The Upland City Council on Monday unanimously approved joining a regional memorandum of understanding to support a West End Navigation Center aimed at coordinating shelter, recuperative care and related services for people experiencing homelessness, Police Chief Marcelo Blanco told the council.

The action came as council members also voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance and set a Nov. 24 public hearing to consider adopting by reference the 2025 edition of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24).

The navigation-center MOU, presented by Police Chief Marcelo Blanco, outlines a facility staffed by county services that the chief said “is gonna have 200 beds, 100 emergency shelter beds and 100 recuperative care beds. It’s gonna have a sobering center.” Blanco said the center will accept clients by referral only from participating agencies and cities, and that participating jurisdictions would share annual operating costs based on a formula tied to population and the most recent point-in-time homeless count.

Why it matters: The MOU creates a regionalized option the council described as intended to reduce street homelessness while concentrating health, behavioral health and workforce services in one facility. The county has committed acquisition and improvement funding, and the MOU also opens grant-application opportunities at the city and county level to offset local costs.

Key details and council discussion: Chief Blanco said the county’s initial commitment includes $20,000,000 for acquisition and improvements and a $5,000,000 operating reserve to stabilize startup operations. He noted the city’s share of annual operating costs is estimated at about $250,000 per year under the current cost-allocation formula. Council members discussed timeline uncertainty — Councilmember Shannon asked whether 2026 or 2027 was realistic, and Blanco said 2027 is the more likely date to be fully operational. The council also discussed other nearby jurisdictions: Chief Blanco and council members said the city of Fontana is leading the facility development and that the city of Ontario may maintain its own, separate approach while remaining in the MOU on a limited basis until its center opens.

A motion to approve the MOU was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Rudy Zuniga and seconded by Councilmember James Breitling; the motion passed unanimously. The transcript records the vote as unanimous but does not list an itemized roll-call tally.

Building-code ordinance: Development Services Director Robert Dahlquist summarized the request to introduce an ordinance adopting by reference the 2025 California Building Standards Code, which the California Standards Commission updates every three years. Dahlquist said the 2025 update contains mostly incremental changes to energy efficiency, fire and life-safety, and accessibility requirements and that state law (AB 130) places a moratorium on certain new residential building standards through June 1, 2031, limiting near-term residential impacts.

The council approved first reading by title only and set a Nov. 24 public hearing to consider final adoption. Dahlquist said the new code is scheduled to take effect statewide in January 2026.

Votes at a glance:
- Consent calendar (items 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f, 10g, 10i, 10j): Motion to approve (moved by Councilmember Garcia; seconded by Councilmember Breitling) — passed unanimously (specific roll-call tallies not specified in the transcript).
- Item 10h — West End Navigation Center MOU: Motion to approve (moved by Mayor Pro Tem Rudy Zuniga; seconded by Councilmember James Breitling) — approved unanimously (specific roll-call tallies not specified in the transcript).
- M13A — Introduce ordinance adopting 2025 California Building Standards Code and set public hearing for Nov. 24: Motion to introduce and set hearing (moved by Councilmember Bridal; second and vote recorded) — approved unanimously (first reading by title only).

What the council did not decide: The MOU authorizes participation and the city’s funding share; it does not itself create the facility or a local site. Several council members and the chief emphasized the timeline and funding are subject to county actions, individual city budgets and future grant awards. The chief and members also noted the center will rely on partner agencies for referrals; it will not be a walk-in shelter.

Next steps and outlook: City staff and the council said they will monitor county progress and grant opportunities; the council set a public hearing to finalize the building-code adoption on Nov. 24. The navigation center’s operational date was described as contingent on Fontana’s development schedule and county approvals; the chief estimated full operation in 2027 if timelines proceed smoothly.