Humboldt County wins $43.5 million Prop 1 award to replace Sempervirens psychiatric facility

Humboldt County officials reported that the county has received a conditional award of $43,500,000 from California’s Proposition 1 behavioral health bond to construct a new Sempervirens psychiatric facility.

The award, announced by state officials on May 12, 2025, covers the county’s application to the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program. At the June 10 Board of Supervisors meeting Health and Human Services Director Connie Beck said county staff submitted the milestone 1 materials to the state portal on May 16 and are now waiting for the state to prepare a program funding agreement. "We must deposit the cash match funds within 90 days of execution as well," Beck said, summarizing the state timeline the county must meet if it signs the agreement.

Why it matters: Sempervirens serves as the county’s locked psychiatric facility; the existing structure dates to the early 20th century and has required recurring, costly repairs and work orders. County staff said federal Medicaid and Medicare rules limit funding to a 16‑bed inpatient facility and the approved project includes 16 inpatient beds plus four crisis stabilization units for stays of less than 24 hours. The county reserved up to $4.5 million in matching funds when the board passed a resolution on Sept. 10, 2024; staff said an item to authorize the release of those funds will appear on the July 1 board agenda.

What staff told the board: Connie Beck and Public Works staff said the existing Sempervirens building has required thousands of work orders and has on‑hold projects totaling roughly $4.1 million in repair needs, plus an estimated $2.0 million of additional recommended upgrades. The county used the value of county property, cash match and previously incurred consultant expenses (sunk costs) as part of the match package sent to the state. Design and construction of a locked psychiatric facility require specialized, higher‑cost fixtures and finishes, staff said.

Board discussion and next steps: Supervisors thanked staff for meeting the rapid timeline required to be “shovel ready.” Board members and public‑works staff discussed project timing and cost escalation risks. Public‑works Director Tom Mattson said staff worked across departments to assemble the application. Supervisor Madrone said accelerating design and adding staff capacity in facilities management are options the board should consider to reduce timeline and cost risk. County staff said once the state issues a program funding agreement the county has up to 90 days to sign and must deposit cash match funds within 90 days of execution; the state asked counties to return signed agreements if possible within 30 days.

Board action: The board voted 4–0 to receive and file the report on the Prop 1 conditional award and next steps. The vote did not commit the board to final construction contracts; staff said future design, contractor selection and operating‑model decisions will be brought back to the board as required.

What remains unresolved: The county has not finalized who will operate the facility (county operation versus contract operator), where outpatient services will be located (those services were not included in the Prop 1 project), and parking/site logistics for the chosen block between Fifth Street and the alley adjacent to the county public‑health lab. Staff said these matters will be addressed in design and community‑engagement phases.