Articles & News

March 12, 2008

Lawmakers to review jail project

Community leaders oppose proposals to build re-entry facility in their neighborhoods

By JIM JOHNSON, Herald Salinas Bureau, Monterey Herald

Despite mounting concerns about a new state prison inmate re-entry facility, county supervisors will today consider going forward with plans to apply for a state grant that would help pay for a $130 million, 445-bed county jail expansion project.

According to Sheriff Mike Kanalakis, if the county can deliver a site for the state re-entry facility, it would give it a leg up on winning money for expansion of an aging and overcrowded county jail.

Kanalakis is proposing the supervisors approve one of two sites along Highway 101 near Soledad for the building as part of the county's state grant funding application. The county would have to acquire the land and offer it to the state as part of the deal. The 500-bed "mini-prison" re-entry facility would be built for state prison inmates already slated for release in Monterey County within six months, and would provide mental health treatment and vocational training to help them re-adjust to society.

If approved, the county would get up to $80 million from AB 900, the Public Safety and Offender Rehabilitation Services Act approved last year, for the jail expansion. The county would have to provide the remaining $50 million for the expansion at the current Natividad Road site in Salinas.

"We need this," Kanalakis said.

But supervisors are worried about a number of issues related to the re-entry facility, not the least of which is Soledad city officials' reaction to Kanalakis' proposal.

Soledad Mayor Richard
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Ortiz said city officials feel like the county is trying to "dump" the re-entry facility in their town without regard to the potential impact.

Ortiz said the city is already having difficulties negotiating with the nearby state prisons regarding sewer agreements, and doesn't need any more such issues. He pointed out that the city of Salinas had already rejected an earlier proposal to locate the re-entry facility there.

"The city of Salinas said not in my backyard, and the city of Soledad kind of feels the same way — not in my backyard," Ortiz said. "We already have two prisons and to create more problems, we don't need them. We really don't want to shoot the county in the foot because we know they're overcrowded and need to expand their jail. But we don't want to become a dumping ground."

Ortiz suggested the county look at alternative sites, such as the Sheriff's posse grounds outside Salinas.

Supervisor Simon Salinas called the proposed Soledad sites inappropriate and said he'd prefer the re-entry facility be located closer to the prisons.

"My hope is we'll allow the grant to move forward without choosing a site," Salinas said.

Supervisor Dave Potter agreed that no one should be forced to accept the new facility.

"I'm not going to be supportive of forcing another community to take on these issues of an expanding prison population and all the problems that come with that," Potter said.

Kanalakis said the board should look at all its options and consider public input, but that a site needs to be chosen before the grant application is submitted. He said alternative sites such as the Sheriff's posse grounds or near the state prisons are not real options, though he said a site north of Soledad off San Vicente Road could work. He also noted that time is an issue, and pointed out that state officials will review grant proposals by April 23, with awards set for May 8.

That also means there is no time for public hearings on the grant proposal, Kanalakis said, and the county would be committed to whatever plan the board chooses if and when the state approves the funding.

Salinas and Potter also said they were concerned about a spate of recent changes to AB 900, including the type of re-entry inmate that would be allowed at the facility and the availability of state funding for re-entry programs.

The actual county cost of the jail expansion would be about $165 million, including interest, debt service, a decade of Sheriff's and behavioral health operations, and other expenses.

If the supervisors approve the grant application, they would return on April 1 to consider how to fund the county contribution. If the board decides the grant terms aren't acceptable, the supervisors could choose to withdraw its proposal on April 18.

Jim Johnson can be reached at 753-6753 or jjohnson@montereyherald.com.