County Keeps Trying to Buy South Bay Site for New Jail

San Diego County supervisors are pushing ahead with plans to build a $72.5-million jail east of Otay Mesa despite uncertainties over how the county will acquire the 523-acre site and an environmental report that has yet to be completed.

Assistant Chief Administrative Officer David Janssen said Wednesday that county officials are still negotiating with developer Roque de la Fuente, owner of the land, over the purchase price. If both sides cannot reach an agreement on the property’s value “by early summer,” the county may initiate condemnation proceedings to acquire the land, Janssen said.

“We’re hoping to reach an agreement with the property owner,” Janssen said. “If we can’t do that, the Board of Supervisors will act to condemn the property. If that happens, we will be required to put into trust an amount equal to the appraised value until all court proceedings are finished.”

Possible Delay

The property, known as East Mesa, is seven miles east of Interstate 805 and 1 1/2 miles north of the Mexican border. It wasappraised two years ago at $8.4 million, Janssen said, but another appraisal is expected later this month to determine its current value. He declined to say how much de la Fuente is asking for the property or how much the county is offering. De la Fuente could not be reached for comment.

Besides the acquisition problem, county officials have to complete an environmental impact study by May or face a one-year delay in the project. The new facility, which would include 602 single cells and 252 beds for a juvenile honor camp, is scheduled to be completed by 1990.

County officials are also racing to meet a nature-imposed deadline. The area is dotted with vernal pools and includes several species of spring plants and animals. Janssen said that the environmental study has to be completed by next month because the vernal pools are only active during the spring.

No Funds From County

“If we don’t finish studying the pools by May, we will have to delay the project for one more year, until the pools can be studied next spring,” Janssen said, adding that he expected no problems in funding the construction of the jail. Most of the money will come from the state, but finding funds to operate it will be a problem, he said.

Annual operating costs are estimated at $11.7 million, and there are no county funds available.

County officials and Sheriff John Duffy are eager to build the jail because of overcrowding in the county’s six jails. The jails are designed to hold 2,315 inmates but currently hold about 3,200.

Debate over the new jail has produced sharp dissension from Supervisor Brian Bilbray, who is the only board member to come out in opposition. The facility would be built in Supervisor George Bailey’s district. Bilbray argued that his colleagues agreed on the East Mesa site only after capitulating to community opposition, despite the fact that three other sites under consideration were also available.