REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 9, 2020
FROM
GARY McBRIDE, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Prepare a Resolution and Related Actions Addressing Racism and Equity
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Direct staff to prepare a Resolution acknowledging that racism is a public health crisis that results in societal concerns and may result in measurable detriments to persons and communities of color in the delivery of and access to wellness, economic development and opportunity, public safety, housing, and education.
2. Direct the Chief Executive Officer to add language to the Federal and State Legislative Platforms stating that the County supports the promotion of equity and social justice through targeted investments in underserved communities.
3. Direct staff to:
a. Work with the San Bernardino County Council of Governments (SBCOG) and other Countywide Vision partners to establish “Equity” as an eleventh Vision Element.
b. Establish a Countywide Vision Equity Element Group comprised of community members and experts in healthcare, education, economic development, law and justice, and other fields to identify needs, define goals, and set and reach benchmarks toward achievement of those goals.
(Presenter: Leonard X. Hernandez, County Chief Operating Officer, 387-5425)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Create, Maintain and Grow Jobs and Economic Value in the County.
Improve County Government Operations.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not require the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
After hearing from community advocates at the June 2, 2020 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board agreed to engage in a countywide dialogue about racism and directed County staff to draft plans for the creation of a group to develop strategies to promote and increase equity in all aspects of community life. This discussion came to the forefront following the global response to the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the impact of COVID-19 on the Black community, and the national focus on the problem of racism.
On June 30, 2011, the Board of Supervisors and the San Bernardino Council of Governments adopted the Countywide Vision, a roadmap for the future of the county with an emphasis on 10 elements, including public safety, education, jobs and the economy, wellness, and housing. The Countywide Vision recognizes each of these elements are interrelated and interdependent.
Creating an eleventh element - Equity - and forming a corresponding Equity Element Group comprised of community members and experts in health, education, economic development, law and justice, and other disciplines would create a path toward promoting and increasing equity within San Bernardino County and defining goals and initiatives to expand opportunity and inclusiveness.
Element Groups working to achieve the Countywide Vision have since 2011 produced tangible results for the county community. They include:
• The Education Element Group created a Cradle to Career Roadmap, spearheaded the Vision2Read literacy campaign, and brought to our county Footsteps to Brilliance, a free literacy app exposing county children to more than half a million books and 193 million words over 71,530 hours over the last three years.
• The Jobs and Economy Element Group created the Vision2Succeed campaign that encompassed the GenerationGo! Program, which employs internships and other strategies to prepare high school students for the jobs and careers we have in our local communities and the jobs and careers we hope to attract to our communities.
• The Wellness Element Group created the Community Vital Signs initiative, establishing a health improvement framework by setting evidence-based goals and priorities for actions that encompass policy, education, environment and systems change to ensure quality of life; improve and sustain education and workforce; and attract economic development.
• The Environmental Element Group created the Countywide Habitat Preservation/Conservation Framework Study to assist policymakers in sustaining the environment in the face of population and economic growth.
• The Housing Element Group and the Jobs and Economy Element Group created an inventory of business-friendly best practices employed by the County and city land-use and economic development agencies.
• The Water Element Group created the county’s first-ever countywide water inventory.
The Equity Element Group may be tasked with determining if there are racial disparities among our residents in the county, if campaign/programs could be implemented to solve these issues, and what initiatives are already underway within County government or in the county community that can be highlighted and supported.
This item also recommends that language be added to the Federal and State Legislative Platforms stating that the County supports the promotion of equity and social justice through targeted investments in underserved communities. The Platforms are the Board’s official guidance for the County’s advocacy efforts and interactions with the Federal and State governments.
PROCUREMENT
Not Applicable
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Michelle Blakemore, County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 5, 2020; Finance (Stephenie Shea, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on June 5, 2020 and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on June 5, 2020.