HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2008 1119 CC REG ITEM 09D ITEM -9 .7D.
CITY OF MOORPARK,CADFr?I:ir k -
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MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
AGENDA REPORT
BY:- lam,
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: John Brand, Senior Management Analys{?'lj
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DATE: November 12, 2008 (CC Meeting of 11/19/2008)
SUBJECT: Consider the Proposed Prison Hospital in Ventura County
DISCUSSION
On November 2 Mayor Pro Tern Parvin requested a future Council agenda item to
discuss the City's role in opposing the proposed conversion of the Ventura Youth
Correctional Facility into a prison medical and mental health facility.
On September 17 Council adopted Resolution 2008-2751 opposing the proposed
conversion of the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility into a prison medical and mental
health facility due to its adverse impacts on Ventura County. A copy of the staff report
and Resolution 2008-2751 is attached. This is commensurate with the level of effort of
most other agencies to date. The cities of Santa Paula, Fillmore, Camarillo, Oxnard, and
Thousand Oaks have also gone on record opposing the proposal, as have the Ventura
Council of Governments, and the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. Additionally,
state Assembly members Audra Strickland, Hannah-Beth Jackson, and Cameron
Smyth; and the Mayors of Moorpark, Simi Valley, and Santa Paula; and the Camarillo
Health Care District have expressed opposition. A community-based group, the Prison
Hospital Action Committee, has formed to raise awareness and represent its interests in
opposing the hospital. The committee's web site is http://www.phac.org. The City of
Camarillo has authorized about $100,000 for two studies on the prison. One to
document the environmental impacts, and another to identify the economic impacts of
the proposal. Staff could not identify any organized support for the prison hospital
proposal in Ventura County.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Direct staff as deemed appropriate.
Attachment 1" September 17, 2008 Staff Report and Resolution
X00094
Attachment "1"
MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: John Brand, Senior Man t Analyst
DATE: September 10, 20 eeting of 09/1712008)
SUBJECT: Consider Resolution Opposing the Establishment of a Prison
Hospital in Ventura County
SUMMARY
The Council is being asked to approve a resolution opposing the proposed conversion
of the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility into a prison medical and mental health facility
due to its adverse impacts on Ventura County.
BACKGROUND
The Ventura Youth Correctional Facility is located at 3100 Wright Road, in the county
unincorporated area southwest of Somis and west of Camarillo, about half a mile from
the intersection of Los Angeles Avenue (SR 118) and Santa Clara Road. The facility
currently houses female wards in living units comprised of individual rooms. The Mary
B. Perry High School at the site provides instruction in basic skills, high school courses,
GED preparation, and vocational training. Special education services are available.
Qualified wards have an opportunity to earn college credits towards an Associate of Arts
Degree through Ventura Community College.
On February 14, 2006 U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson ruled that prison
healthcare in California was so bad that it constituted cruel and unusual punishment.
Evidence presented at the trial showed a California prison inmate dies needlessly for
lack of proper medical care about once a week. He appointed a Receiver to run the
state's prison healthcare system after state officials failed to improve conditions that had
been proven unconstitutionally inhumane in a class-action lawsuit. A Receivership is an
extraordinary judicial remedy employed by a federal court only as a last resort when all
other attempts to secure compliance with court orders have proven futile. Judge
Henderson required the Receiver to develop a detailed Plan of Action designed to
effectuate the restructuring and development of a constitutionally adequate medical
health care delivery system.„ University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Professor J. Clark Kelso was named as the federal Receiver in January 2008.
)Q)0095
Honorable City Council
Meeting of September 17, 2008
Page 2 00 Fv
On June 6, 2008 the Receiver released a plan to construct seven hospitals around the
state that will house 10,000 inmates. One of the new prison hospitals would be built on
the existing site of the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility near Camarillo. The female
wards at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility would be relocated elsewhere in the
state. The new prison medical facility would have 1,500 beds and be able to
accommodate maximum-security adult male prisoners. On August 24, 2008 Prison
healthcare receiver J. Clark Kelso filed legal papers seeking a court order that would
force state officials to hand over $8 billion to finance construction of the seven new
prison hospitals.
DISCUSSION
The possibility that the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility, which houses a few hundred
female wards, may be converted into a 1,500 bed maximum security prison medical
facility has become an issue of regional concern. Community organizations and local
governments have raised a number of issues not addressed in the Receiver's plan.
Among the unmitigated negative impacts cited are:
• Jobs - increased shortage of medical professionals in the County
• Public Safety - site is about a mile from schools and homes
• Courts - prisoner court business will add to already congested courts
• Infrastructure - housing, roads, water, wastewater, utilities
• Environmental - earthquake and environmental hazards
Other agencies and elected officials in opposition include: the Ventura Council of
Governments; the Ventura County Board of Supervisors; the City of Camarillo;
Assembly members Audra Strickland, Hannah-Beth Jackson, and Cameron Smith; the
Mayors of Moorpark, Simi Valley, and Santa Paula; and the Camarillo Health Care
District. The Receiver has broad authority, and it is apparently only accountable to the
court. The Receiver has met with local officials and community groups to hear concerns.
It is believed by some observers that in this instance the court mandate may take
precedence over local objections. A "Frequently Asked Questions" flyer is included as
Attachment "B".
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution No. 2008-
Attachment "A" Resolution
Attachment "B" Proposed Prison Hospital `Frequently Asked Questions'
t000 ?6
pyRESOLUTION NO. 2008-2751
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, OPPOSING A PRISON
HOSPITAL AT THE SITE OF THE VENTURA COUNTY
YOUTH CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
WHEREAS, the Moorpark City Council recognizes that it is necessary and in the
public interest for the state of California to provide a comprehensive and appropriate
correctional system, including prison medical facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Ventura County medical and health services community is
currently experiencing a significant shortage of nursing and medical staff; and
WHEREAS, the proposed prison hospital, through compensation competition,
would significantly and negatively contribute to the availability of medical staff, both
short- and long-term; and
WHEREAS, any such shortage would immediately, significantly and negatively
impact the availability, timeliness, and safety of appropriate medical services for
Ventura County residents; and
WHEREAS, the introduction of this proposed maximum security prison
population would compromise the overall security of Ventura County, resulting in a
threat to the stability of existing infrastructure; negative environmental impacts,
significant classroom impaction; housing shortages with consequential supply and
demand price hikes; loss of sense of well-being, and a overall loss of quality of life.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK
DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Moorpark is opposed to the
proposed placement of a maximum security prison hospital within Ventura County, and
hereby requests that Ventura Youth Correctional Facility be removed from the list of
potential sites.
SECTION 2. The City Council of the City of Moorpark respectfully suggests
that a more appropriate location for a facility of this type be considered.
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Resolution No. 2008-2751
Page 2
SECTION 3. The City Clerk s I certify to a adoption o the re olution and
shall cause a certified resolution to be sled in the book f original rn oluti s.
PASSED AND ADOPTED th' 17th day of Septe ber, 0 .
ick Hunter, ayor
ATTEST:
Maureen Benson, Assistant City Clerk
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Proposed Prison Hospital for Ventura County
Q) How did we get here?
A) Following much litigation, CA's prison healthcare system found "inadequate" in
U.S. District Court in September 1995
CA legislature fails to comply with court order to correct deficiencies
Federal Receiver Kelso appointed to make changes in system in January 2008
Estimated cost for Californians = $7 billion
Q) Receiver's Proposed Solution?
A) 6/16/08 court approved the Receiver's overall plan to construct 7 prison
hospitals throughout California. Upgrades to existing prisons are also
included.
Receiver Kelso has broad authority: hire/fire, negotiate contracts,
acquire/dispose of property, purchase/dispose of tangible goods, follow CEQA
guidelines, if possible (these costs not included in the $7 billion)
Costs are borne by the state and local governments
Q) Potential Sites?
A) Northern California
Tracy— Deuel Vocation Inst.
Sacramento — CA State Prison
Stockton — Northern CA Youth Correctional Center
Southern California
Camarillo —Ventura Youth Correctional Facility
San Diego — Donovan Correctional
Chino — CA Institute for Men
Whittier — Nelles Juvenile Correctional Facility
Los Angeles — CA State Prison
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Fact Effect
• Current VYCF on Wright Road to • County-wide healthcare system
be razed will be devastated.
• 1500-bed prison hospital to be • New prison hospital will create
built to provide medical & critical staffing shortages of
mental health care for inmates nurses and medical technicians
with long-term needs across the county
• Construction tentatively • Substantial decrease in
scheduled to begin Spring 2009 availability of medical services
for all Ventura County residents
Fact Effect
• Prison hospital location would • Site will be a burden to the
require infrastructure County and Oxnard/Camarillo
improvements in the taxpayers.
surrounding area; roads, • Federal Gov. would not contribute
utilities, water, and sewage funds to pay for these state
treatment. expenses.
• Estimated as high as 5000
additional employees on
surrounding roads and highways
each day.
Fact Effect
• Proposed facility would replace • VYCF staff face relocation or loss
the current VYCF of jobs
• VYCF services required to • Recent facility improvements
support juvenile needs are not ($10M) paid by taxpayers will be
found in any other Dept. of lost
Juvenile Justice facility in the CA
system
Fact Effect
• Level 3 &4, high-risk adult male School and residential security
inmates, will be housed compromised by daily trips
• Facility within: to/from prison hospital and local
0.4 mile from residences hospitals for immediate care
1.2 mile from Mesa needs, several times each day
Elementary School
1.7 mile from Rio Mesa High
School
00100