AgdaPkt 2009-09-21 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

The Sheriff's Office is now engaged in a more focused evaluation of these seven sites toward the objective of selecting the preferred jail replacement site. As part of this process} the Sheriff's Office has asked Redwood City and other affected jurisdictions to provide information about existing uses on the seven sites now subject to focused investigation and consideration} existing uses on adjacent properties} current zoning designations} General Plan land use designations} and identification of other land use and related policies that may apply to each site. This report provides that information in Section 4. Siting Criteria for the Replacement Jail Posted on the Sheriff's Office}s website are two articles from the u.S. Department of Justice} National Institute of Corrections Department that discuss issues and planning involved in siting a correctional facility.7 The Sheriff's Office} Jail Planning Unit appears to have used some of these siting criteria to develop the criteria that the Jail Planning U nit will use to evaluate the seven alternative "short-listJJ sites for the replacement jail. On the Sheriff's Office web page is a table called Replacement Jail Site Criteria Evaluation. That table is reproduced on the next page.8 As the Sheriff's Office is certainly aware} one issue that overshadows each of the above-listed criteria is public acceptance of the replacement jail. Scholarly papers provide guidance as to how jurisdictions should address the issue of public opposition to the siting of a new correctional facility. According to one paper} having community acceptance and cooperation is one of the most important aspects when choosing a site.9 The paper Myths and Realities notes: "Generally} it is agreed that without substantial community support for the building of the facility} it can be very difficult and even counterproductive to site a prison.JJ10 Another consideration not listed in the above criteria is the opportunity cost associated with using the County Motor Pool site for the replacement jail. As discussed in Section 4 of this paper} that site has a prime Downtown Redwood City location and could be sold or leased for private development} yielding significant funds which the County could use to build the replacement jail at a different location. Appendix A: Conceptual Studies of Alterative Uses for the County Motor Pool Site further explores development opportu nities for this site. The Sheriff's Office has cited proximity to courthouses as a clear advantage of the two proposed jail sites in Downtown Redwood City. Redwood City staff has investigated the physical relationship between courthouses and jails in four nearby Bay Area counties: San Francisco} Alameda} Contra Costa} and Santa Clara. The investigation revealed that generally} these counties do not have more than one jail located in the city that serves as the county seat. Redwood City}s research also found the following: http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/porta I/site/sheriffs/men u item .cec6c78cb 70d4c43 7 4452b31d 17332aO/?vgnextoid=9501e68a b32f2 210VgnVCM 100000193 7230a RCRD&vgnextcha n nel= 7501e68a b32f2210VgnVCM 100000193 7230a&vgnextfmt=DivisionsLa ndi ng. Accessed August 20} 2009. 8 http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/Attachments/sheriffs/criteria.pdf. Accessed August 20} 2009. 9 Sechrest} Dale K. "Locating Prisons: Open Versus Closed Approaches to Siting./J Crime and Delinquency 38 (1992): 88-104. 10 Shichor} David. "Myths and Realities./J Crime Delinquency 38 (1992): 70-87. 6 Site I nformation for Alternative Locations for the Proposed Replacement Jail September 2} 2009