FEBRUARY 2025 City of Barstow
Have you had the opportunity to meet our Council? Timothy R. Silva has officially taken on the role of our elected Mayor at large. Mayor Pro Tem Barbara M. Rose has been re-elected for another four-year term, representing District 3. Council Member John “Tex” Williams has been sworn in for a four-year term to represent District 4. Additionally, Council Member Carmen Hernandez serves District 1, while Council Member James Noble represents District 2. It feels like just yesterday they were taking their oaths, and they have already been actively involved in numerous community events, recognizing individuals who make positive contributions to our city.
POLICE
The department welcomed two new
officers to the team!
Congratulations officer Breanna
Lucas and Officer Omar Orozco.
We thank you for your ongoing
dedication, commitment and service
in impacting crime, and
safeguarding our community for the
residents of the City of Barstow.
The department held a public safety
dispatcher written exam January 8, 2025.
4 applicants passed and will move on in
the recruitment process.
The Barstow Police Activities League had
the pleasure of judging the Barstow
Unified School District 2025 STEM Fair.
PAL Board Members chose 10 projects to
receive the Police Chief’s Award, the Top
PAL Award, and 8 PAL Awards.
CITY CLERK SERVICES
The City of Barstow has successfully
completed the 2025 Point in Time Count,
with 29 volunteers lending their support.
We want to express our gratitude to all
the volunteers who contributed to this
vital task. This count is a federally
mandated initiative designed to assess
the number of unhoused individuals
across the country. The findings from
this count play a crucial role in
determining funding allocations for
programs and services in local
communities.
The report is expected to be finished in
April, and we will make sure to share the
results once they are available.
Submitting a Public Records Report has become simpler than ever! Just visit our website at barstowca.org, register, and submit your request—it's that easy. If you require any assistance, don't hesitate to call 760.256.3531.
CODE COMPLIANCE
As we enter the third year of enforcing the Rental Registration ordinance, we still have many property owners who have not yet complied. Administrative citations have been issued in the hope of achieving compliance. In response to public concerns regarding interior inspections of rental properties, we have replaced this requirement with the Self-Cert form. We request that both property owners and tenants carry out their own interior inspections, and both parties must sign and submit the inspection notes. However, we frequently find that actual inspections are not being performed, and forms are being submitted with electronic signatures instead. It is essential for property owners and tenants to collaborate to ensure a thorough inspection takes place.
As we move into further training to equip our new team members, we thank everyone for their patience. We are thrilled to once again have a complete team dedicated to enforcing the BMC and collaborating with responsible parties to address code violations.
Please join us in giving a warm welcome to the two newest additions to the Code Enforcement department:
Cameron Dougharty
Raul Martinez
Did you know?
Q: Who is accountable for
removing illegally dumped
waste from a property?
A: Unfortunately, it falls on the
landowner. While illegal
dumping is indeed a crime, if no
one observes the act, the
responsibility for cleaning up the
discarded materials lies with the
landowner.
CFC CA Fire Code 603.8
ANOTHER DILAPIDATED STRUCTURE HAS COME
DOWN ON THE 900 BLOCK OF E MAIN ST
PUBLIC WORKS
Don't miss the opportunity to visit the newly completed Pickle Ball courts! Located at Dana Park.
A big thank you to our Public Works Department for their outstanding effort.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Frontier – Fiber Optic to Home Initiative
Frontier has initiated restoration efforts across the City of Barstow. Areas involved include sections of Yosemite, Sequoia, Zion, Broadway, Windy Pass, Granada Hill, Chateau Way, Crescent, Rimrock, Pine, Cypress, Opal, Broadway, Muriel, Forane, and Armory. The work encompasses cold milling, overlay, and slurry applications.
The Barstow Humane Society is making progress with the installation of a 1250-gallon septic tank.
New kennels comming soon!
Equitable Community Revitalization Grant
As noted in the Planning Department September 2024 report, The City of Barstow received Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG) Program funds for Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) for brownfield sites in Barstow.
The City has hired a professional environmental firm to conduct Phase I ESAs and is inviting business and property owners to be a part of this exciting opportunity to reshape our community.
This effort will enhance the quality of life for our residents, create meaningful job opportunities, and foster economic growth in key areas.
Who is eligible to participate?
A brownfield is a property with potential contamination that complicates its reuse. This grant allows for the assessment and potential examination of such contamination. The grant targets soil contamination, groundwater pollution, and other hazards that may hinder safe property use.
However, this grant cannot be used for testing for other hazards such as building materials (lead, asbestos, etc.)
Examples of potential sites include but are not limited to previous uses as gas stations, dry cleaners, underground tanks, printing businesses, etc. which MAY have resulted in chemicals in the ground.
Register Your Property Today!
Take the first step toward unlocking your property’s potential and contributing to Barstow’s future and visit www.barstowbig.com for additional details.
March 2025 Town Hall
Mark your calendar!
Date: March 20, 2025
Location: First Baptist Church
1320 Barstow Road
Barstow, CA 92311
Time: 6:00 PM—8:00 PM
Just like the Town Hall on October 3, 2024, held at Barstow Community College, representatives from the City, BNSF, and PlaceWorks staff will be available to offer the community an update on the ongoing General Plan Update and the related Barstow International Gateway (BIG) Specific Plan. The planning team encourages everyone in the community to stay informed and engaged with the City’s General Plan Update, and this event presents another excellent opportunity to do just that!
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Barstow Fire Protection District
Monthly Update
February 2025
Conducted Fire Battalion Chief Test - Pending Conditional Job Offer Welcomed Fire Captain Joe Sherman as a new member of the Fire District Job offers accepted for (2) New Fire Captains to Start February 2, 2025 Planning for Fire Engineer Recruitment Interviews and Testing for February/March Coordinating with Fleet Services on drafting a Vehicle Replacement Program Fire Crews continually engaged in refuse fires from our unhoused population (City and Incorporated) Continually coordinating with CALFIRE Sacramento regarding Burn Status in San Bernadino County Evaluated District preparedness and ability to assist in Mutual Aid requests - Unable to support due to staffing Type-3 Engine is 60% complete
Fire Command Staff was hosted by Orange County Fire Station 67 to assess Temporary Fire Station (Containers) Monthly Training Hours-497
Emergency Responses
700 Calls For Service
Emergency Medical Services 529
Fire Responses 41
Traffic Accidents 24
Fire Alarm/Investigation 78
Public Service 25
Other 3