REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 19, 2026
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Cooperative Agreement with City of Rialto for Maintenance and Emergency Work
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Cooperative Agreement with the City of Rialto for street repairs, maintenance, and emergency work within the incorporated area of the City of Rialto and the surrounding unincorporated area, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $500,000 over the term, with individual projects not to exceed $60,000, and an aggregate total amount of $100,000 per fiscal year, for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
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 Department of Public Works (Department) is funded by Gas Tax revenue, fees, federal, state, and other local funding. Costs to the County for this proposed Cooperative Agreement (Agreement) will vary depending upon the maintenance or repair needs and are not known at this time; however, costs are limited to a not-to-exceed amount of $60,000 per project and an aggregate total amount of $100,000 per fiscal year, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $500,000 over the five-year term.
All work requested by the Department will be performed by the City of Rialto (City) staff or contractors and will be 100% reimbursable by the County. All work requested by the City will be performed by Department staff or contractors and will be 100% reimbursable by the City. Reimbursable costs for both agencies are limited to $60,000 per project and a not-to-exceed aggregate total of $100,000 per fiscal year.
Sufficient appropriation and revenue will be included in the 2026-27 recommended Road Operations budget (6650002000 - 71H15051) and future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The recommended Agreement will allow the Department and the City to provide mutual maintenance and emergency work within the unincorporated area of the County and the incorporated areas of the City. The Department and City have determined that occasionally utilizing each other's labor and equipment resources can be the most cost-effective and timely process for maintenance and repairs of roadways within Department and City jurisdictions. It is anticipated at this time that requested work assignments may include, but are not limited to, maintenance or emergency repair of streets and highways, appurtenant fencing, culvert or drainage facilities, grading and application of soil stabilization product on dirt roads, as well as providing heavy equipment for storm debris cleanup, striping, chip sealing, maintenance or emergency paving.
On December 14, 2021 (Item No. 74), the Board of Supervisors approved Mutual Aid Agreement No. 21-1008 with the City of Rialto, authorizing the County and the City to perform repair, maintenance, and emergency work on streets and highways within their respective jurisdictions on a project-by-project basis. That agreement established a cooperative framework that has enabled both agencies to respond efficiently to maintenance and emergency needs through shared resources and reimbursable work. Mutual Aid Agreement No. 21-1008 is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2026. The recommended Agreement will continue this coordination under a new term and substantially similar provisions, ensuring that the County and the City may continue to work cooperatively to protect public safety, maintain roadway infrastructure, and serve the public interest in a cost-effective and timely manner.
According to the terms of the Agreement, the requesting agency will prepare and submit a work assignment request that outlines the work being requested within the scope and budget limitations of the Agreement. The performing agency will then prepare a cost estimate and a project schedule prior to the start of work. The requesting agency will be invoiced based on actual costs incurred by the agency performing the maintenance and/or emergency work.
Under the Agreement, the Director of the Department is authorized to identify specific County projects in which the City may take the lead utilizing City forces or City contractors. With respect to work provided to the City, the Agreement states that the Director of the Department of Public Works for the City is authorized to approve or disapprove an individual project and specific services to City. In addition, the Agreement provides that the performing agency is under no obligation to perform the work request.
After completion of all requested work, receipt of an invoice and acceptance by the requesting agency of the work, the requesting agency shall reimburse the performing agency. Also, the requesting agency shall be responsible for all future maintenance and repair work, unless the requesting agency submits a future request to the performing agency to provide additional maintenance and repair work under the Agreement.
This Agreement aligns with the County and the Chief Executive Officer’s goals of improving County government operations, providing for the safety, health, and social service needs of county residents, and operate in a fiscally responsible and business-like manner by providing a streamlined approach to the maintenance and repairs of road facilities within the incorporated area of the City and the surrounding unincorporated area.
This Agreement shall expire on June 30, 2031, or it may be terminated by either party upon providing the other party a 30-day advance written notice. The City approved this item at their City Council meeting on March 10, 2026.
PROCUREMENT
Not Applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 15, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Dalton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5005) on May 2, 2026.