Foes Move to Halt Hospital Project

Community Memorial Hospital has collected nearly twice the number of valid petition signatures it needs to qualify a countywide ballot measure that could block construction of a new outpatient wing at the county hospital, officials said Monday.

A petition submitted by Community Memorial earlier this month included 39,997 valid signatures, said Bruce Bradley, assistant county registrar of voters. The hospital only needed 21,877 verifiable signatures to qualify for the March 26 ballot, he said.

If approved by voters, Community Memorial’s referendum would block the sale of $51 million in bond-like certificates needed to finance the Ventura County Medical Center project.

Community Memorial officials believe that the project is too costly and not necessary. They argue that the addition of a new outpatient wing is an attempt by the county hospital to expand operations to compete for private patients.

County officials said the new facility is not an expansion of the medical center, but a consolidation of existing clinics that will help save $1 million a year on rent.

Meanwhile, the County Board of Supervisors will decide next month whether to place the referendum on the ballot. Officials have been awaiting the outcome of a lawsuit filed by the county challenging the merit of Community Memorial’s referendum.

Last week, Ventura County judges recused themselves from hearing the case, which was scheduled to go to court Dec. 4. The case has yet to be assigned to a new judge.