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Adelanto council authorizes short‑term use of city building by High Desert Second Chance after questioning rent and precedent
Summary
Council approved a contract allowing High Desert Second Chance to use a city building at a nominal rent while refrigeration equipment is installed, after members questioned a $1‑per‑year lease and asked staff to revisit pricing at renewal.
The Adelanto City Council on Jan. 8 approved a contract allowing High Desert Second Chance, a local nonprofit partner, to occupy a city building for food‑recovery and distribution work at an initial nominal rent while refrigeration equipment is procured.
Councilwoman Stevana Evans led a pull from the consent calendar to ask how the city arrived at a $1‑per‑year lease and to raise concerns about setting a pricing precedent for other nonprofits. Christina, a representative from High Desert Second Chance, said the organization rents multiple spaces in the area and that one 5,000‑square‑foot unit with refrigeration costs about $1,600 per month in Hesperia; the group’s local arrangement will support edible‑food recovery under SB 1383 as well as partner distributions.
"It's not just the high desert food collaborative program. It is also SB 1383 that is part of what City of Adelanto is doing with the edible food recovery from local businesses," Christina said, describing the planned operations.
City Manager Jesse and staff explained the city lost a previous service hub at a church and agreed to make space available so critical food services could resume quickly. Staff also said the refrigeration unit delivery has been delayed and that the nonprofit will start operations before the refrigeration arrives; the contract will be revisited at renewal if the council wishes to charge rent in the future.
Councilmembers expressed support for restoring services but emphasized concern about equity and consistency; Councilwoman Evans asked that the council review the concession at contract renewal and monitor operational costs. The council voted to approve the agreement and to allow staff to proceed with the short‑term arrangement.
Next steps: staff to complete contract execution, oversee delivery and installation of refrigeration equipment, and return to council at contract renewal with recommended terms.
