For City Council Meeting July 28, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Tanya Williams, City Manager
FROM: Mark Kling, Chief of Police
Title
Request City Council to: (1) Approve a one-year Agreement for Professional Services with Social Work Action Group in an amount not-to-exceed $814,471.56 for Fiscal Year 2026/2027; and (2) Authorize the City Manager, or Their Designee, to Execute All Related Documents.
(ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1) Approve a one-year Agreement for Professional Services with Social Work Action Group in an amount not-to-exceed $814,471.56 for Fiscal Year 2026/2027; and
2) Authorize the City Manager, or their designee to execute all related documents.
BACKGROUND
City Council approved contract services with Social Work Action Group (SWAG) on May 20, 2020, and the Rialto Police Department deployed SWAG into our community on June 1, 2020. SWAG has made a considerable amount of progress in providing quality services to our homeless population. Since SWAG’s deployment their personnel have served a total of 501 clients, connected 1,203 homeless individuals to substance abuse treatment (96 of which were Substance Abuse Placements), 844 to mental health services and have had 523 individuals exit the street. Additionally, 339 homeless individuals received sheltered housing and 122 were placed into permanent housing plans.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
SWAG began their services by deploying four homeless outreach specialists Monday through Friday. In Fiscal Year 2022/2023 the need arose for homeless outreach specialists to be on duty seven days a week. Staff recommended and Council approved to increase staffing and fund two new positions, to make a total of six homeless outreach specialists in Rialto. These specialists currently provide outreach services seven days a week. Over the past year SWAG personnel along with police personnel have incorporated night time services as well, understanding that the need for resources at night are necessary.
SWAG’s successful outreach approach has not only assisted homeless individuals find treatments and housing, but also helped reduce the amount of time police officers spend on calls related to homelessness. This successful approach resulted in officers having more time to respond to priority calls and conduct proactive enforcement.
Today, SWAG manages more than 40 homeless individuals. These individuals are in varying stages of their case plans, including substance abuse facilities, emergency shelters and mental health facilities. Without SWAG to assist with their transition into permanent housing, these individuals, and others, will most likely return to the streets of Rialto, causing a quality of life problem for residents and businesses that existed before Council’s decision to proactively address homelessness.
Staff’s request for this 1-year contract with SWAG will ensure there will be 6 outreach specialists, each working 40-hour work weeks, 7-days a week, excluding some holidays. These specialists will be tasked with individual case management and have the ability to use multiple resources for housing and treatment services. This contract will also include transportation costs and administrative costs.
The City of Rialto continues to grow. With this growth comes more shopping centers and businesses that can be impacted by the homeless population. It has and will continue to be the Rialto Police Department’s mission to offer resources and aid to those experiencing homelessness, and at the same time offer a high quality service and protection to our businesses and residents that live in and traverse our city. The partnership between the City of Rialto and SWAG has proven to be one of the most effective methods for reducing homelessness in San Bernardino County.
In an effort to continue at the forefront of the county in providing homeless services, staff is recommending Council to approve this 1-year contract proposal for services through FY2026/2027. If services do not continue with SWAG, Rialto’s homeless service program would lose momentum and risk altering the rapport SWAG and the Police Department’s Community Engagement Bureau has built with the city’s homeless population, the community and homeless service agencies.
Staff has worked with the city’s purchasing division and determined that this purchase is acceptable as specified under Rialto Municipal Code 2.48.060 - Sole Source Provision.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposal is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a Project does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
The City of Rialto’s General Plan has outlined guiding principles and goals relating to public safety. This action is consistent with the City of Rialto’s General Plan Guiding Principle 1, “Rialto is a Family First Community.”
Our neighborhoods will be a safe place to call home.
Approval of this action is also consistent with the City of Rialto General Plan Goal and Policies:
Goal 5-8: Provide effective and comprehensive policing services that meet the safety needs of Rialto.
Policy 5-8.4: Initiate proactive crime suppression and prevention strategies throughout the community.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and supports this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
Funding in the amount of $814,471.56 is available in the adopted FY2026/2027 Homeless Program Account No. 10106296-52011 for the professional services agreement with Social Work Action Group for services supplied to the homeless population.
Per Rialto Municipal Code Section: 2.48.145 a vendor disclosure form is attached.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
This report does not impact the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
Social Work Action Group has a current City of Rialto Business License. No additional taxes are due with the approval of this report.
ATTACHMENTS
1. SWAG- Professional Services Agreement
2. SWAG Sole Source
3. Business License
4. Conflict of Interest Form
5. Certification of Liability Insurance