will meet the match requirement through personnel costs for allowable emergency management program activities. Any future budget adjustments pertaining to the EMPG will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for approval.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The EMPG is a two-year grant program offered by the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide funding for support of comprehensive emergency management programs at the state, tribal, and local levels to enhance local emergency management capabilities and strengthen core emergency management functions. The County Operational Area, established as an intermediate level of the state’s emergency services organization to manage and coordinate emergency preparedness efforts, has received EMPG funds annually since 2004. OES functions as the lead agency for the County Operational Area, distributing allocations for the FEMA approved projects to cities and towns within the Operational Area. The Subrecipient Assurances template is a requirement for all EMPG subrecipients to be eligible for EMPG funding. OES is therefore required to accept and execute the Subrecipient Assurances with each participating city and town. Approval of Recommendation No. 3 allows the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, County Chief Financial Officer, Director of Emergency Management, or Assistant Director of Emergency Management to sign the Subrecipient Assurances on behalf of the County to enter into an agreement with each participating city and town, as is required by Cal OES.
On June 9, 2026 (Item No. 48), the Board authorized the submission of the EMPG application to Cal OES for the term of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027. OES submitted the application on June 10, 2026, and received the approval award letter from Cal OES on September 25, 2026, with an awarded allocation of $499,805. The retroactive nature of this EMPG is due to OES not receiving notification from Cal OES to apply for the EMPG until April 23, 2026, with an extended application due date of June 10, 2026.
These funds will be used to support activities that enhance the County’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters (natural or man-made) throughout the county.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Grace B. Parsons, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 20, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on October 16, 2026.