CITY COUNCIL
BARSTOW COMMUNITY COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS
220 EAST MOUNTAIN VIEW STREET
BARSTOW, CA 92311
JUNE 2, 2026
5:00 PM
(HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE)
MINUTES
JOINT SPECIAL MEETING
Minutes-June 2, 2026
CALL TO ORDER - REGULAR MEETING:
MAYOR SILVA called the closed session meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.
INVOCATION:
PASTOR DAVID SAMPLES with HI-DESERT WORD CENTER, gave the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
MAYOR SILVA, led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
James M. Noble Mayor Pro Tem Present
Barbara Mae Rose Council Member Present
John Williams Council Member Present
Carmen Hernandez Council Member Present
Timothy Silva Mayor Present
PARTICIPATION IS INVITED: IF YOU WISH TO BE HEARD ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE
INDICATE BY FILLING OUT A SPEAKER REQUEST CARD AND HANDING IT TO THE CITY STAFF
LOCATED IN THE BOX OFFICE LOCATED IN THE LOBBY OF THE PERFORMING CENTER PRIOR TO THE CLOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING. IF SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE REQUIRED, 48 HOURS NOTICE MUST BE GIVEN TO THE CITY CLERK.
CODE OF ETHICS: AS YOUR ELECTED GOVERNING BOARD WE WILL REMEMBER THE "CODE OF ETHICS" THAT WE VOLUNTARILY AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. DURING THIS MEETING WE WILL TREAT EACH OTHER AND THE PUBLIC WITH PATIENCE, CIVILITY, AND COURTESY. THE DECISIONS
MADE TONIGHT WILL BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BARSTOW COMMUNITY AND NOT FOR PERSONAL GAIN.
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA: THIS IS THE TIME FOR MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD TO CALL FOR REARRANGING THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA; ADDING ITEMS TO OR Minutes-June 2, 2026
REMOVING ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA; OR REMOVING ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION AND/OR SEPARATE ACTION. ITEMS MAY ONLY BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA AS ALLOWED BY STATE LAW, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54954.2, SUBDIVISION (B),
ALLOWING EMERGENCY ITEMS TO BE ADDED BY MAJORITY VOTE AND ALLOWING ITEMS THAT AROSE TO THE CITY’S ATTENTION AFTER THE AGENDA POSTING DEADLINE, BUT WHICH REQUIRE
IMMEDIATE ACTION, TO BE ADDED BY A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
AT THE MEETING, OR, IF LESS THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT, A UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THOSE MEMBERS PRESENT.
MOTION by COUNCIL MEMBER HERNANDEZ, SECOND by, MAYOR PRO TEM NOBLE to approve the agenda as presented.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Carmen Hernandez, Council Member
SECONDER: James M. Noble, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Noble, Rose, Williams, Hernandez, Silva
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. GENERAL PLAN UPDATE, BARSTOW INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY (BIG) SPECIFIC PLAN,
AND RELATED ACTIONS
Recommended Action:
That the City Council conduct a public hearing, make appropriate findings under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and take these actions:
• Adopt Resolution No. 5256-2026 to certify the City of Barstow General Plan and Barstow International Gateway (BIG) Development Project Final Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2024020501) with technical appendices, adopt CEQA Findings on Impacts and Mitigation Measures, Statement of Overriding Considerations, and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Programs for the General Plan and BIG Project;
• Adopt Resolution No. 5257-2026 to adopt an update to the City of Barstow General Plan; • Waive further reading and introduce Ordinance No. 1035-2026 to adopt a new zoning map and amend Title 19 of the Barstow Municipal Code (BMC) to create a Business Park (BP) and High Density Residential (HDR) Zone Districts; adopt minor changes to the Medium Density Residential Zone (MDR) District; eliminate the Estate Residential Zone District; require adopted specific plans be incorporated by reference into the BMC, with copies available for review at the Clerk's office; and repeal Chapter 1.05 as it is unnecessary and superseded by the updated General Plan, and make conforming amendments throughout Title 12 and Title 19;
• Waive further reading and introduce Ordinance No. 1043-2026 to adopt the BIG Specific Plan;
• Adopt Resolution No. 5258-2026 to approve the BIG Tentative Tract Map (20878-1-10) as consistent with the BIG Specific Plan and conditions of approval; • Waive further reading and introduce Ordinance No. 1044-2026 to approve the Development Agreement (DA) that memorializes agreements negotiated between the City of Barstow and BNSF over fees, service arrangements, and other aspects of the BIG Project; • Adopt Resolution No. 5259-2026 to authorize a Road Maintenance Agreement with the County of San Bernardino for maintenance of the portion of Main Street southeast of the BIG Minutes-June 2, 2026
Specific Plan boundary that is excluded from the San Bernardino County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Action Area A reorganization as defined in Resolution 5276- 2026;
• Adopt Resolution No. 5260-2026 to authorize and direct the City Manager to accept assignment of certain easements from BNSF related to the BIG Project, consent to recordation of the assignment of easements, and record said easements; • Waive further reading and introduce Ordinance No. 1045-2026 to prezone LAFCO Action Area A for the BIG Project, including 2,676 acres of the proposed BIG Specific Plan area and an approximately 10-acre parcel;
• Adopt Resolution No. 5274-2026 of the City of Barstow acting as the City Council and acting as the Board of Directors for the Barstow Fire Protection District (BFPD) to authorize principal terms for the exchange of property tax revenues with the San Bernardino County and the San Bernardino County Fire District resulting from the reorganization of LAFCO Action Area A for the BIG Project;
• Adopt Resolution No. 5276-2026 to approve a resolution of application by the City of Barstow requesting LAFCO initiate proceedings for reorganization for LAFCO Action Area A comprised of: annexations to the City of Barstow, BFPD, and Odessa Water District; detachment from the County Fire Protection District, its north desert service zone, and its zone FP-5; and detachment from County Service Area 70;
• Adopt BFPD Resolution No. 76-2026 acting as the Board of Directors of the BFPD in support of the City of Barstow’s application for reorganization of LAFCO Action Area A [See C-12];
• Adopt Odessa Water District Resolution No. 01-2026 acting as the Board of Directors of the Odessa Water District in support of the City of Barstow’s application for reorganization for LAFCO Action Area A;
• Waive further reading and introduce Ordinance No. 1046-2026 to prezone LAFCO Action Area B for the BIG Project, inclusive of six parcels totaling 99 acres; • Adopt Resolution No. 5275-2026 of the City of Barstow to authorize principal terms for the exchange of property tax revenues with the San Bernardino County resulting from the reorganization of LAFCO Action Area B for the BIG Project; • Adopt Resolution No. 5277-2026 to approve a resolution of application by the City of Barstow requesting LAFCO initiate proceedings for reorganization for LAFCO Action Area B comprised of: annexations to the City of Barstow and Odessa Water District and detachment from County Service Area 70; and
• Adopt Odessa Water District Resolution No. 02-2026 acting as the Board of Directors of the Odessa Water District in support of the City of Barstow’s application for reorganization of LAFCO Action Area B.
CITY MANAGER, ROCHELLE CLAYTON, LENA KENT with BNSF, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, CHRIS HELDRETH, ENGINEER with MERRELL JOHNSON, BRAD MERRELL, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, GENESIS CRANK provided a presentation regarding the project.
The presentation and a complete transcript for this meeting are attached and incorporated as part of the minutes for reference.
Minutes-June 2, 2026
Public Comments:
The following individuals addressed the Council:
Rose Beardshear
ET Snell
John Hill
Brad Poirez
Joseph Brady
Ben Pratt
Dena Martel
Julie Hackbarth
Louise Carmichael Miller
Pitts Loren
Ann Marie Hammond
Lux Marquez
Julie Luu
Wesley Quintanar
Sally Arnett
Ryan Calbreath
Jose Pina
Michael Brown
Marco Ortega
Jason Scheffs
Jason Becker
Sherry Baily
Timothy Aumen
Aaron Dill
Marsha Weasma
Paul Wilkey
Paula Peterson
Gregory Temple
John Harris Jr
Eugene Butticci
Debbie Aguayo
Adrian Rizzo
Narayon Gopinathan
Sharon T. Mabon
Renee Kaminski
Darby Osnaya
Ma Carmen Gonzalez
Jose Avalos
Vanessa Villanueva
Ann Birchfield
Steve Speisser
Emmett Cromwell
Chris Martinez
Heidi Brannon
John Burrill
Jennifer Cardenas
Ken Courtney
MAYOR SILVA, closed the Public Hearing at 8:07 p.m. and called for a 30-minute recess. The meeting reconvened at 8:37 p.m.
Minutes-June 2, 2026
Discussion ensued among the Council. MAYOR SILVA requested that staff address the concerns and questions raised during public comment, as well as those presented by the Council.
Staff provided responses and clarification, followed by additional discussion among the Council.
MAYOR SILVA called for a motion. MOTION: COUNCIL MEMBER ROSE, moved to approve, SECOND by COUNCIL MEMBER HERNANDEZ. MAYOR asked CITY ATTORNEY, MATTHEW SUMMERS, to clarify the motion.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Barbara Mae Rose, Council Member
SECONDER: Carmen Hernandez, Council Member
AYES: Noble, Rose, Williams, Hernandez, Silva
ADJOURNMENT:
By consensus of the City Council and without any objections, the Joint Special Meeting was adjourned at 9:50 PM.
Respectfully Submitted: Approved:
_______________________________ _______________________________ Andrea Flores, City Clerk Timothy R. Silva, Mayor
Notice: Signed Minutes are filed with the City Clerk’s office