CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: December 17, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Eric Levitt, City Manager
Department: Economic Development
Subject: Accept $60,000 in Additional Funds from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center of Public Innovation 2.0
Project - Love Your Block Grant (All Wards)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopt Resolution No. 2025-403, and:
1. Authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to accept additional grant award funds in the amount of $60,000.00 for the Bloomberg Center of Public Innovation 2.0 Project (Love Your Block Grant); and
2. Authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to amend the agreement with Johns Hopkins University (JHU) for the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation 2.0 Project (Love Your Block Grant) to extend the period for service deliverables through October 31, 2026; and
3. Authorizing the Director of Finance & Management Services to amend and appropriate the $60,000.00 for the Love Your Block Grant award in revenues and expenditures to the Fiscal Year 2025/26 & 2026/27 Operating Budget.
City Manager's Comments
The City Manager recommends approval.
Executive Summary
The Love Your Block Grant is designed to benefit the residents of the City of San Bernardino by creating community-led revitalization projects in collaboration with Community Based Organizations. The additional grant funds, in the amount of $60,000.00, are dedicated to exclusively funding additional staff to support the program. The Grant funding must be used by October 31, 2026.
Background
In December 2024, the City of San Bernardino began receiving grant funding from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation (BCPI), with the full $100,000.00 award scheduled to be received by December 2025. In addition to supporting community projects, this grant provides critical staffing resources for the Love Your Block Program, including a dedicated part-time Fellow and an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. Because these roles are funded through federal and external sources, the program is particularly susceptible to staffing disruptions such as those experienced in 2025.
From April 28, 2025, until June 10, 2025, AmeriCorps experienced a withdrawal of funding by the Federal Government. Subsequently, VISTA volunteers were placed on administrative leave and were not permitted to report to their assignments.
From October 1, 2025, until November 12, 2025, the Federal Government experienced a shutdown while a budget was negotiated in Congress. AmeriCorps, a federally funded program, was temporarily furloughed during this period. Both of these instances resulted in an interruption in service for the VISTA Volunteer and a staffing shortage for the Love Your Block Program.
Discussion
BCPI is awarding the City of San Bernardino an additional $60,000 to fully fund a second part-time Fellow position through October 31, 2026. Following the funding gaps experienced during the first year of the Love Your Block Program in 2025, BCPI acknowledged the need for greater stability in grant-funded staffing.
The additional $60,000 in grant funds will be dedicated exclusively to supporting a second temporary staff position for the City of San Bernardino. It is anticipated that the current AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer will transition into the Fellow role in January 2026. 2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
This project is consistent with Goal No 3. Improved Quality of Life. Participation in the Love Your Block Grant will improve the City’s appearance, cleanliness and attractiveness through the proposed community-led revitalization projects.
Fiscal Impact
There is no General Fund Impact. The FY 2024/25 Operating Budget will be amended to appropriate an additional $60,000 in grant revenues and expenditures.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopt Resolution No. 2025-403, and:
1. Authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to accept additional grant award funds in the amount of $60,000.00 for the Bloomberg Center of Public Innovation
2.0 Project (Love Your Block Grant); and
2. Authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to amend the agreement with Johns Hopkins University (JHU) for the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation 2.0 Project (Love Your Block Grant) to extend the period for service deliverables through October 31, 2026; and
3. Authorizing the Director of Finance & Management Services to amend and appropriate the $60,000.00 for the Love Your Block Grant award in revenues and expenditures to the Fiscal Year 2025/26 & 2026/27 Operating Budget.
Attachments
Attachment 1 Resolution No. 2025-403
Attachment 2 Original Subaward Agreement
Attachment 3 Year 2 Award of Additional Funding Memo
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
September 18, 2025 – Mayor and City Council accepted the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation 2.0 Project – Love Your Block Grant CC: Eric Levitt, City Manager