Community groups urge delay on juvenile ranch campus item; board approves consent item while urging probation to engage

Multiple speakers — impacted‑community advocates, formerly incarcerated young people, and community‑based organizations — urged the Board of Supervisors to remove consent item 17 (related to Probation Department actions and the Redwood Coastal Academy/ranch campus) from the consent calendar for more robust community engagement and a transparent cost/benefit analysis.

Speakers representing Milpa Collective, Pajaro Valley groups and formerly impacted youth asked that probation include broader community seats on the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC) and SB 823 subcommittee, provide a detailed cost analysis and demonstrate evidence‑based practices. Edgar Ibarago (Milpa Collective) and Elias Gonzalez asked the board to ensure community members are “at the table” for design and oversight. Multiple speakers said probation’s outreach to date had been insufficient.

Supervisor John Cummings acknowledged the concern, encouraged probation to meet with the community and offered to attend those meetings. Supervisor Martinez said she had already met with probation and was urging them to continue engagement and committed to participating himself. Despite the public calls, the board approved the consent agenda — including item 17 — by unanimous roll call. Several supervisors reiterated they expect probation to continue stakeholder meetings before implementation steps proceed.

The action on the consent calendar formally moves the probation item forward but leaves in place an explicit board direction (from multiple supervisors) that probation must intensify community engagement and report back with any requested clarifications.