REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 22, 2026
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Out-of-Country Travel Request for Pre-Delivery Inspection for Line Striper Truck
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve out-of-country travel request for two Department of Public Works employees to conduct pre-delivery inspection of high-value road maintenance equipment, a new Compressed Natural Gas Line Striper Truck at Core Equipment in Ontario, Canada, traveling from September 28, 2026 through September 30, 2026, at no cost to the County other than staff time.
(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. The vendor will be responsible for covering transportation, lodging, and per diem expenses for the three-day trip for two Department employees, as the cost of travel associated with pre-delivery inspection was included in the vendor’s bid. As a result, there is no direct cost to the Department other than staff time associated with participation in the pre-delivery inspection for the new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Line Striper Truck.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The out-of-country trip request is to permit two Department staff to conduct a pre-delivery inspection of a particularly high-value CNG Line Striper Truck. This unit is a custom-built truck with a purchase price of approximately $1,000,000 and is currently being constructed at Core Equipment in Ontario, Canada.
The pre-delivery inspection is essential to confirm that all specifications are met before the truck is shipped to the Department for final delivery. The vendor is solely responsible for covering transportation, lodging, and per diem expenses for the three-day trip with no cost to the Department other than staff time, pursuant to Standard Operating Practice and adhering to published General Services Administration rates.
Per County Policy No. 08-04, prior approval for travel outside of the United States for County business must be authorized by the County’s Board of Supervisors (Board).
On January 9, 2024 (Item No. 36), the Board approved and authorized the purchase of two unbudgeted fixed assets in the 2023-24 budget, which included one CNG Liner Truck, in an amount not-to-exceed $800,000, and one CNG Broom Paint Truck, in an amount not-to-exceed $420,000, totaling $1,220,000. The Department was unable to purchase these two assets by year-end, as the amount of $1,220,000 that the Department estimated for the purchase was too low.
On October 22, 2024 (Item No. 41), as these two assets were still needed, and due to rising costs and inflation, the Board approved and authorized an updated amount for the purchase of the CNG Liner Truck, in an amount not-to-exceed $1,000,000 and one CNG Broom Paint Truck, in an amount not-to-exceed $500,000, totaling $1,500,000 to cover the market prices necessary to acquire these trucks.
The Department recommends approval of the out-of-country travel request for two Department employees to conduct pre-delivery inspection of high-value road maintenance equipment as this 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.
PROCUREMENT
Not Applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 17, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Scott Bruckner, Administrative Analyst, 387-4020) on September 4, 2026.