HomeMy WebLinkAboutMayor and City Council Report 8-21-24•Staff will have completed all items required to lift the injunction
by the end of the month.
•We plan to provide notice and complete the first encampment
cleanup in September.
•In the coming weeks, an official announcement will be made,
including a press conference detailing next steps.
The following temporary steps have been taken to create additional capacity
at the Animal Shelter while we await the arrival of additional kennels:
•Currently, all cats have been moved to Casa Ramona, located at 1633 5th
Street. They are open to the public between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm seven
days a week.
•The City has contracted with a local boarding and care facility to take
dogs. The facility has taken primarily mothers and their litters.
•The City Animal Shelter has added eight additional kennels on site.
•The City is in the process of securing an additional shelter location for the
immediate need, until the construction of the new kennels are complete.
Two facilities are currently being considered, with an agreement expected
very soon.
•A team of veterinarians will be coming to San Bernardino on September
10, 11 & 12. They will be performing spays/neuters to help address the
current backlog.
•Finally, there is some misinformation in the community about the Shelter
not taking animal surrenders from San Bernardino residents, but taking
surrenders from residents from our partner cities because we are
contractually obligated. This is not the case. In fact, in the past two
months (July 1 – August 20) Animal Services took in 30 surrendered
animals from San Bernardino residents, 2 from Fontana, and one from
Highland.
Starting Monday, local businesses will be able to apply for grants from $10,000 to $20,000
to improve the physical appearance of their business along commercial corridors. Grants
are available on a first come, first served basis and recipients must meet program criteria,
The Council has allocated $1 Million in ARPA funds for this program, meaning that
between 50-100 local businesses will benefit from this program.
This program is in partnership with the Small Business Development Center.
ZEMU Testing in San Bernardino
The Zero Emissions Multiple Unit (ZEMU)
will be testing on the Arrow Line between
San Bernardino and Redlands.
Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose,
California Transportation Secretary Toks
Omishakin joined Congressman Aguilar,
Mayor Tran and SBCTA representatives at
the Santa Fe Depot for the ZEMU’s
unveiling last week.
The ZEMU is North America’s first
federally compliant self-powered,
zero-emission passenger train, using
a hybrid hydrogen and battery
technology and can run 46 hours or
1,741 miles between charges.
Two New Downtown Murals
Two new downtown murals were unveiled at 426 W. Court
Street between Court Street and 4th Street in a ceremony
featuring the two local artists and property owner David
Friedman.
The “Breezeway” mural, created by Arturo Orellana, pays
homage to San Bernardino’s Route 66 heritage and love of
classic cars.
The “Dream” mural, painted by Adam Aguilar features a woman
in a bed of flowers with her head pointed to the sky in an
aspirational pose.
The “Dream” mural is the first of an ongoing mural project
called “Change of Thought” which is partially funded by a
Visual and Performing Arts Grant from the San Bernardino City
Parks and Recreation Department.
City Welcomes Luis Marquez as Legislative
Government and Affairs Manager
This week, Luis Marquez joined the City as
Legislative and Governmental Affairs Manager.
Marquez has nearly 30 years of experience in
governmental affairs as a state district director,
professional lobbyist, and elected official.
With the City, Marquez will be overseeing our
state and federal lobbyists, working with state
and federal elected officials and their staffs,
working with other public agencies,
coordinating legislative asks, and preparing the
City’s legislative platform.