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Rialto council signs on to county-led West End Navigation Center MOU; cities would cover operating costs
Summary
San Bernardino County presented a proposed regional West End Navigation Center offering shelter, recuperative care and a sobering center; Rialto approved joining the MOU and discussed annual operating contributions estimated at $200,000–$300,000 for participating cities.
The Rialto City Council voted to participate in a county-led memorandum of understanding for the West End Navigation Center, a regional facility planned in Fontana that would combine emergency shelter, medical recuperative beds and a sobering center with on-site services.
Carrie Harmon, director of community development and housing for San Bernardino County, described the center’s model: 100 general shelter beds, 100 recuperative-care beds for individuals stepping out of hospitals, a sobering center, a commercial kitchen capable of producing about 600 meals a day, and county-operated behavioral health and case-management services. Harmon said the county would cover capital development — roughly $20 million in preliminary estimates — and would contribute about $475,000 a year toward operations; participating cities would be asked to contribute operating amounts that are scaled by size and need (Harmon cited an illustrative range of $200,000 to $300,000 annually).
“Right now, people have to walk in many doors to get the support they need,” Harmon told the council. “We want to share data to improve outcomes and to maximize resource efficiencies.” Harmon and staff said the center would include a bed-reservation system and a referral-based entry process and that several partners would be engaged for transportation and outreach.
Council members asked technical questions about duplication with existing services (including SWAG), eligibility, indemnification and the possibility of using opioid-settlement funds to offset costs. Police and city staff said they viewed the navigation center as complementary to existing outreach and recuperative services; the county said certain program streams (recuperative and sobering beds) would not count against a city’s guaranteed quota and those streams would be funded via Medi-Cal/CalAIM or other sources.
Council voted to approve participation in the MOU; Mayor Joe Baca recorded his vote “Aye with some reservations.” Council asked staff to research whether opioid settlement dollars could be applied and to return with recommended language and legal review of indemnification and termination/buyout clauses.
The MOU creates a regional commitment for at least a 10-year operating horizon and aims to streamline access to shelter and supportive services in the western part of San Bernardino County; participating cities must weigh annual operating costs against the benefit of guaranteed bed access and integrated services.
