[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6337519,"mediaKeyId","2272793-396158f8f24cbbf7c9c6b1e38f01192c","parentId",2272793,"title","Board authorizes negotiations with current Prado Golf operator after public objections; Supervisor Cook dissents on item 37","audioSeconds",1802,"startMs",4090460,"endMs",5893140,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2272793-396158f8f24cbbf7c9c6b1e38f01192c&start=4090&end=5893","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2272793-396158f8f24cbbf7c9c6b1e38f01192c/thumbnail_4090460.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6337519/San-Bernardino-County/California/Board-authorizes-negotiations-with-current-Prado-Golf-operator-after-public-objections-Supervisor-Cook-dissents-on-item-37","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6337519-c1d6269de1febf8106a8f05a53e88704/orig.mp4?Expires=1775881908&Signature=I5Ns2sJav6Dk3zCRhs7fEJ-P24ykvuRHFON6k4U9bCiX3gzymCeD1-U2LCllr-caX2538bPYCNrCKB01cLyT~fDU6NRP~cGAeMwhFDvlM1MrB1TIsCueWq9T9pFCUsQ9yBwONgpLPl2Buozc0JjAnx5CIINUkfg9-KzCTASq68Acggdaay1sypXWK8alZ67Jv0FDTBdEDxeD92wtfAZd0MpntGfcAbBBF~1vU8buNCynSQz6eylJh91jVVz-YyxdCaco~RvF6Ro~kGut~NHWTZm~~gCaFszu8tYWjLTdI4M5XxH8Ikl3y62TpjlN6YRhEf1nn5XqpP0IW6c8RRLPPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Bernardino County CA","date","2025-02-12T07:33:31Z","article","The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on an item included in the consent calendar authorized staff to negotiate with the current operator of Prado Golf Course, prompting multiple public speakers to demand the county instead open the lease to competitive bidding.

Dozens of golfers, nonprofit organizers and residents urged the board to remove item 37 from the consent calendar and allow a competitive process. Several speakers warned a sole-source negotiation could harm junior golf programs and nonprofit fundraisers that have used Prado, and said the county’s lease with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requires public-use protections and revenue sharing that a closed negotiation could jeopardize.

The public outcry culminated in a series of comments from frequent users and community organizers. Cole Fisk, who said he has played Prado since childhood, told the board, “Please remove item 37 from the consent calendar and let Prado's future be decided fairly and transparently.” Dave Kuman, who described a 10-month effort to get answers from county staff, told supervisors, “Remove item 37 from the consent calendar. It's the right thing to do.” Several other speakers made similar appeals, saying the current operator had not invested meaningfully in the course despite two years on site.

Board members described the item as an authorization to negotiate, not final contract approval. County CEO Luther explained that, if the board adopts the item, staff would attempt to negotiate a longer-term contract with the current operator and would return the proposed agreement to the board for approval; if no agreement is reached by April 29, staff will be directed to issue an open bid for the lease. Luther said this structure was intended to give a potential operator the certainty needed to make larger capital investments in the course.

Supervisor comments recognized public concern. Supervisor [last name as in transcript] said the board’s goal is a “top-rate golf course” and that the consent item would allow staff and real estate professionals to determine whether an invest-and-improve deal can be reached; if not, the county would pursue an open procurement. At the vote, the board approved the consent calendar; the clerk announced the consent calendar was approved, with Supervisor Cook recorded as voting no on item 37.

Speakers raised specific financial and contract concerns during public comment. Multiple speakers told the board the county-managed course currently produces roughly $25,000–$30,000 a month in revenue but that a proposed starting lease figure discussed in public comment was $5,000 per month. One tournament organizer said a recent nonprofit deposit requirement was $7,600 and nonrefundable, a change that has made running charity tournaments more difficult. Speakers also raised the Army Corps lease — which several said requires public use and periodic revenue accounting — and warned that bypassing a competitive process could expose the county to legal or financial risk.

The item will return to the board if staff and the operator reach agreement; otherwise staff will open the process to competitive proposals by the April 29 deadline described in the CEO’s office. The board’s approval of the consent calendar does not itself finalize any long-term lease.

Votes at a glance
- Consent calendar (items 2–48, including item 37): approved; vote recorded with Supervisor Cook dissenting on item 37. The exact roll-call numbers announced by the clerk were: yes 4, no 1 (Cook). The negotiated agreement, if any, will come back to the board for final approval.

Community response and next steps
Public commenters agreed to continue monitoring the process and to press for a competitive bid if staff cannot secure a satisfactory long-term deal with an operator. County staff said real estate professionals will negotiate terms that aim both to secure investment in course infrastructure and to maximize returns for county residents; any negotiated contract will be returned to the board for a public vote.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","San Bernardino County Live Stream 02.11.2025","oneSentenceSummary","The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on an item included in the consent calendar authorized staff to negotiate with the current operator of Prado Golf Course, prompting multiple public speakers to demand the county instead open the lease to competitive bidding.","taxTitle","San Bernardino County, California","taxId",3825,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6337508,"Residents press Board for answers on burro removals and animal care after transfers to Donkey Land",312,3863950,4176250,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2272793-396158f8f24cbbf7c9c6b1e38f01192c&start=3863&end=4176","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2272793-396158f8f24cbbf7c9c6b1e38f01192c/thumbnail_3863950.jpg","/articles/6337508/San-Bernardino-County/California/Residents-press-Board-for-answers-on-burro-removals-and-animal-care-after-transfers-to-Donkey-Land","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6337508-26e3b1b10f984243d8546671f59e658d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775881908&Signature=OfbckPRSUx5Eog09Oz86obu0p~4~YRIq1zUubWFanRthQ4mHL3xQuDYPMhJR77K6WKGuQAjiWOJEAQafSbaAj3lwGrOzqcv~qcrEC~bCT9KnC2RX2wrTdqRsgP1nwCelm-yPIGJQi1Nr~mchs2JYvDLFSr5lSdhsQFW8a6uHKzttH7Qc2mC8j43H7NO-1EeeFiaN4X22ADaP9759Rw7rK69yY7tZZir8ue6w7UYp0iF3GobWhwJd2HdtS3YN~o7vgIFN8xZNEzs~AQ12yfTGdQbyIfihH6jSYz~kk1u0bqHSOVW7ELyi6TwkSC-cMeSg10vAi4-3ibz6snb-6kbaRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Repeated public comments at the Board of Supervisors meeting focused on concerns for wild burros (donkeys) in multiple canyons and valleys in San Bernardino County.

Speakers said residents have encountered apparent declines in local burro populations and inconsistent county responses when callers report injured or orphaned animals. Several speakers asked the county to coordinate with nonprofit sanctuaries — including Donkey Land and Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary — and to adopt humane, practical measures such as targeted sterilization and better on-call response protocols.

Juliana Moreau, founder of Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary in Big Bear City, said residents have been told by county animal-care staff that “if we come up to get the burro, it will be euthanized. We just let nature take its course.” Moreau said residents have received that guidance repeatedly and that the absence of more robust response channels leaves sick, injured and orphaned burros with no help.

Other commenters described encounters they said were alarming or threatening while searching for missing burros and alleged the presence of trailers and vehicles with out-of-state plates involved in burro removals. Patricia Sierra described a January incident in which she said men with lifted trucks and trailers with Texas plates followed and questioned her in a field where burros had once gathered; she and others asked why removals occurred and whether the county had authorized transfers off local lands.

Speakers asked the board to: (1) provide clear contact information and response protocols for injured or orphaned burros; (2) clarify what, if any, agreements exist with private sanctuaries such as Donkey Land; (3) consider humane herd-management options such as sterilization; and (4) investigate whether county animal-care or code-enforcement responses have been adequate. Several speakers said they would continue to press county officials until they received answers.

There was no formal action recorded on burro policy in the transcript. The meeting adjourned with the board noting the public comments and the next meeting date.

","Multiple residents and sanctuary operators urged the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to clarify animal-care responsibilities and transparency around the removal and transfer of wild burros in county canyons and valleys.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6337514,"County highlights Special Investigations Unit work: 2024 EBT thefts and recoveries among priorities",539,2166190,2705280,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2272793-396158f8f24cbbf7c9c6b1e38f01192c&start=2166&end=2705","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2272793-396158f8f24cbbf7c9c6b1e38f01192c/thumbnail_2166190.jpg","/articles/6337514/San-Bernardino-County/California/County-highlights-Special-Investigations-Unit-work-2024-EBT-thefts-and-recoveries-among-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6337514-2fc36a49c43fe38f24ea8ac210574c64/orig.mp4?Expires=1775881908&Signature=LGHNIoS94MvWPRMN-PDJfLou2pT-JVBcnJlkg5EouryYt19NYoHDtwfJUVquL2VYKHkjhnzxgpAyEZNwqqtf0~IVqK1Eadbx6QPWelWS1S2pYBCcQssotd3oRyuflcudO1Gn24dlqvbXP8D5a7WFMxmP3nBdQMbXsEKPv-S6RU0IVk2pmP1mRdTqP4-dRtekfix8Ejxnngv902qxtKJDC9Bl2DX5zbUfZ2fjxL9KTJ5KuonqyvBeTPKV84cdLSLggGaNriFFNErAcf2-Tzp8u~wY-FR~l1k9kGZWOjLslezoQDOawybMNNwBby~v4kMUiL6gURXRno~euXCrNrSrgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","San Bernardino County Human Services leaders gave the Board of Supervisors a detailed presentation of the Program Integrity Division and its Special Investigations Unit, which investigates suspected welfare fraud and related criminal activity.

Diana Alexander, assistant executive officer for Human Services, introduced the presentation and said the division works behind the scenes to protect public-assistance funds. Sheila Jackson, division chief for program integrity, outlined the division’s structure — appeals, case review, quality review, and the Special Investigations Unit — and said the unit fulfills state-mandated functions and manages complex projects supporting Transitional Assistance, Children and Family Services and Aging and Adult Services.

Greg Mahoney, chief of the Special Investigations Unit, described the unit’s mandate, staffing and operations. He said the unit was created by a California mandate in the 1980s and that investigators are required to be sworn peace officers with POST certification and prior law-enforcement experience. Mahoney said investigators conduct unannounced field visits, surveillance operations, serve search and arrest warrants when needed, and liaise with federal, state and local law enforcement.

Mahoney gave several 2024 statistics: the unit completed more than 6,000 investigator referrals; it sent roughly 200 criminal complaints to the district attorney’s office for filing consideration with a reported 90% successful filing rate; and it identified nearly $4,000,000 in funds subject to recovery during the year. He also told the board the unit led EBT-ATM theft operations that resulted in 40 arrests and said more than 15,000 recipient households in San Bernardino were victims of EBT benefit theft in 2024, with reimbursements to victims totaling over $14,000,000.

Mahoney stressed the dual mission of protecting taxpayer funds and protecting welfare recipients from theft of their benefits. He described the unit’s liaison work with the California Department of Social Services’ fraud bureau, neighboring county investigative units, the district attorney’s office for focused prosecution, and federal partners including Homeland Security and the Secret Service on transnational fraud. He also described internal investigations, including employee embezzlement cases.

Board members thanked staff for the presentation and for the unit’s recoveries. The presentation closed with a fiscal point: Mahoney said the unit’s recoveries translate into funds that offset the cost of running the unit.

","San Bernardino County Human Services presented an overview of the Program Integrity Division and its Special Investigations Unit, which investigates suspected welfare fraud and benefit-theft schemes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board authorizes negotiations with current Prado Golf operator after public objections; Supervisor Cook dissents on item 37

Residents press Board for answers on burro removals and animal care after transfers to Donkey Land

County highlights Special Investigations Unit work: 2024 EBT thefts and recoveries among priorities