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Camarillo council to look at opposing prison hospital plan
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More from CamarilloThe Camarillo City Council on Wednesday will consider authorizing a statement of opposition to a proposed prison hospital just beyond city boundaries and hiring a consultant to investigate environmental issues related to the facility.
A plan by federal receiver J. Clark Kelso has marked the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility, 3100 Wright Road, for replacement with a 1,500-bed hospital for adult inmates with chronic physical and mental health problems.
Kelso is charged with carrying out a federal order to bring California's prison healthcare system up to constitutional standards. A federal court determined that the quality of care given to inmates is so poor, it causes unnecessary suffering and deaths.
The proposed Ventura County facility may be constructed in 2009 as the third in a series of seven planned hospitals around the state.
Camarillo City Manager Jerry Bankston told the council in June that city officials did not have the opportunity to participate in Kelso's decision and were looking into possible avenues of litigation to halt the project. City Attorney Brian Pierik said Monday that he could not comment on what was being considered on that front.
Members of the Prison Hospital Action Committee, a group composed of area residents who oppose the proposed facility, have said they plan to use a lawsuit to slow down and possibly stop the construction.
At a committee meeting two weeks ago, Daryl Lee, president of the Ventura County chapter of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association and a 23-year employee at the juvenile facility, said the union was also considering litigation.
The text of the city's proposed statement of opposition was not available Monday. A copy of the proposed contract with the consulting firm shows that the city is considering paying Ventura-based Rincon Consultants Inc. up to $50,000 to review and comment on the prison hospital's environmental impact report and investigate the hospital's compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
The city has worked with Rincon in the past, Pierik said.
Kelso has not filed a CEQA notice in Ventura County, although he has at two other proposed prison hospital sites — one in Stockton and the other in San Diego.
The council is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. at City Hall.
Posted by doubleagentoo2 on July 23, 2008 at 3:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I find it funny how the article doesn't really say why these groups are opposed to a measure improving the health of young (usually minority) inmates. It looks to me like the old "environmental impact" card is being used by the upper middle class for reasons other than the environment.
Posted by THESILKY1 on July 27, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey What's happening.
You like your new $30,000 dollar loan you just got attached to you home and property to pay for upgrades to water and sewer plants. Just checking to see how you like the municipal bond process.
So don't whine to me when yo have to pay and pay because Clark failed to tell you what the impact of the new 2500 bed prison will cost you.
Upgrades to municipal plants don't grow on tress rather your pocket book. Hope you have the duckets....
Have a nice day $$$$:)
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