PREPARED BY: REINA J. SCHWARTZ DATE OF MEETING: 04/17/17
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND FY 2015-17 COUNCIL PRIORITY WORKPLAN TO ADDRESS PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE WEST COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY (WCDF)
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Authorize by Minute Order
Body
Compliance statements
Proposed Expansion of the West County Detention Facility (WCDF) is NOT an adopted policy item under the FY 2015-17 Council Priority Workplan Update, effective October 1, 2016.
CEQA Compliance Statement
Not a project under CEQA. The City did comment on the CEQA review prepared by Contra Costa County for the proposed expansion of the WCDF.
BACKGROUND
At the request of Vice Mayor Calloway and upon affirmation by a majority of the City Council at a special meeting of the Council on April 10, 2017, the City Manager is submitting this agenda item for City Council consideration and direction related to the proposed expansion of the West County Detention Facility (WCDF) by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department.
The specific request before the City Council is to consider amending the currently approved City Council Priority Workplan to add an item related to the Proposed Expansion of the West County Detention Center.
On February 7, 2017, the County Board of Supervisors approved the County moving forward to seek $70 million in funding from the Board of State and Community Corrections. The funding would be used to build a proposed new facility at the WCDF campus that adds 160 high security cells, and 48 high security, special use cells for mentally ill offenders (416 replacement beds total). These beds will replace 420 existing beds at Martinez Detention Facility (“MDF”), resulting in a net reduction of 4 beds to the County's rated capacity. In addition to providing appropriate housing to address the unsafe, over-crowded housing at MDF, the West Contra Costa County Reentry, Treatment and Housing will also establish a 20,127 square foot Reentry Service Center (“RSC”) available to every inmate not only at the WRTH, but also the entire WCDF campus.
On June 15, 2015, the City Council, the City Council received a presentation from the Office of the Sheriff regarding the proposed expansion. Currently, the City Council has not adopted a formal policy (or previously provided formal direction to the City Manager) to amend the FY 2015-17 Council Priority Workplan, effective October 1, 2016 to address the proposed expansion at the WCDF. A majority vote by minute action is required to place this matter on a future agenda for formal consideration.
Therefore, the City Council must decide by majority vote (minute action) to proceed with one or both of the following actions:
1) Direct the City Manager to prepare a Resolution to amend the FY 2015-17 Council Priority Workplan (effective October 1, 2016) to add a new policy item: “Proposed Expansion of the West County Detention Facility”; and
2) Prepare a Resolution of Opposition to the Proposed Expansion of the West County Detention Facility for full consideration by the City Council at their next regularly scheduled meeting on May 1, 2017.
The City Manager requests direction to proceed on Item #1 and if Council wishes to take a position on the Proposed Expansion, direction to proceed on Item #2.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact related to this item. However, if the WCDF project is approved, staff time involved in the transport of prisoners would be reduced, thus freeing up police resources for other uses. If the WCDF project is not approved, then City of San Pablo police officers would continue to transport arrestees to the Martinez Detention Facility as is current practice.