Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in San Bernardino public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues
Boston Dynamics Public Safety Robot Purchase
The county gave the police department $100,000 for a Robotic Police K9 that officials say keeps officers out of dangerous situations. Some later speakers opposed tactical and surveillance technology.
Homelessness services and nonprofit contracting accountability
The budget sets aside about $2 million toward the navigation center shelter opening January 1, 2027, with staff seeking another funding source for $1 million. Councilmember Sanchez warned the city should plan for worst-case funding.
Speicher Park Ballfields Contingency Increase
A proposed $1.3 million boost to the contingency budget for the Speicher Park ballfields, bringing it to about $2.04 million, signals rising project costs for a Ward 2 park.
Camping ordinance on public streets and parks
The new ordinance restricts camping in parks, streets, and rights of way, with adoption set for November 4. Critics say it criminalizes poverty without housing; the city points to 900+ shelter beds and Navigation Center progress.
Elected officials' compensation
A new pay plan for top city staff includes a 3.5% cost-of-living increase — and a contested $29,000 raise for the police chief. It passed over one no vote.
Joint Powers Authority Creation
Resolutions 2026-184 and 2026-185 would create a joint financing authority between the city and the Housing Authority to help fund public capital improvements.
YMCA of the East Valley Lease
The council authorized lease renewal talks with the YMCA, its largest childcare partner, after debating whether the new competitive-leasing policy should apply — some members called pre-negotiated renewals 'a horrible policy.'
Surplus Land Disposition Framework
The city owns about 13 acres near the Hope Campus bought with ARPA money, and the council wants a study or consultant to figure out whether it should become affordable or permanent supportive housing — with a developer-focused workshop planned for spring.
County Election Results
San Bernardino County election results are coming in, and the big races could reshuffle who runs local government. The outcomes will shape county priorities and leadership—so if you care about local services, budgets, or power, this is worth watching.
Shandin Hills Golf Course management and audit
Community volunteers raised $50,000 at a revival event and asked the city to partner in restoring the neglected public golf course.
Animal control underfunding
Speaker Lidia Zavala challenged the city's shelter data and noted animal services spending has grown from $2.3 million to $9.7 million in five years, demanding a plan and accountability.
Speed hump policy
Eight intersections in Wards 1, 2, 4 and 5 are getting stop control to improve safety.
FY 2026-27 city budget and capital plan
Roughly 11 capital projects are proposed for deferral and 12 for reduced funding, about $15.1 million total, due to staff capacity and budget pressure. Council members flagged City Hall renovation and Tom Malaney Park and asked staff to bring back options.
Meyers Creek flooding and sedimentation
Verdemont-area flooding and sediment problems persist; fixes cost $25 million (storm drain) or $64.1 million (debris basin and channel), with county partnership and grant potential for the larger option.
University Parkway Median Landscaping
A $1.1 million streetscaping contract sparked debate over whether public funds are being used efficiently when everyday neighborhood streets and lights need urgent repairs.
Alcohol sales conditions at Waterman Avenue convenience store
The commission let a Waterman Avenue store update its alcohol conditions to match changing industry packaging — allowing any-size factory multi-packs instead of six-packs only — citing low area crime stats and no policing issues.
ABC license upgrade at Palm Avenue truck service station
A request to upgrade the convenience store's alcohol license from beer-and-wine to general off-sale was pushed to November 10 so the commission can consider it fully.
Pedestrian safety at Highland Avenue intersection
Family and friends of 15-year-old Raylen Ayala, killed September 1 at Highland and Guthrie, urged the city to run a rigorous 24-hour traffic and pedestrian count with peak-window analysis before another life is lost.
Privacy and neighborhood impacts of three-story multifamily development
The city had to update its local rules to match new state laws on backyard granny flats and garage conversions, sparking major resident and council pushback over lost parking, increased density, and a lack of local enforcement against illegal building.
New Revenue from Industrial and Logistics Sector
The council greenlit a feasibility study on making the logistics industry pay its fair share for streets and community services — with a warning not to tax businesses out of town.
Independent financial process assessment
Councilmembers Knaus, Ortiz, and Shorett renewed calls for a forensic audit of city finances; staff will bring back within 60 days what type of audit is appropriate and which firms could perform it.
Waterman Avenue Landscaping Improvements
One of the city's main corridors finally gets a landscaping facelift — the council approved the conceptual plan, already fully funded.
Vacant and abandoned building registration
Councilmember Knaus's proposal would require registration of vacant properties, mandatory maintenance, and progressive fees to fight blight.
Water-Efficient Landscaping Standards (Ordinance MC-1669)
The city's landscaping development rules were up for an update to comply with state water-efficiency law (SB 1383/MWELO). This affects what new developments must plant and irrigate citywide.
Feldheym Central Library improvement project
A $10.2 million renovation of the Feldheym Library moved forward with an $8.3 million construction contract — ADA upgrades, backup power, HVAC, security. Most is state grant money, but the council had to find $3.8 million locally and chose the Measure S fund balance over cutting other park and street projects.
Future of the animal shelter facility and contract cities
The council cut ties with the planned satellite shelter site, and a speaker praised the mayor's shelter visit while pressing for a new modern facility and more staff.
Homeless drop-off notification and vacant property ordinances
The Redlands Boulevard facility's operator did extensive unpermitted construction and ran recuperative care without authorization. The commission moved to schedule a revocation hearing after the applicant missed repeated permit-resubmittal deadlines.
Commission meeting schedule and review cycle
Commissioners noted they got this assignment with almost no lead time before the October 5 deadline, and want the commission to meet regularly — possibly reviewing salaries early in even-numbered years — so future decisions aren't rushed.
Homeless transport notification ordinance
Cities and nonprofits would have to file a 24-hour notice form before dropping homeless individuals in San Bernardino, with fines — possibly per person, per day. Councilmembers want teeth in enforcement.
Shelter operator local-priority rules
The city wants shelters to reserve beds for San Bernardino residents, report outcomes, and meet safety standards — but councilmembers stressed that without a named enforcement position, rules are just paper.
68-home PRD subdivision in Ward 2
Century Communities wants to turn about 5.8 acres of commercially-designated land near N. Miramonte Drive and N. Little Mountain Road into 68 two-story homes. Changing the land's designation from commercial to residential would bring new housing — and new neighbors and traffic — to Ward 2.
Treasure Ortiz v. City of San Bernardino litigation
Councilmember Ortiz is suing the city in federal court, and the city is paying outside attorneys to defend itself. Nearly every public speaker called on the council to settle the case, saying legal costs are draining money from services residents actually need. The litigation has become a flashpoint for broader complaints about accountability and public trust.
Servicios de animales y crisis de población de animales sin hogar
Varios comentaristas describieron un sistema de refugios sobrecargado: se dijo a los vecinos que no alimenten o agüecen a los perros callejeros en calor de tres dígitos, las llamadas fuera de horario no son respondidas, y el presupuesto de refugios se ha duplicado a $10 million. Los residentes pidieron un programa de esterilización financiado y mejores horas de teléfono de emergencia.
Five-year homelessness strategic plan
The council extended the motel voucher program contracts, and Councilmember Ibarra shared January outreach numbers: 143 people contacted, 104 helped with motel vouchers, 61 connected to treatment.
Camping ban on public property
Council Member Ortiz pressed for law enforcement accountability on street conditions; the city attorney noted the county recently strengthened its anti-camping ordinance after the Supreme Court ruling and offered to draft a more robust local ordinance consistent with the ACLU settlement. Mayor Pro Tem Knaus said the council already unanimously approved such direction months ago.
Akoma Unity Center lease dispute
The youth development organization at the Anne Shirrells Community Center faces lease expiration, and dozens of students, parents, and community leaders showed up to support renewal. The council voted to start lease renewal negotiations, keeping the West Side's main youth program in place.
Business registration tax liens
Landlords with unpaid rental-property business registration taxes face liens on their parcels; about $255,000 expected, with a two-week grace period to clear accounts.
Arts and downtown revitalization funding
A blunt debate broke out over whether anything is actually happening downtown. Veteran commissioners said twelve years of "it takes time" hasn't produced visible results, noting the fire at the old Woolworth building, while staff countered that the general plan, housing element and downtown specific plan are now all in place and it's time to execute.
Charter school campus in a residential neighborhood
A new Springs Charter Schools campus for up to 420 TK-through-eighth-grade students will open at the former church site on Sierra Way, bringing an educational option to a neighborhood zone. Neighbors raised traffic on Sierra Way and access to a long-used back-gate easement, and the commission pressed the applicant on fencing and landscaping commitments.
Liquor license concentration near Highland Avenue
The commission weighed whether an already alcohol-saturated census tract needs one more full-liquor bar. The applicant argued duplicate caterer's permits overstate the count and volunteered a security guard on weekend nights; the commission approved it 4-1 with inspections.
Street vacations on San Manuel Boulevard and Parley Avenue
About an acre of Victoria Avenue north of Lynwood Drive — a non-through street leading only to the Yaamava Resort and Casino — would be vacated to the San Manuel Nation, which already does 100% of the maintenance. The council makes the final call.
New single-family homes near Kendall Drive
Seven two-story homes on sizable lots will be built near the corner of Kendall Drive and Western Avenue, with the developer covering curbs, gutters, sidewalks and lighting. Commissioners flagged street parking and emergency-vehicle access concerns tied to ADU growth citywide.
Animal Shelter Access and Overpopulation
Residents pushed for a new animal shelter, calling the current facility unsafe, and welcomed new Animal Services Director Jasmine Glover.
Nuisance Abatement Cost Recovery Liens
Property owners who stuck the city with cleanup bills now have liens totaling $123,351.91 on their properties across four wards.
Measure I Street and Safety Projects
Stop signs are coming to ten intersections across five wards after residents and councilmembers pushed for safety. Staff said other requests, like Sepulveda Avenue, must go through the traffic warrant process first.
Verdemont Heights 105-lot housing development
The council settled whether a Bay Area environmental group's appeal could stop a 105-home subdivision. The unanimous denial means the project's environmental review stands and homes can move toward construction.
Love Your Block Program Continuation
Residents said the community garden suffers from low water pressure, bad internal roads, missing mulch, and gate/lock problems. Staff noted the land belongs to the water department and dates to the 1930s-40s; commissioners asked for an assessment and action plan.
Animal Services Practices and Spay/Neuter Funding
Speakers alleged incomplete death records at the animal shelter and questioned the use of roughly $1.2 million in vehicle and spay/neuter funding, calling for an audit and answers on empty kennels.
Neighborhood services: street sweeping, lighting, and code enforcement
Councilmembers Figueroa and Ortiz pressed to revive the citywide street sweeping program with signage and enforcement, but staff estimated ~$1M+ annual costs for parking enforcement staff — a hurdle with 150 positions already frozen.
Permitting timelines and business-friendly processes
Councilmembers Ortiz and Flores criticized the tangled permitting process; the City Manager argued a physical one-stop counter alone won't fix it — what's needed is an streamlined, coordinated entitlement process across fire, public works, and building departments.