Musick Jail Expansion Plans Proceed

County supervisors will continue plans to build a 7,500-bed, maximum-security jail at the James A. Musick Branch Jail near Irvine despite attempts Tuesday by two supervisors to shelve the contentious project.

Supervisors Tom Wilson and Todd Spitzer were joined by Lake Forest Mayor Peter Herzog and Irvine city planner Peter Hersch in urging the Board of Supervisors to stop the jail expansion, the subject of ongoing legal challenges by both cities.

The board instead approved hiring Culbertson, Adams & Associates to refine parts of the county’s environmental report ruled inadequate in March by a judge. Retired San Luis Obispo County Judge Warren Conklin ruled that the county failed to disclose how the project would affect air quality and surrounding agricultural land.

Supervisor William G. Steiner argued that the county has an obligation to proceed with Musick’s expansion to increase the number of jail beds for the county’s burgeoning inmate population. Sheriff Brad Gates is releasing inmates early because of jail overcrowding; a recent grand jury report estimated the practice shaves five to seven days off inmates’ sentences.

Steiner said he doesn’t support an ultimate build-out at 7,500 beds but said all of the environmental studies must be done to accommodate whatever expansion is approved for Musick.

“Every other area of the county has done its part” for jail facilities, said Steiner, who, as an Orange City Council member approved expanding the county’s Theo Lacy Branch Jail in that city six years ago.

“This debate [about expanding Musick] has been going on for 25 years,” board Chairman Jim Silva said. “We have to move ahead.”

Spitzer asked his colleagues to hold off deciding Musick’s fate until a new sheriff is sworn in next year to replace Gates, who personally has lobbied supervisors to build Musick. Gates is retiring and isn’t seeking reelection.

Both Marshal Michael S. Carona and Santa Ana Police Chief Paul M. Walters, vying to replace Gates, have expressed reservations about expanding the 1,000-bed honor farm, where many inmates now sleep in security tents.

“Both candidates have said they won’t support” Musick’s expansion, Spitzer said. “We’re continuing to squander taxpayer money on this.”

The proposed expansion has galvanized South County residents, who oppose a maximum-security facility so close to homes, schools and neighborhoods. Both Herzog and Hersch said Irvine and Lake Forest intend to continue their legal challenges.

Wilson and Spitzer argued that the county already has an approved plan to expand the Theo Lacy jail by another 384 beds but doesn’t have the money--an estimated $12 million a year--to operate the expansion. They said the county must identify enough money for Theo Lacy first before continuing with Musick, which could cost around $40 million to build.

Money for the smaller, Theo Lacy expansion is included in a five-year strategic plan that supervisors are expected to approve next week. The third and fourth expansion phases aren’t yet funded.

Wilson proposed shelving Musick while moving ahead with plans for a greatly needed South County sheriff’s substation on the property, as well as a laundry and cooking facility. His motion failed.