Mayor and City Council
December 3, 2025

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PUBLIC HEARING
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: December 3, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Gabriel Elliott, Director of Community Development & Housing Department: Community Development & Housing
Subject: General Plan Amendment 25-03, Introduce Ordinance No. MC- 1657 Adding Section 10.24.195 to the San Bernardino
Municipal Code adopting Citywide Truck Routes, and direct staff to comply with AB98 Warehouse Design and Build
Standards (All Wards)
Recommendation:

It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino:

1. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-393 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopting a Categorical Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act Section 15301(c), and approving General Plan Amendment 25-03 to amend the Circulation Element to add Citywide Truck Routes Option A pursuant to Assembly Bill 98 (AB 98), (Attachment 1A).

OR

2. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-394 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopting a Categorical Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act Section 15301(c), and approving General Plan Amendment 25-03 to amend the Circulation Element to add Citywide Truck Routes Option B pursuant to Assembly Bill 98 (AB 98), (Attachment 1B);

3. Introduce, read by title only, and waive further reading of Ordinance No.

MC-1657 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, amending the Municipal Code Title 10, Article I, Chapter 10.24, by adding Section 10.24.195 to add Citywide Truck Routes (Attachment 2); 3 1
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4. Direct staff to comply with AB98 Warehouse Design and Build Standards pursuant to AB98 (Attachment 3); and

5. Schedule the adoption of Ordinance No. MC-1657 for the regularly scheduled meeting of the Mayor and City Council on January 7, 2025.

City Manager’s Comments:

The City Manager recommends adoption of the Resolution which adopts the Citywide Truck Routes.

Executive Summary
Work on a truck route study was initiated in March of 2022 and the city’s traffic consultant, KOA/Lochner, began preparation on the City of San Bernardino City-Wide Truck Route Study with a draft which was completed in August 2023 (Attachment 4). The intent of the truck route study was to identify truck routes to be designated in the Circulation Element of the General Plan2050 update.

In September 2024, Governor Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 98 (AB98), which established statewide warehouse design and build standards and required that the City, along with many other cities within the warehouse concentration region identified in the bill, adopt truck routes before January 1, 2026 (Attachment 5).

Truck traffic is a significant component of our overall transportation system. Many of the City’s vital industries rely heavily on regional and local truck transportation. Trucks are essential to businesses and jobs in the city and nearly 25% of the City’s jobs depend on warehousing and transportation. The City’s manufacturing core, rail industry, and distribution warehouses all rely on an efficient network of truck routes.

The purpose of truck routes is to balance the needs of businesses while avoiding many of the negative impacts associated with them such as noise, odor, and air quality. Two truck route options are proposed for City Council’s consideration. Option A is the version that was considered and recommended to the City Council by the Planning Commission (Attachment 7).

Option B has also been included for City Council’s consideration. Option B evolved after the Planning Commission as a result of concerns over truck access in the Muscoy area.

Option B deletes a few truck routes in the Muscoy area but is otherwise identical to the version considered by Planning Commission. The City Council action to adopt the Resolution in recommendation #1 would adopt Option A. Furthermore, City Council action to adopt the Resolution in recommendation #2 would adopt Option B. (Attachment 8). Attachment 8A provides a comparison between Option A and B. The proposed truck routes shown on the truck route maps follow existing arterials and collectors as designated in the City’s existing General Plan Circulation Element, or when necessary, on local roadways that predominantly serve existing industrial land uses. These truck routes connect with federal and state highways.
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Background
On November 10, 2025, the Planning Commission considered Resolution No. 2025-051, forwarding a recommendation that the Mayor and City Council (Attachment 6).

1.Adopt Resolution No. 2025-051 of the Planning Commission of the City of San Bernardino, California, recommending to the Mayor and City Council approval of General Plan Amendment 25-03 and Amendment to Municipal Code Title 10, Article I, Chapter 10.24, by adding Section 10.24.195, adopting Citywide Truck Routes and finding that the project is subject to a Categorical Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act and directing staff to comply with Warehouse Design and Build Standards pursuant to AB98.

The Planning Commission, after receiving public testimony, voted (5-0) to approve Resolution No. 2025-051. The Planning Commission recommended Option A to City Council (Attachment 7).

Proposed Truck Routes
Assembly Bill 98 (AB98) requires all jurisdictions within the warehouse concentration region (including the Counties of Riverside and San Bernardino and the Cities of Chino, Colton, Fontana, Jurupa Valley, Moreno Valley, Ontario, Perris, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, Riverside, and San Bernardino) to update its circulation element to include truck routes, as specified in Section 65302.02. by January 1, 2026. This effort is required to include the identification and establishment of specific travel routes for the transport of goods, materials, or freight for storage, transfer, or redistribution to safely accommodate truck traffic and avoid residential areas and concentrations of sensitive receptors, as defined. The bill further requires the city to provide for posting of signage to identify truck routes and additional signage for truck parking and appropriate idling facility locations. The bill authorizes the Attorney General to enforce these provisions, as provided, including by imposition of a fine of up to $50,000 every 6 months if the required updates have not been made.

The proposed truck routes map shows the truck routes within the City Limits (Attachment 7). Trucks are authorized to use these truck routes which are designed to direct truck traffic to state and federal highways. However, trucks can also use other streets if they are picking up or delivering goods to a business that is not on a truck route.

More specifically CVC 35703 states that cities are prohibited from adopting and ordinance that:
“………..shall prohibit any commercial vehicles coming from an unrestricted street having ingress and egress by direct route to and from a restricted street when necessary for the purpose of making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares, and merchandise from or to any building or structure located on the restricted street or for the purpose of delivering materials to be used in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling, or construction of any building or structure upon the restricted street for which a building permit has previously been obtained.
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Truck routes outside of the City are neither established nor regulated by the City.

Municipal Code Amendment
Section 10.24.190 of the Municipal Code prohibits commercial vehicles on certain streets based on gross vehicle weight. The proposed Truck Routes would publicize roadways where large trucks are allowed rather than just prohibited. Staff has reviewed the proposed truck routes and determined that none of the recommended truck routes conflict with the list of prohibited streets listed in the Municipal Code.

The proposed ordinance would amend Municipal Code Title 10, Article I, Chapter 10.24, adding Section 10.24.195 to adopt Citywide Truck Routes and formally adopt the proposed truck routes.

Warehouse Design and Build Standards
AB98 requires cities to comply with the Warehouse Design and Build Standards after January 1, 2026 (Attachment 3). These standards will be incorporated into the new Development Code that is tentatively scheduled for hearings during the 1st quarter of 2026. The standards will be either included by reference or directly incorporated into the updated Development Code. Starting January 1, 2026, staff will be implementing the AB98 Warehouse Design and Build Standards. This action further memorializes that the city is committed to implementing these standards.

Discussion
This request includes three (3) components:

1.General Plan Amendment. Pursuant to requirements of AB98, staff is proposing General Plan Amendment No. 25-03 to amend the City’s current General Plan Circulation Element as follows (Attachment 9):
a. Page 6-8, adding the following text:
“GOODS MOVEMENT
The City of San Bernardino has taken steps to manage truck traffic and designate appropriate truck routes within its jurisdiction in accordance with the California Vehicle Code. Through the adoption of City Ordinance Section 10.24.190, titled Commercial Vehicles Prohibited on Certain Streets, the City formally established restrictions on heavy vehicle access to specific roadways. The ordinance also directs the installation of appropriate signage to clearly identify these prohibitions and applicable weight limits along the designated streets, ensuring compliance and promoting roadway safety.

The city commissioned a truck route study, published in 2023, that recommends a truck route network that balances the needs of supporting the goods movement economy while minimizing adverse impacts to residential communities and public 3 1
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spaces within the city. Several factors were considered in the development of this network, including roadway classification, pavement condition, truck travel patterns tracked via mobile app data, and land use. Study routes and other route classifications are displayed in Figure C-3.”
b. Page 6-10, adding Figure C-3 titled as The City of San Bernardino General Plan Truck Routes.

2.Municipal Code Amendment. To manage the impact of freight truck traffic on the street network, the City of San Bernardino Municipal Code Section 10.24.190 regulates commercial vehicle access on certain streets. Pursuant to requirements of AB98, staff is proposing an ordinance to amend the City’s Municipal Code Title 10, Article I, Chapter 24, adding Section 10.24.195 to read as follows (Attachment 10):
a. “Adopt The City of San Bernardino General Plan Truck Routes designated as Figure C-3 in the City’s General Plan by reference or other updated version of the General Plan Truck Routes.”
Warehouse Design and Build Standards. AB98 requires cities to comply with the Warehouse Design and Build Standards after January 1, 2026 (Attachment 3). These standards will be incorporated into the new Development Code that is tentatively scheduled for hearings during the 1st quarter of 2026. In the meantime, the city is required to comply with these standards. Starting January 1, 2026, staff will be implementing the AB98 Warehouse Design and Build Standards since state law requires them. This action further memorializes that the city is committed to implementing these standards.

Analysis
The proposed truck routes are a result of requirements of AB98 as well as the City-Wide Truck Route Study prepared by City’s traffic consultants, KOA/Lochner.

The Truck Route Study
The Truck Route Study was developed for the City of San Bernardino, as part of the General Plan update. The study analysis and report were undertaken by KOA Corporation, with The Tioga Group, Inc. as a subconsultant. The mapping of the truck routes was accomplished with the help and expertise of the San Bernardino Police Department’s Commercial Enforcement Unit responsible to enforce compliance with the adopted truck routes.

The goals of the Study included the following:
Determine the existing pattern of medium-duty and heavy-duty truck trips. Identify the reasons behind existing truck trip patterns. Determine potential shifts or increases in truck trip patterns from future development inside and outside the city.
Identify potential conflicts between existing truck routing patterns, proposed truck routes, and community preferences.
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Develop an understanding of future commercial and industrial land development plans in neighboring cities and the greater Inland Empire.
Prepare truck route system options to balance the need for truck access and through movements with local community preferences.

The analysis of potential truck routes included consideration of land use, roadway functional classification, pavement conditions, industrial corridors and single site locations, interagency linkages, truck delivery needs, and overall city circulation needs.

Local truck trip patterns are determined as much or more by adjoining land uses as by the city’s development patterns.

This Study provides the following results, from this analysis and definition of routes:
Defines the basis of compliance with federal and California Vehicle Code trucking regulations.
Identifies existing policies and regulations at all government levels that enable and define trucking operations on public roadways.
Provides the basis for commercial vehicles and truck regulations through ordinances or resolutions so that commercial and industrial areas within the City limits can be served, while prohibiting commercial vehicles and trucks from using certain highways within residential areas.
Defines the regulatory routes that control both truck travel and parking locations. Summarizes the characteristics of each truck route segment, including roadway and lane widths, and overlap with future bicycle projects.
Supports the diversion of trucks from residential areas and Downtown. Recommends Municipal Code amendments on truck regulations. Provides a framework for regulatory truck route sign placement.

Option A
Based on the analysis of roadway characteristics and trucking activity, summarized in Section 3 of the City-Wide Truck Route Study (Attachment E), a set of recommended truck routes within the city was developed and included in the Study. The Police Department’s Commercial Enforcement Unit is responsible for enforcing the adopted truck routes map. Through further review by the Commercial Enforcement Unit, refinements have been made to the truck routes proposed by the KOA Study and the final version recommended by staff is provided as Attachment G. Most of the proposed truck route segments connect to regional routes on State Route highways or freeway interchanges, or link into other routes in neighboring cities. Others end up at industrial parcels that require access, but do not continue farther into nearby residential areas.

Option B
As stated above, because of scheduling reasons, the meeting with County took place after the Planning Commission hearing. City staff including the City’s Commercial Enforcement staff met with the County to discuss the truck routes in the Muscoy area.

Both the City and the County have proposed truck routes in this area. During the meeting it was determined that some truck routes can be eliminated in this area to protect the 3 1
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residential areas. As stated above, CVC 35703 still would allow trucks to serve the businesses in this area. However, pass through truck traffic will be eliminated since these road segments are not designated as truck routes. Attachment 8A provides a comparison between Option A and B.

Requirements of AB98
AB98 requires the city to complete the following as part of selection of truck routes and the implementation of other aspects of AB98:

1. Identify and establish specific travel routes for the transport of goods, materials, or freight for storage, transfer, or redistribution to safely accommodate truck traffic and avoid residential areas and sensitive receptors.

2. Maximize the use of interstate or state divided highways as preferred routes for truck routes. The City shall also maximize use of arterial roads, major thoroughfares, and predominantly commercially oriented local streets when state or interstate highways are not utilized. Truck routes shall comply with the following:
i. Major or minor collector streets and roads that predominantly serve commercially oriented uses shall be used for truck routes only when strictly necessary to reach existing industrial zones.
ii. Trucks shall be routed via transportation arteries that minimize exposure to sensitive receptors.
iii. On and after January 1, 2026, all proposed logistics use developments, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 65098, shall be accessible via arterial roads, major thoroughfares, or roads that predominantly serve commercially oriented uses. iv. City shall provide for posting of conspicuous signage to identify truck routes and additional signage for truck parking and appropriate idling facility locations. v. City shall make truck routes publicly available in geographic information system (GIS) format and share GIS maps of the truck routes with warehouse operators, fleet operators, and truck drivers.
vi. City shall provide opportunities for the involvement of citizens, California Native American Indian tribes, public agencies, public utility companies, and civic, educational, and other community groups through public hearings and any other means the planning agency deems appropriate.
vii. City shall make a diligent effort to achieve public participation of all economic segments of the community in the development of the changes required pursuant to this section.

Warehouse Design and Build Standards
The Warehouse Design and Build Standards of AB98 requires cities to comply with a variety of standards related to logistics facilities (Attachment 3). Prior to incorporating these standards into the new Development Code, staff is proposing these standards be implemented through a memorandum issued by the Director of Community Development.

This action further memorializes that the city is committed to implementing these 3 1
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standards as required by AB98 as included in Chapter 2.8 Warehouse Design and Build Standards including sections 65098, 65098.1, 65098.1.5, 65098.2, 65098.2.5, 65098.2.7, 65098.3, 65098.4, 65098.5, 65098.6, 65098.7, 65098.8, and 65098.9.

Outreach and Coordination
When the truck route study was initiated, representatives of the Public Works, Fire, Police and Planning Department were engaged in selecting routes and determining how trucks could efficiently move through the city. Additional recent outreach was completed as follows:

1. In September of 2025, staff reached out to the California Trucking Association to ensure they review and make available to their members the proposed truck routes map. The Trucking Association reviewed the proposed truck routes map and prepared a letter dated October 29, 2025 (Attachment 11). The letter requested that the city ensure the proposed truck routes connect to truck routes of the surrounding jurisdictions. As part of the stakeholder outreach, staff has reached out to other jurisdictions to coordinate and obtain input from them, more on that in Section 3 of this paragraph. In addition, they requested assurance that 53-foot semitrailers are able to access retail, commercial, and industrial areas for pickup and delivery of goods and services. As described above, CVC 35703 requires cities to allow truck access to businesses that are not on truck routes.

2. In early October, staff communicated with People’s Collective for Environmental Justice (PC4EJ) to discuss the proposed truck route map. On October 22, 2025, a meeting was held with this group and approximately 15 San Bernardino residents.

During the meeting staff presented the proposed truck route map to the group.

Although the group did not specifically have comments on the proposed truck routes, they, however, drew attention to the following issues:
i. There are too many warehouses in the city and new ones should not be proposed specially near residential areas.
ii. Too many trucks travel on City streets, and they impact quality of life of the residents including through traffic safety, air quality, noise, and vibration impacts. iii. Trucks cause damage to the city streets, and the resulting potholes damage the residents’ cars.
iv. City is not able to keep up with repairing potholes. v. The diesel fumes from trucks cause many health issues. vi. Idling trucks on streets and private property disturb the residents and impact their quality of life.
vii. Truckers ignore no idling signs and idle their truck and City enforcement is insufficient.
viii. Warehouses should not be built near homes.
ix. City should do a better job of involving residents in issues that impact the residents.

They suggested direct mail to all residents.
x. The residents would like to be involved in the general plan and development code update as well as implementation of AB98 warehouse standards. 3 1
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xi. Residents would like the city to consider more restrictive standards than AB98 such as distance between proposed warehouses and residential areas.

3. Emails were sent to agencies and organizations listed on Attachment 12, inviting them to provide comments and informing them of the Planning Commission hearing date.

To date, we have received comments from the Police Department which have been incorporated into the proposed truck route map. In addition, County of San Bernardino requested meeting to discuss the Muscoy area as discussed above. All other agencies, other than California Trucking Association and the People’s Collective for Environmental Justice (PC4EJ), have either not responded (Soboba Tribe, Gabrieleno Tribe, City of San Bernardino Water Department, San Bernardino County Fire Department, Southern California Edison, The Gas Company) or they had no comments (Cities of Colton, Rialto, Highland, Redlands, San Manuel Tribe).

The Police Department will also air public service announcements once the Truck Route Map is scheduled for a hearing, informing members of the public and the trucking community in general, of pending changes to the truck route and the city’s codes. Also, staff is considering media blasts through the city’s public information office, advising the same and informing the California Trucking Association.

It should be noted that truck routes will also be a topic of discussion for the public hearings that are part of the process of adopting the General Plan, Downtown Specific Plan, and Development Code that will occur in 2026.

Implementation

1. City shall install signage to identify truck routes and additional signage for truck parking and appropriate idling facility locations.

2. City shall make truck routes publicly available in geographic information system (GIS) format and share GIS maps of the truck routes with warehouse operators, fleet operators, and truck drivers.

3. City shall, through the Commercial Enforcement Unit of the Police Department, shall inform the public including truck drivers of the newly adopted truck routes in the City and methods and policies on enforcement and violations through public service announcements.

4. City shall forward a copy of the adopted truck route map to the California Trucking Association for distribution to their members.

5. City shall distribute information regarding the newly adopted truck routes through social media, City website.

6. City shall implement the Warehouse Design and Build Standards included in AB98 starting January 1, 2026, and include interested members of the community.

7. City shall include the Warehouse Design and Build Standards included in AB98 in the City’s new Development Code.

General Plan Goals and Policies
The City of San Bernardino General Plan includes goals and policies to guide future development and policy. In addition, the proposed General Plan Amendment and 3 1
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Municipal Code Amendment are mandated by the State therefore are required to be implemented regardless of consistency with the General Plan:

2.2.3 Sensitively integrate regionally beneficial land uses such as transportation corridors, flood control systems, utility corridors, and recreational corridors into the community. (LU-1 and CD-1)

2.3.6 Circulation system improvements shall continue to be pursued that facilitate connectivity across freeway and rail corridors. (C-1)

2.10.2 Permit amendments to the General Plan in accordance with the following:
a. Technical Amendments – involves changes that do not alter the basic assumptions or policy direction of the plan and only involve changes of a technical nature (corrections to statistics; mapping error corrections; editorial clarifications that do not change the intent of the General Plan) may be approved by the Director of Community Development & Housing, as necessary.
b. Mapping/Policy Amendment - involves changes in land use designations, basic assumptions, the vision, or policies and requires approval by the Mayor and City Council and a recommendation by the Planning Commission. (LU-1)

4.4.1 Provide the necessary public infrastructure to enable businesses to operate successfully and direct new businesses to areas that can adequately serve new uses.

Prioritize and market improvements to allow development to anticipate the location and timing of infrastructure improvements.

4.5.3 Expand the City’s industrial base and manufacturing related employment through public improvements, community events, and marketing efforts.

6.4.8 Develop appropriate protection measures along routes frequently used by trucks to minimize noise impacts to sensitive land uses including but not limited to residences, hospitals, schools, parks, daycare facilities, libraries, and similar uses. (LU-1)

6.5.1 Provide designated truck routes for use by commercial/industrial trucking that minimize impacts on local traffic and neighborhoods.

10.2.5 Participate in the process of selecting routes that are the most acceptable for the safe transportation of hazardous waste material within the city limits. Streets with high concentrations of people, such as the downtown, or with sensitive facilities, such as schools and parks, should be avoided to the maximum extent possible.

The proposed truck route implements the above General Plan goals and policies in that it designates major streets as truck routes to both promote economic development by providing good accessibility to the industrial/commercial areas and reduces truck traffic from other routes to protect the health and safety of the community. 3 1
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California Environmental Quality Act
California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines (CEQA), Section 15301(c), permits categorical exemptions from CEQA for actions such as regulating truck routes. Adoption of Resolution No. 25-051 to add citywide truck routes is exempt from CEQA, as the truck routes formalize existing patterns of trucking activity, matching the use of the existing roadways currently used by trucks. No new road segments have been identified for truck routes that are not currently used by trucks or are not currently one of multiple alternate and primary routes to an industrial or commercial parcel. Therefore, the adoption of the proposed truck routes would not change the distribution of truck traffic compared to existing conditions. In accordance with CEQA Guidelines 15301, the recommended Code amendments are categorically exempt from CEQA in that they relate to operation of public streets and do not propose an expansion of use of the public street (Attachment 13).
2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
The proposed truck routes align with Goal 4. Economic Growth and Development as it updates the General Plan and the Municipal Code. The proposed truck routes will create an economic benefit to the commercial/industrial businesses in the city and, at the same time, protect the health and safety of the community by limiting trucks to routes designated as truck routes.

Fiscal Impact
City will install signage as required by AB98. Engineering staff have completed a preliminary cost estimate for these signs in the amount of $75,000. The Commercial Enforcement Unit of the Police Department will be monitoring the impact of adoption of truck routes on staffing and will determine whether additional resources will be required.

Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino:

1. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-393 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopting a Categorical Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act Section 15301(c), and approving General Plan Amendment 25-03 to amend the Circulation Element to add Citywide Truck Routes Option A pursuant to Assembly Bill98 (AB 98), (Attachment 1A);
OR

2. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-394 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopting a Categorical Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act Section 15301(c), and approving General Plan Amendment 25-03 to amend the Circulation Element to add Citywide Truck Routes Option B pursuant to Assembly Bill98 (AB 98), (Attachment 1B);
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3. Introduce, read by title only, and waive further reading of Ordinance No.

MC-1657 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, amending the Municipal Code Title 10, Article I, Chapter 10.24, by adding Section 10.24.195 to add Citywide Truck Routes (Attachment 2);

4. Direct staff to comply with AB98 Warehouse Design and Build Standards pursuant to AB98 (Attachment 3); AND

5. Schedule the adoption of Ordinance No. MC-1657 for the regularly scheduled meeting of the Mayor and City Council on January 7, 2025.

Attachments
Attachment 1A Resolution No. 2025-393 (Option A)
Attachment 1B Resolution No. 2025-394 (Option B)
Attachment 2 Ordinance No. MC-1657
Attachment 3 Warehouse Design and Build Standards
Attachment 4 City-Wide Truck Route Study, Draft, August 2023 Attachment 5 Chaptered Text of Assembly Bill 98
Attachment 6 PC Resolution No. 2025-051
Attachment 7 Truck Routes Map, Option A
Attachment 8 Truck Routes Map, Option B
Attachment 8A Comparison of Option A and Option B
Attachment 9 General Plan Amendment No. 25-03
Attachment 10 Municipal Code Amendment
Attachment 11 California Trucking Association Letter Dated October 29, 2025 Attachment 12 Outreach Contact List
Attachment 13 Draft Notice of Exemption
Attachment 14 PowerPoint
Attachment 15 Newspaper Publication
Ward:

All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:

N/A
CC: Eric Levitt, City Manager