December 20, 2019 — The Measure B Citizens’ Oversight Committee has approved a contract of up to $3.3 million with architect Nacht and Lewis for early stage planning about how to build several mental health care facilities in the county. The committee is tasked with making recommendations to the Board of Supervisors about how to spend the money from a voter initiative to fund mental health care facilities and services.
The committee also discussed a proposal by Jason Wells, the president of Adventist Health in Mendocino County, to allocate six beds at the hospital in Ukiah and ten beds at the Coast hospital for psychiatric patients. Wells wants Measure B financial support for remodeling a wing of the hospital in Ukiah, saying patients would benefit from the availability of medical treatment.
Committee members Lloyd Weer, who is the county auditor controller, and Shannon Riley, deputy city manager for the city of Ukiah, formed a subcommittee that will work with the new Measure B project manager, Isabel Gonzalez, to craft a number of questions for the Board of Supervisors about this proposal, which came up during a discussion about an operational feasibility study of Measure B funded facilities. With several ideas taking shape and over ten million dollars available to start getting serious about funding something, the board and the committee are thinking about how to staff a facility and keep it going.
As examples of these questions, Riley wondered if the facilities Wells has in mind are the same kinds that the two bodies have committed to providing. And she echoed a concern that was aired earlier by Member Jan McGourty, about whether public funds can be used to improve the Adventist-owned facilities.
Member Ross Liberty, of the 5th District, had a concern about the final cost of the proposal from Nacht and Lewis, but Member Tom Allman emphasized that without a feasibility study, all options are still up for discussion. Three point three million dollars, he insisted, is the upper limit of the contract. And he thinks that, if architect’s fees are generally 10% of the final cost, there will be enough money in the account when the time comes.
Nacht and Lewis is also designing a new wing of the jail for mentally ill inmates and violent offenders, which Allman expects to be operational by January of 2023. The proposal under the Measure B committee’s consideration includes plans to remodel three houses for the critical residential units (CRTs). But Miller told the board that the county has half million dollar grant from the California housing financing authority, which is contingent upon the committee building a CRT on Orchard Street in Ukiah and approving the contract with Nacht and Lewis.
The committee voted unanimously to support the proposal, amid assurances that the decision does not preclude more than one CRT in the county.
The committee also agreed to restructure itself so that the chair and vice chair will serve for two years instead of one, to allow for greater continuity. Donna Moschetti, of the National Alliance for Mental Illness, will begin her two year term in January. The committee also agreed to hold at least one meeting each in Fort Bragg and Willits next year.
In another item, Allman, who is retiring from the sheriff’s office on December 28th but plans to continue serving on the Measure B committee as the sheriff’s designee, gave an update on the regional behavioral health training facility at the old Jehovah’s Witness church in Redwood Valley. The committee and the board authorized $271,000 of Measure B funds to purchase the property, and another $50,000 to start remodeling it. Allman was asking for another $200,000 to complete the remodel, so the training center can open up at the end of January. The committee agreed unanimously to recommend this action to the board of supervisors, which has the final say.