DATE:
April 7, 2026
TO:
Mayor and Council Members
Chair and Board Members, Hesperia Water District
FROM:
Rachel Molina, City Manager
BY:
Casey Brooksher, Assistant City Manager
Keith Cheong, Deputy Finance Director
Marc Morales, Senior Accountant
SUBJECT:
Ratification of Emergency Purchases from Winter Storm 2025
RECOMMENDED ACTION
It is recommended that the City Council and the Board of Directors of the Hesperia Water District (District) ratify, by Resolution No. 2026-18, emergency purchases in the amount of $1,047,222 made in response to the December 23, 2025 storm event.
It is further recommended that the City Council and Board adopt Resolution No. 2026-03 amending the Fiscal Year 2025–26 Budget by $1,276,587 to account for total storm-related costs.
BACKGROUND
On December 23, 2025, a significant storm event brought unprecedented rainfall to the City of Hesperia and the surrounding High Desert region, with some areas receiving over 7.5 inches of rain. This resulted in widespread flooding and extensive damage throughout the City. On December 26, 2025, the City’s Director of Emergency Services issued a local emergency declaration (Resolution No. 2025-051), which was ratified by the City Council on December 29, 2025.
Since the declaration, City staff have provided updates to the City Council regarding response and recovery efforts on January 6, 2026, and March 3, 2026, including ongoing estimates of storm-related costs as they were identified and refined.
ISSUES/ANALYSIS
In order to expedite the City’s emergency response and protect public health, safety, and welfare, staff executed emergency contracts for debris removal and road repairs, along with expedited bidding processes for additional repair work. Purchases of materials and equipment were also made to support ongoing response and recovery efforts. In addition, City staff incurred overtime related to the emergency response and subsequent cleanup activities.
The total cost of storm-related response and cleanup efforts associated with the initial emergency work is $1,276,587, which consists of the following categories:
Of this total, $1,047,222 is subject to City Council ratification, as these purchases exceed the City Manager’s approval authority and fall within thresholds requiring Council approval. The remaining costs were within administrative approval limits and do not require ratification.
Emergency Contracts Totaling $480,023– Two contracts were executed on December 26 and December 29, 2025, with Cooley Construction Inc. The City contacted local vendors to assist with emergency storm cleanup on a time-and-materials basis. Due to the extent of the damage and the immediate need to protect public health and safety, these contracts were not formally bid. The City contracted with Cooley Construction, Inc., which was able to respond and mobilize immediately.
Emergency Bids Totaling $594,936 – Following the initial response, additional contracts were issued to continue storm-related cleanup and repairs. These contracts generally followed standard procurement procedures, with the exception of shortened bidding timelines to expedite work.
Emergency Materials and Equipment Totaling $143,389 – This category includes the purchase and rental of materials and equipment necessary to support emergency response and recovery operations. Items include, but are not limited to, heavy equipment rentals, sandbags, road closure signs, barricades, traffic control devices, and other supplies required to mitigate storm impacts and ensure public safety.
EOC Overtime Hours and Costs Totaling $58,239 – This category includes overtime costs incurred by City staff in support of emergency response, recovery, and cleanup efforts during the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activation. Staff across multiple departments worked extended hours to address immediate storm impacts, coordinate response activities, and assist with ongoing recovery operations.
The City’s Purchasing Ordinance (Municipal Code Section 3.08.070) allows, under defined emergency conditions, for the waiver of standard bidding requirements for services, supplies, and equipment. With the declaration of a local emergency and activation of the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) by the City Manager, the City was authorized to utilize the emergency purchasing exemption to procure necessary goods and services. The Municipal Code provides that:
“When, in the sole discretion of the City Manager, an emergency exists and the procurement of goods or services is necessary to mitigate that emergency, the City Manager may authorize emergency procurement. All purchases made under such authority are subject to ratification by the City Council at a subsequent public meeting.” Accordingly, purchases exceeding applicable approval thresholds that would normally require formal Council authorization were processed under this emergency exemption to expedite the City’s response.
Ratification of Emergency Purchases exceeding $50,000 – Resolution No. 2026-18:
The following table summarizes $1,047,222 in contracts that require City Council ratification, as they exceed the $50,000 approval threshold and were executed under emergency procurement provisions to support the City’s response to the storm event.
Amend FY 2025-26 General Fund Budget for Storm Cleanup – Resolution No. 2026-03:
City staff is requesting that the City Council ratify emergency purchases and adopt Resolution No. 2026-03, amending the Fiscal Year 2025–26 General Fund Budget to account for total EOC-related expenditures of $1,276,587.
Of the total storm-related cleanup costs, $1,047,222 represents contracts exceeding the $50,000 approval threshold and are subject to City Council ratification, while the remaining $229,365 consists of expenditures below the threshold.
CITY GOAL SUPPORTED BY THIS ITEM
Public Safety – Ensure public safety resources adequately protect our community.
Financial Health – Maintain a balanced budget and adequate reserves.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of Resolution No. 2026-03 will increase the Fiscal Year 2025–26 General Fund Budget by $1,276,587 to account for total storm-related response and cleanup costs. This will be funded through available General Fund reserves.
ALTERNATIVE(S)
1. Provide alternative direction to staff
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. Resolution No. 2026-03
2. Resolution No. 2026-18
City of Hesperia STAFF REPORT City of Hesperia STAFF REPORT City of Hesperia
STAFF REPORT
City of Hesperia
STAFF REPORT
Staff Report to the Mayor and City Council/Board Members Ratification of Emergency Purchases from Winter Storm 2025 April 7, 2026