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DISCUSSION
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: May 20, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Gabriel Elliott, Director of Community Development and Housing Department: Community Development & Housing
Subject: Presentation by PlaceWorks on the General Plan Update (All Wards)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the City Council of the City of San Bernardino receive and file the oral report.
City Manager's Comments
This provides an opportunity for the City Council to review prior to the recommended approval in the late Fall 2026.
Executive Summary
PlaceWorks, the City’s consultant on the General Plan update, which also includes the Development Code update, the Downtown Specific Plan, the Land Use and General Plan Map update, and the Subdivision Ordinance update, will present a status report to the Mayor and City Council including a schedule of completion.
General Plan2050 contains 12 Chapters which include a new Environmental Justice Element, expanded elements for Safety, Open Space and Conservation, and Cultural Resources. The Plan also includes 225 programs for implementing the goals and policies of the General Plan.
Significant changes in General Plan2050 include consolidating land use districts from 25 to 12, addition of three new mixed-use districts, realigned strategy/focus areas to 10 acres, added high level community design guidance, and focus on sustainable and resilient development.
With regard to final steps, there was a presentation to the Planning Commission on May 12, 2026. A public review of the General Plan Update will be posted on June 1, 2026, the Final EIR will be completed in September 2026, followed by a Planning 3 3
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Commission hearing(s) in October 2026, and City Council hearing(s) in November 2026.
Background
On November 6, 2019, the Mayor and City Council adopted Resolution 2019-320 authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the State of California to receive $3,000,000.00 for an update to the City’s General Plan.
On April 7, 2020, the city released an RFP for the General Plan and Development Code update and provided the (at that time) funding for the project totaling $3,625,000.
On May 29, 2020, the City received approval of a $625,000.00 reimbursable grant to assist in the General Plan project. The original term ran through December 31, 2022, but was extended to December 31, 2023. To date, the entirety of the grant has been expended and fully reimbursed to the City.
The City entered into a Professional Services Agreement (Resolution No. 2020-231) with PlaceWorks for a comprehensive update to the General Plan, creation of a Downtown Specific Plan, and update to the Development Code on September 16, 2020. On March 22, 2021, the City signed and accepted the Project Guidance Document as prepared by PlaceWorks.
On July 21, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-091, authorizing the City to accept the Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) Grant funds in the amount of $500,000.00. These funds were later allocated to the project budget through Amendment No. 1 on May 4, 2022. To date, the entirety of the grant has been expended and fully reimbursed to the City. As with the SB 2 Grant, reimbursement of the LEAP Grant has been completed.
The City established a General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) to aid in the project.
The first meeting of the GPAC was held on July 15, 2021. The last meeting of the GPAC was held on May 1, 2023.
The Downtown Specific Plan Advisory Committee (DTAC) was established to aid in review of the draft components of the Downtown Specific Plan (DTSP). Meetings were held beginning July 28, 2021, and ran regularly through August 2022.
On May 1, 2022, the Mayor and City Council approved Amendment No. 2 to the professional services agreement authorizing $634,825.09 in additional funding for the General Plan project. To date, the funds allocated with this amendment represent the only fiscal impact to the City. The additional funding is intended to cover current accrued costs and future costs for labor and work products related to the (a) final publication of the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) certified 2021-2029 Housing Element, (b) preparation of the 2050 Environmental Justice Element (EJ), preparation and completion of the City’s General Plan update, and (d) project administration and coordination for the extension of the schedule for completion of the work products beyond the previously City-confirmed time-frame of March 2023.
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Discussion
California Government Code Section 65300 requires each city to adopt a General Plan “for the physical development of the [county] or city, and any land outside its boundaries which...bears relation to its planning.” The San Bernardino2050 General Plan can be considered the City’s development constitution, containing both a statement of the City’s vision of its long-term development as well as the policies to support that vision by guiding the physical growth of the City.
While State law specifically mentions the General Plan in terms of “physical development,” the General Plan2050 serves a greater purpose beyond the collection of buildings, roads, and infrastructure. The General Plan2050 also serves to provide a framework for creating and sustaining opportunities for all community members to achieve and sustain a high quality of life.
The Plan reflects the investment of imagination, dedication, and thoughtfulness by many members of the community. Numerous venues were held to seek public input throughout the update process. The policies articulated in this Plan are intended to speak to current and future leaders of San Bernardino about the unique challenges, aspirations, and opportunities of this time while establishing a vision that will endure for many decades.
San Bernardino General Plan2050 is the outcome of a
collaborative process that included the community, City staff, and stakeholders, with support from the consultant team.
Community input formed the foundation of the Plan, with the community members participating in various stages and
products throughout the planning process. More than 100 events were held—stakeholder meetings, workshops, pop-up events, web-page surveys, and interviews.
Moving to the Finish Line
Including this presentation, there would have been two updates to the General Plan2050 presented.
Public Review of the General Plan2050 will be updated and posted by June 1, 2026 at: https://futuresb2050.com/draft-general-plan-elements/ Final EIR will be completed in September 2026.
Planning Commission hearings will be held in October 2026.
City Council hearings will be held in November 2026.
Downtown Charette
Community Workshops
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Strategic Targets and Goals
The San Bernardino General Plan2050 serves to further a variety of objectives, including:
•Establish a long-range vision for San Bernardino that reflects the aspirations of the community and that outlines practical steps to achieve this vision. •Guide decision-making related to housing, transportation, environmental quality, public services, parks and open space, resource conservation, and hazards avoidance and resiliency.
•Help San Bernardino achieve compliance with applicable State and regional policies, including around housing production, transportation, and environmental regulations.
•Allow City departments, other public agencies, and private developers to design projects that enhance the character of the city, preserve environmental resources, and minimize hazards.
•Create opportunities for residents and business to attain and sustain a higher quality of life for themselves and their family through the resources provided in the City.
•Provide the basis for establishing and setting priorities for detailed plans and implementation actions that should be programmed in the budget and capital improvement plan.
Fiscal Impact
On May 1, 2022, the Mayor and City Council approved Amendment No. 2 to the professional services agreement authorizing $634,825.09 in additional funding for the General Plan project. To date, the funds allocated with this amendment represent the only fiscal impact to the City.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, receive and file the oral report.
Attachments
Attachment 1 PowerPoint Presentation
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
On November 6, 2019, the Mayor and City Council adopted Resolution 2019-320 authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the State of California to receive $3,000,000.00 for an update to the City’s General Plan.
The City entered into a Professional Services Agreement (Resolution No. 2020-231) 3 3
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with PlaceWorks for a comprehensive update to the General Plan, creation of a Downtown Specific Plan, and update to the Development Code on September 16, 2020. On March 22, 2021, the City signed and accepted the Project Guidance Document as prepared by PlaceWorks.
On July 21, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-091, authorizing the City to accept the Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) Grant funds in the amount of $500,000.00. These funds were later allocated to the project budget through Amendment No. 1 on May 4, 2022. To date, the entirety of the grant has been expended and fully reimbursed to the City. As with the SB 2 Grant, reimbursement of the LEAP Grant has been completed.
The City established a General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) to aid in the project.
The first meeting of the GPAC was held on July 15, 2021. The last meeting of the GPAC was held on May 1, 2023.
On November 6, 2019, the Mayor and City Council adopted Resolution 2019-320 authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the State of California to receive $3,000,000.00 for an update to the City’s General Plan.
On April 7, 2020, the city released an RFP for the General Plan and Development Code update and provided the (at that time) funding for the project totaling $3,625,000.
On May 29, 2020, the City received approval of a $625,000.00 reimbursable grant to assist in the General Plan project. The original term ran through December 31, 2022, but was extended to December 31, 2023. To date, the entirety of the grant has been expended and fully reimbursed to the City.
The City entered into a Professional Services Agreement (Resolution No. 2020-231) with PlaceWorks for a comprehensive update to the General Plan, creation of a Downtown Specific Plan, and update to the Development Code on September 16, 2020. On March 22, 2021, the City signed and accepted the Project Guidance Document as prepared by PlaceWorks.
On July 21, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-091, authorizing the City to accept the Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) Grant funds in the amount of $500,000.00. These funds were later allocated to the project budget through Amendment No. 1 on May 4, 2022. To date, the entirety of the grant has been expended and fully reimbursed to the City. As with the SB 2 Grant, reimbursement of the LEAP Grant has been completed.
The City established a General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) to aid in the project.
The first meeting of the GPAC was held on July 15, 2021. The last meeting of the GPAC was held on May 1, 2023.
The Downtown Specific Plan Advisory Committee (DTAC) was established to aid in review of the draft components of the Downtown Specific Plan (DTSP). Meetings were 3 3
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held beginning July 28, 2021, and ran regularly through August 2022.
On May 1, 2022, the Mayor and City Council approved Amendment No. 2 to the professional services agreement authorizing $634,825.09 in additional funding for the General Plan project. To date, the funds allocated with this amendment represent the only fiscal impact to the City. The additional funding is intended to cover current accrued costs and future costs for labor and work products related to the (a) final publication of the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) certified 2021-2029 Housing Element, (b) preparation of the 2050 Environmental Justice Element (EJ), preparation and completion of the City’s General Plan update, and (d) project administration and coordination for the extension of the schedule for completion of the work products beyond the previously City-confirmed time-frame of March 2023.
CC: Eric Levitt, City Manager