San Joaquin supervisors approve funding moves, behavioral health campus plan, direct staff on fireworks rules and homelessness review

The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors on April 22 approved several funding and policy moves aimed at expanding local behavioral-health capacity, supporting emergency food distribution, and tightening enforcement of illegal fireworks — while directing staff to evaluate emergency shelter outcomes and laying groundwork to shift landfill operations to county control.

The board voted to act as a fiscal agent so the Emergency Food Bank of Stockton can apply for federal community project funding it otherwise could not receive as a nonprofit; approved a budget and preliminary design contract for phase 1 of a planned “Be Well” behavioral-health campus in French Camp; and authorized staff to issue a six‑month termination notice for the private operator of the Foothill Sanitary Landfill as the county evaluates running the facility itself.

Why it matters: Supervisors framed the votes as efforts to secure services and preserve county control over critical infrastructure while increasing accountability for public funds. The Be Well campus, if funded as planners expect, is intended to add local crisis‑stabilization and substance‑use treatment capacity that county leaders say will reduce reliance on out‑of‑county placements. The Emergency Food Bank action unlocks a federal funding pathway for a nonprofit that reported distributing millions of pounds of food in recent years. And the fireworks discussion moves toward a social‑host liability rule supervisors said will give law enforcement and fire agencies a clearer tool against organized illegal displays that create public‑safety hazards.

What the board approved and directed

Emergency Food Bank fiscal agent: The board agreed to serve as a fiscal agent for the Emergency Food Bank of Stockton so the nonprofit can apply for earmarked federal community project funds through a member of Congress. Leonard Hanson, CEO of the food bank, told the supervisors the organization has expanded from about 3.9 million pounds of food distributed in 2019 to 7.3 million pounds in 2024 and asked the county to submit the application on the charity’s behalf because federal rules barred the nonprofit from applying directly. The motion passed 5–0.

Be Well campus: The board approved Phase 1 of the county’s proposed Be Well behavioral‑health campus on county‑owned land in French Camp and authorized a validation services agreement (preconstruction progressive design‑build services) with the Herrero‑Maguire‑Hester joint venture (HMH). County staff described a $261.8 million estimated total project cost for Phase 1 (including soft costs and contingency) and a construction contract estimate of roughly $203 million. The county reported $66.29 million already appropriated and said it is pursuing additional state and philanthropic grants (including a pending Prop 1 Launch Ready application, Assembly Bill 179 allocations, Health Plan of San Joaquin and Sutter Health contributions). The design‑build validation award was approved and staff will return with the full progressive design‑build agreement; the motion passed 5–0.

Fireworks regulation and “social host” liability: Following presentations by county staff and the Stockton fire marshal, the board directed staff to draft revisions to Title IV (the explosives and fireworks ordinance) to expand enforcement tools, refine liability and cost‑recovery language, and add a social‑host provision tied to illegal (non‑safe‑and‑sane) fireworks. County counsel noted statutory limits on infraction fines that staff will have to check while drafting final language. Supervisors asked staff to narrow definitions so routine consumer use (small fountains or legal safe‑and‑sane displays inside city limits) would not be the target; the board’s motion directing staff to prepare ordinance changes passed 5–0.

Homelessness: evaluation of emergency shelter services: The board accepted a county‑commissioned evaluation project focused on emergency shelter implementation and outcomes. The evaluation — led by an independent consultant who has HMIS and…