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CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: September 16, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Tarik Rahmani, Director of Finance & Management Services Department: Finance & Management Services Department
Subject: Ratification of Application Submission and Authorization to Accept the Community Resiliency Centers (CRC)
Program Planning Grant (All Wards)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopt Resolution No. 2026-156 ratifying and confirming the City’s submission of an application to the California Strategic Growth Council for a Community Resilience Centers (CRC) Program Planning Grant, and authorizing:
1. The City Manager or designee to execute all grant-related documents necessary to pursue and, if awarded, accept the CRC Planning Grant; and
2. The Director of Finance & Management Services to appropriate up to $500,000 in grant revenues and corresponding expenditures upon award of the grant, for eligible project activities subject to applicable budget requirements.
City Manager's Comments
The City Manager requests City Council ratification.
Executive Summary
Due to the California Strategic Growth Council’s September 4, 2026, application deadline, the City Manager will execute the grant application prior to the deadline and the City will submit the completed application to the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC). This item is presented to the Mayor and City Council on September 16, 2026, for ratification and confirmation of the application submission and authorization for grant-related actions, if awarded. The Community Resilience Centers (CRC) Program strengthens the ability of under-resourced communities to prepare for and respond to climate impacts, including extreme heat and poor air quality, through neighborhood- level resilience centers and year-round services. CRC Round 2, provides approximately $5 million for Planning Grants to support community-informed planning, project development, construction, and facility upgrades. The current round 3 5
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emphasizes community-driven projects that address locally identified climate hazards and strengthen neighborhood capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate emergencies, with awards anticipated in Spring 2027.
Background
The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) established the Community Resilience Centers (CRC) Program to strengthen the resilience of under-resourced communities to climate impacts, including extreme heat and poor air quality. The program funds planning, construction, and upgrades of neighborhood-level resilience centers, as well as year-round services and programming that support community resilience.
SGC adopted the CRC Round 1 Final Guidelines in April 2023. The current funding opportunity, CRC Round 2, was approved in April 2026 and provides approximately $55 million through the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024. Funding includes approximately $5 million for Planning Grants ($100,000–$500,000) and $50 million for Implementation Grants ($1 million–$10 million). Planning Grants support community-informed planning, feasibility, and project development, while Implementation Grants support construction or upgrades of resilience centers, associated amenities, and year-round services.
Round 2 applications opened July 2, 2026, with Planning Grant applications due September 4, 2026, and Implementation Grant applications due September 25, 2026.
The current round builds on Round 1 by emphasizing community-driven projects that address locally identified climate hazards and strengthen neighborhood capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate emergencies. Award notices are anticipated in Spring 2027.
Discussion
Staff recommends that the Mayor and City Council ratify and confirm the City’s submission of a CRC Round 2 Planning Grant application. Due to the September 4, 2026 application deadline, the City Manager will execute the grant application prior to the deadline and the City will submit the completed application to the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC). The proposed planning effort would strengthen the City’s readiness to advance climate resilience projects by assessing project sites, conducting fiscal analyses and feasibility studies, establishing strategic partnerships, building organizational capacity, and developing meaningful community engagement strategies.
The City’s proposed CRC facility sites offer a range of capabilities and amenities, with consideration given to both human and animal sheltering needs. The planning process would evaluate potential renovations and enhancements, as well as site and facility feasibility, to ensure these locations are appropriately equipped to function as emergency shelters and community service centers during climate-related emergencies.
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The planning effort would serve the City of San Bernardino, a historically disadvantaged community, while also considering neighboring communities that are particularly vulnerable to climate emergencies and have historically experienced limited access to resources. A regional approach would help strengthen coordination and expand the potential reach and effectiveness of future CRC investments.
Currently, the City identifies potential emergency shelters primarily based on the amenities and capabilities of each facility. The CRC Round 2 Planning Grant would allow the City to take a more strategic and comprehensive approach to evaluating and preparing its facilities and community for climate emergencies, consistent with the goals and priorities established by the California Strategic Growth Council.
The CRC Planning Grant is reimbursement-based. If awarded, the City would initially incur eligible project expenditures and subsequently request reimbursement from the California Strategic Growth Council in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grant agreement. The requested appropriation of up to $500,000 would establish the budget authority for eligible grant-funded expenditures and the corresponding reimbursement revenues.
If awarded, staff will return to the Mayor and City Council with a receive and file report to provide an update on the Collaborative Stakeholder Structure proposed in the Planning Grant application, including initial partners and, as applicable, letters of commitment from public agencies whose jurisdictions are included in the proposed planning effort. The City Manager or designee will be authorized to execute the grant agreement and other grant-related documents pursuant to the authority provided by this resolution.
Strategic Goals and Priorities
The request to approve this grant application aligns with No. 3: Improve the Quality of Life through evaluating our public safety service delivery models to enhance the quality of service in the event of a natural disaster.
Fiscal Impact
There is no additional General Fund Impact associated with this action; no General Fund match is required. If awarded, the Director of Finance & Management Services would appropriate up to $500,000 in grant revenues and corresponding expenditures to allow for reimbursement of eligible project expenditures through the CRC Planning Grant Program.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopt Resolution No. 2026-156 ratifying and confirming the City’s submission of an application to the California Strategic Growth Council for a Community Resilience Centers (CRC) Program Planning Grant, and authorizing:
1. The City Manager or designee to execute all grant-related documents necessary to pursue and, if awarded, accept the CRC Planning Grant; and 3 5
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2. The Director of Finance & Management Services to appropriate up to $500,000 in grant revenues and corresponding expenditures upon award of the grant, for eligible project activities subject to applicable budget requirements.
Attachments
1. Attachment 1 – Resolution No. 2026-156
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
N/A
CC
Eric Levitt, City Manager