ATTACHMENT A
RESOLUTION NO. 26-005
RESOLUTION NO. 26-005
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
VICTORVILLE OPPOSING THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO’S
PROPOSED COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT CAMPUS EXPANSION
AT 13333 PALMDALE ROAD AND OPPOSING THE AWARD OF STATE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONTINUUM INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM
FUNDING FOR PROJECTS PROPOSED WITHIN THE CITY OF
VICTORVILLE DUE TO LACK OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
WHEREAS, the City of Victorville recognizes the County of San Bernardino’s responsibility to provide behavioral health and substance- use treatment services on a countywide basis and acknowledges the importance of facilities that provide treatment, stabilization, and recovery-oriented care; and
WHEREAS, City records indicate that the property located at 13333 Palmdale Road has operated as a drug and alcohol treatment facility since at least 1997, providing residential treatment services and associated day care programming under the operation of St. John of God Healthcare Services; and
WHEREAS, the subject property consists of approximately 29.47 acres, improved with nine single-story buildings totaling approximately 17,770 square feet of building area, and is located within an R -1 (Single-Family Residential) zoning district and immediately adjacent to established residential neighborhoods and multiple public school campuses; and
WHEREAS, in 2023, the County of San Bernardino acquired the existing campus from St. John of God Healthcare Services and subsequently entered into a contract with Phoenix House Orange County, Inc. to operate the facility, which currently includes 66 treatment and recovery beds and an additional 16 beds to house children of patients; and
WHEREAS, the County has proposed expansion of the facility into a multi -phase Comprehensive Treatment Campus that would significantly alter the scope and intensity of operations at the site; and
WHEREAS, Phase 1 of the proposed project, which is currently in the early stages of construction, includes approximately 144 additional beds and services, resulting in a total on-site capacity of approximately 210 beds, and is funded primarily through State- administered public grant funding, including $51.4 million in Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) funds and $10.5 million in Community Care Expansion (CCE) grants; and
WHEREAS, Phase 2 of the proposed project remains pending grant award and would further expand the facility to include a Psychiatric Health Facility, Adult Social Rehabilitation Facility, 24- hour Crisis Stabilization Unit, and a countywide sobering
center, representing a substantial escalation in crisis response services, operational intensity, and service population; and
WHEREAS, the proposed sobering center would be the first facility of its kind operated by the County of San Bernardino and would be located immediately adjacent to multiple public schools, and the City is not aware of any publicly available site suitability analysis, demand assessment, or alternatives evaluation supporting its placement at this location; and
WHEREAS, the proposed expansion would transition the site from a primarily residential treatment setting to a 24- hour crisis and detoxification management campus incorporating both locked and unlocked facilities, higher patient turnover, crisis response activity, and expanded outpatient services intended to serve countywide demand; and
WHEREAS, the subject property is located within an R -1 zoning district where medical uses are not permitted, and expansion of a nonconforming use would ordinarily require discretionary approval through a noticed public hearing process conducted by the City of Victorville; and
WHEREAS, in July 2025, the County asserted authority under Government Code Section 53090 to exempt the project from local land use regulation, thereby serving as the lead agency for project approvals, environmental review, and public engagement; and
WHEREAS, City staff requested information regarding the County’s entitlement and public engagement process and subsequently recommended that the County conduct outreach to affected stakeholders, including the Victor Valley Union High School District, provide mailed notice to surrounding properties, and hold a public workshop prior to advancing construction or grant applications; and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding these requests and recommendations, the County proceeded to seek approval from the Board of Supervisors to submit a Phase 2 BHCIP funding application and to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration and award a construction contract for Phase 1 through consent calendar actions without advance notice to the City or affected school districts; and
WHEREAS, the vast majority of funding for the proposed facilities is derived from State-administered public grant funding under BHCIP, which requires applicants to demonstrate meaningful engagement with local stakeholders and affected jurisdictions as part of the application process; and
WHEREAS, other than limited staff -level discussions, the City is not aware of meaningful outreach conducted by the County to the City, the Victor Valley Union High School District, or nearby stakeholders prior to submission of BHCIP applications, nor of engagement by other non-County applicants proposing additional BHCIP-funded facilities within the City of Victorville; and
WHEREAS, the Victor Valley Union High School District Board of Trustees adopted a resolution formally opposing the proposed project location on December 22, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Comprehensive Treatment Campus presents potential indirect and unfunded fiscal impacts to the City of Victorville, including increased demand for police, emergency medical, and other municipal services, impacts to public infrastructure and community facilities, and service demands associated with individuals traveling from outside the community, without identified mitigation measures or binding cost-recovery agreements; and
WHEREAS, these circumstances raise considerations related to land use compatibility, public process, intergovernmental coordination, and fiscal responsibility.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VICTORVILLE DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DETERMINE, AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by this reference.
SECTION 2. The City Council respectfully opposes the County of San Bernardino’s proposed Comprehensive Treatment Campus project, including both Phase 1 and Phase 2, at its current location, configuration, and proposed service levels.
SECTION 3. The City Council’s opposition shall remain in effect until such time as the City Council and the Victor Valley Union High School District Board of Trustees are satisfied that proposed services have been relocated to a more appropriate location and that any expansion of residential treatment services is compatible with surrounding land uses and agreed upon by the County, the City, and, to the extent necessary, the Victor Valley Union High School District.
SECTION
4. Should a countywide sobering center continue to be proposed within the City of Victorville, the City Council opposes its operation unless and until potential impacts to City public services are adequately mitigated.
SECTION 5. The City Council opposes the award of additional Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program funding by the State of California for projects proposed within the City of Victorville until meaningful public engagement with affected jurisdictions and community stakeholders has occurred.
SECTION 6. City staff is directed to transmit this Resolution to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, our State legislators, the California Department of Health Care Services, and other relevant State funding agencies.