COUNTYWIDE : Appraisal Sought on Possible Jail Site

Over the objection of two of its members, the County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to hire an appraiser to determine the value of land in Gypsum Canyon, where three of the supervisors want to build a new jail.

The appraisal, which will cost as much as $85,000, will be performed by Cedric A. White Jr., an independent real estate appraiser.

“I was led to believe that this county is in a financial bind,” said Supervisor Don R. Roth, who represents Anaheim, where some residents are strongly opposed to the construction of a 6,700-bed jail in nearby Gypsum Canyon.

Roth pointed out that the county, faced with an $8-million deficit, has had to say no to many vital services in need of more funds.

“I’m still very concerned that we don’t have a long-range plan for indigent medical care at UCI Medical Center and . . . yet, today we’re asking this board to spend up to $85,000 for an appraisal prior to finding out if the voters are going to approve Measure J,” he said, referring to the May 14 half-cent sales-tax referendum for regional justice facilities.

Both Roth and Board Chairman Gaddi H. Vasquez, whose district includes the now-vacant Gypsum Canyon site, have twice voted against building a jail in the canyon.

Roth proposed that the board delay action on hiring an appraiser until after the Measure J election, or at least until the Regional Justice Facilities Commission, which called for the election, has approved a master plan designating exactly how proceeds from the sales-tax increase would be spent.

Vasquez sided with Roth, but they were on the losing end of a 3-2 vote to approve the appraisal contract. Also voting were supervisors Roger R. Stanton, Harriett M. Wieder and Thomas F. Riley.

White, the appraiser, will determine the value of a 3,200-acre parcel in Gypsum Canyon that the Irvine Co., owner of the property, plans to develop into a residential and commercial project called Mountain Park.

White has also been commissioned to appraise a 2,512-acre parcel within the Irvine Co. property that has been designated by the board majority as the preferred site for a new jail.

Representatives of the Irvine Co. continue to insist that the land is not for sale, and they are going ahead with the permit process for their project. But county officials have met with them twice so far to discuss purchasing the land, and a report to the supervisors said the meetings have been “cordial.”

If the Irvine Co. does not agree to sell the land, the board would need four members to vote in favor of condemning the property to obtain it through eminent domain. However, Vasquez and Roth have indicated that they will not go along with that vote.

In a separate but related matter, County Administrative Officer Ernie Schneider said Tuesday that the state legislation governing Measure J would allow the sales-tax revenue to be used for purchase of land. A spokeswoman for Measure J supporters had said Monday that revenues would not be used for land acquisition.

Schneider, however, said there will be no decision on what funds would be used to acquire property in Gypsum Canyon until the county receives a final appraisal report and the regional justice commission conducts better financial studies to determine how much money Measure J could raise.

The commission at its meeting today is expected to defer hiring a consultant to conduct revenue projections until after the May 14 election.